Midday Edition

Here on Midday Edition, there's a few local experts that we consider regulars on our show. One of them, without a doubt, is Dr. Eric Topol.

He’s given us real, practical information about COVID-19 since the onset of the pandemic.

Now, Dr. Topol is out with a new book. It’s called “Super Agers: An Evidence-Based Approach to Longevity.” We discuss the book and hear his advice on how to expand longevity through science-backed methods.

Guest:

• Dr. Eric Topol, professor of medicine and executive vice president, Scripps Research Translational Institute

California Attorney General Rob Bonta is investigating San Diego County juvenile halls for alleged civil rights abuses.

The county has two of those facilities: the East Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility in Otay Mesa and the Youth Transition Campus in Kearny Mesa.

Reporting in The San Diego Union-Tribune has highlighted longstanding problems within the facilities. We discuss the investigation with a member of the U-T's watchdog team.

Guest:

• Kelly Davis, reporter with The San Diego Union- Tribune's watchdog team

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security recently announced it will terminate Temporary Protected Status for Afghanistan, effective July 12.

It's putting thousands of evacuated Afghans at risk of being deported back to their motherland, which is still under Taliban rule.

One of the leading organizations that helped during the withdrawal from Afghanistan has ties to San Diego. On Midday Edition, we hear the reaction from #AfghanEvac's founder and president.

Guest:

• Shawn VanDiver, president and founder of #AfghanEvac

The rich and vibrant history of Filipino food culture in San Diego, and the community that has shaped it, are the subjects of a new exhibit, “Taste San Diego: Filipino Culinary Journeys.”

Then, the San Diego International Fringe Festival kicks off with 45 shows from local, national and international artists. KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando previews one show from an Australian comedian and storyteller.

And finally, KPBS arts reporter Julia Dixon Evans shares her top weekend arts picks, from live theater to live music.

Guests:

• Tina Zarpour, vice president of community engagement, education and collections, San Diego History Center
• Joe Mazares, president of the Council of Philippine American Organizations (COPAO)
• Matt Harvey, comedian, "Wage Against the Machine"
• Julia Dixon Evans, arts reporter, KPBS

On Midday Edition Wednesday, we talk to Paul Parker about his memoir, "In the Shadows of Death: Writing Life’s Final Chapter." It dives into his career in death investigation and reveals Parker’s journey through alcohol addiction and depression.

Plus, we speak to psychotherapist Ben Yalom about his new book “Hour of the Heart: Connecting in the Here and Now.” It digs into vulnerability from therapists during sessions with clients and looks to see what's possible in just a single, 60-minute session.

Guests:

• Paul Parker, former medical death investigator
• Ben Yalom, psychotherapist and co-author of “Hour of the Heart: Connecting in the Here and Now”

Local author Mac Crane's latest book, "A Sharp Endless Need," is an LGBTQ+ coming-of-age story about the competitive world of high school girls' basketball.

It follows Mackenzie Morris, a star high school point guard with dozens of Division I college recruitment offers, as they contend with a blossoming first love and a world turned upside down.

Tuesday on Midday Edition, Crane sat down with KPBS arts reporter Julia Dixon Evans to discuss the book and their approach to writing about grief, identity and sports.

Guest:

Mac Crane, author of "A Sharp Endless Need"

We’re diving deeper into the rich history of Asian American and Pacific Islander communities in San Diego as the region marks AAPI Heritage Month.

Many of the first Japanese immigrants coming into San Diego and Imperial Counties were railroad workers, farmers and fishermen.

But the incarceration of more than 120,000 Japanese Americans during World War II had a widespread impact on many families and local institutions in San Diego. Still, the community continued to rebuild.

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Many Japanese Americans in San Diego continue to explore their family history, unraveling their roots and reflections in the current moment.

Tuesday on Midday Edition, we hear from a San Diegan whose family ties go back to the region for four generations, and the parallels they see between their past and the current moment.

Guest:

a.t. Furuya, board member of the Japanese American Historical Society, educator and LGBTQ+ advocate

No matter your age or ability, sports can be for everyone. Whether it's Olympic skateboarding or walking soccer, you won't have trouble finding something your speed in San Diego.

On Midday Edition, we highlight several local programs building accessibility, inclusion and connection through sports.

We also discuss how sports fuel social change and connect communities across a variety of socioeconomic backgrounds.

Guests:

• Neftalie Williams, director of San Diego State University's Center for Skateboarding, Action Sports, and Social Change; professor of sociology
• Basma Oshiba, co-founder of Kicks and Giggles soccer program
• Chelsea Scholes, co-founder of Kicks and Giggles soccer program

For the past 10 years, the GI Film Festival has highlighted movies for, by and about active duty service members and veterans.

The narrative short “Doldrums" is among the films having its San Diego premiere Friday. It follows a Vietnam War veteran haunted by memories of the soldiers he led and the Viet Cong medic who saved his life.

"Doldrums" will be screened at 7:30 p.m. at the Museum of Photographic Arts at the San Diego Museum of Art in Balboa Park.

Also, KPBS arts reporter Beth Accomando previews Park Opera, which takes its own twist on the operatic form and combines it with the natural sounds of Balboa Park.

And then, KPBS arts reporter Julia Dixon Evans shares her top arts picks for the weekend, from the musical phenomenon "Hamilton" to visual art inspired by dreams.

• Le Chau, director of "Doldrums"
• Keshia Javis-Jones, advisory committee member, GI Film Festival
• Leslie Leytham, artistic director, Project [BLANK]
• Wojtek Blecharz, composer, Park Opera
• Julia Dixon Evans, arts reporter, KPBS

Ahead of Mother’s Day, we're bringing attention to challenges faced by Black mothers in the workplace — from inadequate paid maternity leave to lactation barriers.

We discuss a new report from the San Diego Black Worker Center outlining those challenges and possible solutions.

Then, we sit down with a local therapist to discuss strategies for coping with grief and loss on Mother's Day. Plus, how to honor the memories of late loved ones.

• Brisa Johnson, executive director of the San Diego Black Worker Center
• Alana Dillette, associate professor of hospitality at San Diego State University and co-founder of Collaborating on Dialogue and Equity
• Lori Rappaport, licensed clinical psychologist in Carmel Valley