Battletested with Tanya Acker

After a brief hiatus, The Tanya Acker Show is back with The Art of Deciding series. Every Tuesday and Thursday, Tanya will sit with newsmakers, trendsetters, and leaders of every stripe to talk through the forces that drive their decision making.

New episodes begin this Thursday, May 15th, featuring tariff expert and host of podcast Security Economics, Peter Harrell.

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Today, Tanya discusses the devastating Los Angeles wildfires with New York Times reporter Ivan Penn. They dive into how power grid issues may have contributed to the fires, ongoing investigations, detected electrical faults, and the complexities of power line infrastructure. They also unpack the city's efforts to upgrade the grid and, in turn, respond to increasing wildfire risks amidst climate change.

Tanya interviews Shaye Ogbonna, creator of the Peacock series Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist. They discuss the context behind this 1970s Atlanta story, his advice for aspiring filmmakers, the impact of Issa Rae, and the beauty and representation he was determined to capture in the series.

Tanya and the New York Times bestselling author talk about her latest novel, One of Our Kind, which explores what “community” means and how we see ourselves.

Tanya talks to KBLA White House correspondent Dr. Nii-Quartelai Quartey, author of Kamala, The Motherland and Me, about his trip to Africa with Vice President Kamala Harris and in particular, his visit to Ghana, from where his late father emigrated to America. From that trip came a determination not only to build new relationships between Americans and Africa, but also between Americans and each other.

Vanity Fair Special Correspondent Gabriel Sherman decided to write a movie, The Apprentice, about former President Trump’s early days in New York. Why did Sherman decide to take on such a project? Because he had to.

The Los Angeles Clippers wanted a ring and were closer than ever when they had to confront a dark story that was one of sports’ open secrets. What pressures came to bear and how did they manage them? And what was the domino effect of decisions that forced them to confront what others had long ignored? Tanya talks to ESPN Reporter Ramona Shelburne, host and creator of the podcast The Sterling Affairs and Executive Producer of the FX series, Clipped.

Over the last decade, our Internet experience has become increasingly dictated by algorithms- data-driven equations that try to anticipate (and elicit) our desires. The problem is, they often get it wrong. The math doesn't math.

Kyle Chayka (staff writer,The New Yorker) has written a new book on the subject entitled "Filterworld."

This week, Tanya and Kyle talk about this ever-tightening web woven by algorithms and how we can begin breaking free from it.

Tanya talks to the Emmy Award-winning television show host and best-selling author about her latest novel, Watch Where They Hide, and how she's plotted her own life’s path.

Tanya and the podcaster, journalist, filmmaker and advocate talk about how he is “proof of concept” about the benefits of opportunity and inclusion. Listen as they discuss justifiable fears; not fearing too much; and how to change lives, communities, and cultures - all while growing the tax base!