Crosscurrents

Barbara Lee is Oakland’s new mayor. Today, a conversation about the race and the immediate needs facing her office. Then, a reading from New Arrivals, our pocket-sized book tour. Plus, two famous falcons at Cal Berkeley have not been seen in months. And, how one poet from the east coast became part of San Francisco’s literary history. 

Former Congresswoman Barbara Lee was declared the winner in last week's special election for Oakland’s next mayor. She defeated the strongest of her nine rivals, former City Councilman Loren Taylor, by a close, but comfortable margin.

It’s Climate Week in San Francisco, so next up we’re bring you a reading from New Arrivals, our pocket sized book tour. Poet Luiza Flynn-Goodlett lives in Richmond. Her recent collection of poetry is “ Mud in Our Mouths .” In this reading she highlights the connections between people, planet, and our shared fate.

Peregrine falcons nesting on top of the Campanile at UC Berkeley have become local celebrities. Now, for the first time since their arrival, the birds have not been seen. 

April is National Poetry Month, so here’s some more poetry! To celebrate in proper style Bay Poets has been exploring the Poetry Center at San Francisco State’s archives. Today’s poet was from the East Coast, and also helped shape San Francisco’s literary scene.

Today, we hear about San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s first 100 Days in office from local reporters. Then, we’ll visit a research and design firm that’s spawned over a dozen start-ups for green tech. And, a poem about the entanglements of nature, and humanity.

San Francisco's Mission district is home to Otherlab. Engineers there are working on projects from floating wind turbines to solar powered scooters. And one of it’s biggest focuses is new start ups. You can find Otherlab spin offs around the Bay Area, manufacturing products to fight climate change.

Angel Island provides a compelling setting for a modern Ballet. Then, we discover a museum without walls. And, an East Palo Alto poet on her Louisiana Creole roots.

The Oakland Ballet’s newest performance, the “Angel Island Project," hopes to depict the experiences of Chinese immigrants who were victim to discriminatory travel policies. 

The California Migration Museum doesn't exist in any one space. Instead, they recently launched a catalog of immersive experiences that are entirely digital and portable! You can watch from anywhere, but the real magic is in accessing their self-guided walks while wandering through one of San Francisco’s iconic neighborhoods. The city's storied history comes alive for anyone with a smartphone and...

Have you ever lied to someone because you thought the truth would be too painful for them to hear? Today, it’s a new episode of Uncuffed - the podcast that empowers people in prison to tell their own stories. In this episode the team talks how being honest with your family while you’re still in prison can be both difficult, and rewarding. Uncuffed: Season 4, Ep. 5 - The Truth

When talking about the issue of homelessness, unhoused voices are sometimes left out. Today we hear about lived experience and real solutions. Then, why one member of the original Star Trek cast is still celebrated by Black communities. And, the poet of the International Hotel.

To understand the lived challenges and real solutions unhoused people and their advocates are working for, KALW recently hosted a live panel as part of our Bay Agenda series.

Today, we hear Al Robles reading an excerpt from his poem “Cold Mountain in Chinatown” which he performed at the Poetry Center at San Francisco State on November 10th, 1976. You can watch Al's reading as part of the Poetry Center Digital Archive here !

To understand the challenges and the treasures historical preservation provides, KALW recently hosted a live panel as part of our Bay Agenda series. The night was also a special live recording of the Western Neighborhoods Project “Outside Lands" podcast!

Today, we’ll meet the folks who preserve the people’s history. Then, a Hamlet retelling mixes old themes with modern truths. It's ‘Fat Ham’ at the San Francisco Playhouse. And, stay tuned 'For a Spell.' 

Today, we hear from Greg Eskridge, Uncuffed’s first Leadership Fellow and the host of the show. And Greg is joined by Kelly McEvers, the Storytelling Lead Teacher for Uncuffed’s expansion into the California Institution for Women.

Sonoma County is a big part of the Bay Area’s local food scene. But over the past few months, several small-scale food producers in the county have either closed operations, or moved their headquarters out of state.

It’s our Spring Membership Drive! Today we hear a story about local food production. And, we're joined by members of the Uncuffed team to talk about a very special new episode.

Today, we celebrate a small local publication reaching 30 years in print, Street Spirit! They are a monthly newspaper that reports on and is sold by the east bay unhoused community. We hear from Executive Director Alastair Boone about how they were able to navigate the paper to a successful return to print with community support.

In 2010, Oakland resident Kelly Carlisle was concerned about the health and wellbeing of youth in the city. At the time, Black students were being suspended from school at higher rates than others, and issues of child trafficking were making headlines . Kelly was in search of a solution and a positive outlet for kids. With a few agriculture books and a lemon tree, she decided to start a farm .

Oakland’s mayoral special election has gotten gritty. Today, we hear how in a conversation with The Oaklandside reporter Eli Wolfe. Then, a cartoonist tells the story about a middle-school kid fasting during Ramadan. And, a song for Spring, and soulmates in a new My Mixed Tape from Uncuffed.

Next week, Oakland voters will go to the polls to elect a new mayor. But as the campaigns draw to a close, charges of misinformation and campaign skullduggery are ramping up. 

Author Elizabeth Horner Turner uses the constraints of flash fiction, which are very short stories, to create surreal and sometimes unsettling characters.  New Arrivals: Elizabeth Horner Turner chapbook offers surreal, offbeat flash fictions

From our friends at Sights + Sounds: Oakland cartoonist Wahab Algarmi created the graphic novel “ Almost Sunset .” It’s about a Muslim-American boy in middle school fasting during Ramadan, while struggling to find balance between family, school, and being accepted by his peers.  You can listen to the full interview here: Cartoonist Wahab Algarmi's graphic novel 'Almost Sunset'// Paul McCartney's p...