KQED's Forum

We've all heard that friendship and community is important for our happiness and even our health. But many of us find it harder to make friends, and nurture friendships that we do have, as adults. Forum discusses ways to find new friends and how to forge deeper connections with people who are already in our lives.

With the headline "Harvey Weinstein Paid Off Sexual Harassment Accusers for Decades," New York Times reporters Jodi Kantor and Meghan Twohey broke the story that rocked Hollywood in 2017 and has since rippled across industries. In their new book "She Said," the two veteran journalists provide a behind-the-scenes account of the investigation that won them a Pulitzer Prize and helped spur the burgeoning #MeToo movement. Two years after the scandal first broke, we'll talk to Kantor and Twohey about the book, current developments in the Weinstein case, and how their reporting has impacted how society talks about sexual harassment.

It's estimated that between five and 20 percent of school-age children in the U.S. are dyslexic. And when dyslexia is overlooked by parents and educators, kids can feel frustrated and act out. KQED's MindShift recently published a guide to understanding dyslexia, stating that "dyslexia is a different brain, not a disease." We'll talk with experts about how to best recognize dyslexia and support dyslexics, from grade school through adulthood.

The San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) has a new director of transportation, Jeffrey Tumlin. Tapped by Mayor London Breed earlier this month, Tumlin will be the agency's fifth director when he begins the job on December 16. The SFMTA currently has a $1.2 billion annual budget, employs more than 6,000 people and serves about 714,000 passengers each day. We'll talk to Tumlin about his plans for the agency, including his pledges to fill bus driver shortages and fix the subway, and we want to hear from you: what are your biggest issues with the SFMTA and what are your hopes for this new chapter of leadership?

From cooking inedible food, to forgetting to invite guests, to hearing unexpected announcements at the dinner table -- rarely does everything go as planned when gathering for the holidays. As Thanksgiving approaches, we want to hear from you: what are your most memorable holiday mishaps and how did you recover from them?

As the holiday shopping season arrives, Forum considers what local merchants have to offer over the big-box stores and online behemoths. We'll consider the challenging business climate for independent stores, and we want to hear from you: What are your favorite local stores for holiday shopping?

California is the nation’s strawberry capital, growing 88 percent of U.S. supply. Strawberries are a highly lucrative crop for California, whose climate allows for nine months of production. But as UC Santa Cruz professor Julie Guthman points out in her latest book, “Wilted,” the industry long criticized for grueling labor conditions now faces an uncertain future. The overuse of pesticides and toxic soil fumigants has led to new pathogens that threaten the crop. Guthman joins us to talk about strawberries and their grim environmental footprint.

Rain is finally expected in the Bay Area this week, marking the end of a lengthy dry spell and reducing the threat of wildfires. The cold is also coming, with temperatures set to drop beginning Wednesday. Meanwhile, the National Weather Service is warning of heavy snow in the Sierra Nevada. We'll get the latest on the weather and how it's likely to affect the region with KQED's Dan Brekke.

A year after President Trump's election, more than 300 singers from the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus and the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir embarked on a tour of America's deep south. Seeking to spark conversations about faith and anti-LGBTQ prejudice, the group performed in churches and community centers  across five deep red states, where they met both protest and acceptance. We'll talk about the singers' journey, which is chronicled in the new documentary "Gay Chorus Deep South."

On Sunday, Secretary of the Navy Richard Spencer was forced to resign from his position. The move comes after President Trump clashed with senior military leadership over the handling of a Navy SEAL who had been demoted for a war crimes charge. We’ll get the latest and preview the next steps in impeachment.