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Crosscurrents

KALW

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.

Location:

San Francisco, CA

Networks:

KALW

Description:

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.

Twitter:

@KALWNews

Language:

English

Contact:

500 Mansell Street San Francisco, CA 90140 (415) 264-7106


Episodes
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SHOW: A Little Help From Our Friends

6/5/2025
Everyone could use a little help from their friends… even Shakespeare! Today, Actor Fred Pitts from “The Book of Will.” Then, middle school kids talk to a billionaire. And, short stories that really pack a punch. It's a collection from New Arrivals, our pocket sized book tour.

Duration:00:26:51

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Sights + Sounds: Fred Pitts plays Shakespeare's friend in "The Book of Will"

6/5/2025
William Shakespeare is perhaps the world's most famous writer. But, he might not have been remembered at all without his friends. After his death in 1616, Shakespeare’s friends preserved his work, immortalizing his plays and sonnets, and his reputation. This is what the play, “The Book of Will” is all about. And Fred Pitts portrays one of those friends.

Duration:00:09:47

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Bay Made showcase: Peer Talk

6/5/2025
Today, we bring you an excerpt of a live event put on by KALW. It's a conversation between former CEO of Gap Inc., Bob Fisher and Peer Talk, a youth leadership and civic engagement program created by 7th grade students at Willie Brown Middle School.

Duration:00:08:41

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New Arrivals: Short Stories

6/5/2025
Here are some readings from our series New Arrivals, a pocket-sized book tour with Bay Area authors. Today we’re featuring collections of short stories that say a lot in fewer words.

Duration:00:05:10

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SHOW: Those Bay Area Blues

6/4/2025
Today, we go behind the veil with the Emmy-nominated filmmaker of “The Masquerade.” Then, one of KALW’s DJ’s brings us that vibey, gettin-ready-to-go-out kind of energy. And, a singer/songwriter from South Texas looks back at his early days in the bay.

Duration:00:24:50

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Sights + Sounds: "The Masquerade" director, Joslyn Rose Lyons

6/4/2025
In the film "The Masquerade" city leaders, developers and community activists gather around a table for a dinner party. They're discussing a plan to tear down the city's arts district and replace it with a “smart city.” One of the guests is a mysterious illusionist, played by former San Francisco 49er Vernon Davis. He is the magical catalyst for getting guests to be radically honest about their personal motivations for backing or resisting the high-tech development. Emmy-nominated filmmaker Joslyn Rose Lyons directed "The Masquerade."

Duration:00:08:16

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Texas troubadour Charley Crockett brings his country blues back to the Bay

6/4/2025
South Texas singer/songwriter Charley Crockett lived an itinerant lifestyle for years, but his time in the Bay Area laid the foundation to launch his professional music career.

Duration:00:11:51

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SHOW: Basketball Dreams Realized

6/3/2025
Today it's all about Bay Area basketball. The WNBA’s first Asian-American coach is hungry to win. Then, a muralist inspired by the dream of playing big league basketball.

Duration:00:26:50

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BOUNCE: Coach Nakase Is Full Of Firsts

6/3/2025
It's the second episode of BOUNCE, KALW’s basketball podcast that’s all about The Valkyries first season in the Bay. This one’s all about the team’s fearless leader: Coach Natalie Nakase.

Duration:00:15:19

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Sights + Sounds: Muralist Timothy B paints his "Hoop Dreams"

6/3/2025
Oakland muralist Timothy B's work focuses on uplifting African-Indigenous communities, especially young people. For the NBA All-Star game this year, The Warriors commissioned him to paint a mural that takes up half a block in Downtown Oakland. KALW’s Jeneé Darden met up with Timothy in front of his mural, "Hoop Dreams," to hear about his artwork and dreaming big during hard times.

Duration:00:09:27

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SHOW: Caring For Lesbian Icon Phyllis Lyon, With Love And Deceit

6/2/2025
With the start of Pride Month, we're re-airing a story from 2020 about local queer icon Phyllis Lyon. Her life, her community, and the support she received in her final days.

Duration:00:26:50

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SHOW: The Human Instrument In Name, Body, And Spirit

5/29/2025
Today, we explore the human-machine ecosystem. Then, the new executive director of the Bay Area Book Festival. And, we hear why unhoused people use “street names.”

Duration:00:26:50

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Organ music: Dancing to the music of a human instrument

5/29/2025
Did you know your muscles can make sound? Or that your heart and lungs are musical instruments just waiting to be played? Well every Wednesday in the Mission District, people from artist and tech communities let go of assumptions about each other and their own bodies to create together.

Duration:00:09:40

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Sights + Sounds: The Bay Area Book Festival

5/29/2025
The Bay Area Book Festival is back this weekend for its 11th year. Book lovers of all ages can check out readings and author talks in Downtown Berkeley. The festival has new leadership that is guiding the organization through a tough political climate and betting that books will lead us to a brighter future.

Duration:00:09:56

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Sidewalk Stories: What's in a street name?

5/29/2025
For unhoused people, "street names" are monikers — chosen or assigned — that often take the place of the names they were assigned as children. But what are the stories behind these names, and what purpose do they serve?

Duration:00:04:53

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Uncuffed: An Update From An Old Friend

5/28/2025
In 2022, one of the producers from Uncuffed's original San Quentin cohort, Edmond Richardson, married the love of his life, Avelina. Today, all six of the members of that first cohort have been released from prison. Edmond came home late last year, and so much has happened since that episode of the podcast aired three years ago. And you’ll want to stick around until the end to hear a very special update from Edmond and Avelina. Uncuffed will be back with brand new episodes on June 19. You can catch up on anything you've missed here!

Duration:00:26:39

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Finding Community In Speculative Fiction

5/27/2025
Today, seeking refuge in Black Horror and Afro-Futurism. Then, the directors of “Freaky Tales.” And, authors who are looking into the near future with their fiction.

Duration:00:26:51

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From horror to healing for Afro-futures

5/27/2025
For some, present day headlines are reminders of past terrors, causing them to seek refuge in the genres of Black Horror and Afro-Futurism. A local bookstore owner is helping people use these artforms to connect and envision brighter futures.

Duration:00:10:39

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Sights + Sounds: "Freaky Tales" directors Anna Bolden and Ryan Fleck

5/27/2025
“Freaky Tales” is a gritty, sci-fi, action film set mostly in Oakland. The story takes place in 1987. There’s a green, glowing, electric energy that hovers in the air above Oakland and it makes people do powerful things. Anna Bolden and Ryan Fleck are the writing/directing team behind the movie.

Duration:00:09:27

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New Arrivals: Near-future fiction

5/27/2025
Here are some readings from our series New Arrivals, a pocket-sized book tour with Bay Area authors. Today we’re featuring stories that speculate about the near-future, and imagine very different possibilities.

Duration:00:05:40