Crosscurrents

In today's episode, we explore the healing art of storytelling. First, we take a trip to the theater to learn about how Oakland day laborers are taking their stories to the stage, as a way to find freedom and belonging. Then, we hear a new piece from Uncuffed. It's a story about two life long lovers, and how even prison couldn’t keep them apart.

Last week KALW took home three awards from the Public Media Journalists Association. Today we’re re-airing one of those stories — a winner in the Student Narrative Podcast category. It's the story on the “Clean Girl Movement.” We unpack its problems, and get the dirty truth. And, a reading from local author Ginny Kubitz Moyer.

Today, we meet the Oakland parents who fought to keep their neighborhood school from closing last year — the story behind the Parker Community School. Then, we hear how a letter-writing campaign saved a beloved science fiction series. And, we’ll listen to a reading from Oakland author Rita Chang-Eppig.

Today, we hear about how San Francisco’s Drag Queens are taking their show to a different kind of stage — local libraries. We take you behind the scenes of Drag Story Hour. Then, we speak with an illustrator who is reimagining queer icons as superheroes. And, we learn about what it takes to clean up after Pride weekend.

Today, we explore the story behind a sound that serves as a national symbol for LGBTQ+ resistance. Dive into the history of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus. Then, we’ll visit a space in Oakland where queer people of color are getting radically fit. And, professional wrestler Bambina talks about queer representation inside the ring.

The Uncuffed Playlist is the newest prison training program from KALW. It is the first music radio show in the state to be hosted by incarcerated people and available to the public. Participants in this program make an hour-long playlist of their favorite songs and tell stories about how those songs have shaped their lives.Listen to shows from the Uncuffed Playlist on Spotify..

Today, we hear from Black women whose children were killed — often because of failures in our law-enforcement system. We bring you powerful conversations from the Kehinde Wiley exhibit "An Archaeology of Silence" — currently at the de Young museum. Then, we learn about a new Bayview farmer’s market featuring Black owned businesses.

Today, we are taking you Masumoto’s Family Farm is well known — their produce stocks the shelves of popular Bay Area grocers, like San Francisco’s Bi Rite Market and Berkeley Bowl. Less known is the family history of the third generation farmer David Mas Masumoto. And, we hear a reading from Woodland author Reyna Grande.

Today, we hear how the nation’s first cannabis equity program has failed some East Bay businesses, and we learn how the City of Oakland might be able to help. Then, we explore how much it costs to launch a cannabis venture in the Bay Area, anyway. Plus, listen to local music from the Oakland band Van Goat.

Today, we take a trip to East Bay's Codornices Creek. We learn about the different reasons why people are drawn to it and what it takes to restore and maintain an urban waterway. Then, we learn why the Golden Gate chapter of the Audubon Society is dropping the Audubon name. And, we’ll listen to a reading from San Francisco author Lynne Twist.