Crosscurrents

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.