Best KQED Podcasts (2024)

1
The Best Movies Starring…Los Angeles 57:45

35m ago57:45

57:45

Lots of movies are filmed in Los Angeles, but only a relative few give a leading role to the city itself. Yet a new series at Berkeley’s Pacific Film Archive “considers a selection of films that foreground the history, architecture, and neighborhoods of Los Angeles.” The series includes mainstream picks like “Chinatown” and “La La Land”, but also u…

1
What Do Rituals Mean to You? 57:47

1h ago57:47

57:47

On the surface, a ritual is simply an act that carries a special meaning. It can be as ordinary as saying a blessing before a meal or as elaborate as a three-day Indian wedding. Underneath the surface, rituals can be very powerful and add deep meaning to our lives. They may or may not be rooted in spirituality, but they have to be special. But our …

1
Why Thousands Of Inmates Who Are Eligible To Vote Won't 11:26

13m ago11:26

11:26

Thousands of Californians serving jail time are legally eligible to vote, but many don’t know it, according to advocates and inmates themselves. Reporter: Sameea Kamal, CalMatters Protesters disrupted a University of California Board of Regents meeting Thursday, where university leaders approved requests from campus police departments to purchase m…

1
Have You Tried The ‘No-Buy Challenge?’ 57:49

2h ago57:49

57:49

More Americans in 2024 are taking on a ‘no-buy challenge,’ according to the Associated Press. They’re pledging for at least a year to purchase only essential items to curb impulse spending, reduce credit card debt or become more environmentally conscious. We hear from someone who’s taken on the challenge and the impact it’s had on her, and we explo…

1
Should Students be Allowed Cell Phones in School? 57:56

2h ago57:56

57:56

California’s public schools will be required to restrict cell phone use on campuses by 2026, under a bill awaiting Governor Newsom’s signature. Many Bay Area schools have already banned, or limited, the use of phones during the school day. We’ll check in with teachers, administrators and students about what’s working, what’s not and whether limitin…

1
Valley Students Work Towards College Degree While In High School 11:39

1h ago11:39

11:39

More students in the San Joaquin Valley are graduating high school not just with a diploma, but also with an associate’s degree. Taking college classes while still in high school can help them finish college and accelerate their careers. Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR Women and people of color are still among the lowest-paid workers in California. …

1
What to Expect From the Rest of Wildfire Season…And How to Stay Safe 57:47

19h ago57:47

57:47

Thanks to cooler weather, firefighters are making progress this week on three major Southern California wildfires. But the Airport, Line and Bridge fires have already burned through more than 100,000 acres, destroyed dozens of homes, and forced thousands to evacuate. And experts say California’s fire season could get worse before it gets better. We…

1
California’s Brutal Underground Market for Puppies Exposed in L.A. Times Investigation 57:57

20h ago57:57

57:57

After California made it illegal for pet stores to sell puppies in 2019, a vast underground market developed supplied by breeders in the Midwest that ship truckloads of puppies here. A new Los Angeles Times investigation found that often those puppies had been born in mass breeding facilities where they were neglected and not given adequate medical…

1
Nonprofit Fails To Provide Housing As Part of State's Project Homekey 11:31

11m ago11:31

11:31

A few years ago, two companies, one nonprofit, one for profit, received more than $100 million in taxpayer dollars to quickly house homeless people in California. It was part of Governor Gavin Newsom's Project Homekey, which turned hotels into shelters for unhoused people. But little has come from the partnership. Guest: Anna Scott, Reporter, The C…

1
Election 2024: California Congressional Races To Watch 57:42

1h ago57:42

57:42

A tight race is on for control of the House of Representatives this fall, and California voters could play a pivotal role in the outcome. Republicans are seeking to defend seats in highly competitive races in the Central Valley and the Inland Empire while Democrats are focusing on protecting the seat held by Representative Katie Porter in Orange Co…

1
Ayana Elizabeth Johnson asks ‘What If We Get It Right’ on Climate Change? 57:45

1h ago57:45

57:45

Marine biologist and climate activist Ayana Elizabeth Johnson, like the rest of us, has heard plenty of terrifying warnings about the dangers of failing to act on climate change. What she’s heard less is a question she says is not asked enough about our climate crisis: What if we get it right? That question is the title of her new book of interview…

1
Compton Judge Transforms Courtroom Into Place Where Parent-Child Relationship Is Strengthened 11:35

27m ago11:35

11:35

Babies and toddlers are removed from their homes and placed in the child welfare system far more than older kids. It’s a traumatic experience that takes place during a pivotal period of development. A judge in Compton is transforming the way she handles cases involving kids under three, by supporting their parents so they can better care for their …

1
Why Do We Love to Hate-Watch TV? 57:45

7m ago57:45

57:45

Do you have a TV show you hate-watch? As streaming platforms and their algorithms collect more data on the types of shows we like to watch, they feed us shows that are so close to something we’ve loved in the past, but something about them is off. What starts as an earnest TV show tune-in becomes a show you can’t stop complaining about at happy hou…

1
Is Too Much Local Democracy to Blame for the Housing Crisis? 57:44

7m ago57:44

57:44

Most Americans are now acutely aware that we have a housing crisis, but Atlantic writer Jerusalem Demsas says that we have much less clarity about what’s causing it. “All too often,” she writes, “explanations center around identifying a villain: greedy developers, or private equity companies, or racist neighbors, or gentrifiers, or corrupt politici…

1
As Negotiations Continue, Animation Union Looks To Close Gender Gap 11:07

1h ago11:07

11:07

The Animation Guild, which represents thousands of animation artists, writers and technicians, is restarting negotiations with Hollywood studios on Monday. Hollywood’s been churning out animated hits since the 1930’s. And since this heyday certain jobs have been dominated by women. There's now growing evidence that a historical gender bias could be…

1
How AI in Video Games is Affecting Performers 57:41

5d ago57:41

57:41

Voice actors and motion-capture artists in SAG-AFTRA have been striking against major video game companies since July to secure protections against the use of "digital replicas" created by artificial intelligence. The union is demanding greater transparency, consent requirements, and fair compensation for A.I. use. We'll talk to video game performe…

1
The Bay Area Orchestras Bringing Classical Music To A City Near You 57:45

3h ago57:45

57:45

The Bay Area is home to a surprising number of symphonies and philharmonic orchestras. They’re found not just in San Francisco, San Jose and Oakland, but Walnut Creek, Santa Rosa Berkeley and other smaller cities also manage to support orchestras. September ushers in the start of a new season for many of these groups. But sustaining local performin…

1
As Immigration Grabs the National Spotlight, California Forges its Own Path on the Issue 11:47

3d ago11:47

11:47

Democrats and Republicans are using immigration as a political flashpoint, as we approach election day in November. Meanwhile, California has been on the front lines of the issue for decades, and it has taken some unique approaches to help those that have made the journey to make the Golden State their new home. Police have arrested a man they susp…

1
In Transit: Cars Are Getting Bigger and More Dangerous. What Can We Do About It? 57:48

13h ago57:48

57:48

Americans love big cars. But a new data analysis by the Economist finds the bigger the cars, the deadlier they are for pedestrians, for people driving smaller cars and for our roads and infrastructure. As the Economist’s Daniel Knowles writes, “for every life the heaviest 1% of SUVs or trucks saves in America, more than a dozen lives are lost in sm…

1
How Much Alcohol is Safe to Consume? 57:54

13h ago57:54

57:54

For years, people felt good drinking a glass or two of red wine for the supposed health benefits, but last year the World Health Organization declared that “no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.” The debate over alcohol and health is happening as the federal government prepares to release new dietary and nutrition guidelines next …

1
Incarcerated Women Say Officers Used Unprecedented Force In August Attack 11:30

18h ago11:30

11:30

The California Department of Corrections is investigating after more than 100 women incarcerated in a Central Valley prison were allegedly pepper sprayed and tear gassed by staff for more than an hour. Inmates who’ve been in the Central California Women’s Facility in Chowchilla for years say it was the most severe use of force they’ve seen. Guest: …

1
Recapping the Debate with KQED's Politics Team 57:47

1d ago57:47

57:47

Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump take the stage Tuesday night for their first Presidential debate. The only debate on the books before November’s election, it’s being held in the key swing state of Pennsylvania. Political analysts are watching for how the two challenge each other on the key issues of immigration, healt…

1
Michael Blecker, Director of Swords to Plowshares, Reflects on a Life of Service 57:50

1d ago57:50

57:50

Michael Blecker spent three years as an infantryman in Vietnam, and the last four decades fighting for veterans as the executive director of the nonprofit Swords to Plowshares. In that role, Blecker has spearheaded efforts to help vets suffering from the psychic and physical wounds of war. He’s concentrated his work on issues that have plagued vete…

1
Fires Explode In Size, Threaten More Communities Across Southern California 11:22

6d ago11:22

11:22

The Bridge Fire burning in the Angeles National Forest outside of L.A. has exploded in size growing to more than 47,000 acres with no containment. Evacuation orders are in place for small mountain communities and flames have consumed homes in Wrightwood and swept through the Mountain High Ski resort. The Airport Fire continues to burn across dry ch…

1
Kamala Harris Said She’d Appoint a Republican Cabinet Member if Elected. What’s the History of the Practice? 57:41

7d ago57:41

57:41

During her first major interview since becoming the Democratic party nominee, Kamala Harris was asked by CNN if she would appoint a Republican to her cabinet. She replied, “I would,” and added, “I think it’s important to have people at the table and when some of the most important decisions are being made that have different views, different experi…

1
Harris, Trump to Meet in High Stakes Debate as Race Tightens 57:45

3d ago57:45

57:45

What a difference a few months makes. June’s presidential debate between Joe Biden and Donald Trump made history, as Biden’s poor performance led to his withdrawal from the race. On Tuesday, his replacement, Kamala Harris, will debate Trump for the first, and perhaps only time. With polls showing a tightening race (the closest in 60 years, accordin…

1
Line Fire In San Bernardino Mountains Continues To Challenge Crews 11:32

3d ago11:32

11:32

In the San Bernardino mountains, the Line Fire has burned more than 26,000 acres. The fire is only 5% contained and is expected to get bigger in the next few days. More than 65,000 homes and other structures are threatened. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR In Orange County, a fire that broke out on Monday and rapidly grew has burned about 9,000 acr…

1
How Abortion Access is Galvanizing Men 57:40

8d ago57:40

57:40

We’ve been hearing about women mobilizing to protect reproductive rights but so are an increasing number of men. In 2019 fewer than one in ten men said that abortion rights are a top voting issue; now the figure is 1 in 5, according to new polling. The group Men4Choice says it’s mobilizing men who were once “passively pro-choice” as many have come …

1
Rebecca Nagle on the Long and Ongoing Battle for Tribal Sovereignty and Land 57:45

9d ago57:45

57:45

A truly landmark Supreme Court decision in 2020 resulted in the largest restoration of Native American tribal land in American history. More than half of the state of Oklahoma is now declared “Indian Country” after the court decision. In her book “By the Fire We Carry” journalist Rebecca Nagel, a member of the Cherokee Nation, traces the generation…

1
Santa Ana Voters To Decide On Whether To Allow Non-Citizens To Vote In Municipal Elections 11:24

4d ago11:24

11:24

Should people who aren’t U.S. citizens be allowed to vote in some elections? Well, that very question is going to be on the November ballot in the Orange County City of Santa Ana in the form of local measure DD. If passed, DD would amend Santa Ana’s municipal charter and allow non-citizen residents of the city, both documented and undocumented, to …

1
Jamil Zaki On Why Cynics Have It All Wrong 57:45

7d ago57:45

57:45

After the death of a beloved colleague known for his optimism, Stanford psychology professor Jamil Zaki began reflecting on his own cynicism. He discovered that cultural stereotypes casting cynics as smarter and more worldly are wrong. Instead, cynicism undermines relationships and confines our vision of the future. We’ll talk to Zaki about how to …

1
‘My Divo’ Podcast Explores Legacy of Beloved Mexican Singer and Queer Icon Juan Gabriel 57:45

7d ago57:45

57:45

Juan Gabriel, one of Mexico’s most beloved composers and musicians, managed to achieve superstar status beginning in the 1970s and emerge as a queer icon at a time when homosexuality was taboo in Mexican society. In her new podcast, “My Divo” journalist Maria Garcia, creator of the popular “Anything for Selena” podcast, explores the legacy of Juan …

1
New Rules Aim To Keep High School Athletes Safe During Hot Weather 11:16

10d ago11:16

11:16

California schools must now adjust sports practices and games when it’s too hot outside. The state law went into effect this summer. Reporter: Mariana Dale, LAist A bill on Governor Newsom’s desk would ban employers from forcing workers to attend anti-union meetings. Reporter: Jeanne Kuang, CalMatters Criminal justice advocates are hopeful the U.S.…

1
Landmark Stanford Study Asks ‘When Do Women Have the Right to Kill in Self-Defense?’ 57:42

8d ago57:42

57:42

A landmark Stanford Law School study of women incarcerated in California prisons finds the vast majority of those convicted of killing their partner experienced domestic abuse. We’ll talk with journalist and author Rachel Louise Snyder — who partnered with Stanford for the study — about the stories she heard, and why laws governing self-defense fai…

1
How Artificial Intelligence is Used in Healthcare 57:52

12d ago57:52

57:52

When you go to a medical appointment or get admitted into the hospital, your doctor may be using ChatGPT to save time. Artificial intelligence is already helping medical professionals organize treatment plans, diagnose diseases, and discover new drugs. In the future, it could do even more. We’ll talk to doctors and experts about how AI is being use…

1
Renters Call For Added Protections As California Faces Another Heat Wave 11:19

8d ago11:19

11:19

The hot weather will continue across much of the state on Thursday. Triple digit temperatures are expected, and heat advisories have been issued for many inland regions. The extreme heat can be life-threatening for many Californians, especially those without air conditioning in their homes. Reporter: Joshua Yeager, KVPR Cities that aren't following…

1
How Are Swing States Preparing for Claims of Voter Fraud? 57:48

9d ago57:48

57:48

Donald Trump continues to cast doubt, without basis, on the fairness of the 2024 presidential election and has so far refused to say whether he will accept the certified results. Meanwhile, in Georgia, the Republican-controlled Elections Commission recently approved new rules allowing counties to delay certification of election results. All that’s …

1
How the Bay Area Shaped Kamala Harris 57:55

9d ago57:55

57:55

In her acceptance speech for the Democratic nomination, Kamala Harris used “the Bay” when talking about where she grew up, rather than name-check Berkeley and its counterculture reputation. And she doesn’t always jump at the chance to call-out progressive San Francisco, where she first made her name in politics. But those omissions don’t seem to be…

1
Experts Dispel Claims About Migrants Bringing Fentanyl Into US 11:32

13d ago11:32

11:32

Fentanyl is a dangerous narcotic that kills more than 100,000 Americans each year. Donald Trump and many other politicians say this deadly drug is regularly smuggled into the U.S. by undocumented immigrants. But experts said those claims are largely false. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS Two major California health plans have been hit with a combined…

1
Are You Struggling to Find a Tech Job in California? 57:42

9d ago57:42

57:42

There are nearly 100,000 fewer private sector tech jobs in California than two years ago, according to a July report from the state Legislative Analyst’s Office. We talk about what’s behind the trend and who’s been most affected by layoffs. And we’ll hear from you: whether you’re a veteran software engineer or new to the field, are you struggling t…

1
In ‘The Cities We Need,’ Gabrielle Bendiner-Viani Celebrates Unassuming Places That Foster Community 57:56

9d ago57:56

57:56

The donut shop. The local diner. The vacant lot where kids gather to play. These are the kinds of unassuming places that can foster a sense of belonging, according to author, scholar and visual artist Gabrielle Bendiner-Viani, In her new book, “The Cities We Need: Essential Stories of Everyday Places,” she argues that these often overlooked places …

1
With New COVID Vaccine Rolling Out, Some Doctors Take Cautious Approach To Buying Shots 11:41

10d ago11:41

11:41

A new round of COVID shots is shipping to doctor's offices across California. And for the second year in a row, the federal government is not picking up the tab. Physicians have to order the vaccine weeks in advance and pay up front for the shots. And because of that, many are taking a more cautious approach when it comes to ordering the shots. Rep…

1
Forum From the Archives: Music Critic Ann Powers on ‘Traveling’ on Singer-Songwriter Joni Mitchell’s Path 57:44

10d ago57:44

57:44

When Ann Powers began to draft her expansive new biography of Laurel Canyon music legend Joni Mitchell, she says that “certain subjects emerged: childhood as an imaginary terrain where singer-songwriters could express their ideals and idiosyncrasies; sadness as a complicated form of women’s liberation; side roads and retreats as the secret sources …

1
Forum from the Archives: A Sensitive Meathead’s Quest to Get ‘Swole’ 57:46

15d ago57:46

57:46

Michael Andor Broudeur is a classical music critic for the Washington Post and he’s also a self-described “meathead” with an relentless desire to make his body bigger. In his book “Swole: The Making of Man and the Meaning of Muscle” Broudeur grapples with the contradictions and complexities of male body image and masculinity. He embraces the gay ma…

1
An Iconic Roadside Landmark In Central Valley Doesn't Have Much Time Left 11:35

15d ago11:35

11:35

Highway 99 has its share of iconic landmarks: there’s Buck Owens Crystal Palace, the Delano Box of Mandarins, the McFarland Runners, and the Merced Mammoths. But in Madera County, you might not recognize the Palm and the Pine. The two trees are said to represent the middle of California and have been there for nearly a hundred years. But they might…

1
Forum From the Archives: Caitlin Dickerson on the Darién Gap’s Humanitarian Catastrophe 57:40

14d ago57:40

57:40

The Darién Gap, the perilous mountain region connecting Central and South America, was thought for centuries to be all but impossible to cross. But now, hundreds of thousands of migrants are doing just that to reach the U.S. Pulitzer Prize-winning immigration reporter Caitlin Dickerson took three trips to the Darién Gap over five months, following …

1
Small and Big Acts of Kindness Shine in New Book from Upworthy 57:48

17d ago57:48

57:48

The son who traveled 2,500 miles to save his parents’ dog. The stranger who picked up the tab for a girl who was trying to buy a prom dress at Goodwill. The airport janitor who stopped to feed and comfort a stranded passenger. These are some of the small and big acts of kindness website Upworthy compiled into a new book, “Good People: Stories from …

1
Thousands Of California Wage Theft Victims Have Yet To Claim Money 11:27

17d ago11:27

11:27

Federal labor enforcement authorities recover millions of dollars for workers each year from employers who break minimum wage, overtime pay and other laws. But a significant chunk of that money never makes it to wage-theft victims, many of whom are in California. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED State lawmakers are jockeying to push remaining…

1
Nancy Pelosi Explains 'The Art of Power' 57:46

15d ago57:46

57:46

House Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi says that she’s won nearly all the legislative battles that she started — and she characterizes those she hasn’t won simply as “not yet achieved.” Pelosi has exerted her powers of persuasion and negotiation for 37 years as San Francisco’s congressional representative, pushing forward the Affordable Care Act and th…

1
California Legislature Passes Controversial AI Bill 57:50

15d ago57:50

57:50

California lawmakers approved a landmark bill regulating artificial intelligence on Wednesday. SB 1047, co-authored by state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), aims to curb potential dangers of AI such as misinformation, cyberattacks and the creation of novel biological weapons. It would mandate safety testing for advanced AI models that cost mor…

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