KQED's Forum

When punk rock thrashed through the Bay Area in the 70s and 80s, there were some venues that became iconic hubs, like Mabuhay Gardens in San Francisco and Berkeley’s Gilman street. But in rural Sonoma country, the scene was cobbled together in backyards, barns, and from fields with very long extension cords. Growing up in Santa Rosa, KQED’s arts and culture editor Gabe Meline was both a part of the punk scene and an obsessive collector of its flyers, zines, cassettes and ephemera. He’s now guest curated a new exhibit at the Museum of Sonoma County, Disturbing the Peace: Sonoma County’s Early Punk Underground. We talk to Meline — and check in those in punk scenes of other Bay Area towns — about the music and ethos of punk and why this young DIY movement against authority is so relevant now.

Guests:

Gabe Meline, senior editor, KQED Arts & Culture

Mike Park, owner, Asian Man Records - an independent label based in San Jose; member of the ska-punk band Skankin' Pickle in the 1980s and 90s

Matthew Kadi, photographer and drummer. His band Monster Squad started in Vacaville in 1997 and is still playing shows

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What is consciousness for, and why did it evolve? Can we change our “default” consciousness? These are some of the questions that Michael Pollan says began to preoccupy him after his first psychedelic experience, which altered his ordinary consciousness so profoundly that he wanted to learn everything he could about the mysteries of sentience, thought and selfhood. We talk to him about what he uncovered and challenges of studying a phenomenon that he says we’ll never understand completely. Pollan’s new book is “A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness.”

Guests:

Michael Pollan, author, "A World Appears: A Journey Into Consciousness"; professor emeritus, UC Berkeley Graduate School of Journalism; his other books include "In Defense of Food," "The Omnivore's Dilemma" and "How to Change Your Mind"

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San Francisco-based, Ethiopian-born singer-songwriter Meklit Hadero and her band join us live in the studio to play from her new album, “A Piece of Infinity.” The album reimagines folk songs from across Ethiopia, blending her signature Ethio-jazz style with R&B, synth and other genres. We’ll talk about the stories the album tells and bask in her rich, expressive vocals.

Guests:

Meklit Hadero, Ethio-Jazz singer and composer

Sam Bevan, upright bass

Colin Douglas, drums

Howard Wiley, tenor saxophone

Kibrom Berhane, keyboard and krar

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An estimated one in eight Americans has now tried a GLP-1 medication like Ozempic or Wegovy: to lose weight, manage diabetes or experiment with anecdotal, off-label benefits. Yet GLP-1s can be hard to talk about — whether you want to ask someone if they take one, respond if you do, or discuss weight without dredging up unhealthy diet discourse. We’ll hear how you’re navigating these conversations in the age of GLP-1s. Tell us: How are GLP-1s showing up in your world?

Guests:

Diana Thiara, medical director, UCSF Weight Loss Management Program

Whitney Casares, pediatrician; author, “Raising Body-Confident Kids” and “My One-Of A-Kind Body: The Ultimate Guide to Caring for Me”

Angela Corral, senior editor, KQED’s The California Report; she has been been taking a GLP-1 for almost 2 years

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Oakland based art-pop band Tune-Yards is widely loved for their complex and funky rhythms, layers of sound, thrillingly dynamic vocals, and thought provoking lyrics. The duo, Merrill Garbus and Nate Brenner, have just released a new album, “Better Dreaming,” praised by critics as highly danceable and jubilant while, as always, grappling with the state of the world. Merrill Garbus joins us in the studio for a new album listening party and to demonstrate how she creates her powerhouse sound.

Guests:

Merrill Garbus, singer, musician, Tune-Yards - newest album is "Better Dreaming"

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After a century-long absence, gray wolves are returning to California. Biologists estimate some 70 wolves are living in the state, and recently, a female wolf traveled into Los Angeles County, the first such sighting. But their comeback is not without controversy. Ranchers in rural counties say they’re losing livestock to predation, while conservationists say the wolves bring ecological benefits as they reclaim part of their historic range. How do you think the state should manage our wolves?

Guests:

Kaggie Orrick, director, California Wolf Project, UC Berkeley

Paul Roen, Sierra County supervisor; manager, Sierra Valley Ranch

Beth Pratt, executive director for the California region, National Wildlife Federation

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For people of Mexican descent, mariachi music is synonymous with milestones such as weddings, birthday parties, funerals or maybe just Saturday-morning chores. The genre, which originated in the 18th century in the western state of Jalisco, has morphed into one of Mexico’s most beloved styles of music that is now popular worldwide. In California, more high schools and colleges such as San Jose State have added mariachi music programs. Mariachi San Jose, an ensemble of college students, joins us in studio for a special live performance ahead of the Fourth Annual Fiesta del Mariachi. We’ll talk about mariachi’s growing popularity and the local ensembles that keep the genre strumming in the Bay.

Guests:

José R. Torres-Ramos, assistant professor of ethnomusicology, San Jose State University; director, Mariachi San Jose

Debra Barrera, violin, Mariachi San Jose

Anthony Cera, trumpet, Mariachi San Jose

Abril Dorado, violin, Mariachi San Jose

Jorge Dovalina, vihuela, Mariachi San Jose

Thomas Hernández, harp, Mariachi San Jose

Cameron Samayoa, guitarrón, Mariachi San Jose

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During his second term, President Trump has taken aim at DEI initiatives across the federal government, a focus that has been embraced by his cabinet. Deriding “affirmative action promotions,” Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth directly intervened to block the promotions of more than a dozen Black and women officers. The Atlantic’s Clint Smith recently reported on those snubs and how the Pentagon’s history of prominent Black service members has been scrubbed from public view; he joins us to share their stories.

Guests:

Clint Smith, poet and staff writer, The Atlantic; his recent article is "Being Black in Pete Hegseth's Military"; his books include "Above Ground" and "How the Word is Passed"

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Thirty years ago, a cowboy doll and a space ranger taught a generation that the toys in our closets might have inner lives of their own. Pixar’s beloved gang returns in Toy Story 5 — and this time, the threat to playtime isn’t a rival toy or a forgetful kid heading off to college. It’s the glowing rectangle in every child’s hands: a tablet. We’ll hear from the film’s co-director Kenna Harris and its producer Lindsey Collins about the joys and challenges of reviving this beloved franchise.

Guests:

Kenna Harris, co-director and co-screenwriter, "Toy Story 5"

Lindsey Collins, producer, "Toy Story 5"

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What happens when an ordinary dinner party becomes a reckoning for a marriage? That question drives “The Invite,” a new film directed by and starring Olivia Wilde. The film follows a couple whose tense evening with their transgressive upstairs neighbors forces them to confront questions about desire, jealousy and whether it’s possible to have a new relationship with the same person. We’ll talk with Wilde and co-star Edward Norton about their six-week workshopping process, working with relationship expert Esther Perel and the freedom to improvise and shape a story whose ending audiences are already debating.

Guests:

Edward Norton, actor, "The Invite"

Olivia Wilde, actor and director, "The Invite"

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