Rephonic
Artwork for KQED's Forum

KQED's Forum

KQED
California
San Francisco
Iran
Donald Trump
Climate Change
United States
Mental Health
Healthcare
Bay Area
Trump Administration
Tariffs
Venezuela
2026
Kaiser Permanente
Poetry
Dogs
California College Of the Arts
Startlement
Education
Kash Patel

Forum tells remarkable and true stories about who we are and where we live. In the first hour, Alexis Madrigal convenes the diverse voices of the Bay Area, before turning to Mina Kim for the second hour to chronicle and center Californians’ experience. In an increasingly divided world, Mina and Alexis host conversations that inform, challenge and unify listeners with big ideas and different viewpo... more

PublishesDailyEpisodes3375Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NewsNews CommentaryPolitics

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for KQED's Forum

Latest Episodes

What does it mean to be American? That’s the question that animates Ben Rhodes’s new book “All We Say: The Battle for American Identity.” Drawing on 15 speeches spanning more than two centuries, the former Obama speechwriter and national security adv... more

The Trump administration said it will allocate $75 million dollars to fund a new coal terminal on the waterfront in West Oakland. Developer Phil Tagami has been working on building a shipping terminal on city-owned land for more than a decade. The co... more

Artificial intelligence is rapidly changing the American workplace, and virtually every week brings a new report that entry-level white-collar jobs could be replaced by chatbots. Facing an uncertain future, 1 in 4 college students no longer believe t... more

Before Andrew Sean Greer won the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for his novel “Less,” he was the executive director for a writer’s foundation based in Italy and sponsored by a baronessa. It was a job he has compared to “running a bed-and-breakfast for maniacs.”... more

Key Facts

Accepts Guests
Accepts Sponsors
Contact Information
Podcast Host
Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Similar Podcasts

People also subscribe to these shows.

Recent Guests

Theo Baker
Author of How to Rule the World: An Education in Power at Stanford University
Author, The Stanford University book project
Episode: The Stanford Pipeline That Turns College Students Into Silicon Valley Elites
Jennifer Wilson
Staff writer at The New Yorker, author of How Americans Caught Gold Fever Again
The New Yorker
Episode: Are We in a New Gold Rush?
Albert Fausel
Owner of Placerville Hardware and part-time gold prospector
Placerville Hardware
Episode: Are We in a New Gold Rush?
Quinn Slobodian
Professor of International History at Boston University
Boston University
Episode: Are We in a New Gold Rush?
Brian Wallace
Executive Officer of the Indigenous Futures Society; Washoe and Nisenan Tribes member
Indigenous Futures Society
Episode: Are We in a New Gold Rush?
Luke Runyon
Co-director of The Water Desk, Center for Environmental Journalism at the University of Colorado
University of Colorado Boulder
Episode: What the Colorado River Drought Means for California
Camille von Kaenel
California Environment Reporter at Politico
Politico
Episode: What the Colorado River Drought Means for California
Celene Hawkins
Director for Colorado River Program at The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy
Episode: What the Colorado River Drought Means for California
Jeremy David Engels
Author of On Mindful Democracy, a Declaration of Interdependence to Mend a Fractured World; Professor of Communication Arts and Sciences, Penn State University
Penn State University
Episode: Ahead of America’s 250th, a ‘Declaration of Interdependence'

Hosts

Mina Kim
Host of Forum; KQED Forum coverage across the Bay Area and California; co-lead in first/second hours in various iterations
Alexis Madrigal
Host of Forum; leads diverse, high-level discussions on national and regional topics; active in guiding conversations with guests

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 857 ratings
  • Ok when not discussing politics

    Great podcast with an array of good real life topics. The host and guest cover interesting subjects at depth. A narrative for leftist politics is deep with a little bit of an intrusive victim complex.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Aqui_16
    United States7 months ago
  • Please Alexis do not interrupt the guests while they were speaking

    Please do not interrupt the guest while they were speaking. You have them on because they have a level of knowledge that you do not have.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    boomer and proud of it
    United States9 months ago
  • Garbage

    I tried to listen to this and felt like I was getting dumber with every minute. Not worth the time. Hosts seem very low IQ.

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    RA989
    United States10 months ago
  • g0dforbidi!!!

    what happened to asking follow up questions? are these hosts allergic to it?

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    silly_goose!
    United Statesa year ago
  • State media with a pro-genocide slant

    Posing as a current events discussion show, Forum managed to studiously ignore the largest news story of 2023-present, the so called “Israel-Gaza war.” Zero Palestinian guests were ever asked onto the program, which instead took its cues from the editorial staff of neo-conservative magazine The Atlantic (that same publication that once sold us Bush’s Iraq War, and whose editor recently colluded with Trump’s state department in a private chat about bombing Yemen). When Forum finally began to addr... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    melodie-c
    United Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Several reviews note interruptions or interview dynamics as a point of contention.
A few comments value balanced California political analysis with global context.
Listeners praise the hosts for thoughtful, timely topics and strong guests.
Positive feedback highlights depth and relevance of California-focused discussions.
Some critics feel coverage leans a particular perspective or format has shifted.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#128
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#16
South Korea/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#100
Taiwan/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#160
South Korea/News
Apple Podcasts
#168
Finland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#169
Japan/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Forum from the Archives: What Does It Take to Be a ‘Good Woman’?
Q: What does being a good woman mean to you, and how has your own reckoning changed that definition?
It's about choosing freedom, resisting constant self-silencing, and redefining what care and leadership look like for women, rather than conforming to external expectations or patriarchy.
Ahead of America’s 250th, a ‘Declaration of Interdependence'
Q: Can you give an example of a local, practical act that embodies mindful democracy?
Pat's rotating mayor model in Cordo Madera illustrates how rotating leadership can foster collaboration and reduce entrenched partisanship at the local level.
Ahead of America’s 250th, a ‘Declaration of Interdependence'
Q: How can individuals practice mindful deliberation in everyday conversations?
He outlines five agreements of mindful deliberation used in his classroom and suggests adopting them in daily conversations to move from winning arguments to collaborative problem-solving.
After a Year as Oakland's Mayor, Barbara Lee Looks to 'Finish the Job'
Q: What were the most successful elements of Barbara Lee's first year as mayor, and what needs more work?
Resetting the homelessness and illegal dumping strategy — including Keep the Town Clean, expanding outreach, and using data-driven enforcement — has shown progress, while budget constraints and staffing remain significant, with ongoing need for more affordable housing and shelter capacity.
The Child of Revolutionaries, Running From the FBI
Q: What lessons can today's activists take from the Weather Underground's experience with factionalism and internal disagreement?
He emphasizes the destructiveness of ideological purity tests and internal splits, arguing for solidarity and pragmatic cooperation while acknowledging the moral questions and the context that shaped those decisions.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About KQED's Forum

What is KQED's Forum about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A Bay Area–focused current affairs program features long-form conversations with a mix of journalists, policymakers, scientists, and authors. Episodes commonly cover politics, climate, housing, technology, and social issues, often pairing expert analysis with on-the-ground reporting and listener input. Notable strengths include in-depth interviews, timely topics with local and national relevance, and a track record of high-caliber guests across journalism, academia, and public policy. The show tends to attract listeners who want thoughtful commentary, data-driven context, and exposure to diverse viewpoints, though some critics feel it leans toward certain perspectives and formats have evolved over time—useful for prospective listeners decid... more

Where can I find podcast stats for KQED's Forum?

Rephonic provides a wide range of podcast stats for KQED's Forum. We scanned the web and collated all of the information that we could find in our comprehensive podcast database. See how many people listen to KQED's Forum and access YouTube viewership numbers, download stats, audience demographics, chart rankings, ratings, reviews and more.

How many listeners does KQED's Forum get?

Rephonic provides a full set of podcast information for three million podcasts, including the number of listeners. View further listenership figures for KQED's Forum, including podcast download numbers and subscriber numbers, so you can make better decisions about which podcasts to sponsor or be a guest on. You will need to upgrade your account to access this premium data.

What are the audience demographics for KQED's Forum?

Rephonic provides comprehensive predictive audience data for KQED's Forum, including gender skew, age, country, political leaning, income, professions, education level, and interests. You can access these listener demographics by upgrading your account.

How many subscribers and views does KQED's Forum have?

To see how many followers or subscribers KQED's Forum has on Spotify and other platforms such as Castbox and Podcast Addict, simply upgrade your account. You'll also find viewership figures for their YouTube channel if they have one.

Which podcasts are similar to KQED's Forum?

These podcasts share a similar audience with KQED's Forum:

1. Political Breakdown
2. City Arts & Lectures
3. Fresh Air
4. Bay Curious
5. KQED's The California Report

How many episodes of KQED's Forum are there?

KQED's Forum launched 21 years ago and published 3375 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

How do I contact KQED's Forum?

Our systems regularly scour the web to find email addresses and social media links for this podcast. We scanned the web and collated all of the contact information that we could find in our podcast database. But in the unlikely event that you can't find what you're looking for, our concierge service lets you request our research team to source better contacts for you.

Where can I see ratings and reviews for KQED's Forum?

Rephonic pulls ratings and reviews for KQED's Forum from multiple sources, including Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, and Podcast Addict.

View all the reviews in one place instead of visiting each platform individually and use this information to decide if a show is worth pitching or not.

How do I access podcast episode transcripts for KQED's Forum?

Rephonic provides full transcripts for episodes of KQED's Forum. Search within each transcript for your keywords, whether they be topics, brands or people, and figure out if it's worth pitching as a guest or sponsor. You can even set-up alerts to get notified when your keywords are mentioned.

What guests have appeared on KQED's Forum?

Recent guests on KQED's Forum include:

1. Theo Baker
2. Jennifer Wilson
3. Albert Fausel
4. Quinn Slobodian
5. Brian Wallace
6. Luke Runyon
7. Camille von Kaenel
8. Celene Hawkins

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

Find and pitch the right podcasts

We help savvy brands, marketers and PR professionals to find the right podcasts for any topic or niche. Get the data and contacts you need to pitch podcasts at scale and turn listeners into customers.
Try it free for 7 days