Crosscurrents

Today we ask, how much learning did K-12 students lose because of COVID-19 and is that what matters most? We discuss balancing academic catch up against students' emotional well-being with Janelle Scott. Then, we hear about the stakes of unpaid college internships for low-income, first-generation students. And finally, we listen to a reading from a new children’s noir set on the San Francisco waterfront.

Today, we hear how wildfire smoke makes COVID-19 cases worse and how it affects some families more than others. Then, we get an update on the state’s wildfire prevention efforts. And, we go back more than a century to understand how California decided who has a right to our water.Plus, we speak with Oakland poet Paul Corman Roberts as he reflects on his poetry.

Today, we hear from UCSF’s Bob Wachter on how the best practices for Covid-19 keep changing as we learn more about the pandemic. We listen to the latest information on the delta variant, vaccines and booster shots. Then, we meet a forensic diver. He tells us how he came to the work, and why it’s important to him. And then, we hear a reading from a new children’s book.

When the pandemic increased unemployment in the Bay Area, some Oaklanders turned to street vending at Lake Merritt to make ends meet. Today, we hear how they’re fighting to keep their place at the lake. Then, we meet KALW’s new Monday night music curator DJ Umami. And, from New Arrivals, we listen to a reading from a children’s noir novel from author Lou Cook, set on the San Francisco waterfront.

Today, we head to Fremont’s “Little Kabul” to hear how Afghan Americans are responding to America’s withdrawal from Afghanistan. Then, in San Rafael, a non profit is working to evacuate its staffers from Afghanistan. And, quilter Amy Ahlstrom talks about her show on mental health and how quilting has evolved.

COVID-19 prison lockdowns prevented family and friends from visiting the nation's nearly two million prisoners, and they shut down education programs. At a maximum security prison near Chicago, one seminary professor managed to keep reaching inside.

San Francisco's most celebrated poets come together to honor San Francisco Poet Laureate and social justice activist Janice Mirikitani. Then, we take a walking tour of a new art exhibit in San Jose’s Japantown that uncovers and connects the neighborhood’s “Hidden Histories” to the present. And finally, we hear a reading from a new young adult book author.

Oakland’s Chinatown is grappling with a sharp increase in violent crime. Today, we'll hear what the community is doing to address it. Then, we are going back to school to learn about the policies Bay Area districts are following when it comes to COVID-19. Plus, the musical Hamilton gives students another way to study history.

A South Bay airport may be shut down after a study found it’s causing high levels of lead in the children who live nearby. We examine the debate over San Jose’s Reid- Hillview airport. Then, bust out your leg warmers, spandex, and fluorescent headbands. Because we are taking you to a dance class where daydreams come true. And lastly we meet one of our newest additions to the KALW music family, DJ Margarita Azucar.

Mehool Sanghrajka isn't your typical tech CEO. To start with, his worldview is grounded in ancient Indian philosophy — one which inspires him to serve not just his close-knit religious community, but extends to people he's never met.

Today, we hear from a nun who reflects on her lifelong spiritual quest for social justice, and what it means to live a complex and meaningful life in modern America. Then, we will revisit a story from our Hey Area series, delving into why the width of BART's train tracks matters to riders. And, East Bay novelist Allison Larkin reads from her new book. Plus, today's local music features Santa Rosa musician Tru Lyric. He’s performing this Friday night at SOMO Village in Rohnert Park.

Get your headphones ready, today’s show is all about sound. We’ll visit a laboratory where the sounds of indoor spaces are designed. Then, we keep our ears open as we head outside. For today’s throwback we have two stories from our Audiophiles series. We profiled Bay Area residents who are deeply involved in the world of sound. The series was the brainchild of Martina Castro, whose voice you’ll be hearing later on in the show.

COVID-19 stopped people around the world from gathering for over a year. There’s a lot of talk about the toll this has taken on our collective mental health. Especially for people who are grieving and can’t access comforting rituals. Years ago in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, 38-year old Noe Kasali helped survivors of the Ebola epidemic grieve THEIR losses. When they weren’t allowed to attend in-person burials, Kasali relied on his faith, innovation and his own experiences to help people heal.

Today on Crosscurrents, we will hear about a musical dedicated to the work of Nobel Prize winning biochemist Jennifer Doudna. Then up next we'll break down the science of her work with author Walter Isaacson. And, then we'll hear from author Stefan Salinas as he explores grief through cartoons.

The San Francisco Unified School District board had planned to cover up a controversial mural at George Washington High after heated debates in 2019, but a California Superior Court ruled that they have to leave it as is until they submit a plan for an environmental impact review. In this story, we hear from parents and students about SFUSD's decision and we dig into the history of the work.