Rephonic
Artwork for KQED's Forum

KQED's Forum

KQED
California
San Francisco
Bay Area
Artificial Intelligence
Oakland
Donald Trump
United States
University Of California
Social Media
Democracy
Israel
Yosemite National Park
Climate Change
Humanoid Robots
Trump Administration
FDA
Data Centers
Homelessness
The Atlantic
Education

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

PublishesDailyEpisodes3556Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

Listen to this Podcast

Artwork for KQED's Forum

Latest Episodes

This November, Californians will vote on Proposition 40, a measure that would impose a one-time 5% tax on those whose net worth exceeded $1 billion at the beginning of 2026. While advocates argue it is time for the ultrawealthy to pay a larger share ... more

For more than five decades, renowned nutritionist, molecular biologist and food activist Marion Nestle has worked to expose the connections between Americans’ health and the powerful agendas shaping what we eat. Her newest book, co-authored with Dr.... more

Amid the news of Tennessee’s botched execution of Christa Pike and the Pentagon saying it will live-stream its execution of an army psychiatrist convicted of a mass shooting, Gov. Gavin Newsom is said to be considering commuting the sentences of the ... more

Oakland is home to dozens of houses of worship, and the “Oakland Faith Project,” aims to document these spaces and their leaders at a time when many are turning away from religion. Photographer and documentarian Nicolò Sertorio’s website includes sta... 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

Alexander Nguyen
Multimedia producer
KPBS
Episode: The Youth Sports Affordability Crisis
Michael Lewis
Author of Blockers, Rebels in the Deep State
Author
Episode: Michael Lewis on the Civil Servants Who Tried to Stop DOGE
Carl DeMaio
Main proponent of Prop 39, San Diego politician and former city councilmember
Reform California
Episode: The Battle Over Voter ID in California
Charles Amirkhanian
Co-founder, executive and artistic director of Other Minds (stepping down)
Other Minds
Episode: Other Minds Festival Celebrates 30th Year of Highlighting Experimental Music
Pamela Z
Composer, performer, media artist; longtime participant
Self / Other Minds
Episode: Other Minds Festival Celebrates 30th Year of Highlighting Experimental Music
Joseph Bohigian
Associate director of Other Minds; upcoming artistic director
Other Minds
Episode: Other Minds Festival Celebrates 30th Year of Highlighting Experimental Music
Hachador Hatchadorian
Bay Area wind instrumentalist and vocalist
Self
Episode: Other Minds Festival Celebrates 30th Year of Highlighting Experimental Music
Jordan Grimes
Legislative Director
Greenbelt Alliance
Episode: Prop 45: Will California Vote to Trade Environmental Regulation for Quicker Housing Development?
Izzy Bloom
Reporter and producer on KQED's Politics Desk
KQED
Episode: The Bay Area’s Hotly Contested Congressional Races

Hosts

Alexis Madrigal
Host of Forum, co-host and convenor (appears in intro); long-time contributor with a focus on technology, culture, and policy
Mina Kim
Co-host, focuses on California life, policy, and public interest topics; strong on local issues and civic conversations

Reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars from 871 ratings
  • Very bland

    There are so many issues and topics to discuss in the Bay area and California, but it seems that this show only wants to discuss safe topics and book releases. Also the hosts avoid asking hard questions and having opposing views present. I guess that's not to offend anyone and attract more people. The result is very bland and run of the mill.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    Lucemfere
    United States4 months ago
  • Great show

    I really love forum. All of the hosts are excellent, especially Alex and Mina. The topics are always timely and I learn a lot from listening. Thanks KQED & Forum.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Jimmy Joe 1963
    United States4 months ago
  • 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 Statesa year 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 Statesa year 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 Statesa year ago

Listeners Say

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

Critics say coverage can feel one-sided or topic-framed.
Audience notes about format changes and pacing have been mixed.
Listeners praise timely topics and strong guests.
Fans value thoughtful questions from hosts and depth on local issues.
Some critique perceived bias or interruptions during interviews.

Chart Rankings

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

Apple Podcasts
#95
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#69
Taiwan/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#234
Japan/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

How Social Media is Shaping How We Experience Our Lives IRL
Q: What drew you to write about the way we narrate our lives on social media?
I wanted to understand how people curate their identities online and why we feel compelled to present everything as polished or resilient, even when our real experiences include ambivalence and struggle.
Prop 45: Will California Vote to Trade Environmental Regulation for Quicker Housing Development?
Q: To what extent do you believe Prop 45 will meaningfully change the speed of development, and in what sectors?
Experts indicate it will speed up non-housing public projects and housing projects that are already exempted or streamlined, estimating roughly half the time for EIR processes while preserving core environmental protections.
The Youth Sports Affordability Crisis
Q: So Renata, Governor Newsom recently signed a state budget that includes $4 million to implement the Youth Sports for All Act, which your org helped to make happen. What does that mean in practice?
The Youth Sports for All Act creates a blue ribbon commission to study access, affordability, safety, and accountability across California and return recommendations to the Legislature by January 2028, with a focus on coordinating government and private efforts to expand pathways for all kids to play.
Michael Lewis on the Civil Servants Who Tried to Stop DOGE
Q: What stood out to you about the people inside government who resisted DOGE?
The people Lewis profiles—like Tim Curry and Kathleen Walters—are depicted as disciplined, principled, and sometimes inscrutable in their neutrality; they prioritized processes and the rule of law over partisan advantage, often at personal cost.
Michael Lewis on the Civil Servants Who Tried to Stop DOGE
Q: What was the driving idea behind DOGE and why did it resonate or fail?
Lewis explains that DOGE was more of a dramatic initiative than a viable solution, aiming to dramatically shrink the government but failing due to ignoring entrenched costs and structural realities, turning into a distraction that masked a broader power grab.

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 interview show pairs in-depth conversations with guests from journalism, policy, science, and culture to unpack timely issues in California and beyond. Recent episodes cover climate policy, energy transitions, media trust and journalism, labor and technology, public safety, and cultural analysis, often weaving local context with broader national implications. Listeners can expect thoughtful debates, expert viewpoints, and practical takeaways for audiences like policymakers, professionals, and engaged citizens. The program frequently features panels and firsthand experiences from researchers, advocacy groups, and industry practitioners, with a distinctive emphasis on civic life, accountability, and the interplay between lo... 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 four 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. KQED's The California Report
3. Bay Curious
4. The Bay
5. City Arts & Lectures

How many episodes of KQED's Forum are there?

KQED's Forum launched 21 years ago and published 3556 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. Alexander Nguyen
2. Michael Lewis
3. Carl DeMaio
4. Charles Amirkhanian
5. Pamela Z
6. Joseph Bohigian
7. Hachador Hatchadorian
8. Jordan Grimes

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