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Artwork for KQED's Forum

KQED's Forum

KQED
California
San Francisco
Bay Area
Artificial Intelligence
United States
Donald Trump
Climate Change
Oakland
Democracy
Iran
Yosemite National Park
Humanoid Robots
Sonoma County
Trump Administration
Homelessness
Supreme Court
Voting Rights Act
FDA
Israel
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

PublishesDailyEpisodes3528Founded21 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
PoliticsNewsNews Commentary

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Artwork for KQED's Forum

Latest Episodes

From the White House ballroom to the Kennedy Center to a proposed triumphal arch along the Potomac, President Trump has taken a special interest in creating physical markers of his legacy. We’ll look at how he’s largely escaped oversight, including b... more

Years after the pandemic emptied trains and buses, Bay Area transit agencies still face anemic ridership and rising costs. A new regional transit measure that voters put on the November ballot aims to shift the tides. It would add a 0.5% sales tax in... more

Rep. Nancy Pelosi will retire following the 2026 midterm elections, bringing to end her almost 40-year career in Congress. In a new five-part podcast series, “The Speaker,” KQED’s Scott Shafer embarked on an ambitious reporting project to capture the... more

When the San Francisco Chronicle last published its list of the Bay Area’s 200 largest public companies 17 years ago, oil behemoth Chevron ranked no. 1. The company has since left for Houston and now Apple Inc. has seized the top spot. Tech companies... more

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Recent Guests

Ke Huy Quan
Academy Award-winning actor, author of Never Say Die
Actor; Memoir author
Episode: Ke Huy Quan’s Hollywood Comeback
Naomi Klein
Journalist, Guardian columnist, documentary filmmaker, professor
University of British Columbia / Guardian / author of End Times Fascism
Episode: Authors Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor on How to Resist ‘End Times Fascism’
Astra Taylor
Writer, activist, documentarian; co-founder of the Debt Collective
Debt Collective / Occupy movement
Episode: Authors Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor on How to Resist ‘End Times Fascism’
Tomas Moniz
Author of The King of Aloe Vera; writer of Rad Dad and Rad Family
Author
Episode: A Changing Mission District and Intergenerational Friendship Center Tomas Moniz’s Novel ‘The King of Aloe Vera’
Dr. Nirmaljit Dhami
Perinatal psychiatrist and medical director at El Camino Health in Mountain View
El Camino Health
Episode: What the Lindsay Clancy Case Teaches Us About Postpartum Psychosis
April Dembosky
KQED Health Correspondent and author
KQED
Episode: What the Lindsay Clancy Case Teaches Us About Postpartum Psychosis
Michelle Oberman
Professor of Law at Santa Clara University and author
Santa Clara University Law School
Episode: What the Lindsay Clancy Case Teaches Us About Postpartum Psychosis
Sam Green
Filmmaker and director of The Oldest Person In the World
Self
Episode: “The Oldest Person In the World” Documentary Explores What It Means to Live and Age
Susan Stryker
Historian, author, filmmaker, activist; author of Changing Gender
Stanford University (affiliation), CalArts (education)
Episode: 'Changing Gender' in a Time of Backlash

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 868 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 States3 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 States3 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
#114
United States/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#149
Finland/News/Politics
Apple Podcasts
#222
Japan/News/Politics

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Authors Naomi Klein and Astra Taylor on How to Resist ‘End Times Fascism’
Q: What potential actions can people take to resist End Times Fascism in their own communities?
Get involved in local organizing, join a political home, support mutual aid and debt relief efforts, and build inclusive, multiracial, multi-faith networks that stand up for life and defend vulnerable neighbors.
Have You Navigated a ‘Quiet Divorce?’
Q: What feelings come with the decision to let go or end the marriage, and how can people grieve that process?
Feelings include grief, relief, anger, and anxiety about the next season; allow space to experience all of these and recognize both the loss of the imagined future and the possibility of a healthier path forward.
Have You Navigated a ‘Quiet Divorce?’
Q: How should listeners think about power dynamics in quiet/divorcing situations?
Power comes from interdependence and needs on both sides; manage it by acknowledging each person's concerns and avoiding gender stereotypes, focusing on mutual goals and legitimate needs.
Have You Navigated a ‘Quiet Divorce?’
Q: What steps or incremental things can people do to start reigniting their relationship?
Approach with two dials: increase engagement and clarify what actually matters; use invitational language like 'I miss us' to reconnect and address underlying issues while building new memories.
Have You Navigated a ‘Quiet Divorce?’
Q: What are some of the emotions or things that you tend to see people will need to work through when trying to reignite the relationship?
Progress is gradual and involves both partners leaning in, improving communication and conflict management, and deciding what is truly worth upsetting each other about, while also recognizing the other's needs may be met in other ways.

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

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Which podcasts are similar to KQED's Forum?

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

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

How many episodes of KQED's Forum are there?

KQED's Forum launched 21 years ago and published 3528 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on KQED's Forum?

Recent guests on KQED's Forum include:

1. Ke Huy Quan
2. Naomi Klein
3. Astra Taylor
4. Tomas Moniz
5. Dr. Nirmaljit Dhami
6. April Dembosky
7. Michelle Oberman
8. Sam Green

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