Shows / Crosscurrents
Crosscurrents
Crosscurrents is KALW Public Radio's award-winning news magazine, broadcasting in the Bay Area Mondays through Thursdays on 91.7 FM. We make joyful, informative stories that engage people across the economic, social, and cultural divides in our community.
Episodes
- Crosscurrents
Taxing the Titans: How will San Francisco tax big business?
Next Tuesday, June 2nd, is California’s 2026 primary election. And there’s a lot for voters to decide on. In San Francisco, two competing propositions have…
- Crosscurrents
AAPI youth are thinking beyond the ballot box this election year
As we wrap up Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, many in the diaspora will also be getting ready to vote, some for the first time. Next we’ll…
- Crosscurrents
Sights + Sounds: Bay Area Book Festival 2026
The Bay Area Book Festival returns to Downtown Berkeley this weekend. There will be many things to learn and experience for book literature lovers of all ages…
- Crosscurrents
SHOW: Art Addressing Life
Thirty-four Black women from the Bay Area are addressing issues facing their community with a mix of theater, dance and ritual. It’s the final chapter of a…
- Crosscurrents
Kitchen Sisters: House/Full Of Black Women — Chapter 2
It's the final chapter of a House/Full Of Black Women, a special episode from the Kitchen Sisters. It explores the question: how can black people dream, if…
- Crosscurrents
Bay Poets: 'Decomposing Mystic' by poet Danni Blackman
Danni Blackman is a multi-disciplined artist who’s visual artist name is Decomposing Mystic. Here, she reads her poem by the same name.
- Crosscurrents
The Kitchen Sisters: House/Full Of Black Women — Chapter 1
From 2015 to 2023, 34 Black women from the Bay Area — gathered monthly around a big dining room table in Oakland. They were artists, scholars, midwives…
- Crosscurrents
SHOW: Goalball Goals, And a Modern Shakespearean Scandal
Today, we hear about a sport for blind athletes that relies on only hearing and touch to play. Emboldening athletes on and off the court with goalball. Then, a…
- Crosscurrents
Goalball emboldens blind athletes on the court and in their lives
Every Wednesday night in Berkeley a group of athletes gets ready to practice their sport. The first thing they have to do is line the court with a tactile…
- Crosscurrents
Sights + Sounds: Ted Lange's 'Shakespeare Over My Shoulder'
William Shakespeare is possibly the most widely recognized writer in western literature… but did he actually write every single thing he gets credit for? It’s…
- Crosscurrents
New Arrivals: Jase Peeples pens YA novel about gay, comic book-obsessed teen
Now, a segment from New Arrivals, our pocket sized book tour with Bay Area authors. Jase Peeples lives in San Francisco. His new book is, "Before You Can Fly."…
- Crosscurrents
The Homes We Live In, and The Nature Surrounding Them
San Francisco’s Sunset district is a quiet, residential area… where almost every house has a locked gate at its front door. Today, what makes a neighborhood…
- Crosscurrents
Who put up all those gates in the Sunset?
If you’ve seen some of the ads in the BART stations… or San Francisco Mayor Daniel Lurie’s posts on Instagram… you may notice an emphasis on safety and…
- Crosscurrents
Bay Poets: 'Free' by poet Cyrus Armajani
Oakland poet Cyrus Armajani helps us pause to consider nature, humanity, and freedom. Here he is, reading his poem, "Free."
- Crosscurrents
Doom & Bloom Podcast — Live @ SF Climate Week
Here’s a question. When you talk about an issue you deeply care about, like climate change- what’s the reaction from the people around you, in your life? Are…
- Crosscurrents
Sidewalk Stories: How do unhoused people manage illegal dumping?
Illegal dumping is a big problem in Oakland. Today, we’ll from unhoused people about how the excess garbage that accumulates around encampments impacts their…
- Crosscurrents
SHOW: Miko Marks Makes Her Mark on Americana Music
Today, we check in with our transportation reporter to get the latest on the spiking gas prices around the Bay Area. Then, Americana and roots singer Miko…
- Crosscurrents
Getting Around the Bay Q&A: Gas prices
Getting around the bay has never been… cheap. But if you’ve stopped to fill up your gas tank recently, you’ve definitely noticed that the price per gallon…
- Crosscurrents
Sights + Sounds: Miko Marks' residency at Yoshi's
The Oakland-based singer, Miko Marks, first came onto the music scene as a country artist. But Miko’s powerful vocal range is wide, and so is her creativity…
- Crosscurrents
The Bloodline: Wrestling as Family Business
May is when we celebrate Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage. Next we’ll drop in on the world of wrestling. In the Bay Area’s world of pro-wrestling…
- Crosscurrents
Who’s Really Responsible for Oakland’s Trash Problem?
Oaklanders are angry about the trash spilling onto their streets. Today, an exploration of Oakland’s illegal dumping crisis. And, why unhoused people often get…
- Crosscurrents
Trash tells a story — meet the man trying to clean up Oakland
Illegal dumping in Oakland is not an issue you can deny, if you spend enough time in the city you will be met again and again by sprawling, incomprehensible…
- Crosscurrents
SHOW: Sonic Legacies Informing New Sounds
An Oakland musician challenges traditions, while also keeping them alive. Today, the music of World War 2 incarceration camps that helped Japanese Americans…
- Crosscurrents
In Oakland, the musical legacy of Japanese American incarceration still resonates
Today we start with this question: What are the first sounds that come to mind when you think about war? If you happen to say music - you’re not alone. Oakland…
- Crosscurrents
From Song Exploder to "In the Last Hour of Light:" Hrishikesh Hirway is sharing his whole self
Hrishikesh Hirway is best known as the host of the hit podcast Song Exploder - where he asks musicians to break down their creative process. Last spring…
- Crosscurrents
SHOW: A Golden State Storm is Brewing
Today, we hear about a new women’s tackle football team has touched down in Oakland. Then, the past, present, and future of women’s basketball in the Bay.
- Crosscurrents
Women, non-binary players tackle America's Game
Football is the most popular sport in America. But, that love doesn’t necessarily extend to athletes who aren’t cisgender men. And old, out-dated attitudes…
- Crosscurrents
BOUNCE: The Golden State Valkyries season two tip-off party
Last year, here at KALW, we rebooted our sports podcast, BOUNCE to follow the Valks progress through their first season in the Bay. And BOUNCE will be back…
- Crosscurrents
SHOW: The Mother Of It All Podcast - LIVE!
Oakland is at a crossroads with its policies on homelessness. Today, we hear a conversation with Oaklandside housing and homelessness reporter Natalie…
- Crosscurrents
Bay Made Showcase: The Mother of it All (LIVE)
Leading up to Mother’s Day, KALW’s show Bay Made, our series that features local audio storytellers, has been airing episodes of the podcast “The Mother Of It…
- Crosscurrents
Oakland toughens crackdown on homeless encampments
Life is going to get tougher for Oakland's homeless population. Last month, the city council approved a new law on encampment sweeps that gives new powers to…
- Crosscurrents
New Arrivals: Caroline Paul and 'Why Fly?'
Today, a segment from New Arrivals- our pocket sized book tour with Bay Area authors. In her book ‘ Why Fly? San Francisco author and pilot Caroline Paul takes…
- Crosscurrents
SHOW: CA Attorney General Rob Bonta on KALW's Climate Break (LIVE)
California is suing the federal government to save our Clean Air Act. Today, a conversation with our Attorney General Rob Bonta. Then, the lead singer of the…
- Crosscurrents
Climate Break (LIVE): California Attorney General Rob Bonta
Right now, the state of California has a very litigious relationship with the federal government. Currently our state is actively working on 67 separate…
- Crosscurrents
Earth, Air, Fire, Water... and Bay FC on Treasure Island
Treasure Island is changing fast — and a new professional women’s soccer facility is part of that transformation. Today, how it’s bringing opportunity, and…
- Crosscurrents
Reshaping Treasure Island — with Bay FC and more
Treasure Island redevelopment is underway. For months, construction crews have been building new housing, parks, and roads, transforming the island from a…
- Crosscurrents
Earth, Air, Fire, Water: A climate week art exhibition at the Mills Building
For the past couple of years KALW has had a second home at the Mills Building on Montgomery Street in Downtown San Francisco. Besides making great radio here…
- Crosscurrents
Real Ways Artificial Intelligence is Changing Our World
Today, a conversation about how AI is rapidly shaping, and changing, journalism. Then, we hear how more and more people are turning to AI chatbots to help with…
- Crosscurrents
The Bay Agenda: AI and Journalism
Nowadays, there is a good chance you have heard - or been in conversations about- all the different ways that artificial intelligence is changing the landscape…
- Crosscurrents
The business of never letting go
Artificial intelligence is not just changing how we get our information, but also in some cases, how we emotionally process a major life event, like death…
- Crosscurrents
SHOW: Raising their voices
One mariachi ensemble in the Bay Area is reframing traditions. Today, we bring you the art and music of Mariachi Femenil. Then, we hear how seven thousand…
- Crosscurrents
Mariachi Femenil Orgullo Mexicano raise their voices and sing “Llegaron Las Mujeres”
Today is Cinco de Mayo! And for the Bay Area that means lots of events featuring mariachi! Many of the songs are sung from the men’s perspectives, and they…
- Crosscurrents
The Sights and Sounds Show: 'Come From Away' play
How seven thousand stranded passengers in a small Canadian town inspired a broadway musical.
- Crosscurrents
SHOW: The long road from homelessness to housing
This month, a transitional housing program for unhoused people in Oakland is closing. Then, how poetry can invite us to celebrate the threads that connect us…
- Crosscurrents
SHOW: The Brass Liberation Orchestra
Today, we’re going to feature some of the musicians who have provided a soundtrack for Bay Area protests, the Brass Liberation Orchestra.
- Crosscurrents
SHOW: Standing with people and protecting places
Struggling with homelessness can make it hard to maintain simple routines. Today, the artist inviting the unhoused community to come as they are. Then, one new…
- Crosscurrents
Berkeley’s Warming Hut offers a safe space
Today, we'll see how an encampment in Berkeley is coming together with the help of one resident.
- Crosscurrents
The Sights and Sounds Show: Carolina Ixta's 'Few Blue Skies'
One new novel from an Oakland writer is inspired by the legacy of environmental racism.
- Crosscurrents
Bay Poets: San Francisco's Poet Laureate speaks for the people
April is National Poetry Month and to celebrate in proper style Bay Poets has been exploring the Poetry Center at SF State’s amazing archives. Today, we wrap…
- Crosscurrents
SHOW: Speaking to the moment
Poets have always given a voice to social movements. So today, we bring you a conversation with San Francisco’s first Latino Poet Laureate about how this art…
- Crosscurrents
SHOW: Arab American Heritage
A Palestinian folk dance group is bringing their people’s story to the big stage. Blending the old and the new into one struggle for freedom. And, a first…
- Crosscurrents
Palestinian folk dance troupe amplifies their struggle for freedom through dabke
Dabke is an Arabic folk dance with roots in Palestine. In Oakland, one troupe is bringing the generations-old dance to the big stage on April 26th- along with…
- Crosscurrents
Bay Poets: 'A Silent Poem, بروح' by Camellia Boutros
Today we will be listening to musician and poet Camellia Boutros read an excerpt from her poem.
- Crosscurrents
Sights and Sounds: 'Burden of Proof' dance production
How the wrongful conviction of two Filipino-immigrant nurses inspires a dance production in San Francisco.
- Crosscurrents
SHOW: Taking a different perspective
Today, how the ocean can be a very queer place, literally and metaphorically. Then, one play is bringing the excitement of basketball to the stage. And, a poem…
- Crosscurrents
How queer communities are seeing themselves reflected in tide pools
There is a growing number of people connecting with the ocean through the outdoor activity called tidepooling. KALW Reporter Anna takes us to a queer…
- Crosscurrents
Sights and Sounds: 'Flex' basketball play
The play “Flex” takes audiences back to 1998, right after the launch of the WNBA. It is an exciting time for a high school girls basketball team in a dusty…
- Crosscurrents
Bay Poets: 'Photos I Appear in by Chance'
For poetry month Berkeley poet Zack Rogow ponders how the simple act of photobombing persists with a life of its own.
- Crosscurrents
Our Changing Climate
Today, we hear how the need for housing can clash with the need to protect our natural resources. Then, how residents of the agricultural town of Pescadero…
- Crosscurrents
When housing needs clashes with protecting our natural resources
Cities along the Bay Area shoreline are trying to restore wetlands to help mitigate floods and fight climate change. But as housing prices in the Bay skyrocket…