KQED's Forum

Whether it’s declining an invitation, disagreeing with a boss or questioning a doctor, why is it so hard for us to say “no?” In her new book, Cornell organizational psychologist Dr. Sunita Sah draws on behavioral science to look at the pressure we feel to comply and explains why acts of defiance should be seen as expressions of our values. Sah’s new book is “Defy: The Power of No In A World That Demands Yes.” When do you struggle to say no? http://www.sunitasah.com Guests: Dr. Sunita Sah, author, physician-turned-organizational psychologist, Cornell University; Her new book is ‘Defy: The Power of No In A World That Demands Yes’.

A cattle supplement that cuts down on cow burps and thus, greenhouse gas emissions. Drugs that make it far easier to prevent AIDS and maybe end the disease altogether. Generative AI upending traditional search engines. These are just some of the advances that made MIT Technology Review’s 2025 list of 10 Breakthrough Technologies. Writers and editors from the magazine join us to talk about how these technologies will progress this year and why they could be so impactful. Guests: Mat Honan, editor in chief, MIT Technology Review Allison Arieff, editorial director of print, MIT Technology Review Casey Crownhart, climate reporter, MIT Technology Review James O'Donnell, artificial intelligence reporter, MIT Technology Review

Mountaineer Jon Waterman first journeyed to the High Arctic in 1983, intent on learning all he could about the strange land with grizzlies and caribou, sea fossil-filled mountains and night skies with “saffron clouds and beams of viridescence.” Waterman has returned more than 20 times since then, and in a new book he documents the environmental changes he witnessed. We talk to him about the world above the Arctic Circle and how the climate crisis is transforming it. His book is “Into the Thaw.” http://jonathanwaterman.com Guests: Jon Waterman, author, “Into the Thaw: Witnessing Wonder Amid the Arctic Climate Crisis”; former Denali National Park ranger. His other books include National Geographic’s “Atlas of the National Parks" and "In the Shadow of Denali."

On his first day in office Donald Trump issued a slew of executive orders to address what he called “an unprecedented flood” of immigration. Terminating birthright citizenship, a right enshrined in the Constitution, declaring a national emergency at the border and seeking funds to build a border wall are just some of Trump’s directives. Many of his orders faced immediate opposition: as of Tuesday, 18 states and two cities had filed lawsuits attacking the legality of the birthright citizenship order. We talk about Trump’s early moves on immigration and how they are impacting immigrants and their families. Guests: Salvador Rivera, correspondent based in San Diego, BorderReport.com Deep Gulasekaram, professor of law and director of Byron White Center for the Study of Constitutional Law, University of Colorado Boulder Law School. He teaches constitutional and immigration law. He is co-author of the leading immigration law textbook used in U.S. law schools. Molly O'Toole, fellow, Wilson Center; Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter currently working on a book on immigration for Penguin Random House[[formerly covered migration and security for the Los Angeles Times]] Rafael Carranza, reporter, Arizona Luminaria, a nonprofit news organization covering Arizona; Carranza covers immigration issues. He previously reported for the Arizona Republic and the USA Today Network. Tyche Hendricks, senior editor covering immigration, KQED

Set up a P.O. box. Learn your insurance policy. Know it’s OK to mourn the material objects you lost, or to refuse donations you don’t need. These are just some of the many pieces of advice survivors of past California wildfires have for victims of the Los Angeles wildfires. We’ll talk to people who’ve lost their homes to fires in Paradise, wine country and the Sierra Foothills about managing the practicalities as well as the emotions. And we’ll hear from you: If you’ve survived a wildfire, what advice might you give? Guests: Jennifer Gray Thompson, CEO, After the Fire - A nonprofit that helps communities rebuild after wildfires. Melissa Schuster, owner, Burnt Barn Distilling Co, in Paradise - former Paradise town council member Lizz Porter, NorCal small business owner who lives in Colfax; Lost her home during the River Fire in Placer County. She wrote the recent Chronicle op-ed, "I lost everything in a California wildfire. Here’s what people in L.A. need to know now"

The first Israeli hostages and Palestinian political prisoners have been released and Gazan exiles have begun returning to their war-ravaged communities after the Israel and Hamas ceasefire deal went into effect Sunday. After 15 months of brutal war, the ceasefire has brought much relief but also uncertainty about whether it will last and under what terms. We talk about what the ceasefire agreement means and what could happen next. Guests: Omar Dajani, professor of law, University of the Pacific's McGeorge School of Law; board member, A Land For All; former senior legal advisor, Palestine Liberation Organization's Negotiations Support Unit Jacqueline Mates-Muchin, senior rabbi, Temple Sinai, Oakland Janine Zacharia, lecturer, Stanford University; former Jerusalem Bureau Chief and Middle East correspondent, Washington Post Andrew Roth, global affairs correspondent, The Guardian Sam Hindi, former mayor of Foster City, member of the Palestinian American Coalition-San Francisco

Donald Trump takes the presidential oath of office on Monday, ushering in a second term that he says will push hardline policies on immigration and trade, deregulate industry and slash climate protections. We get your reactions to his inaugural address and what you think the coming days and weeks will bring. How are you preparing for a second Trump term? Guests: Claudia Grisales, national correspondent, NPR Zack Beauchamp, senior correspondent, Vox Franklin Foer, staff writer, The Atlantic; His books include "The Last Politician: Inside Joe Biden's White House and the Struggle for America's Future."

We look back on the life and career of legendary Los Angeles director David Lynch. Known for “Blue Velvet,” “Mulholland Drive” and “Twin Peaks,” Lynch used dream-logic narratives to interrogate the American dream itself and to capture the dark beauty of Los Angeles, the city he dearly loved. He was also sunny in outlook, famously advising “keep your eye on the donut and not on the hole.” Lynch’s family announced his death on Thursday. He was 78. What is your favorite work by David Lynch? What did he mean to you? Guests: Rebecca Alter, staff writer who covers comedy and pop culture, Vulture Alexandre Philippe , filmmaker and director of the documentary “Lynch/Oz” Jackson Kim Murphy, associate news editor, Variety Ian Nathan, film writer and author, “David Lynch: A Retrospective”

On Monday we will, once again, inaugurate Donald Trump as president and, once again, it will come as the country is bitterly divided and often deeply confounded by people with opposing political views. We at Forum thought this would be a perfect time to listen back to our interview with john a. powell. He’s director of UC Berkeley’s Othering and Belonging Institute and his work focuses on communicating, and understanding each other’s humanity, across divides. We talked to him about his institute’s work and his new book “The Power of Bridging.” Guests: john a. powell, director, UC Berkeley's Othering and Belonging Institute; professor of Law, African American and Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley

After his California home burned in a wildfire, acclaimed author and travel writer Pico Iyer retreated to a remote monastery in Big Sur. There, he discovered the power of solitude and stillness to help process loss and cope with uncertainty. In his new book, “Aflame,” Iyer writes about his frequent visits to the monastery over the following three decades, always finding joy and renewal in the “silence and emptiness and light”… and lack of screens. We’ll talk with Iyer about the book, and why his inner journeys mean more to him than his far-flung trips across the globe. http://picoiyerjourneys.com Guests: Pico Iyer, journalist and author, "Aflame"; He is the author of 15 books, including "Video Night in Kathmandu" and "The Art of Stillness" and has been a contributor for more than thirty years to Time, The New York Times, Harper’s Magazine, the Los Angeles Times.

In the nearly seven years since the Supreme Court legalized sports betting, it has exploded as an industry. Last year, 67.8 million Americans put down bets worth a total of $23 billion on the Super Bowl alone. And where once official leagues like Major League Baseball decried betting as an “evil” that would damage the sport, now gambling on games and players’ performances is being embraced as wholesome entertainment. As fans put down bets ahead of the national college football championship this Monday, we’ll talk to sports betting experts about how gambling has impacted sports, the players, and the people who bet on them. Guests: Ryan Rodenberg, professor, Florida State University Danny Funt, journalist, Funt has written for the Washington Post about sports betting. His forthcoming book on sports betting is titled, "Everybody Loses" David Purdum, writer, ESPN, Purdum covers the sports betting industry

Democrat Ron Wyden has represented Oregon in the U.S. Senate for three decades, championing legislation on the environment, health care and tax reform. We’ll talk to him about how he plans to operate within a Republican-controlled chamber, why he thinks Democrats can still mount an effective resistance to extreme MAGA-ism and why effecting change depends on playing the long game. Wyden’s new book is “It Takes Chutzpah: How to Fight Fearlessly for Progressive Change.” Guests: Ron Wyden, U.S. senator, D-Ore; author, "It Takes Chutzpah: How to Fight Fearlessly for Progressive Change"

Americans are getting more and more of our calories from ultra-processed foods. One study found that more than half of our diets consist of foods that contain ingredients with no nutritional value including sports drinks, wheat bread, flavored yogurt, and frozen pizza. Studies have shown ultra-processed foods can lead to poor health outcomes from obesity and cancer to anxiety. But the products that shoppers should steer clear of can be hard to detect. They are often marketed as healthy options and some health experts say they are not all bad. We dig into the rise of ultra-processed foods, what they might mean for our health and how to spot them on grocery shelves. Guests: Alice Callahan, nutrition reporter, The New York Times Dr. Uma Naidoo, psychiatrist, chef, and nutritionist; She is the author of "This Is Your Brain on Food" and "Calm Your Mind with Food." Laurel Bristow, host of Health Wanted, WABE Public Radio in Atlanta and NPR; She is also associate director of audience development for the Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University.

It’s that time of year when many of us dust off our running shoes, sign up for a gym membership and vow to develop a fitness routine we can stick with. Whether you’re just getting started or aiming to set a new personal record, we talk to two experts who share their advice and answer your questions. What are your New Year’s fitness resolutions? Guests: Juliet Starrett, certified nutrition coach and CEO and co-founder, The Ready State; author, "BUILT TO MOVE: The Ten Essential Habits to Help You Move Freely and Live Fully" Kelly Starrett, doctor of physical therapy; co-founder, The Ready State; author, "BUILT TO MOVE: The Ten Essential Habits to Help You Move Freely and Live Fully." His other bestselling books include “The Supple Leopard” and “Becoming a Supple Leopard."

Even before the fires in Los Angeles, California’s insurance market was under enormous pressure. Extreme weather events like wildfires, which have been supersized due to climate change, previously led national carriers like Allstate and State Farm to stop writing new homeowners policies. And some property owners are facing non-renewal for homes deemed by insurance companies to be at risk. California is not alone in this dilemma. Florida has the highest insurance rates in the country, and its residents pay 37% more for coverage as compared to national averages. We’ll talk to experts about how these latest fires will impact the state’s insurance industry and the future of insurance in a climate change-charged world. Guests: Michael Wara, policy director, Sustainability Accelerator at the Doerr School of Sustainability, director, Climate and Energy Policy Program, senior research scholar, Woods Institute for the Environment; Stanford University Dave Jones, former Insurance commissioner, California Department of Insurance; Dave Jones is the director of the Climate Risk Initiative at UC Berkeley’s Center for Law, Energy and the Environment (CLEE). Amy Bach, executive director and cofounder, United Policyholders - a San Francisco-based nonprofit that advocates for insurance consumers.

California could lose billions of dollars in health funding if the Trump administration follows through on GOP plans to overhaul Medicaid, which provides healthcare for low-income people. Trump policies could also have major implications for Covered California, the state’s health insurance marketplace, and for health care programs addressing homelessness and reproductive health . We’ll talk with state assembly health committee chair Mia Bonta and others about what services are most vulnerable, and how California officials are preparing. Guests: Mia Bonta, state assemblymember representing the 18th assembly district in the East Bay and chair of the assembly health committee Angela Hart, senior correspondent covering health care politics and policy in California and the West, KFF Health News Mark Peterson, professor of public policy, political science, health policy and management, and law, UCLA; senior fellow at the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services on Friday declared the Los Angeles wildfires a public health emergency, as President Biden reiterated his promise to cover disaster response costs over the next six months. Displaced L.A. residents are mourning their lost pets, homes and schools, and entire communities are grieving the loss of arts institutions, hiking trails, businesses and restaurants. We provide an update on the latest and hear from you: What impact have the wildfires had on you – even from afar? How to help. Guests: Saul Gonzalez, co-host, The California Report, KQED Daniel Swain, climate scientist, University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UC ANR) & UCLA Institute of the Environment and Sustainability (UCLA IoES) Chris Harvey, Public Information Officer with CalFire INT-4 Jake Viator, mastering and recording engineer, lost his home and property in the Eaton Fire in Altadena

AI companion apps are becoming increasingly popular, with millions of users engaging with them for over an hour each day. Most users report positive experiences using their AI companions for entertainment, emotional support, and even therapeutic purposes. But their potential to become addictive, encourage harmful behaviors and ultimately exacerbate social isolation has sparked concern, especially among parents. We learn more about AI companions and hear about your experiences with them. Guests: Kevin Roose, technology columnist, New York Times; co-host of the podcast, Hard Fork Nitasha Tiku, tech culture reporter, Washington Post

Meteorologists say firefighters may get a respite today and tomorrow from the strong Santa Ana winds fueling the massively destructive wildfires in Los Angeles. There have been 10 confirmed deaths so far and an estimated $135-$150 billion dollars in loss and damages.. We check in with reporters on the scene about how Angeleno’s are processing the swaths of destruction, evacuations, heartbreak and uncertainty. Guests: Rachael Myrow, senior editor, Silicon Valley News Desk, KQED Saul Gonzalez, co-host, The California Report, KQED Beans are rich in nutrients, easy to cultivate and transport, and are beloved in cuisines around the world. But on many plates, beans are a side dish, not the main attraction. That may be hard to believe if you’re someone who craves a simmering pot of frijoles negros or lives for the sweet and savory taste of Boston baked beans. We talk to Steve Sando, the founder of Rancho Gordo, a Napa company that revitalized the heirloom bean market, and Jessica Battlana, a chef, about how beans can and should be the center of any meal. What’s your favorite bean? Guests: Steve Sando, founder and CEO, Rancho Gordo; a company that sells heirloom varieties of beans; author, "The Bean Book: 100 Recipes for Cooking with All Kinds of Beans" Jessica Battilana, co-author, "Rintaro: Japanese Food from an Izakaya in California"; Battilana is also the author of "Repertoire: All The Recipes You Need" and a staff editor at King Arthur Baking Sponsored

Food and lifestyle megacelebrity Martha Stewart was the country’s first female self-made billionaire when her media empire Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia went public in 1999. Since then, her fortunes have fluctuated, reaching a low point in 2004 when she was sentenced to five months in prison for lying to prosecutors about a stock trade. R.J. Cutler got unprecedented access to Stewart for his documentary “Martha,” which is now streaming on Netflix. We’ll talk to Cutler about the making of the film and what Stewart taught him about the exercise of power. And we’ll hear from you: how has Martha Stewart influenced you? Guests: R.J. Cutler, Academy Award-nominated and Emmy-winning director-producer, "Martha"; His other films include "Elton John: Never Too Late," "The War Room", "Billie Eilish: The World’s A Little Blurry", "BELUSHI" and "A Perfect Candidate"