Episodios

  • Historian Jarvis Givens on Who Made Black History

    Historian Jarvis Givens on Who Made Black History
    Feb 2 2026
    This February marks 100 years of celebrating Black History month, which began as just a week in 1926. Now, as political efforts to scrub Black history from American classrooms intensify, historian and California native Jarvis Givens joins us to talk about his new book, “I’ll Make Me a World: The 100-Year Journey of Black History Month.” Givens says the act of preserving Black stories has always been political, always been about power, and always been a tool for liberation. Has learning Black history shaped the way you see America? Guests: Jarvis Givens, professor of African and African American studies, Harvard University. His new book is "I’ll Make a World: The 100-Year Journey of Black History Month." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    55 m
  • Hearing Aids Work. So Why Don’t More People Wear Them?

    Hearing Aids Work. So Why Don’t More People Wear Them?
    Feb 2 2026
    Stigma. Discomfort. High pitched feedback. These are some reasons that people opt out of wearing hearing aids. Yet, hearing loss has been linked to dementia and social isolation, and one-third of Americans aged 70 and older suffer from the condition. Even young people are not immune: 20% of Gen Z suffers from noise-induced hearing problems. We talk about innovations in treating hearing loss. Have you resisted wearing a hearing aid? Guests: Nicholas S. Reed, adjunct associate professor, otolaryngology, NYU Grossman School of Medicine, Reed is an audiologist and epidemiologist who has studied the links between hearing loss and dementia Christopher Null, technology journalist, He covers hearing aids for WIRED Dr. Konstantina Stankovic, ear and skull base surgeon and auditory neuroscientist, Stanford Medical School. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    55 m
  • How Do You Friction-Maxx?

    How Do You Friction-Maxx?
    Jan 30 2026
    “Friction-maxxing,” a term coined by The Cut columnist Kathryn Jezer-Morton, is the art of adding more inconvenience to our lives —as technology pushes us to eliminate it. That might look like taking the bus to the grocery store instead of DoorDashing meals. Or asking a stranger for directions rather than checking Google Maps. It means putting ourselves in contact with the world, with all of the vulnerability and unpredictability that entails. We’ll talk with Jezer-Morton and tech journalists about how doing things the hard way can bring us more joy, serendipity and human connection. How do you friction-maxx? Guests: Morgan Sung, host, "Close All Tabs" podcast - available on KQED's "Political Breakdown" feed Stephen Council, tech reporter, SFGATE Kathryn Jezer-Morton, columnist, The Cut, New York Magazine; author, "The Story of Your Life: How Social Media Shapes the Way We Experience Everything" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    55 m
  • Are Social Media Companies Responsible for Screen Addiction in Kids?

    Are Social Media Companies Responsible for Screen Addiction in Kids?
    Jan 30 2026
    For years, experts, educators and parents have sounded alarms about the dangers of kids spending too much time on screens and now, artificial intelligence could make some apps even more addicting. A trial started this week in a Los Angeles court on a lawsuit against Meta and YouTube that claims social media companies are responsible for the harmful effects of screen addiction on minors. Nearly a thousand similar cases are expected to go to trial this year nationwide. We’ll talk about the lawsuits, consequences of social media addiction in the age of AI and efforts to hold companies accountable. Guests: Cecilia Kang, tech reporter, The New York Times; author, "An Ugly Truth: Inside Facebook's Battle for Domination" Catherine Price, health and science journalist; author, "How to Break Up With Your Phone" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    55 m
  • How Prop 50 and Governor’s Race Are Shaping Early Midterm Projections

    How Prop 50 and Governor’s Race Are Shaping Early Midterm Projections
    Jan 29 2026
    The 2026 midterm elections may be in November, but they’re top of mind for California voters who will elect a new governor this year and who passed Proposition 50 last fall – redrawing congressional districts to favor Democrats in their bid to retake the House. We look at how redistricting is shaking out in races across the state. And we examine whether Democrats have gained an edge nationally as new polling shows voters souring on Trump’s immigration and economic agenda, but concerns about election interference mount. What races are you watching? Guests: Guy Marzorati, correspondent, KQED's California Politics and Government Desk Erin Covey, editor, U.S. House of Representatives coverage for The Cook Political Report Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    55 m
  • Are We 'Overinvested' in Our Kids?

    Are We 'Overinvested' in Our Kids?
    Jan 29 2026
    There is near consensus on one facet of American life these days: parenting is hard. In surveys, most parents report being exhausted. Parenting is central to our identities and we do what academics describe as “intensive parenting.” We’re giving it all to our children, and broadly expected to do so. And yet… in new book, Overinvested, sociologist Nina Bandejl argues that the data shows that how we’re doing child-rearing in this country has led to worsening outcomes for parents, kids, and society at large. Guests: Nina Bandelj, chancellor's professor in the department of sociology, UC Irvine; author, "Overinvested: The Emotional Economy of Modern Parenting" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    55 m
  • What's the Endgame in DHS Brutality?

    What's the Endgame in DHS Brutality?
    Jan 28 2026
    The fatal shooting of Alex Pretti on Saturday, the second U.S. citizen killed by federal agents in Minneapolis this month, is drawing bipartisan outrage. Many Americans are questioning the broader purpose of the deadly tactics and the Trump Administration’s defense of agents’ conduct. Meanwhile, Senate Democrats say they’ll block DHS funding, which could lead to a government shutdown, as calls for the impeachment of DHS Secretary Kristi Noem grow. We discuss the guardrails that could keep our democracy safe and we want to hear from you: What do you think is the administration’s endgame, and what could make the violence stop? Guests: Zack Beauchamp, senior correspondent, Vox - covering challenges to democracy and right-wing populism; author, "The Reactionary Spirit" Claudia Grisales , congressional correspondent, NPR Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    55 m
  • China’s Push for Renewable Energy is Good for the Planet, but Maybe Not for the U.S.

    China’s Push for Renewable Energy is Good for the Planet, but Maybe Not for the U.S.
    Jan 28 2026
    At Davos, Donald Trump claimed that China doesn’t use wind energy, or in his words, “windmills.” He could not be more wrong. In 2024, China accounted for 40% of the globe’s wind energy generation and in 2025, over a quarter of China’s energy came from wind and solar power. As the U.S. reverts to coal, gas and oil for its energy needs, China is emerging as the world leader in renewables. We talk about whether the U.S. will be left irrevocably behind by Trump’s energy policy and what it all means for California’s renewable energy industry. Guests: Jeremy Wallace, professor of China Studies, Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS); author, "China Lab" newsletter; author of recent WIRED article, "China’s Renewable Energy Revolution Is a Huge Mess That Might Save the World" Mark Jacobson, professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Stanford University; author, "Still No Miracles Needed: How Today's Technology Can Save Our Climate and Clean Our Air" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
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    55 m