Patt Morrison Asks

Patt Morrison speaks with Richard Powers, author of "The Overstory," a monumental novel about trees and people by one of our most "prodigiously talented" (The New York Times Book Review) novelists.

Jordon Dyrdahl-Roberts is a husband, father, writer and – after quitting his job at the Montana Department of Labor and Industry rather than share information with ICE – an unintentional immigration advocate.  “I loved my work at the Labor Department, but I can't be a part of breaking up families,” Dyrdahl-Roberts wrote in The Washington Post.  Patt Morrison talks with Dyrdahl-Roberts about the unusual turn his life has taken since he took a stand against ICE.

Patt Morrison talks with Dacher Keltner, professor of psychology at University of California, Berkeley, where he directs the Berkeley Social Interaction Lab. He is also the founder and faculty director of the Greater Good Science Center. 

Judy Woodruff, anchor and managing editor of PBS NewsHour, reflects on changes in the news media at a time when, more than ever, the public needs accurate and reliable sources.

Patt Morrison talks with interface designer Aza Raskin.  Raskin's work with Mozilla, Firefox and numerous innovative startups, as well as having grown up the son of human-interface expert Jef Raskin, gives him rare insight into Facebook's recent data theft debacle. 

Patt Morrison speaks with Harvard psychology professor Steven Pinker. In his new book, “Enlightenment Now: the Case for Reason, Science, Humanism, and Progress,” Pinker makes the case against doom and gloom-ism, especially in academia, and tribal know-nothing-ism in politics.  

Patt Morrison speaks with Senator Dianne Feinstein.

Joan Baez talks about her new album, her upcoming farewell tour, the current state of protest music and how Trump inspired her to write a new song. 

The Los Angeles Police Commission already has its hands full being upbraided by protesters at its public meetings over questionable police shootings and the use of drones. Now it has to find a replacement for LAPD Chief Charlie Beck. Commissioner Sandra Figueroa-Villa speaks to Patt about the tasks at hand.

Patt Morrison talks with Maimuna Syed, executive director of Emerge California, about how the organization prepares women to run for office.