California Sun Podcast

Upon the occasion of the publication of a new collection of works by Joan Didion, "Let me Tell You What I Mean," I share a conversation I had with her in 2016 about California, its history, and its many crises. Because of her deep and broad vision, it’s as relevant today as on the day we spoke.

Casey Newton, a long-time Bay Area-based tech journalist, and the author of the Platformer newsletter looks at our social media platforms and how they have become the foundation of political speech. He discusses the role they should play in our democracy and if they really have become too powerful.

Hank Sims, the editor of Lost Coast Outpost, extols the virtues of Humboldt County and explains how his online newspaper has defied the odds faced by most local and regional newspapers.

Kathryn Olmsted, a historian, author, and former chair of the history department at UC Davis talks about California's long history of farm labor union organizing and how that history affects the efforts at Google, Uber, and other Silicon Valley companies.

The San Franciso Chronicle columnist Heather Knight keeps her finger on the pulse of City Hall. Her twice-weekly stories have exposed issues around education, political corruption, homelessness, and public accountability, with attention to how they impact the lives of everyday people.

Tracy L Chandler is a photographic artist based in Los Angeles. She talks about her work, which explores fringe communities and addresses themes of seeing and being seen. She examines photography and images as a way to engage the world.

Daniel Lurie, the founder of Tipping Point Community, and Sam Cobbs, its CEO, discuss the grant-making organization's efforts to fight poverty in the Bay Area by putting private dollars to work for the public good.

What were you doing at 25? Assembly member-elect Alex Lee, a Democrat from San Jose, is thinking about what he’ll do on his first day in the Assembly. The youngest state legislature in nearly a century, he embraces a progressive agenda and thinks 16 might be reasonable voting age.

Gary Kamiya, a San Francisco columnist and bestselling author, and Paul Madonna, an award-winning artist, talk about their new illustrated book "Spirits of San Francisco: Voyages Through the Unknown City," a love letter to the hidden places that capture the soul and heart of the city.

Carolyn Said and Kathleen Pender, both San Francisco Chronicle journalists, look at the real world impacts of Proposition 22, which classifies app-based drivers as as independent contractors, and Proposition 19, which would alter property taxes.   Said noted the vast financial return that Uber and Lyft have already gained on their record campaign spending.   Pender called Proposition 19 the most complicated measure we’ve ever had to vote on.