KQED's Forum
KQED
Forum tells remarkable and true stories about who we are and where we live. In the first hour, Alexis Madrigal convenes the diverse voices of the Bay Area, before turning to Mina Kim for the second hour to chronicle and center Californians’ experience. In an increasingly divided world, Mina and Alexis host conversations that inform, challenge and unify listeners with big ideas and different viewpoints.Want to call/submit your comments during our live Forum program Mon-Fri, 9am-11am? We'd love to hear from you! Please dial 866.SF.FORUM or (866) 733-6786 or email forum@kqed.org, tweet, or post on Facebook.
Episodes
Mentioned books
May 12, 2026 • 55min
The `Blood Populism’ Driving Political Violence in America
Adrienne LaFrance, Atlantic editor and reporter on political violence, and Garen Wintemute, UC Davis violence‑prevention director and emergency physician, unpack rising tolerance for political violence. They define shifting trends, introduce the idea of "blood populism," and discuss why social conditions, rhetoric, guns, and public‑health approaches matter. Short, urgent conversation about risks and prevention.
May 12, 2026 • 55min
Project Homekey Is CA’s Ambitious Plan to House Homeless People. Is it Working?
Tamika Moss, California housing official and former nonprofit CEO, explains Homekey’s emergency origins and accountability changes. Ryan Finnegan, UC Berkeley homelessness researcher, analyzes Homekey’s place among housing tools. Marisa Kendall, CalMatters reporter, reveals mixed results from her investigation. They discuss speed versus oversight, which projects succeeded or failed, funding for services, and lessons for future housing efforts.
May 11, 2026 • 55min
U.S.-Iran Ceasefire Tested as Tensions Rise in Persian Gulf
Joshua Keating, Vox senior correspondent who analyzes geopolitics; Trita Parsi, Quincy Institute leader and U.S.-Iran diplomacy expert. They parse fragile ceasefire dynamics and diplomatic back-and-forth. They debate sequencing nuclear concessions, risks of reopening the Strait of Hormuz, military options and the regional economic and political costs.
May 11, 2026 • 55min
Mac Barnett on How Kids Can Teach Us to Be Better Readers
Mac Barnett, bestselling children’s author and National Ambassador for Young People’s Literature, reflects on why kids read differently. He explores how children spot details adults miss, the radical history of children’s books, and why read-alouds become equal conversations. He also discusses death, libraries, testing stories with kids, and where to find great books.
May 8, 2026 • 55min
How Did You Find Your Life’s Work?
Jodi Kantor, Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative reporter and New York Times journalist, discusses finding life’s work and her new book. She explores why today's job market feels hostile. She explains why focusing on need and craft matters. She offers practical steps like experimentation, tracking tasks, and using events to build real connections.
May 8, 2026 • 55min
Tracy Clark-Flory’s “My Mother’s Daughter” Tells the Story of Finding Her Long-Lost Sister
Tracy Clark-Flory, journalist and essayist who wrote My Mother's Daughter, recounts searching for the sister her mother gave up in 1965. The conversation moves between 1960s adoption practices and present-day DNA reunions. Listens to archival voices, explores racial disparities, and describes the emotional first contact and how uncovering the past reshaped her family story.
May 7, 2026 • 55min
We're Living Online. Our Bodies Are Paying the Price
Manoush Zomorodi, journalist and author of Body Electric, explores how constant screen time affects bodies and minds. She describes research on brief movement breaks, eyesight and hearing changes, focus-draining notifications, sleep habits, and the value of silence, boredom, and long walks. Practical, science-backed strategies for reclaiming bodily awareness and making movement part of daily life are highlighted.
May 7, 2026 • 55min
Low-Income Adults with Disabilities Stand to Lose SSI Benefits Under Proposed Trump Administration Rule
Eric Harris, Disability Rights California leader fighting for civil rights and services. Kristen Pedersen, The Arc San Francisco director focusing on housing and supports. Eli Hager, ProPublica reporter covering poverty and disability policy. They discuss a proposed SSI rule change, who would be affected, why family living matters, and the possible ripple effects for services and institutionalization.
May 6, 2026 • 55min
Could a ‘Plastic Detox’ Help With Health and Fertility?
Shanna Swan, renowned researcher on endocrine disruptors and reproductive health. Monique Tavares, Bay Area business owner who tried a three-month plastic reduction firsthand. Jasmine McDonald, epidemiologist studying cosmetics and environmental justice. They discuss a documentary pilot where couples cut plastics, which chemicals and products matter most, practical swaps and barriers, and what small behavior changes might reveal about health and fertility.
May 6, 2026 • 55min
What Did Mapping The Genome Get Us?
Philip Ball, science writer and former Nature editor, offers concise perspective on gene regulation and how genomics reshaped biology. Fyodor Urnov, UC Berkeley professor and gene‑editing researcher, discusses genomic medicine and CRISPR successes. They explore Venter’s impact, the shift from genome-as-blueprint thinking, clinical sequencing for diagnosis, and realistic limits and wins of gene editing.
