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
Feb 6, 2026 • 55min
How Bad Bunny Fuses Activism and Global Superstardom
Vanessa Díaz, associate professor and co-founder of the Bad Bunny Syllabus; Petra Rivera-Rideau, American Studies chair and co-founder of the Bad Bunny Syllabus. They explore Bad Bunny's blending of reggaeton with Afro-Puerto Rican rhythms, his role in Puerto Rican protest and Hurricane Maria resilience, his Grammy win and Super Bowl platform, and his outspoken stances on immigration and LGBTQ+ solidarity.
Feb 5, 2026 • 55min
UCSF's Dr. Bob Wachter on AI's Healthcare Transformation
Dr. Robert "Bob" Wachter, UCSF medicine chair and author on AI in healthcare. He discusses generative AI tools like scribes and pocket specialists, AI in imaging and diagnostics, data privacy and HIPAA concerns, bias and scaling inequities, clinician productivity and well‑being, and regulatory and safety guardrails for deploying AI in medicine.
Feb 5, 2026 • 55min
Iran and US Tensions Escalate
Jason Rezaian, former Iran prisoner and press freedoms advocate; Nate Swanson, ex-diplomat and Iran policy strategist; Sahar Razavi, political scientist specializing in Iranian politics. They discuss massive nationwide protests, government repression and casualty counts. They weigh risks of foreign intervention, limits of U.S. leverage, evolving social movements, and what to watch next in negotiations and leadership uncertainty.
Feb 4, 2026 • 55min
Federal Agents Deploy High Tech to Track Protesters
Rachel Levinson-Waldman, civil liberties lawyer focused on surveillance and national security. Sheera Frenkel, NYT tech reporter who covers facial recognition and data practices. They discuss how immigration agencies use facial recognition, license-plate and phone data to identify and track observers. Conversation covers vendor tools, accuracy and bias, DHS data access, and legal and transparency challenges.
Feb 4, 2026 • 55min
SF Public School Teachers Ready for First Strike Since 1979
Jill Tucker, K-12 education reporter with the San Francisco Chronicle, provides background and history. Cassondra Curiel, president of United Educators of San Francisco, advocates for pay, benefits, and special education staffing. Maria Su, superintendent of SFUSD, explains district finances and bargaining stances. They discuss negotiations, fiscal constraints, staffing demands, and what a potential strike would mean for schools and families.
Feb 3, 2026 • 55min
Yewande Komolafe on Disability, Cooking and the Restorative Power of a Good Meal
Yewande Komolafe, New York Times cooking columnist and cookbook author, shares how severe illness and amputation transformed her approach to cooking. She talks about relearning techniques with prosthetics and assistants. Conversations cover the kitchen as refuge, collaborative cooking, memory and comfort foods, and adapting recipes and tools to reclaim agency and joy.
Feb 3, 2026 • 55min
George Saunders Takes on Mortality, Morality and Climate, Comically, in New Novel ‘Vigil’
George Saunders, Pulitzer-winning novelist and Syracuse professor, discusses his new comic novel Vigil. He frames a fallen angel comforting an unrepentant oil tycoon to explore climate, mortality, and moral responsibility. Short, lively conversation touches on gentleness versus accountability, cultural denial of death, bedside presence, and how small acts shape legacy.
Feb 2, 2026 • 55min
Historian Jarvis Givens on Who Made Black History
Jarvis Givens, Harvard professor of African and African American studies and author of I’ll Make a World, explores 100 years of Black History Month. He discusses early classroom memories, how segregated schools preserved Black memory, balancing trauma and agency in teaching, the diasporic roots of Black history, and current fights over removing Black history from classrooms.
Feb 2, 2026 • 55min
Hearing Aids Work. So Why Don’t More People Wear Them?
Christopher Null, tech journalist who reviews hearing aids, explains market shifts and device tradeoffs. Dr. Konstantina Stankovic, ear surgeon and auditory neuroscientist, breaks down inner ear biology and surgical options. Nicholas S. Reed, audiologist and epidemiologist, covers links between hearing loss and cognition. They discuss causes, why devices can frustrate users, OTC vs prescription choices, AI noise reduction, implants, prevention, and access.
23 snips
Jan 30, 2026 • 55min
How Do You Friction-Maxx?
Kathryn Jezer-Morton, columnist who coined "friction-maxxing," argues for reclaiming inconvenient, embodied experiences. Stephen Council, SFGATE tech reporter, shares reporting and personal examples about chatbots and convenience tools. Morgan Sung, pod host and tech critic, examines intentional media use and design that removes friction. They discuss in-person shopping, transit, social skills, tech design, and practical ways to choose inconvenience.
