Crosscurrents is KALW Public Radio's award-winning news magazine, broadcasting in the Bay Area Mondays through Thursdays on 91.7 FM. We make joyful, informative stories that engage people across the economic, social, and cultural divides in our community.
This Sunday marks 83 years of KALW broadcasting in the Bay Area. Today, a quick look back at what we’ve been up to. Then, we hear from an Oakland sports superfan about the departure of the A’s. And, it's almost the end of Trans History Month but people from the community are still unsure what it means.
Some Oaklanders want their elected officials to be recalled, but others are pushing back. An Oaklandside reporter shows us what’s driving two high profile recall campaigns. Then, we hear how conspiracy theories are dividing local families, through the story of a mother and son.
Today we learn about a local program protecting vulnerable residents from the growing threat of wildfire smoke. Then, a preview of the next episode of How Wild.
Gospel music has a special place in the Black Church. In this episode, we visit a choir that opens its doors to all people, from all races, faith or no faith. Then, we head to the desert and spend time with a group of Christians at Burning Man in a story from our series, The Intersection.
Today, we’re launching a new series by KALW's own Angie Coiro: "Book It!" In the series, we’ll hear from Bay Area authors about stories set in California across time and genre. In this episode, Noir author Scott Phillips talks about his new book set in the earliest days of Hollywood.
When we say "wilderness," we aren't necessarily talking about land that was always uninhabited. Today it’s the next episode of our new series, How Wild. Then, we learn what Project 2025 says with its immigration policy, and how it is heavily ‘inspired’ by California.
Vice President Kamala Harris was the first woman and the first person of color to serve as the City's district attorney. And, she had a reputation for being tough on crime. Now, her politics are once again being scrutinized on the national stage and the country wants to know: Who’s the real Kamala?
In this episode, we revisit The Oakland A’s glory years and consider their future. It’s the next episode of Foul Ball. Then, we go backstage with an Oakland singer right before their first Stern Grove performance. And, a reading from Sonoma County author Bridget Quinn.
Today, we meet a woman who overcame her fear to start a new career in beekeeping. And we hear how she’s bringing along the next generation. Then, a chaplain uses beekeeping to wrestle with questions of life and death. And, we speak with a writer that wants Black women to travel as much as possible.
America’s wilderness is changing. But what does wilderness even mean? In today's episode we begin unpacking that question with the first episode of our new series "How Wild." Then, we hear how a UC Berkeley Linguist is fighting for American Spanish.
South Sudan’s Olympic basketball team surprised the world. Today, we hear how their diaspora community in the Bay was celebrating alongside them. Then, how food can inspire more than an appetite.
Break dancing is making its Olympic debut this weekend and there are some mixed feelings about it. In today's episode we break it down with local dancers. Then, a singer-songwriter from South Texas looks back at his early days in the Bay Area. And, a new podcast asks, “what actually is wilderness?”
August is Transgender History Month, so today we'll hear the story of transgender immigrant and organizer Anjali Rimi, who says moving to San Francisco was life changing. Then, a drag performer tells us how transgender queens have been othered. And, from San Francisco StoryCorps, a piece on telling someone who you really are. With local music from the New Voices Bay Area TIGQ Chorus.
There’s a new community event venue near Oakland’s Jack London Square, but it’s hidden. We spend a day at Oakland Secret. Then, why are firefighters burning out? We hear about their growing mental health crisis. And, we hear from mayoral hopeful, Daniel Lurie.
COVID-19 is on the rise in The Bay Area so in today's episode we get an update from a UCSF infectious disease specialist. Then, we hear how abalone went from a staple on Bay Area menus to a rare delicacy. And, we learn how scientists are protecting wild abalone after a landslide destroyed their habitat.
The Bay Area’s newest women’s soccer team is in the middle of their first season. Today, we spend a day on the soccer pitch with Bay FC. Then, we take a look at the budget behind the Oakland A’s proposed move to Las Vegas. And, one baseball fan takes us down memory lane.
In this episode, we revist a story from our series Finding Home. Today, a mom shares her story about how her struggle to pay for childcare led to her family losing their home and how having a crime on her record made it that much harder to rebuild her life. What it takes to stop the spiral into homelessness.
July is Disability Pride Month and today we’re exploring autism through an episode of The Stoop podcast, hosted by KALW's Hana Baba and Leila Day. When we think about autism diagnosis, we often think about kids. But when you're Black, a lot of the time you won't know you're autistic until you're all grown up.
Today, why some teens are turning to artificial intelligence for therapy. Then, we meet the Bay Area Olympic swimmer who’s not competing on Team USA. And, a novel set in Oakland’s Fruitvale neighborhood gets real about some of the challenges teens face today. Plus, a reading from our pocket sized book tour, New Arrivals.
In this episode of Crosscurrents, we hear why the Oakland A’s plan to move to Las Vegas has some skeptics. It’s the next episode of Foul Ball. Then, we meet Uncuffed Producer Greg Eskridge the morning of his release. And, we hear a poem on police brutality from KALW's open mic night.
Oakland Mayor Sheng Thao is under a federal investigation. Today, an Oaklandside reporter talks about what we know so far. Then, we hear the deep thoughts and feelings of a teenager with apraxia. And, we hear how a blind woodworker helps other visually impaired artists feel comfortable in the woodshop.
In this episode, we meet a woman who teaches blind people how to get around in the world. Then, with Oakland's literary festival Beast Crawl coming up this weekend, we revisit a conversation with co-founder Paul Corman Roberts. He reflects on his poetry and it's purpose.
Every two years the Bay Area conducts a count of people experiencing homelessness to get funding for services for them. In this episode, we take a look at how the 'Point-In-Time count' works and examine how effective it is. Then, the story of someone living with a disability who found joy in sports.
Can the past inform us about the assassination attempt on former President Trump? We look back at a bloody year in American politics. Then, why did an artist create 15 foot tall cat monoliths? And, we learn about the challenges and joys of living with disabilities.
Today, an Oakland singer shares her excitement about her upcoming performance at Stern Grove. Then, why one visual artist created an infinity box. And, a celebrated deaf-blind lawyer fights popular assumptions about disability.
The Bayview-Hunters Point Coastline is currently being developed into a chain of parks. Today on Crosscurrents, how Free swim lessons are connecting kids with water. Then, we break down the stereotypes about Black people and swimming. And, a Burning Man artist talks about his time at Black Rock city.
What kind of care does someone get in San Francisco if they have a mental health emergency? In this episode, a look at the city's policies when people are in crisis with SF Public Press reporters. Then, a Burning Man artist shares his work. And we meet a group trying to make Black Rock City more accessible.
This Stoop episode is an ode to Black men's voices. Celebrating some of the voices that soothe, excite, or give us a sense of being grounded. Black men’s voices have symbolized comfort, affection, and authority in pop culture. We also meet voice actor and writer Kingsley Okafor of the group that became a viral sensation: Bearded Black Men Reading.
In this episode of Crosscurrents, we hear how tending to our mental health can be tough when it feels like the world is on fire. Today, we dig into the psychological impacts of climate change. Then, the history of one local wildlife haven. It's a conversation and a story about taking care of ourselves and the natural world.
Today on Crosscurrents, we learn how cement and concrete produce almost as much carbon dioxide as cars. We bring you a story that exlpores the climate issues with our most used building material. Then, we learn how high school suspension rules in California have changed to protect students.
