KQED's Forum

When the COVID-19 pandemic came into full force in 2020, the American job market was hit hard. With many losing their existing jobs, and young Millennials and Gen Z entering a shaky job market, working multiple jobs became a financial necessity. Census data shows that the number of Americans juggling multiple jobs is steadily rising. E-commerce websites like Etsy had a 42 percent growth in new sellers compared to previous years. We discuss the increase of side gigs and how some young people have had to jungle their full time jobs with side hustles, monetizing creative hobbies like cooking and jewelry making to earn extra income. Have you had to come up with a pandemic side hustle? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The San Francisco Board of Supervisors approved a committee on Tuesday to study how the city could provide reparations for its Black residents. The 15 member African American Reparations Advisory Committee will take two years to come up with a plan for compensating those whose ancestors were enslaved or discriminated against by Jim Crow laws. Forum will discuss what reparations could look like for San Francisco, who could get them and what it will take to make it happen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

 As the host of NPR’s podcast “Death, Sex & Money,” Anna Sale is not afraid to talk about those difficult topics (and more) with complete strangers. But as she notes in her new book, “Let’s Talk About Hard Things,” sometimes it’s easier to talk to a bartender or a podcast host “because it’s downright terrifying to discuss the things that are the most important to us with the people who are most important to us.” Yet, that is exactly what we should do, argues Sale, because talking -- and listening -- will help us connect with the world around us. We’ll talk with Sale about how to approach difficult conversations, especially as some of us look to reconnect coming out of this pandemic. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Imagine if your company announced that it was piloting a shorter work week. You’d work 32 hours for 40 hours of pay, and it would be up to you to get your work done in less time. With those free hours, maybe you could take a day off each week, or start the workday at 11, after exercising or taking your child to school. The French have tried working fewer hours. Some Spanish companies plan to pilot a 32 hour week, with financial help from the Spanish government. But could this be something adopted by U.S. companies, where working long hours is often expected? We discuss the idea of a shorter work week, what might change for employees and if it would be bad for business. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More than a half-century ago, “Sesame Street” debuted on TV screens. Explicitly designed to close the learning gap for kids from low-income families by teaching the alphabet, numbers and other preschool basics, the show also tackled social-emotional skills, like dealing with grief and conflict. In her new documentary “Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street,” director Marilyn Agrelo uncovers the show’s radical origin story, using interviews and archival footage to trace the show’s first decade on air. We’ll talk with Agrelo about the enduring legacy of “Sesame Street.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Armenian Genocide, the Ottoman Empire’s executions, deportations and forced removals of an estimated 1.5 million Armenian citizens during World War I, was officially recognized by President Biden on April 24. The move drew praise from human rights advocates around the world and especially in California, home to the largest Armenian diaspora population in the United States. In the century since the killings took place, some world leaders, including Turkey, have refused to label the atrocity as a genocide. We'll talk about the significance of Biden's move and its potential effects on U.S.-Turkey relations. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shock G, the co-founder of the band Digital Underground, also known as Humpty Hump, passed away on April 22nd and was laid to rest in Tampa this past Saturday. The 90’s were a special time for Bay Area hip hop and Shock G is known to be one of the architects. He is responsible for hit songs like, “The Humpty Dance”, “Doowhatchulike” and “Same Song.” He was also a gatekeeper for discovering new talent -- the most famous being Tupac -- and produced his breakthrough single, “I Get Around.” In addition to that, he produced and collaborated with Dr. Dre, Prince and the Luniz, to name a few. As his fans, friends and family mourn his death, we examine Shock G’s contributions to the Bay Area. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A new investigation by Reveal, from the Center for Investigative Reporting, analyzed more than 5 million paycheck protection program loans, finding stark inequity in the rate of lending in majority Asian, Black, or Latinx areas compared with majority White neighborhoods. We get the details. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In celebration of National Poetry Month, Forum asked listeners to submit recordings of their original poems for a chance to be featured on air. Every Friday in April, we’ve heard some of these poems, representing a range of themes like family, love, nature and self-reflection. To close out the month, we’ll play more listener poems and talk about the power of poetry. Tell us: what do you love about poetry? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

H Mart is a supermarket chain specializing in Asian foods. It’s also where Michelle Zauner begins her new memoir, writing, “you’ll likely find me… sobbing near the dry goods, asking myself, Am I even Korean anymore if there’s no one left to call and ask which brand of seaweed we used to buy?” “Crying in H Mart” analyzes Zauner’s relationship with her late mother and their shared Korean heritage through meticulously described meals — like the soybean paste stew doenjang jjigae and chonggak (“ponytail” radish) kimchi —and the contexts in which they were eaten. We’ll talk with Zauner about processing her grief in both her memoir and music as the artist Japanese Breakfast, as well as her art’s evolution in anticipation of her upcoming album, Jubilee. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices