KQED's Perspectives

For hard-charging students, the idea of a year off may seem like a waste. But Marilyn Englander says it’s a wise investment.

Paul Wolber says a climbing mistake called ‘psychological belays’ helps explain the pervasiveness of gun ownership in America.

Archaeologist Mike Newland visits a site where miners moved rocks to no purpose, and natives believed souls lived life in reverse.

Dr. Annie Luetkemeyer hates losing patients to Hepatitis C, a prolific and silent killer that is now curable.

Richard Swerdlow takes to heart the old principles of ‘use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without’.

As the Soberanes fire threatens his family cabin, Stan Goldberg turns to ‘letting go’ techniques he’s learned in hospice care.

Michael Ellis survived his young and stupid teen years and his hoping his older and wiser years are just as kind.

To many Millennials times are tough, and Youth Radio's Andrew Meyer doesn't see much hope in the future.

Christopher Skrocke remembers Nate Thurmond, not the Hall of Famer basketball, but the BBQ pitmaster.

When a beloved pet goes missing, Susan Dix Lyons must confront the loss of huge part of her family’s heart.

The rental car with loads of self-driving gizmos thrilled Grant Young, but the actual experience drove him to take control.

Judie Rae used to be able to watch a magnificent Great Blue Heron rookery from her home in the foothills -- until a developer ruined it all.

For teachers like Matt Biers-Ariel, summer means working to become a better educator.

Ripudaman Malhotra is an atheist but he attends his wife’s synagogue and prays, often and enthusiastically.

Cops have dangerous jobs, and Laura Bello can’t hide her relief that one of them is safe, long after he did her a small favor.