KQED's Forum

The new book “The History of Sketch Comedy,” based on Keegan-Michael Key and Elle Key’s award-winning podcast of the same name, explains how sketch comedy works and how we arrived at the sketch comedy landscape we enjoy on our phone, laptop and TV screens today. Weaving in the authors’ own history — from watching sketches to scripting jokes themselves — the book analyzes why we love the Monty Python and late-night sketches we do, where the greats drew inspiration and why unexpected escalations can make us laugh so hard we need to leave the room. We’ll talk about the sketches that make us giggle days, months, years and decades after watching them — and why and how they work.Guests:Elle Key, author, producer, writer co-creator of "The History of Sketch Comedy" podcast and bookKeegan-Michael Key, actor, producer, writer and co-creator of "The History of Sketch Comedy" podcast and book Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In Daniel Gumbiner’s latest novel, “Fire in the Canyon,” wildfire acts as a plot catalyst and a character. The story follows Ben Hecht, a former pot farmer turned grape grower in California’s Gold Country, who is just getting by when wildfire sweeps through. Both the Hecht family and the land they live on exist in a “state of fragile equilibrium,” in which security is both hard-earned and precarious. We’ll talk to Gumbiner about the emotional costs of climate change and wildfire in California.Guests:Daniel Gumbiner, author, "Fire in the Canyon" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Senator Dianne Feinstein died Thursday night. Her death was confirmed by family members Friday morning. The Senate’s oldest serving member, and California’s first female senator, Feinstein had announced that she would retire at the end of her term. Her long and storied political career began in San Francisco. She came to national prominence in the midst of tragedy: as the president of the Board of Supervisors, it was Feinstein who announced to the world that Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk had been assassinated. Feinstein served as mayor of San Francisco for 9 years.Feinstein was elected to the Senate in 1992. During her tenure she championed the 1994 assault weapons ban and in 2014, as chairperson of the Senate Intelligence Committee, issued a damning report on the use of torture by the CIA post 9/11.We’ll talk about Feinstein and her legacy.Guests:Jim Lazarus, longtime aide to Senator FeinsteinJackie Speier, former Democratic Congresswoman who represented California's 14th Congressional District (parts of San Francisco and most of San Mateo County) and served on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Armed Services Committee, and the House Oversight committeeJerry Roberts, author of "Dianne Feinstein: Never Let Them See You Cry" and former managing editor of the San Francisco ChronicleBarbara Boxer, former Democratic Congresswoman who represented California's 6th Congressional District and also served as California SenatorWillie Brown, former San Francisco MayorScott Shafer, senior editor, KQED’s California Politics and Government desk and co-host of Political BreakdownMarisa Lagos, politics correspondent, KQED and co-host of KQED's Political Breakdown show Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

School is back in session and that means a daily struggle for many parents to figure out what to pack their kids for lunch. As palates have evolved so have school lunches. Nowadays, bento boxes are all the rage, largely replacing paper sacks as the container of choice. Kids are as likely to dine on sandwiches as they are wraps, musubi, and salads. We’ll dish on healthy and tasty options that kids will want to eat and hear your tips on how parents can manage the load.Guests:Luke Tsai, food editor, KQED Arts & CultureJ. Kenji Lopez-Alt, a cookbook author, children’s book author, New York Times columnist, and restaurateur. He's also host of "Kenji's Cooking Show" on YouTube. His books include "The Food Lab," "The Wok: Recipes & Techniques" and "Every Night is Pizza Night."Namiko Hirasawa Chen, founder and CEO, Just One Cookbook, a web site and video series focused on Japanese cookingMonique Lopez Feybesse, chef and owner, Tarts de Feybesse Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Seven candidates vying for the Republican presidential nomination take the stage on Wednesday in Simi Valley for the second debate of the 2024 campaign. They’re expected to take questions on the looming government shutdown, the economy and the war in Ukraine – and make the case to donors and supporters that they can take on Donald Trump. The former president, who’s under four indictments and leads the primary field by a wide margin, will again skip the debate and plans instead to speak to an audience of current and former autoworkers in Detroit. We’ll recap the debate and hear your reactions.Guests:Phillip M. Bailey, national political correspondent, USA TodayLanhee Chen, GOP policy advisor; research fellow, the Hoover Institution; former candidate, CA State Controller; former policy director, Mitt Romney’s 2012Scott Shafer, senior editor, KQED’s California Politics and Government desk; co-host, Political Breakdown Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“If Steve Earle weren’t a living, breathing person, he’d be a character in a blues song,” observed a reviewer. Earle is foremost a musician, one who started out in Nashville as a songwriter. Along the way, this self-proclaimed “hardcore troubadour,” has been married seven times, conquered drug addiction, did a stint in jail, and lost nearly everything as he fed that addiction. But in the end, the power of music won through. Today, Earle is known for his accomplished musicianship, his way with lyrics, and his outspoken politics. He’s won buckets of awards, including three Grammys, recorded 22 albums, and his song, “Copperhead Road,” has become the official state song of Tennessee. Earle is in town for the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass Festival which he will be headlining. We’ll talk to Earle about his songwriting, his music, and hear him sing some tunes.Guests:Steve Earle, singer, songwriter. Earle has received three Grammy awards for his folk albums. He will be appearing that Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival in San Francisco.Mick Hellman, drummer for the Go to Hell Man Band, the Wreckless Strangers and Marco & the Polos; founder and managing partner, HMI Capital. Hellman's father, Warren Hellman, founded the Hardly Strictly Bluegrass festival. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barbara Kingsolver, author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning 'Demon Copperhead,' shares insights into her powerful portrayal of Appalachian struggles. She emphasizes how the protagonist, an orphan named Demon, confronts systemic poverty and trauma, highlighting the impacts of the mining and opioid industries. Kingsolver delves into the importance of authentic Appalachian voices in literature and critiques stereotypes, advocating for empathy and understanding between urban and rural cultures. Her reflections on resilience and the role of art in narrative offer a profound connection to marginalized experiences.

Celebrated cartoonist Daniel Clowes is best known for his acclaimed 1997 graphic novel Ghost World— and the Oscar-nominated movie version that he co-wrote. For his latest work Monica, Clowes employs a mash-up of cartooning styles and genres, from war to romance to horror, to tell the story of the title character…and the mother who abandoned her. The Oakland-based author has said the book is in part an effort to understand and accept his own mother, who he lost while working on it. He’ll join us to talk about the book, and his career.Guests:Daniel Clowes, cartoonist; screenwriter - His latest graphic novel is "Monica" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

“I’ve completed another year of delights. Or maybe I should say another year of delights has completed me.” So writes poet and author Ross Gay at the end of his new book, “The Book of (More) Delights,” which once again celebrates life’s daily joys, wonders, gifts and surprises, both small and all-defining. As he did in 2019’s New York Times bestseller “The Book of Delights,” Gay unearths the profound in his quickly written daily odes, each praising friends, everyday items, natural wonders and personal joys, like that of turning around before reaching a hike’s summit. We’ll talk with Gay about the pleasure of continuing this project and hear from you: Whether it’s a coworker’s pear tree or a compliment from a friend, what’s one recent delight from your life?Guests:Ross Gay, poet; essayist; author, "The Book of (More) Delights" - His previous books include "Inciting Joy," "Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude" and "The Book of Delights" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Everyday people share millions of photos on websites and social media networks. For decades, tech companies have been trying to figure out ways to make the faces in those photos searchable – and monetizable. While that technology has practical uses, it also raises serious privacy questions and has led to problematic cases of mistaken identity. In her book, “Your Face Belongs to Us,” New York Times tech reporter Kashmir Hill investigates the perils of facial recognition software. She chronicles the trajectory of Clearview AI, a company that prioritized speed and profits over ethics, putting millions of unsuspecting people at risk. We’ll talk with Hill about the rise of facial recognition and how to reduce its harms.Guests:Kashmir Hill, tech reporter, New York Times; author, "Your Face Belongs to Us" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices