Episode 90: Cinema is more than entertainment—it can be a powerful lens through which we explore our emotions, relationships, and sense of self. In this episode, host and psychotherapist Debra Sloss examines the healing potential of film, weaving together scientific insight and personal reflection to understand how stories on screen shape our inner lives.

Joining the conversation is psychologist Yalda T. Uhls, PhD, founder of UCLA’s Center for Scholars & Storytellers and a leading expert on media’s impact on youth development. Drawing on her background in both developmental science and the entertainment industry, Dr. Uhls explains how storytelling influences emotional development, identity formation, and empathy—especially during childhood and adolescence.

Throughout the episode, six community members share personal stories about films that left a lasting imprint on their lives. Together, these voices reveal how cinema can help us process difficult experiences, deepen self-understanding, and even open pathways to healing. This episode invites listeners to reflect on the stories that have shaped their own lives—and to consider what they might discover in the films they watch next.

Broadcasts: 5/3/26 & 5/11/26

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* Indicates a Monterey Bay Area Resource

Media Creation Tools

YouTube Creating for Teens Guide – Research-informed guide developed in collaboration with YouTube to help creators understand their influence on teen audiences. It offers practical strategies for creating content that is engaging, supportive, and developmentally appropriate for young viewers.

Media Guidance & Support

Center for Digital Thriving at Harvard Graduate School of Education – Research and innovation center at Harvard that helps young people develop healthier, more intentional relationships with technology. It offers evidence-based resources to support digital well-being, emotional development, and agency in a media-rich world.

How Can We Begin Thriving with Technology? – Practical resource from Harvard’s Center for Digital Thriving with tools and strategies to help individuals rethink and improve their relationship with social media and technology.

How Parents Can Take Action and Support Teen Mental Health – Practical toolkit from Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health offering guidance for sharing accurate, evidence-based mental health information and supporting teens in digital spaces.

First Place for Youth (FPFY) – Organization supporting transition-age foster youth through programs, advocacy, and policy change. In partnership with the Center for Scholars & Storytellers, their Narrative Change & Social Impact Initiative works to ensure authentic and empowering portrayals of youth in media. Learn more: https://www.scholarsandstorytellers.com/ncsi

Social Cinema Foundation – Nonprofit that empowers young people to share personal stories through filmmaking as a pathway to healing and self-expression. Through mentorship and creative support, it helps youth build confidence and process life experiences.

 Counseling Support

*Shine a Light Counseling Center – Provides affordable therapy services, including individual, couples, family, and group therapy (including men’s groups), across Santa Cruz, Watsonville, and Monterey.

Contact Guests

*Indicates a Monterey Bay Area resource

The Christophers, Steven Soderbergh’s latest foray into the intimacies of chamber comedy, stars Ian McKellan as Julian Sklar, a once influential and famous pop-era artist whose glory faded long ago. Now near the end of his life, he is mostly famous for being famous and makes his living recording cameos for those still besotted with his vintage genius. 

Stored deep in his attic are a set of unfinished paintings, the last in a series called “The Chrisophers”, based on a young lover who ultimately left Julian at the height of his fame. Potentially worth millions, Julian’s estranged children, Sallie and Barnaby, long to see the paintings finished in order to augment their diminished inheritance. Played by Jessica Gunning and James Corden, they despise their father, almost as much as he despises them, and deceptively hire a struggling, but skilled, artist and forger to masquerade as Julian’s personal assistant with a plan to have her secretly finish the paintings. 

The forger, Lori Butler, played by Michaela Coel, is not only an artist, but also a keen observer of humanity whose compassion and penetrating psychological prowess bump against Julian’s nacissistic and viscous wit. The transformation born of their cat and mouse encounter fuels a plot with just enough suspense, and surprising turns, to keep you happily enraptured with what unfolds. 

Ian McKellen could not have been stretched in yet another role portraying a brilliant curmudgeon, but he is always captivating to watch, due to how deeply he embodies his characters. Michaela Coel is equally wondrous to behold, with so much of what she commnicates coming through her facial expressions and her still-waters-run-deep presence.

James Corden and Jessica Gunning hit all the right notes as the bumbling, less-than-intelligent fools who set this ridiculous plan in motion and grossly underestimate their clever father, who quickly unravels their plot, and at one point states, rather obviously, “Never underestimate the internet skills of a man whose been googling himself for years.”

This film is yet another that Steven Soderbergh not only directs, but also serves as cinematographer and editor, both listed under the pseudonyms. Soderbergh, whose career was launched with Sex, Lies and Videotapes, understands the realm of intimate human relationships. And, in this film, he captures the redemptive force of pure presence and of what can blossom when one is relentlessly seen through the perceptive eyes of another. 

If you long for the classic days of art-house cinema, whiling away an afternoon with good popcorn and a satisfying story, this is your film.

Film Gang Review by Christine Barrington

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Retired Judge LaDoris Cordell was in last year's news a lot in the SF Bay Area due to a high-profile investigation she conducted. The situation was complicated—Sheriff Corpus, accused of misconduct, was the first Latina and first woman in her job. But Judge Cordell, having been in a similar "first" position earlier in her career, was the right woman for the job. LaDoris's strong sense of legal fairness, honed during years of being a groundbreaking lawyer and judge in the Bay Area, and also her broad experience in the law gave her the perspective and skills to do an investigation that a fractious population would trust.

Join us in a wide-ranging conversation, from a segregated childhood, an unusual education, and an unlikely acceptance to Stanford Law School, to retired judge, community activist, musician, artist, and grandmother.

Visit BABBLERY.com for more information, transcript, and links.

The Babblery features conversations about who we are and how we got this way. Modern humans can seem like the ancients building the Biblical Tower of Babel, cursed by God/nature never to understand each other. As Visiting Translators at the Tower of Babble, our guests delve into their work, their research, and their own experiences to try to explain the bits they’ve learned about Earth’s most perplexing species. Though we all speak different languages, here at The Babblery we aim to promote understanding, one conversation at a time. Visit The Babblery at https://babblery.com/. The Babblery is produced by Suki Wessling with support from KSQD.

One of the world’s greatest filmmakers, writer (and occasional actor), Werner Herzog joins host (and occasional collaborator) Erik Nelson for a unique, very live two hours. Herzog has a lot to say about a lot of things, ranging from prostitute penguins, the future of A.I, his larcenous beginnings as a filmmaker, the secret life of chickens, his passion for wrestling, what it means to be a “Psychotic Pinocchio” and some of the real stories behind the making of “Grizzly Man.” Don’t you dare miss it!!

Michael, the bio pic directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by John Logan, offers a revealing look at the life of the late King of Pop, Michael Jackson. What makes the film especially intriguing is the involvement of his family members—several of his siblings and one of his sons- serving as producers. That raises the question: is this a fully candid portrait, or has parts of his story been sanitized?

The film opens in 1965 in Gary, Indiana, where a young Michael, played with impressive energy by Juliano Valdi, rehearses with his older brothers, laying the foundation for The Jackson 5. Colman Domingo delivers a commanding performance as Joe Jackson, a domineering father who demands perfection. His harsh discipline, including moments of physical abuse, casts a long shadow over Michael’s childhood. The children calling him “Joseph” instead of “Dad” underscores that emotional distance. Meanwhile, Katherine Jackson, played by Nia Long, provides quiet support but is often overruled.

As The Jackson 5 rise to fame and are discovered by Motown, the family relocates to Encino, California. Offstage, Michael is portrayed as shy and isolated, more comfortable with animals—he obtains a llama, a monkey and even a giraffe) and often retreating into fantasy worlds like Peter Pan. As an adult, he buys toys and games for himself. The film suggests an adult child emotionally frozen in time due to the lack of a true childhood..

Michael’s desire for independence begins to emerge as he pushes to record a solo album, despite lacking the confidence to openly defy his father. His breakthrough album of Off the Wall marks the start of his solo identity. Despite the success of his smash album Thriller, Michael remains under his father’s influence until he finally breaks away in 1984, helped by key figures in his professional life.

One of the film’s strengths is its portrayal of Michael’s creative process—his songwriting, choreography and relentless pursuit of perfection. It also highlights his compassion, including visits to sick children in hospitals and charitable acts following his Pepsi commercial accident. The film doesn’t ignore his personal struggles either, touching on his skin disease of vitiligo and early reliance on plastic surgery.

Jafar Jackson, Michael’s real-life nephew, portrays his uncle in a standout performance, capturing both his voice and physical presence with striking authenticity.

The film concludes as Michael enters the Bad album era, hinting at future chapters. While it doesn’t cover his entire life, it offers an engaging and often moving portrait. For fans, it’s a compelling and worthwhile watch.

For the KSQD Film Gang: Molly Sullivan.

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Sustainability Now! Sunday, April 26th on KSQD

We’ve heard a lot about the problem of microplastics pollution. Just how bad is it?  What are its causes?  What are microplastics doing to us and the world?  Is anything being done to stem the accelerating production and consumption of plastics that end up in our water, our air, in animals, and in human bodies? Join host Ronnie Lipschutz for a conversation about microplastics with Dr. Myra Finkelstein, Adjunct Professor in the Microbiology and Environmental Toxicology Department at UC Santa Cruz and Dr. Steven Mentor a Santa Cruz climate activist and long-time environmentalist. Finklestein has been examining the health effects of plastic ingestion on seabirds to better understand the consequences for marine wildlife and human health. Mentor will discuss campaigns in California to regulate microplastics and what can be done to turn the tide of plastic packaging and consumption.

You can learn more about the topic from Food and Water Watch, the Netflix film “The Plastic Detox” and the Interstate Technology & Regulatory Council.

Friends of The Sunday Dinner join DJ Dupsie for the first of what may be a recurring practice on the show! Local artists, activists, and awesome people RicoR, delfin bautista, and Christina Audas are here to model how to have difficult conversations around race and racism, based on the scholarship, and anti-racism flashcard deck, of Dr. Ibram X. Kendi! (note: The song RicoR mentions towards the end about hope, “Hopeful” is by the artist Twista.)

Lee Cronin’s The Mummy — which has nothing to do with the franchise — opens with a parent’s worst nightmare. While living in Cairo, Charlie and Larissa’s (Jack Reynor and Laia Costa), eight-year-old daughter, Katie (Natalie Grace), is abducted from their backyard. Devastated, they eventually return to Albuquerque and try to rebuild their lives with their two remaining children.

Eight years later, the US Embassy calls: Katie has been found alive. Their joy evaporates when they learn she was discovered inside a sarcophagus recovered after a plane crash. She’s severely malnourished, traumatized, and covered in strange inscriptions carved into her skin.

A doctor insists she just needs love, patience, and time — advice that feels wildly optimistic given the hints of supernatural possession. From here, the movie becomes The Exorcist meets The Omen, with a dash of Chucky, M3GAN, and The Shining thrown in.

The film briefly dips into ancient Egyptian lore, revealing that the markings relate to Nasmaranian, a demon said to destroy families unless contained through ritual mummification. Once those inscriptions begin to fade, Nasmaranian grows stronger — and the body count rises. This is the film’s big inflection point, unleashing a wave of oversized insects, gruesome transformations, and blood and guts oozing from every orifice.

Predictably, the movie leans on gooey, over the top gore and the family being terrorized in their creaky old house. Charlie, desperate for answers, teams up with former rookie detective Dalia Zaki (May Calamawy), whose involvement provides the story’s only real thread of continuity.

As Katie’s presence intensifies, the family begins to unravel, and breaking the Magician’s spell becomes the only way out — though not without consequences.

The performances are mostly as bland as watching newbies on CSI, with two exceptions: Veronica Falcón as Katie’s grandmother, and young Billie Roy as Maude, Katie’s youngest sister, who gives a surprisingly fierce, Linda Blair adjacent turn.

Horror and fantasy fans may enjoy the jump scares, the campy chaos, and the moments that make you laugh right after you flinch.

For KSQD’s Film Gang, this is Susan Lovegren.

We continue our celebration of the arts in April across Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties.  Does queerness inform art or does art inform queerness?  Our guests are Melissa Marzan and Paul Richmond.  Melissa, who is known as the “Letter Mermaid” on Instagram has a variety of art projects including designing the San Jose Sharks Pride Night logo, painting the Santa Cruz Pride utility box at the corner of Riverside Dr and San Lorenzo entitled “Be Radical and Stay Magical: The Santa Cruz Radical Faeries,” and is in the process of designing the new entrance sign to Santa Cruz on Ocean Street.  Melissa describes her art like this:  “I see my work as a starting point to conversations about emotional vulnerability, cultivating community, ocean conservation, and my experience as a Queer/Bisexual Filipino-American. My art style is heavily inspired by my childhood being raised in Watsonville and across Santa Cruz and Monterey Counties.” Paul Richmond is a long time artist, illustrator, and activist who lives in Monterey with his husband. He recently published his autobiography, “Star Gazing: The First 40 Years of My Life As An Artist” which includes his art throughout his life. He is currently offering hands-on art classes for teens and adults at the Santa Cruz Arts lab on Tuesday evenings and is the founder of “You Will Rise,” an organization that empowers people who have experienced bullying to speak out through art.  Paul is a passionate advocate for social justice, arts education, and LGBTQ+ rights.

“The Making of Donald Trump”

“Be Bold America!” Airs April 17, 2026 at 5:00pm (PT)

Pulitzer Prize winning investigative journalist David Cay Johnston stated in his bestselling book, The Making of Donald Trump, when Donald Trump rode down the Trump Tower lobby escalator live on national television in June 2015 to announce his campaign for president, nearly every journalist treated his candidacy as a vanity project.

Having covered Donald Trump intensely from 1988 through 1995 and following him ever since, David knew his dramatic entry on live national television indicated Donald Trump was serious. He also knew that his presidential run would not be for the benefit of the United States of America, but only for Donald Trump

As the Financial Times wrote of Johnston’s book, “[It] gives Trump the thorough scrubbing, he deserves… He makes a compelling case that Trump has the attributes of both “dictator” and “deceiver.”

Interview Guest:

David Cay Johnston is one of America’s most award-winning investigative journalists with a long career reporting for the Los Angeles Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, and the New York Times, where his work was awarded a Pulitzer Prize. Johnston is a journalist and author with a specialty I economics and tax issues. Johnston is the author of several bestselling books and teaches at Syracuse University College of Law. Of local note, David Cay Johnston graduated from Soquel High School and considers Santa Cruz County the best place in the world to live.