Crosscurrents

Sheryl Kaskowitz's latest book is about a secret government folk music program that was part of FDR New Deal during the Great Depression.

What if your mom played basketball from high school, to college, and then for the WNBA. And what if as their kid, basketball wasn’t really your thing? That is reporter Audy McAfee’s story. She dug into her mother’s basketball history and found out what an O.G. baller she was. 

A Bay Area program is helping fearful flyers get back into the sky. Today, a young woman confronts her fear of flying. Then, poetry that soars above the ground.

Over 25 million Americans share a fear of flying. One program in the Bay Area is helping nervous flyers get into the sky.

The Berkeley Rose Garden is a beautiful place, but did you know it was built during FDR’s “New Deal” in the ‘30s? Things built through this program are still all around us today — if you know where to look. Then, a new documentary about the people who study a mammal we don’t often see. The Bay Area animals and infrastructure hiding in plain sight.

The New Deal was created more than 90 years ago to help the U.S. recover from the Great Depression. This first episode of " The Public Works " a series from reporter Sheryl Kaskowitz, looks at how the New Deal has shaped public space in the Bay Area and remains part of our everyday lives.

Little Brown Bats are facing a disease that is pushing them to extinction. Filmmaker Kristin Tièche followed a group of female scientists working to save brown bats, in her new documentary " The Invisible Mammal ." 

Today we’re going on a special tour of San Francisco. We’ll visit four unique spots that have a lot of history, and staying power. Each of these legacy institutions were featured in Alec Scott’s 2023 book, “Oldest San Francisco.” And they were reported last fall by KALW’s Audio Academy.

Monday, September 1st 1941 KALW began broadcasting regularly to the Bay Area. So today we’re taking a look back — and talking about where we are going. It’s KALW’s birthday and you’re all invited!

Today, we go inside the intense world of Major League Table Tennis, with a four-time Olympian who's remembering why she loves the game. Then, the band Oakland Rising brings uplifting music to the Kennedy Center. And, some readings from Bay Area authors.

Major League Table Tennis is opening its third season this September 5th at the Alameda County Fairgrounds. And one decorated Bay Area athlete is helping lead the charge for the sport to be taken seriously. 

Naima , August Lee Stevens , and B DeVeaux , are the young singers and songwriters who make up the trio Oakland Rising. Their music lifts people’s spirits, through their positive lyrics and beautiful voices. And they remind us of one of Oakland’s precious treasures: its culture. 

Here are some readings from our series New Arrivals, a pocket-sized book tour with Bay Area authors. Today we're featuring local fiction writers: Nina Skylar, Ellen Barker, and Brittany Newell.

Karaoke enthusiasts are building community in niche spaces. Then, the debate around SF’s neighborhood rezoning proposal. And, the social justice legacy of Bay Area Filipinos.

Earlier this year, San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie unveiled his “Family Zoning” proposal. The plan would rezone certain neighborhoods to allow for increased density - including more commercial properties and additional housing. KALW’s State of the Bay recently dug into the plan with Lori Brooke, who is the co-founder of Neighborhoods United SF. A group that opposes the plan. And Laura Foote, Foun...

San Francisco's Filipino community has a long history of leading and participating in social justice movements. Now, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts is honoring this history in the exhibit "MAKIBAKA: A Living Legacy." Trisha Lagaso Goldberg is the exhibit's co-curator. 

Karaoke enthusiasts in the Bay Area are curating venues where music lovers release their feelings in supportive spaces.

Today it's all about Bay Area sports announcers. First, we meet Sophia Jones, the Golden State Valkyries emerging radio star. Then, we remember an iconic sports announcer. 

In the world of Bay Area sports announcers, Bill King is legendary. His heyday overlapped with Oakland’s professional teams. This story first aired in 2017. The Raiders were still playing football, the Warriors were still playing basketball, and the A’s were still playing baseball in Oakland. Here’s KALW’s Executive Producer, Ben Trefny, with this old favorite.

Maybe you’ve heard the phrase save the bees? Well turns out, which bees need saving is kind of a big deal. Today, how we can help save California’s native bees. Then, a Bay Area DJ brings his love for R&B to the Chase Center. And, a reading from our Bay Poets series.

California is home to 1,600 native bees, and yet we are more likely to hear about their non-native counterpart: the honey bee. But gardeners and researchers alike are trying to get the word out about native bees.

The Chase Center has been a fun spot this summer, and that’s not just because of the Valkyries. Every Thursday there's been a music-fueled party happening outside of the arena. It’s called “Thrive at Five.” Bay Area DJ Anthony Midas has been spinning records there all summer. He spoke with KALW’s Jenee Darden about the weekly event and his love for R&B music. 

let’s take it back some 10,000 years with a poem. Here’s Tatiana Luboviski-Acosta reading her poem “Follow the Corn.”

Today, one museum internship emphasizes diversity in science. We’ll visit the Cal Academy "Careers in Science" program. Then, Oakland singer B. DeVeaux talks about their debut neo-soul album, "Chrysalis." And, how art brought a slice of brightness to the incarcerated men at San Quentin.

For many BIPOC students, the fields of STEM can seem out of reach . A program at one San Francisco museum aims to help young people from all backgrounds see themselves as potential scientists.