KQED's Forum

When political advisor Chloe Dalton found an injured newborn hare near her home in the countryside, she decided to nurse it back to health. The two quickly formed a bond of quiet companionship. We talk to Dalton about what the hare taught her about trust, attention, preparing for loss and the ordinary magic of engaging closely with the natural world. Her new memoir is “Raising Hare.” What has a relationship with a wild animal taught you? Guests: Chloe Dalton, political advisor and author, "Raising Hare" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What does it mean to be an “auntie”? Studies have shown that aunties — whether they are a family member, a chosen maternal figure or a parent’s friend — play a crucial support role in a child’s upbringing. But the work doesn’t end at the family unit. Aunties are often the ones showing up and acting as powerful forces of social change. We’ll talk with artists, scholars and community organizers about the underrated power of aunties, and the ways in which they actively redefine the nuclear family unit and our systems of care. Guests: Kristina Wong, comedian and performance artist; Doris Duke Artist Award winner, Guggenheim Fellow and Pulitzer Prize finalist in Drama; her kids' book "Auntie Kristina's Guide to Asian American Activism" comes out Spring 2026 from Beaming Books Jocelyn Jackson, chef and community organizer; founder, JustUs Kitchen; co-founder, People's Kitchen Collective; executive producer, Life is Living Festival; former chef-in-residence, Museum of African Diaspora Kareem Khubchandani, educator, scholar and performer; associate professor of theater, dance and performance studies, Tufts University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Since the Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade in 2022, California has aspired to be a national haven for abortion rights. But the reality is more complicated. Catholic hospitals in the state are refusing emergency care for miscarriages, major retailers have refused to stock abortion medications and federal lawsuits are targeting California doctors and pharmacies. We listen back to our conversation about the cases reshaping reproductive healthcare and their potential impacts on both Californians and the nation. Guests: Mary Ziegler, professor, UC Davis School of Law Shefali Luthra, reproductive health reporter, The 19th Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The fast-evolving retail landscape has zapped the life out of once bustling shopping centers throughout the Bay Area. And yet, many of the region’s legacy malls are still thriving. While San Francisco Centre, the former home of high-end department stores downtown, is now mostly empty, a revamped Stonestown in San Francisco’s west side is full of shoppers. Tenants such as indoor arcades, escape rooms and niche food vendors are drawing crowds to once desolate malls. We talk about where Bay Area shoppers are still going and how brick and mortar shopping is changing. Guests: Heather Knight, San Francisco bureau chief, The New York Times Michael Berne, president, MJB Consulting Kirthi Kalyanam, marketing department chair, director of the Retail Management Institute, Santa Clara University Leavey School of Business Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Republican spending bill signed into law by President Trump last month slashes an estimated $150 billion in federal Medicaid funding to California over the next 10 years. Nearly 40% percent of Californians rely on Medi-Cal for health coverage, and now millions are expected to fall off the rolls. That’s leaving medical providers bracing for impacts, especially in places already struggling to serve all who need care. We talk to heads of clinics in the Central Valley, Shasta County and Los Angeles to hear how they’re coping. Guests: Mitesh Popat, chief executive officer, Venice Family Clinic David Quackenbush, president and chief executive officer, Golden Valley Health Centers Jo Campbell, chief executive officer, Hill Country Community Clinic Miranda Dietz, interim director, Health Care Program, UC Berkeley Labor Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Voters in the Sunset district of San Francisco are casting ballots on whether to recall their supervisor Joel Engardio. Engardio, a vocal champion of the city’s previous recalls of three school board members and former District Attorney Chesa Boudin, has angered residents in his district over his support of Proposition K, which closed the oceanfront’s Great Highway. The 2-mile stretch of land opened as Sunset Dunes Park, but whether that park is wanted, is still under debate with some saying it impacts local businesses and daily commutes. We talk about San Francisco’s recall fever and the balancing act required by officials representing the needs of their districts, and the desires of the city. Guests: Joe Eskenazi, managing editor and columnist, Mission Local Jason McDaniel, associate professor of political science, San Francisco State University Sydney Johnson, reporter, KQED Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Los Angeles County—famous for its sunshine—just 20% of urbanized areas are shaded at noon. That’s creating a serious health hazard for people who work outdoors, wait at bus stops or play outside. Environmental journalist Sam Bloch argues that shade should be considered a basic human right, akin to access to clean air and safe drinking water. We speak with Bloch about why modern cities have so little shade and how we can reintroduce it as a fundamental element of urban design. Bloch’s new book is “Shade: The Promise of a Forgotten Natural Resource.” Do you struggle to find shade in your community? Guests: Sam Bloch, environmental journalist Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As a new crop of students start school this fall, Bay Area colleges and universities are navigating headwinds ranging from funding cuts to a shrinking student population. Fewer Californians are enrolling in college than a decade ago and now schools are bracing for a “demographic cliff,” a drop in high school graduates stemming from lower birth rates after the Great Recession. At the same time, college graduates are vital to the region’s economy and a degree remains a reliable path for social advancement. We’ll talk with the presidents of San Francisco State University, Saint Mary’s College and West Valley College about how they are managing those major challenges while pursuing their missions. Guests: Roger Thompson, president, Saint Mary's College of California Lynn Mahoney, president, San Francisco State University Jennifer Taylor-Mendoza, president, West Valley College Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mars is inhospitable to human life with its cosmic radiation, atmosphere of carbon dioxide and nights as cold as 200 degrees below zero Fahrenheit. But as Space X founder Elon Musk pledges to colonize Mars, and as NASA renews its push for interplanetary travel, a husband and wife duo has explored whether people really can live in space. What would it require to have babies on another planet? To grow food? To prevent conflicts in space from sparking geopolitical chaos on Earth? We’ll talk about it all with Kelly and Zach Weinersmith, co-authors of “A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?” Guests: Kelly Weinersmith, scientist and adjunct faculty member in the biosciences department, Rice University; co-author, "A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?" Zach Weinersmith, cartoonist of the webcomic Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal; co-author, "A City on Mars: Can We Settle Space, Should We Settle Space, and Have We Really Thought This Through?" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On September 1, 1950, Oakland’s Fairyland opened its gates to 15,000 visitors who paid between 9 and 14 cents to explore this storybook adventure land. The park, with its whimsical fairy tale set pieces and rides geared for young children, was a wild success inspiring copycats across the country. It even served as inspiration to Walt Disney himself. Today, Fairyland offers respite and entertainment for visitors of all ages– many of whom visited as a child and are now grandparents themselves. We’ll talk about the park’s history and its future, and we hear from you: What’s your favorite memory of Fairyland? Guests: Kymberly Miller, CEO, Children's Fairyland Randal Metz, director, Storybook Puppet Theater at Children's Fairyland; author, "Creating A Fairyland" Barbara Lee, mayor of Oakland; former U.S. representative from California's 13th district Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In October 2005, about six weeks after Hurricane Katrina struck, New Orleans-born writer Clint Smith returned to his devastated home to find haunting remnants: a ruined wedding dress, a chair hanging from a chandelier, a perfectly preserved birthday cake. Smith has continued to visit his hometown, marking progress and the destruction still visible. We talk to him about his new piece for the Atlantic called “Twenty Years After the Storm.” And we’ll hear from you: what was returning home from a natural disaster like for you? Guests: Clint Smith, poet and staff writer, The Atlantic - his recent essay for the magazine is "Twenty Years After the Storm." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Before the COVID pandemic hit, San Francisco’s Fisherman’s Wharf averaged over 15 million visitors each year. While the waterfront is still one of the most visited areas in the region, the local businesses — including fishing companies, souvenir shops and restaurants — are struggling from a lack of investment, high rents and lower tourism. Now, the Port of San Francisco has announced a multi-year plan that involves a $10 million investment to renovate the area. Set to begin in 2026, the first phase of “Fisherman’s Wharf Forward” is a facelift for Taylor Street, which includes the demolition of a historic fish restaurant, Alioto’s, and the construction of a new public plaza with a waterfront lookout. We talk with the San Francisco Port, local fishermen and an urban design critic about the revitalization project, plans to preserve the history of the area, and what it all means for locals, tourists, and those whose livelihood depends on the waterfront. Guests: John King, author, "Portal: San Francisco's Ferry Building and the Reinvention of American Cities"; former urban design critic, San Francisco Chronicle Elaine Forbes, executive director, port of San Francisco Sal Alioto, captain of historic fishing and tour boat, The Golden Gate, in Fisherman's Wharf Sarah Bates, captain of the fishing vessel, Bounty Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In a highly unusual move, the Trump Administration announced the government will take a 10 percent equity stake in computer chipmaker Intel. The new arrangement makes the U.S. government the largest shareholder in Intel, a relationship many economists, policy experts and elected officials say is problematic, unnecessary and signals an overreach of presidential power. Earlier in August, fellow chipmakers Nvidia and Advanced Micro Devices agreed to pay the United States 15 percent of their revenue from selling chips in China. We talk about what those deals mean, the administration’s strategy and why experts say this is a step toward fascism. Guests: Louise Matsakis, senior business editor, WIRED Tad DeHaven, policy analyst for federal and state economic and fiscal policy issues, Cato Institute - a think tank Nils Gilman, chief operating officer, executive vice president of programs and deputy editor of Noema Magazine, Berggruen Institute - a think tank Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California Republican lawmakers are suing to block Governor Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plan from the November ballot, as President Trump vows his own lawsuit against the state’s effort to redraw its congressional maps to favor Democrats. That’s despite Trump encouraging a similar effort in Texas that favors Republicans. Meanwhile, Newsom is trolling the President on social media, co-opting his taunting style. We’ll talk with KQED’s politics team about Newsom’s tactics and get the latest redistricting news. What do you think of the Governor’s methods? Guests: Marisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED - co-host of KQED's Political Breakdown Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Roommate relationships are increasingly common, with a record-high 6.8 million households in America reporting that they share space with roommates and boarders. Sharing a home can be wonderful, but it also creates questions like how should you negotiate fridge space – and whether it’s okay that your romantic partner sleeps over. We’re joined by a comedian who mediates roommate conflicts Judge Judy-style, and a therapist who has heard every conundrum under the sun – from how to split rent, to how to reconcile living with an ex. Do you have a roomie conflict you’d like an expert to weigh in on? Tell us about it! Guests: Sahaj Kaur Kohli, therapist, writer, speaker, and founder, Brown Girl Therapy; author of the book, "But What Will People Say? Navigating Mental Health, Identity, Love, and Family Between Cultures" Michael Abber, comedian; host and self-appointed judge of the viral video series Roommate Court Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

When we talk about households led by single parents, we often think about mothers. But a rising number of families are led by single fathers: men who are parenting alone by choice – whether through adoption or surrogacy – or because of divorce, separation or widowhood. Single dads often have the same challenges as single mothers because the economics and emotional work of parenting solo are not always easy. Yet, single fathers also report being lonelier and less sure of how to access support than mothers. We’ll look at the experience of single fatherhood and hear from you: are you a single dad or were you raised by one? What’s your story? Guests: Faith Hill, staff writer, The Atlantic - Hill's most recent article is titled "The Growing Cohort of Single Dads by Choice" Ignacio Ferrey, director, Fatherhood and Adolescent Services, Alameda County Public Health Department Ron Poole-Dayan, executive director and founder, Men Having Babies - a nonprofit organization that offers guidance and financial assistance for gay men who want to become fathers through surrogacy Darby Saxbe, associate professor of psychology, USC - director, USC Center for the Changing Family Dr. Ken Epstein, therapist and social worker; from 2012-2018, Epstein was the director of the Children Youth and Family System of Care for San Francisco's Behavioral Health Services Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine approaching a wildfire with nothing but a bandana to protect you. That’s how U.S. Forest Service firefighters typically battle blazes – with no masks or other respiratory protection. New York Times reporter Hannah Dreier recently headed into the field to find out why. We’ll talk to Dreier and a California firefighter about why it’s been so hard to change the culture and policy around protective gear and how firefighters are dealing with the life-threatening effects. Guests: Hannah Dreier, investigative reporter, The New York Times Joe Perez, firefighter based in Northern California Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

California now has the highest unemployment rate in the country at 5.5%. While the Bay Area’s rate is a bit lower than the state’s, it is still higher than the national average, and continued tech company layoffs and threats to jobs from AI, have workers worried. We look at the shifting Bay Area labor market. Where are jobs disappearing and what could replace them? Will AI be a net boom or loss for local employment? If you’re in the market we want to hear about it. How is the Bay Area labor landscape looking to you? Guests: Jeff Bellisario, executive director, Bay Area Council Economic Institute Aki Ito, chief correspondent, Business Insider coverings the tech industry and workplace issues Enrico Moretti, professor of economics, UC Berkeley; author, "The New Geography of Jobs" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Remember owning your movies and music on tape, CD or DVD? Physical media is having a moment again as frustration mounts with streaming platforms that can remove beloved shows at a moment’s notice while charging endless subscription fees. More people report feeling nostalgic for a time when we could truly hold onto the media that we love. We’ll look into what’s driving this analog resurgence. What’s a piece of physical media you’re holding on to? Guests: Joe Pickett, co-founder, co-host and curator, Found Footage Festival Jeff Rauseo, content creator and writer covering movies, home entertainment and physical media; author, "Lost in the Stream: How Algorithms Redefined the Way Movies Are Made and Watched" Jacob Gaboury, associate professor of film and media, UC Berkeley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This weekend kicks off the start of the college football season and for the first time ever, players coming on the field can expect a payment from their schools. While college sports is a multibillion business in the United States, schools were barred from giving direct compensation until a landmark court ruling in June changed the rules. Still, it’s unclear how much students will earn and how money will be doled out across different teams. Sports such as football and basketball tend to bring in the lion’s share of revenue. We’ll talk about how this massive shift in college sports is playing out and what it means for student athletes, fans and schools. Guests: Daniel Rascher, professor and director of academic programs, sport management master's program at University of San Francisco Rachel Bachman, senior sports reporter, The Wall Street Journal Henry Organ, co-founder and agent, Disruptive Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices