Crosscurrents

Mehool Sanghrajka isn't your typical tech CEO. To start with, his worldview is grounded in ancient Indian philosophy — one which inspires him to serve not just his close-knit religious community, but extends to people he's never met.

Today, we hear from a nun who reflects on her lifelong spiritual quest for social justice, and what it means to live a complex and meaningful life in modern America. Then, we will revisit a story from our Hey Area series, delving into why the width of BART's train tracks matters to riders. And, East Bay novelist Allison Larkin reads from her new book. Plus, today's local music features Santa Rosa musician Tru Lyric. He’s performing this Friday night at SOMO Village in Rohnert Park.

Get your headphones ready, today’s show is all about sound. We’ll visit a laboratory where the sounds of indoor spaces are designed. Then, we keep our ears open as we head outside. For today’s throwback we have two stories from our Audiophiles series. We profiled Bay Area residents who are deeply involved in the world of sound. The series was the brainchild of Martina Castro, whose voice you’ll be hearing later on in the show.

COVID-19 stopped people around the world from gathering for over a year. There’s a lot of talk about the toll this has taken on our collective mental health. Especially for people who are grieving and can’t access comforting rituals. Years ago in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 38-year old Noe Kasali helped survivors of the Ebola epidemic grieve their losses. When they weren’t allowed to attend in-person burials, Kasali relied on his faith, innovation and his own experiences to help people heal.

Today on Crosscurrents, we will hear about a musical dedicated to the work of Nobel Prize winning biochemist Jennifer Doudna. Then up next we'll break down the science of her work with author Walter Isaacson. And, then we'll hear from author Stefan Salinas as he explores grief through cartoons.

The San Francisco Unified School District board had planned to cover up a controversial mural at George Washington High after heated debates in 2019, but a California Superior Court ruled that they have to leave it as is until they submit a plan for an environmental impact review. In this story, we hear from parents and students about SFUSD's decision and we dig into the history of the work.

Today for Throwback Thursday, we’ll meet a cellist who multiplies her sound to create a one person orchestra. Then, we’ll meet KALW’s new Friday night music DJ, J Boogie. And, author Lyndsey Ellis talks about grief and healing in her novel "Bone Broth."

California’s utility giant PGE has committed to burying ten thousand miles of power lines in rural areas. We’ll hear from Paradise Mayor Steve Crowder about how he thinks that could help protect towns like his. Then, we’ll meet KALW’s new late night Wednesday DJ LadyRyan. And, when someone is sent to prison, how do they figure out all the little do’s and don'ts?

The California Gold Rush petered out in the mid 1800s, but it never quite ended... In the latest from our @Work series, we meet modern-day gold miners. Then, we hear about the history of an unusual Gold Rush era meal and, in a story from California Foodways, we hunt for a place where you can order it today.

It’s been 31 years since the Americans with Disabilities Act was signed. Today, we’ll hear how Berkeley protesters helped bring about the ADA. Then, San Francisco author activist Alice Wong brings readers personal stories from people with disabilities.