KQED's Perspectives

Working in medicine forces Brian Smith to confront mortality, but advice from a patient helps him cope on darker days.

When Susan Chang witnessed a person in need, she learned the importance of being an active bystander.

A generous man bent the arc of Michael Wright’s life many years ago, so he looks to express his gratitude.

Recent East Coast transplant Bianca Datta is learning to love San Francisco – literally one step at a time.

Paul Staley says maybe the ancients had it right about the four elements. But when they collide you get – modern California.

Today is a momentous day here at KQED. Mark Trautwein, editor of Perspectives for the past quarter-century, is retiring. So today, instead of working off the mic, Mark will give his Perspective.

Jonathan Slusher says the pay gap between his company’s executives and its workers is not only bad for employees, its bad for business.

Stewart Florsheim supports a man in his last days and witnesses first hand what California’s End of Life Option Act offers.

Mark Trautwein is retiring as editor of Perspectives, and Mac Clayton looks back on what it was like to work together.

Debbie Duncan says that in the swirl of changing pronouns, the singular they is here to stay.

Immigrant families commonly struggle with language issues and the cultural and personal connections they raise. Larry Lee has this Perspective on his own family.      

The pandemic changed the way a lot of us approach social situations, including Sydney Wanguhu. Y-R Media brings her Perspective.

Trees that almost seemed like members of the family have been victims of our historic winter weather, and Elizabeth Fishel now contemplates the huge space where her live oak once stood.

  Christine Schoefer says farmer’s markets are a feast for the senses and support local, independent agriculture.

These days, hiking involves trudging through a mess of mud. Life is a lot like that. Karina Moreno has this Perspective.

Today honors Cesar Chavez, but to Erik Olvera, his family and friends, every day is a day to honor the farmworker hero.

The cute puppies are adoption favorites at animal shelters, but older dogs with ailments and a story deserve loving homes, too. Leslie Smith has this Perspective.

Using the ‘calm mom voice’ is tough in stressful situations – like when a giant tree falls right in front of you and the kids. Laura Smith Borrman has this Perspective.

Many hard-working families are just one illness or bad break away from poverty. When it happened to high schooler Si Yan, he stepped up and learned the value of selflessness along the way.

Objects are just objects, until they become part of a story, and then they’re not just an object anymore. CJ Hirschfield has this story about her father’s typewriter.

Katherine Thompson says that the Bay Area culture is providing the kind of uplifting empathy and support for trans youth that others do not.      

There is a season for everything, and Marilyn Englander says that includes friendships.

San Francisco is a great city, but petty crime is tarnishing the quality of life here. Andrew Lewis has this Perspective.

When your shoes follow you into the house, they bring more than you with them. Richard Swerdlow has this Perspective.

Peter Ferenbach has this look at the costs of the Iraq war, in lives and treasure.