Crosscurrents

Today, two new stories from Uncuffed. Plus, a special conversation with the Sights and Sounds team about what they're looking forward to in their second year.

Uncuffed Solano producer Saladin Rushdan loved his first car, a Mercury. But after he was sent to fight in the Vietnam War, he came back a changed man, with different feelings about the car of his youth.

Uncuffed producer Daniel Cowie struggled to find the courage to reach out to his father. But a conversation at Solano State Prison changed everything — and led to him finding his sister.

Last year, KALW's Jenee Darden launched a new show all about arts and culture around the Bay. Now, the Sights and Sounds Show is celebrating its first anniversary! I sat down with Jenee, to hear some highlights from their first year… and a look at what's to come.

Today, Author Meena Harris talks about her new children's book where a little girl asks "Where are all the statues of women?" Then, we explore the science fiction that's helped imagine our current reality. And, the art at a Bolinas exhibit offers many different views of our future.

Where are the women? That's a question a little girl named Maya had. She is the main character in the book "Maya's Big Question." In the story, Maya goes on a field trip to Washington, D.C. and notices that just about all of the monuments and statues pay tribute to men. “Maya's Big Question,” is the fifth book by New York Times bestselling Bay Area author Meena Harris.The main character is named after her mother and policy advocate Maya Harris. Meena's aunt is former U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris.  KALW's Jenee Darden spoke with Meena Harris on “The Sights + Show.” Here's an excerpt from that conversation. 

Some works of fiction seem to have predetermined where we are now as a society... And where we might be headed. To dive into these questions, KALW recently hosted a live taping of the “Ways of Knowing” podcast. Panelists included two assistant professors from the University of Washington: Anna Price, from the English department and Golden m Owens, from the cinema and media studies department. In this excerpt from that event, KALW's Executive Producer Ben Trefney, who moderated the panel, asked Price and Owens to share a few of the stories that seemed to see into our present. First, Anna Price. 

The Common Wheel Gallery in Bolinas is asking big questions. About how communities around the world respond to a time of global uncertainty. The exhibit is called “Remembering Our Future,” and it brings together art, storytelling, and the work of fellows from the Omega Resilience Awards hosted by the longtime West Marin nonprofit Common Wheel. Mark Valentine is their chief Strategy Officer of the Omega Resilience Awards. He spoke to KALW's Ethan Elkind on a recent episode of State of the Bay.

You may have heard the phrase save the bees. Well turns out, maybe not ALL bees should be saved. Today, how we can help save California's native bees. Then, a woman who handles high-stakes situations with grace and a level head. We spend an afternoon with Reverend Annanda Barclay, a Stanford Chaplain Fellow… and bee keeper.

Muslim American women have to face Islamophobia, but when you're also Black - it's even more complicated. Today, we meet women navigating the intersection of Blackness and being Muslim. Plus, a rapper from Oakland faces the haters head-on.

A program at San Francisco Airport is helping fearful flyers get into the sky… Today, we visit SFO's Fear of Flying Clinic. Then, we talk to the clinic's chairwoman who says, it's not an easy fear to let go of. And she knows this personally.

Today, we hear how some San Mateo County farmworkers are speaking up about workplace injustice. Then, would you do stand-up comedy with your mom?... or your kid!? And, in the final days of Ramadan, we reflect on how the month can feel different, depending on where you are. 

Imagine the scene: You work at your job all month but when payday rolls around there's no check, no deposit in your account. Your boss says it'll all be worked out next month… but when that pay period comes around there's still no money.That's called wage theft. And it hits low-wage workers especially hard and most frequently. That's one of the reasons why San Mateo County launched the office of Labor Standards and Enforcement last summer. Reporter Sebastian Miño-Bucheli wanted to find out: how is it working? How much wage theft is still happening? 

The Cinequest film festival is happening now through March 22nd. One film showing at the fest is ‘Comedy Family Style'. Now, many people would be mortified by the idea of performing stand up with their parents, or their kids for that matter. "Comedy Family Style" is a documentary that tells the story of a San Francisco mother and son duo doing just that. Helen Chu and her 10 year-old son Evan Ho are both stand-up comedians. KALW's Jenee Darden spoke to Helen about her and Evan's act, and their new film, for The Sights and Sounds Show. 

Today, a California Assembly Member shares their take on San Francisco's pressing priorities. Then, we'll hear the story of how a Green Day CD opened up a window to a new world. And, a documentary about a San Francisco man fighting colon cancer with laughter.

California Assembly Member Matt Haney represents the 17th district that encompasses much of the eastern side of San Francisco. He serves as Chair of the Committee on Housing and Community Development, the Legislative Renters' Caucus, and the Committee on Downtown Recovery.Recently, Assemblymember Haney joined KALW Executive Producer Ben Trefny at our live event space in Downtown San Francisco, for a wide-ranging discussion about the future. The event was part of KALW's ongoing Bay Agenda series, that connects residents directly with the leaders and changemakers shaping the Bay Area's future.In this excerpt from their conversation we hear Haney respond to a lightning round of Ben's questions — from housing and small business recovery to public safety, neighborhood identity, and the role of civic media in shaping local change.

Next, a segment of My Mixtape from Uncuffed, where incarcerated audio producers talk about their favorite songs. Today, Angie Gordon talks about the moment their world changed after someone at church handed them a mixtape with Green Day on it.

“Andre is an Idiot” is a documentary film about André Ricciardi, a San Francisco man who's dying from colon cancer. It's also a comedy. After he was diagnosed with stage-four colon cancer, Andre asked his friend and director Tony Benna to document his wild end-of-life journey. “Andre is an Idiot” is Tony's first feature film, and it's also a Sundance-award winning film. KALW's Jenee Darden spoke with Tony Benna for “The Sights + Sounds Show.” Here's an excerpt from their conversation.

Did you know the Golden State Warriors had a senior dance squad? Today, we meet the age-defying dancers who bring energy, skill and joy to the court. Then, Cal's Majorette team celebrates their hard earned ten year anniversary. And, a Bay Area dance group is on a mission to keep turning.

The Warriors basketball team has a saying: strength in numbers. The senior dance squad that performs at Warriors' games, The Harwood Classics, embodies that mantra. They show how there's strength in the numbers 55 and up.Reporter Clara Kamunde takes us to meet the dancers who proves artistry, athleticism, and passion never retire.

This year, the UCB's Majorette team, The Bearettes, are celebrating their 10th year anniversary! If you've ever been to a Cal football or basketball game, you can't miss their body rolls, back bends, hip pops, twists, and sparkly outfits. Nia Coates is a reporter with UCB's North Gate radio. Here introduces us to the Bearettes, Cal athletes who are fighting for a space of their own on campus.Nia reported this story as a student in the audio concentration at UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism. Listen to more North Gate Radio sports stories here!

Funding dance programs has never been easy. And back in May the National Endowment for the Arts canceled at least $1 million in grants to San Francisco nonprofits alone. Leaders in the Bay Area dance community found themselves say they're now more strained than ever. Last summer, Renée Bartlett-Webber went to find out how Dance programs have had to pivot. 

Today, we explore Toni Morrison's work, politics, and experiences. Then, how to navigate the tricky but necessary conversations about money. And, a behind-the-scenes look inside a San Francisco food bank.

Reading a Toni Morrison novel is an experience. Her words challenge readers intellectually and emotionally. Morrison died in 2019. Today her body of work is a national treasure and she is a writer students encounter and critically examine as part of their journey in understanding American identity.Harvard English Professor Namwali Serpell breaks down much of the late author's work in her book, “On Morrison.” It also explores Morrison's politics, thoughts on race, her experiences with the media. She spoke to Jenee Darden, host of KALW's sights and Sounds Show, about her book and why she avoided meeting Toni Morrison in person. Here's an excerpt from their conversation

You know that etiquette rule that says when you have company, it's impolite to talk about politics, religion- and money? Well to Sheila Schroeder, money is something we SHOULD be talking about. She is the Bay Area author of It's Time to Talk: A Woman's Guide to Navigating Money Conversations.Recently, KALW invited Shroeder to our live event space at 220 Montgomery. The evening was designed to bring finance down to earth, with practical advice and lived wisdom. KALW's Executive Producer Ben Trefny spoke with Schroeder and asked her about her decades of experience in finance. 

Every year, about 48 million people in the U.S. struggle to find enough to eat. Organizations on the frontline of Bay Area food insecurity are working harder than ever. One of them, the San Francisco and Marin Food Banks now serve 36,000 households a week. So how does it all happen? In this piece, produced by Rebecca Birungi in 2013, we go inside the main distribution center in Potrero Hill, to see what happens behind the scenes, to get food to the people who need it most.

The Bay Area has a long history of women who were ahead of their time. Today, the history of the bohemian women of San Francisco. Then, we take a look inside the California Condor Recovery Program in Oakland. And, a journalist at San Quentin shares a song that gives him motivation.

The Bay Area has a long history of women who were ahead of their time. Today, the history of the bohemian women of San Francisco.

Bostyon Johnson at San Quentin on "Standing Outside The Fire," by Garth Books. It's the Uncuffed My Mixtape, where we listen to our producers' favorite songs.

Then, we take a look inside the California Condor Recovery Program in Oakland.

Poetry as memory, poetry as history that's what OG San Jose Pinay Poet Arlene Biala brings us today with her poem.

There's a new teacher in San Francisco classrooms. And she's an AI bot… but not everyone is on board. Today, we hear how this reading tool is working. Then, we explore the nation's first law to encourage and protect whistleblowers working with AI. And, from Uncuffed one tragic accident triggered a decades long struggle with addiction.

There's a new instructor measuring how well San Francisco's first and second graders can read. Her name is Amira and she's an AI bot.Teachers today are grappling with if and how to use AI in the classroom. When educators in the city went on strike last month, one of their demands was AI safety guards. But AI is already playing an important role in the classroom. KALW's Education reporter, Julia Haney, wanted to understand how Amira works, so she went to see the program in action.

With Artificial intelligence increasingly becoming a part of our lives, comes the need to regulate it. California was the first state to draft laws regulating the internet and now it's attempting to do the same with AI.SB 53 is the State's Transparency in Frontier Artificial Intelligence Act. It's a first-of-its-kind AI safety law and it was passed last year. A number of AI companies lobbied against the legislation. And internet freedom advocates argue the law is now so watered down, that it no longer effectively protects whistleblowers in the AI companies.Jason Winshell reports on Silicon Valley for the San Francisco Public Press. He spoke to KALW News Editor Sunni Khalid to help us unpack the new law. 

Uncuffed producer Jorge Lopez on how one tragic accident can trigger a decades long struggle with addiction. A new story from Uncuffed about trauma, drugs, and the choice to change.

Finding housing in California is notoriously difficult. For unhoused people, the process can feel nearly impossible. Today, two women in Richmond take us into the challenges of their search for permanent housing.

Why is it so hard for people to move from homeless encampments to housing? California spends a lot of money trying to get people off the street — $27 billion since 2019. The state's Encampment Resolution Fund in particular has invested over $700 million into moving people from encampments, to shelter, to permanent housing. There are still thousands of people living on the streets across the state, and in the Bay Area, it can feel like there's little progress to show for it.KALW's homelessness reporter Alastair Boone takes us to Richmond, California to learn more about what it really takes to find permanent housing.

Today, we're kicking off Women's History month. First, a local arts company is gathering women from across the Bay Area for an evening of resilience and performance. Then, we'll hear the real history behind A LEGENDARY San Franciscan. Plus, poems from the next generation. 

Women's History Month has begun and International Women's Day is this Sunday. Women around the world will be celebrated and celebrating. The UN theme this year is “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”Here in the Bay Area, there is no shortage of events marking the day. One is the annual "What Do the Women Say?" An extravaganza of women's performance held every year for the past 30 years by Golden Thread Productions that features Middle Eastern and North African artists.They're marking their 30th year with a show that has music, song, poetry and plays- and dedicating it to the women of Iran. To learn more about the event, Hana Baba, host of KALW's Crosscurrents, talked to their brand new artistic director Nabra Nelson, who is a playwright herself.

Today, a San Leandro council member has pleaded guilty to charges of corruption. Could there be more indictments ahead? Then, artists and activists are working to reopen the Mission Cultural Center after its sudden shutdown. Plus, the favorite songs of a KALW music programmer.

Last month, former San Leandro Councilman Bryan Azevedo pleaded guilty in a federal court to two counts of corruption in connection with accepting a bribe from local businessmen.Azevedo has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors in an ongoing federal corruption probe that has already led to indictments against former Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao, her partner, Andre Jones, and Andy and David Duong, the owners of California Waste Solutions -- Oakland's largest recycling contractor. Their trials are scheduled for the fall.But Azevedo's plea has raised speculation about the nature of the ongoing probe and also raised the possibility that other current or former local elected officials are being investigated for possible wrongdoing.Nathan Gartrell is an award-winning reporter for the East Bay Times, who covers state and federal courts in Northern California. He spoke with KALW news editor Sunni Khalid. 

On Repeat, is KALW's mini-pod for music discovery. It's hosted by Tshego Letsoalo, KALW's Music Editorial Director. In the show Tshego talks with KALW music programmers about the songs they can't stop listening to. And in this episode from 2024, Tshego talks with Devon Strolovitch, host of KALW's Fog City Blues.