KQED's Forum

Adoption is frequently cited, particularly among those opposed to abortion, as a solution to an unwanted pregnancy. But in fact, fewer than one in ten people denied abortion care chooses to put their child up for adoption, according to UCSF studies. We’ll explore why, and we’ll hear from women who did choose adoption about their experiences.

Guests:

Angie Swanson-Kyriaco, birth mother; executive director, MPower Alliance

Gretchen Sisson, sociologist in the department of obstetrics and gynecology and reproductive sciences, UCSF

Ashley Morales, birth mother; program administrative assistant, La Selva, an outpatient behavioral health treatment program

Susan Dusza Guerra Leksander, birth mother; agency and clinical director, Pact, an adoption alliance

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California reported more than 1,100 probable or confirmed cases of monkeypox on Tuesday, a day after Governor Newsom declared a public health state of emergency to address the rapid spread of the disease in the state. Monkeypox, which spreads through close physical contact, has disproportionately affected gay and bisexual men, and LGBTQ activists are protesting the long wait times and limited availability of vaccines in many California counties. We’ll take your questions about monkeypox, the state response and how best to stay protected.

Guests:

Dr. Peter Chin-Hong M.D., Infectious Disease specialist, UCSF Medical Center

Scott Wiener, California state senator, representing San Francisco

Tom Temprano, political director, Equality California, an LGBTQ+ rights advocacy organization

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Inflation has driven prices skyward for all kinds of goods from gas to home goods. Even grocery store staples like cereal, milk and eggs have seen price hikes. While big chain brands might be able to weather these increases better, independent retailers are feeling these costs much more sharply. We’ll talk to local grocers from around the Bay Area to hear how they are dealing with the impact of inflation on their businesses and communities.

Guests:

Chi Dixon, marketing and communications manager, Berkeley Bowl

Eric Liittschwager, independent operator of the Grocery Outlet in the Mission in San Francisco

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Landscape irrigation accounts for about half of residential water use in California, according to state data. That’s leading some drought-conscious residents to consider tearing up their lawns in favor of less water-intensive gardens. We’ll talk about how to embark on removing your lawn and the plants, grasses and trees you might consider replacing it with.

Guests:

Flora Grubb, owner, Flora Grubb Gardens in San Francisco

Shawn Maestretti, founder and principal, Studio Petrichor - a landscape architectural design firm

Caitlin Hernández, LA explained reporter, KPCC-LAist

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A violent civil war has raged in Ethiopia for nearly two years, claiming 500,000 lives and displacing millions. Despite the current ceasefire, humanitarian aid is struggling to reach those who need it, leaving millions more at risk of starvation. Watching from afar, the Bay Area community of Ethiopians are trying to raise awareness about the crisis abroad. But the divisions between ethnic groups in Ethiopia are also finding their way closer to home. We’ll discuss the situation abroad and here in the Bay Area with members of local Ethiopian activist groups.

Guests:

Esayas Hailemariam, legal scholar; member and leader, Global Society Tigrayan Scholars

Hanna Tamrat, co-organizer, San Francisco Bay Area Amhara Ethiopians

Robael Gizachew, leader, Bay Area Oromo Youth Association

Laetitia Bader, Horn of Africa director, Human Rights Watch

Adey Hagos, founder, Cafe Romanat

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Popular cryptocurrencies have plunged in 2022: both Bitcoin and Ethereum have lost about half their value since the first of the year, and Dogecoin has fallen by more 90% since its peak in 2021. But while wealthy and early crypto investors have weathered the downturn, smaller players have fared less well, revealing what New York Times fintech reporter David Yaffe-Bellany calls "a yawning divide." We talk about the crypto collapse and hear from you, if you're a crypto investor: about how has the downturn affected you.

Guests:

David Yaffe-Bellany, reporter, New York Times - who covers cryptocurrencies and fintech

Edwardo Jackson, founder, BlacksinBitcoin - He's also founder of the defi token CD3D

Moorari Shah, partner, Sheppard Mullin

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Polls show that roughly a quarter of Americans are dieting. That’s despite research showing that very few people succeed in losing weight and keeping it off over time. A new Bloomberg podcast, Losing It, investigates the myths and realities of nutritional science and the power of the dieting industry. Forum talks with the podcast creators about the invention of the calorie as a weight loss tool, the branding of the South Beach Diet, and the complex relationship between health and the numbers on the scale.

Guests:

Kristen V. Brown, editor, Losing It - a Bloomberg podcast

Emma Court, host and reporter, Losing It - a Bloomberg podcast

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Researchers estimate that as many as half of pregnancies in the United States were not planned and roughly one in five pregnancies ends in an abortion. With the U.S. Supreme Court’s reversal of Roe v. Wade and the end of the federal right to an abortion, many sexual health educators and advocates are calling to enhance reproductive education – for people of all ages. Advocates say prevention and education can help people take charge of their reproductive health, but in many states sex education in schools is limited and under attack. We’ll talk about the state of sex ed in a post-Roe America.

Guests:

Shafia Zaloom, author, "Sex, Teens and Everything in Between: The New and Necessary Conversations Today's Teenagers Need to Have about Consent, Sexual Harassment, Healthy Relationships, Love, and More;" health educator, Urban School in San Francisco

Christopher Pepper, health educator, San Francisco Unified School District

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Even as we’re seeing more on-screen depictions of disability in films like “CODA” and “Sound of Metal,” the number of disabled people behind the camera remains low. That affects what stories are told — and their accuracy. As disabled artists push for more opportunities to tell their stories — on film, in visual art and through dance — we’ll talk with some in California who are advancing the cultural landscape of disability storytelling. We want to hear from you: What stories would you like to see told?

Our thanks to Cathleen Riddley for ASL interpretation and Sherri Patti for live transcription during this hour.

Guests:

Nasreen Alkhateeb, filmmaker based in Los Angeles

Alison O'Daniel, visual artist and filmmaker based in Los Angeles and San Francisco

Antoine Hunter (AKA Purple Fire Crow), director, producer and choreographer based in Oakland; founder, Urban Jazz Dance Company and Bay Area International Deaf Dance Festival

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Former presidential candidate Andrew Yang together with dozens of other Democratic and Republican politicians announced on Wednesday that they're launching Forward, a new political party designed to appeal to centrists. But historically, third political parties have gained little traction in the United States. We'll talk about why and what could be different this time. And we'll hear from you: Would you support a third political party? What would it stand for?

Guests:

Eric Schickler, co-director, Institute of Governmental Studies at UC Berkeley

Mindy Romero, founder and director, Center for Inclusive Democracy, formerly the California Civic Engagement Project - a non-partisan research center at the University of Southern California

Tina Nguyen, national correspondent and founding partner, Puck

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