KQED's Forum

Discover the power of intergenerational friendships and their impact on well-being. Explore the benefits of cross-generational connections and the challenges of age segregation. Hear inspiring stories of friendship that defy age differences. Learn how intergenerational friendships challenge ageism and support LGBTQ+ communities. Explore the impact of ageism during the pandemic and the importance of consistent friendships. Hear personal stories of connection and support, and the joy of shared activities. Experience the positive effects of intergenerational relationships.

A good breakup song can offer you catharsis and a good, long cry. They can help you mediate the feelings caused by a long lost love, a messy goodbye, or a person you never, ever, ever want to get back together with. (Thank you, Taylor Swift). But a breakup song doesn’t have to be about a relationship — it can be about a job you’re leaving behind, a city you’re moving away from, or a friendship that has run its course. And sometimes, even when you’re feeling just fine, cranking up that emo breakup song in your car and singing the lyrics at the top of your lungs can be the exact thing you need. We’re talking about breakup songs, and we want to hear from you: What breakup song got you through a tough time?Guests:Brontez Purnell, writer, musician and author of "100 Boyfriends." His recent piece for the New York Times Magazine is titled, "I've Listened to This Breakup Song a Million Times"Courtney E. Smith, creator and co-host of the podcast "Songs My Ex Ruined"Asal Ehsanipour, audio producer and writer. Ehsanipour produced the Foretold podcast for the L.A. Times. She is a former KQED reporter and producer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

COVID cases nationwide and in California are increasing at summer’s end. The state’s positivity rate from PCR tests is almost 12% as of mid-August, and wastewater data indicate that the new omicron subvariant, EG.5, is on the rise. But reported case rates are still far below peaks from last winter; UCSF’s Dr. Peter Chin-Hong told the San Francisco Chronicle, “people should not be worried but should not tune out.” We’ll learn more with Dr. Chin-Hong and hear about the new fall booster and the latest research into long COVID and take your COVID questions.Guests:Dr. Peter Chin-Hong M.D., infectious disease specialist, UCSF Medical Center Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Bay Area is home to a thriving video game industry, but many local kids, especially those of color, don’t see career opportunities in it. Several years ago, Damon Packwood founded Gameheads to help college students develop the skills and expertise to create their own video games and land jobs in the field. Participants in the Oakland-based program have built games that reflect their own interests and experiences including a game on Oakland sideshows and one on the slave trade in Cuba. We’ll talk with Packwood and David Brancaccio, host of the Marketplace morning report which has launched a series, “Skin in the Game,” that explores career, economics, and equity issues through the lens of video games.Guests:Damon Packwood, founder and executive director, Gameheads - an Oakland-based video game training program for young peopleDavid Brancaccio, host and senior editor, Marketplace Morning ReportCamila Garcia Frausto, student, Gameheads; fourth year student and film studies major at UC Berkeley Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Southern California Democrat Adam Schiff has served in the U.S. Congress since 2001, and he’s now running to succeed Dianne Feinstein in the Senate. A former federal prosecutor, Schiff chaired the House Intelligence Committee during the Trump administration and led the former president’s first impeachment trial and the Russian election interference investigation that gave rise to it. He was also a member of the House committee that investigated the January 6 insurrection. We’ll talk to Schiff about why he wants to represent California in the Senate and hear about his positions on the economy, the climate, the war in Ukraine and more.Guests:Congressman Adam Schiff, democratic congressman, representing California's 30th District in Burbank; former chair, House Intelligence Committee; member, the select committee investigating the January 6 insurrection; author, "Midnight in Washington: How We Almost Lost Our Democracy and Still Could" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As pandemic-era eviction moratoriums have ended, Bay Area counties are seeing a surge of eviction cases coming to court. Some tenants owe tens of thousands of dollars after not paying rent, in some cases, for years. In Alameda County, evictions ballooned to more than 500 per month starting in May. And, a single judge is charged with reviewing all of those cases. We’ll talk about how eviction cases are overwhelming county courts, and what lessons we can take from how the moratoriums played out.Guests:Natalie Orenstein, reporter, Oaklandside Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Plastics are everywhere, but L.A. Times environment reporter Susanne Rust thought she was doing a pretty good job avoiding them. That was until she spent a week recording her daily plastic interactions. She found plastics in her phone. Her car. Her swimming equipment. There was almost nothing that Rust encountered that didn’t have plastic in it. Not all the applications of plastic were negative – plastic can make cars and planes lighter and therefore more fuel efficient. But the result of her week-long experiment were sobering nonetheless. We’ll talk to Rust, hear about plastic alternatives, and hear from you about how you navigate a world filled with plastic.Sunday brought record summer rainfall to much of Southern California, as Tropical Storm Hilary left a trail of flash floods, debris flows, school cancellations, and power outages across the region. Hilary’s approach triggered the first-ever tropical storm watch issued for the state, and was the first tropical storm to hit Southern California in 84 years. Though severe in some areas, Hilary was not as destructive as some experts had feared, with no reports of U.S. fatalities or significant injuries as of Monday. We’ll look at the science behind the storm, the role of climate change, and what it reveals about the future of extreme weather in California.Guests:Susanne Rust, investigative reporter specializing in environmental issues, LA TimesJudith Enck, president, Beyond Plastics - Enck served as a regional administrator with the EPA during the Obama AdministrationDiana Crofts-Pelayo, assistant director of crisis communications, California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services [Cal OES]Daniel Swain, climate scientist, Institute of the Environment and Sustainability at UCLA; author, "Extreme Weather Page-A-Day Calendar 2024: A Year of Fire Tornadoes, Atmospheric Rivers, and Other Wild Weather Events" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A discussion on the aftermath and impact of a racist Instagram account created by a student at Albany High School, exploring the hurt and betrayal felt by the targeted students, the investigation by administrators, and the consequences faced by the students. Also discussed are the different groups involved and the historical factors contributing to racial inequalities in Albany, as well as the importance of remorse, responsibility, and growth in addressing racism. Author Dashka Slater joins the podcast for Member Appreciation Week.

There are only eight bear species remaining on the planet — six of which are endangered. Environmental journalist Gloria Dickie, author of the new book “Eight Bears: Mythic Past and Imperiled Future,” set out to profile all eight while questioning how humans’ complex relationship with bears has and continues to inform our interactions with them. “Charismatic and unloved alike, these eight bears are all that remain of a family that has been our steadfast companion since time immemorial, shaping our cultures, our geographies, and our stories,” she writes. We’ll talk about how humans can learn to better co-exist with bears and why she says we need to do more to protect them.Guests:Gloria Dickie, environmental journalist; author, "Eight Bears: Mythic Past and Imperiled Future”Sarinah Simons, human-bear management specialist, California State Parks; host, the “Earth to Humans” podcast Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In July, members of the Coast Miwok Tribal Council of Marin purchased 26 acres of land, part of what was once the tribe’s territory. The fundraising effort to buy the plot, priced at $1.3 million, is just the latest successful Land Back campaign in California, a movement to return stolen land to indigenous control. The deal signaled a momentous return for a community displaced from their land over a century ago but it also evoked conflicted feelings about having to buy back land that was never willingly relinquished. We’ll talk to members of California tribes about recent Land Back successes and the growing momentum around this movement.Guests:Joe Sanchez, elder, Coast Miwok Tribal Council of MarinKatie Keliiaa, assistant professor of History, University of California Santa CruzMichelle Vassel, tribal administrator, Wiyot TribeInés Ixierda, creative director, Sogorea Te' Land Trust Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices