California Sun Podcast

Tess Taylor, in her books of award-winning poetry, captures the fragility, fear, and fault lines of California, and examines Dorothea Lange's enduring influence on our unsteady times.

Bradley Tusk, bicoastal venture capitalist and political strategist, talks about the political and economic reasons why companies are leaving California. While individuals may be leaving our cities for greener pastures or wide-open spaces, the companies have a very different agenda — one that sits at the nexus of politics, technology, and money.

Jill Tucker has been covering education in California and in San Francisco for the San Francisco Chronicle for 22 years. Not until lately however, has she seen school debates grow so intense and board meetings stretch so long. In this week's podcast, she talks about what's going on, why now, and who's responsible.

Shane Bauer is a Bay Area journalist and author. His recent reporting for The New Yorker examines the violent excesses of the Vallejo police department. What he found and shares with us is a cautionary tale for police departments everywhere.

Roman Mars, the Bay Area author of the book and podcast series 99% Invisible, is a unique guide to the hidden worlds of design and architecture around us. He sees beauty in the built world — things that we visually appreciate, but often neglect, even while they are right under our noses.

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.