KQED's Perspectives

Youth Radio’s Amber Ly stopped using her parent’s Chinese, and when she tried to recapture it, found that they needed a new language all their own.

Alice Chen says a startlingly small number of Americans eat a huge part of the economic pie, leaving most Americans vulnerable to even small financial setbacks.

In 1973, Yvon Chouinard started Patagonia to make climbing gear he couldn't find elsewhere. Over decades of growth, he has implemented a unique philosophy about business, leadership and profit.

Mark Cuban made millions off of tech startups, then billions off of stocks — and later went on to buy and revive the Dallas Mavericks. He has come to define the persona of the serial entrepreneur.

In 1996, Angie Hicks spent hours reading contractor reviews to members over the phone. Today, the online review and referral service, Angie's List, is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.

In 1968, competitors sued to keep Herb Kelleher's new airline grounded. After a 3-year court fight, the first plane took off from Dallas. Today Southwest Airlines operates nearly 4,000 flights a day.

As a kid, José Andrés tended fires for his father's backyard paella cookouts. Later, he trained with the best Spanish chefs, and began building a restaurant empire that would transform the way many Americans dine out.

L.A. Reid began his music career as a drummer. Then he co-founded LaFace Records, discovering dozens of future pop superstars. Reid is now one of the most influential executives in the music industry.

In 1984, Jim Koch felt suffocated by his cushy but boring corporate job. So he left, dusted off an old family beer recipe, started Sam Adams, and helped kickstart the craft beer movement in America.

Kay Brown regrets her reaction when the son she loves came out as gay.

Sometimes, not always, what happens in a classroom Steve Hettleman can only describe as the birth of unicorns.

Marilyn Englander’s students used to get quickly bored working at the food bank. Until a simple fact made all their efforts meaningful.

Jane Wurwand moved to Los Angeles with a suitcase and a beauty school diploma. She started what would become Dermalogica, an international beauty empire that set the standard for skin care.

Trish Manwaring teaches her students the job of writing personal stories in one, intense seven-minute exercise.

Michael Ellis enjoys the metaphor for human life expressed in the structure and experience of a labyrinth.