KQED's Forum

NPR's Sarah McCammon, author of 'The Exvangelicals', discusses leaving the evangelical church due to misogyny, homophobia, and racism. She explores her upbringing, influences, and struggles with doubt. Listeners reflect on their own paths post-organized religion.

The WNBA is coming to the Bay Area! Fans will have a new women’s team to cheer for, at a moment when female superstars like Caitlin Clark have captivated basketball lovers of all ages. As part of KQED’s Youth Takeover week, high school athletes Mahi Jariwala, Jessie Lin and Olivia Ma bring together a sports journalist, a basketball coach and a Title IX attorney to talk about the impact of women’s basketball in the Bay Area – and the arrival of a new professional team.Guests:Mahi Jariwala, senior, Monte Vista High SchoolJessie Lin, senior, Woodside High SchoolOlivia Ma, junior, BASIS Independent FremontMarisa Ingemi, women's sports reporter, San Francisco ChronicleKim Turner, co-CEO of the nonprofit Bay Area Women's Sports Initiative; Title IX attorneyJeff Addiego, vice president, Warriors Basketball Academy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

You’d be forgiven for associating Rainn Wilson primarily with Dwight Schrute, the overbearing, mansplaining geek on “The Office.” And in his bestselling book “Soul Boom” the three-time Emmy Award-nominated actor acknowledges the connection: “Why is the beet-farming, paper-selling, tangentially Amish man-baby with the giant forehead and short-sleeved mustard shirts writing about the meaning of life?” But then again, why wouldn’t he be curious? Wilson joins us to talk about his own journey with faith, why big philosophical questions make life worth living and why we need what he calls a “spiritual revolution.” And we’ll also hear why he thinks “The Office” is such a cultural mainstay, informing TV mockumentary trends, cringe humor and Gen Z artists like Billie Eilish.Guests:Rainn Wilson, actor who played Dwight Schrute on the TV show, "The Office." His most recent book is "Soul Boom: Why We Need a Spiritual Revolution." Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Cecil Williams forever changed San Francisco, the Bay Area, and even the world. As the long-time pastor at Glide Memorial Church, known for serving the poorest, most vulnerable residents of San Francisco, he led a congregation that was infused with the spirit of care and social justice as well as love, joy and music. Cecil Williams died this week at the age of 94, to celebrate his life and legacy, we listen back to his interviews, a sermon and the music of Glide.Guests:Cecil Williams, founder and Minister of Liberation, Glide Memorial United Methodist Church in San Francisco Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We often think of film as a visual medium. But a carefully placed sound effect or a well crafted sonic atmosphere can evoke emotion just as profoundly. Can you imagine a movie like “Godzilla” without the monster’s signature roar? Or the terrifying silence of “A Quiet Place?” For Erik Aadahl, the Oscar nominated sound designer behind both of those films, sound is the human sense tied closest to our emotions. We talk with Aadahl about what his work entails, how he sources sound for his films and how he creates soundscapes both otherworldly and joyous. What movies stand out to you for their sound?Guest:Erik Aadahl, sound designer; co-founder of the studio, E Squared - credits include "Transformers," "Godzilla," "A Quiet Place," "Argo," "Kung Fu Panda," and "The Creator" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In 2020 and 2021, against a backdrop of the Black Lives Matter movement and Covid-19 pandemic, school districts across the country made the decision to remove police officers from their campuses. In the San Jose area, pressure from teachers and parents pushed several school districts to increase mental health support on campuses – hiring social workers and creating wellness centers – as an alternative to policing. As part of KQED’s Youth Takeover week, high school juniors Khadeejah Khan and Nico Fischer, and a panel of educators, will examine that decision, learn how different schools in San Jose have adapted, and discuss new issues around safety. And we’ll hear from you: how can we create safe, positive environments for students?Guests:Khadeejah Khan, senior, Santa Clara High SchoolNico Fischer, sophomore, Santa Clara High SchoolRachel Stanek, English teacher of thirty yearsTomara Hall, special education teacher, equity leader and community organizerMichael Gatenby, teacher, East Side Union High School District Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Supreme Court heard arguments Monday in its biggest case on homelessness in decades. At issue is whether penalizing unhoused people for camping on public land violates the “cruel and unusual punishment” clause of the 8th Amendment — even if they refuse offers of shelter. The case, Grants Pass v. Johnson, could have massive implications for how California cities address homelessness. Nearly half of all unhoused Americans live in California, according to a report last year by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Affairs. We’ll discuss the arguments and how the Court might rule.Guests:Marisa Kendall, homelessness reporter, CalMattersMeghan Ryan, professor of law, Southern Methodist University (SMU) Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In his new novel “James,” Percival Everett reimagines the story of Huck Finn through the eyes of the enslaved protagonist Jim. Where Twain used Jim as a plot device, Everett offers a fully realized portrait of the man who dreams of traveling “safely through the light of the world.” A prolific author and an English professor at USC, Everett’s earlier work inspired the film “American Fiction.” We talk to Everett about his writing, his faith in readers to understand difficult text, and this latest book, which is being lauded by critics as a new American classic.Guests:Percival Everett, author, "James"; English professor, USC - his other books include "I Am Not Sidney Poitier," "The Trees," "God's Country," and "Erasure," which was adapted for the film "American Fiction." "James" is his 34th novel Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In the decades following the collapse of the Soviet Union, U.S. foreign policy coalesced around the idea that Russia – and later China – would integrate into a western world order, leaving American power “fundamentally unchallenged.” But in fact, the military, economic and technological threats posed by those countries have drawn the U.S. toward a new cold war era – one that New York Times reporter David Sanger calls “more complex and dangerous” than we have confronted in nearly 100 years. We talk to Sanger, who’s covered U.S. national security for decades, about why the U.S. misjudged threats to its power and how it might reshape its global influence. His new book is “New Cold Wars: China’s Rise, Russia’s Invasion, and America’s Struggle to Defend the West.”Guests:David Sanger, White House and National Security Correspondent, New York Times Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Politicians have historically relied on traditional media — like television — to get out their campaign messages and mobilize voters. Who can forget the infamous 1988 Willie Horton ad? But while traditional media still dominates political ad spending, politicians are spreading their messages on digital platforms once reserved for entertainment. Even TikTok is being leveraged by many politicians as the way to engage a digital generation. As part of KQED’s annual Youth Takeover week, high school juniors Ryan Heshmati and Kate Quach bring together a panel of media experts to talk about how political advertising works today and how we got there.Guests:Ryan Heshmati, junior, Saratoga High SchoolKate Quach, junior, St. Ignatius High SchoolDavid Broockman, associate professor of political science, University of California-BerkeleyMakena Kelly, senior politics writer; author, WIRED's Politics Lab newsletterKyle Tharp, author, For What It’s Worth - a newsletter tracking digital strategy, spending and trends in politics Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices