The dog, writes poet Billy Collins, moves through the world unencumbered, with “nothing but her brown coat and her modest blue collar.” In a new collection called “Dog Show,” the former U.S. Poet Laureate turns his gaze toward the quiet wisdom of our canine friends — their reminders to slow down, pay attention and let the ordinary become radiant. We talk to Collins about dogs, poetry and why it’s a good idea to get close to both in hard times. Has a dog changed the way you see the world? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For many, poetry is a balm. But for others, poetry feels inaccessible and hard to understand. In her latest book, “Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times” former U.S. Poet Laureate Tracy K. Smith aims to make poetry less intimidating. We listen back to our conversation with Smith about how to read poems, how to “listen at the widest possible angle” and how to use poetry to connect to one another across our differences. Guests: Tracy K. Smith, former U.S. Poet Laureate; professor of English and of African and African American Studies, Harvard University - Smith's latest book is "Fear Less: Poetry in Perilous Times" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In groundbreaking experiments with mice, Boston University neuroscientist Steve Ramirez has succeeded in turning memories on and off, even implanting new ones. He says that someday we’ll be able to do the same in humans. But should we? We talk to Ramirez about the ethical dilemma and the personal experience that caused him to consider erasing his own memory. His new book is “How to Change a Memory: One Neuroscientist’s Quest to Alter the Past.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

If you ask someone with aphantasia to visualize an apple, a tree, or the house they grew up in, their mind draws a blank. Literally. The inability to conjure up mental images was discovered in the 1880s but only recently has been given a name and become the subject of more serious study. Aphantasia is found in approximately one percent of the population and can also affect the ability to recall sounds, touch and the sensation of movement. Some aphantasics experience their condition as a loss, while others say the freedom from being bound by visual memory allows them to live fully in the present. We listen back to our conversation about aphantasia and what it tells us about how our brains perceive and remember. Guests: Larissa MacFarquhar, staff writer for The New Yorker, her most recent article is titled "Some People Can’t See Mental Images. The Consequences Are Profound" Tom Ebeyer, founder, Aphantasia Network Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

What’s your favorite audiobook? Chances are, it’s one with a great narrator. Audiobook performers can make, or break, the experience for listeners. But what goes into their work? Julia Whelan has been dubbed “the Adele of audiobooks” and has narrated over 700 audiobooks – including Gillian Flynn’s “Gone Girl,” Tara Westover’s “Educated” and Ottessa Moshfegh’s “My Year of Rest and Relaxation.” She joins us to share her insights into the craft, how AI is reshaping the industry, and what we love about listening to stories. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

To be a modern consumer is to experience poor customer service at some point in your life. The kind of service that has you in a fever dream of pressing “1” for “representative,” getting your call dropped, calling back again, and then asking to speak to a manager who can’t solve your problem. Experts call this kind of service “sludge,” an administrative morass meant to deter, not help, consumers. And for some businesses, it’s a feature not a bug. We listen back to our conversation with journalist Chris Colin about the practice and hear from you: what’s your sludge story? Guests: Chris Colin, journalist, The Atlantic Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The current Trump administration has deported roughly 8,000 people to places most have never even visited, in a process known as third-country removal. Critics say this violates U.S. law, depriving people seeking asylum of their due process rights. We hear from a Russian whistleblower and asylum seeker who was en route to California when he was deported… to Costa Rica. Plus, we’ll hear from lawyers who are seeing the Trump administration expand third-country removals for asylum seekers within California. Guests: José "Caya" Cayasso, co-founder of the tech startup Slidebean; YouTuber and journalist who first reported German's story German, Russian whistleblower who was deported to Costa Rica after attempting to seek asylum in the United States Dr. Yael Schacher, immigration law historian and director for the Americas and Europe, Refugees International Nicole Gorney, immigration attorney, Vidas Legal Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

After a year of political, economic and societal turmoil, we sit down with KQED’s Arts team to talk about their annual series, One Beautiful Thing. The series gathers reflections on singular experiences and practices from the past year that served as a balm, nourishment or enlightenment. This year’s picks include handwriting letters, supporting a struggling artist and taking a solo trip to follow a band on tour. And, we want to hear from you, what was the One Beautiful Thing in your life that punctuated 2025? Guests: Gabe Meline, senior editor, KQED Arts and Culture Pendarvis "Pen" Harshaw, columnist, KQED Arts Luke Tsai, food editor, KQED Arts and Culture Elissa Epel, professor and vice chair, UCSF's Department of Psychiatry; she is the author of "The Stress Prescription" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Data centers are the server farms that power the internet. California has the third-most data centers of any state: over 320 sites, with more construction slated for next year. But energy experts are sounding alarms about their impacts on electric grids, water and climate; impacts that are worsening with the explosion of AI. We’ll talk about what data center growth means for the environment — and for ratepayers — and how lawmakers and communities are responding. Guests: Molly Taft, senior climate reporter, WIRED; their recent piece is "You're Thinking About AI and Water All Wrong" Aaron Cantú, staff writer, Capital and Main; his latest piece on this is "The Insatiable Energy Demands of Data Centers Could Increase Fossil Fuel Emissions in California" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The president calling female reporters “piggy”, “stupid” and “ugly.” Claims that liberal feminism has ruined the workplace. The manosphere. Despite the #MeToo movement, protests featuring pussy hats, and political and cultural efforts to call the patriarchy to account, misogyny feels like it’s going strong in 2025. But why? We gather a panel of thinkers and leaders to talk about how misogyny has become mainstream and what can be done about it. Guests: Roxane Gay, scholar and author; her books include "Difficult Women," "Hunger" and "Bad Feminist" Irin Carmon, senior correspondent, New York magazine, She is the author of "Unbearable: Five Women and the Perils of Pregnancy in America" She is also the co-author of "Notorious RBG: The Life and Times of Ruth Bader Ginsburg" Savala Nolan, executive director, Thelton E. Henderson Center for Social Justice, Berkeley Law; author, "Don't Let It Get You Down: Essays on Race, Gender, and the Body." Her forthcoming book is titled, "Good Woman: A Reckoning" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From hotels to fast food restaurants, more companies are luring consumers to sign up for loyalty programs in exchange for points, discounts and other deals. But according to two former FTC officials, loyalty programs have devolved into “data-harvesting machines” that track what we buy and even how much we’re willing to pay. And the financial benefits tend to fall far short of the initial promise. We talk to Sam A.A. Levine and Stephanie Nguyen about how loyalty programs exploit consumers, how California is fighting back and how we can stay alert to the pitfalls. Their recent paper is called “The Loyalty Trap: How Loyalty Programs Hook Us with Deals, Hack Our Brains, and Hike Our Prices.” What consumer loyalty programs do you use, and have you ever felt used… by them? Guests: Samuel A.A. Levine, former director, Bureau of Consumer Protection, Federal Trade Commission - senior fellow, Center for Consumer Law & Economic Justice, UC Berkeley Law School Stephanie Nguyen, former chief technologist, Federal Trade Commission - senior fellow, Vanderbilt Policy Accelerator Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In recent contract negotiations, Kaiser Permanente therapists asked for language to specify that artificial intelligence would not “replace” humans in mental health care, but the employer has so far refused. Kaiser already uses AI technology in mental health care to take notes and create summaries, but Kaiser therapists worry further use of the technology could usurp their jobs. We talk about the ways AI may be entering our mental health care system and how it could affect therapists and their patients. Guests: April Dembosky, health correspondent, KQED News Jodi Halpern, professor of bioethics and chancellor's chair, University of California, Berkeley Vanessa Coe, secretary–treasurer, National Union of Healthcare Workers Anna Benassi, therapist, associate professor and executive director of clinics, California Institute of Integral Studies Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From Hollywood to Rockefeller Plaza, news of a potential sale of Warner Bros Discovery has sent shockwaves through the film industry. And the current bidding war between streaming giant Netflix and film studio Paramount has all the hallmarks of an HBO prestige drama – from antitrust lawsuits to a hostile takeover bid – with implications for all of American media. We unpack it all with NPR’s critic-at-large and a legal expert. What are your questions, or concerns, about a potential Warner Bros merger? Guests: Eric Deggans, critic-at-large, National Public Radio (NPR) Rebecca Haw Allensworth, associate dean for research and professor of law, Vanderbilt Law School Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2025 was supposed to be crypto’s year. President Trump began his term by announcing a strategic Bitcoin reserve and promised to back the market for the currencies. But Bitcoin is down nearly 30% from its all time high and crypto companies and investors have been hammered in the market. All this while Trump’s crypto czar, David Sacks, operates under accusations of conflicts of interest, and the Trump family continues to enrich itself with crypto-related enterprises. We talk about the year in crypto. Guests: David Yaffe-Bellany, reporter, New York Times - who covers cryptocurrencies and fintech Vicky Huang, reporter, Wall Street Journal - who covers the cryptocurrency industry Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Suicide is a leading cause of death in the U.S. for kids aged 10 to 18. And autistic youth are more likely to think about and die from suicide, and at earlier ages, than their neurotypical peers. Conventional mental health interventions are not designed to address the needs of autistic people — and can even worsen their distress, especially among those with elevated cognitive language and daily living abilities. But promising new mental health research could change the tide. We’ll learn more about advances in suicide prevention in autistic and neurodivergent people. Guests: Neal and Samara Tricarico, parents of Anthony "Ant" Tricarico; founders, the Endurant Movement: a nonprofit dedicated to autism, youth suicide and mental health Corinne Purtill, science and health reporter, Los Angeles Times Jessica Schwartzman, director, Training and Research to Empower NeuroDiversity Lab, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles; assistant professor of pediatrics, USC’s Keck School of Medicine Lisa Morgan, founder of the Autism and Suicide Prevention Workgroup Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

There have been more than 150 small earthquakes in San Ramon in the past month. In one rattling day alone there were at least 19 of magnitude 2.0 or higher. Do all these little earthquakes mean the big one is coming soon? Or maybe that the big one is not coming soon? Seismologists say it means neither. But we’re bringing together earthquake scientists to answer all your questions and tell us the latest in the science of quakes. Guests: Richard Allen, director, Berkeley Seismology Lab Annemarie Baltay, research geophysicist with the Earthquake Hazards Program, USGS Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Diane Keaton. Jane Goodall. Belva Davis. Ozzy Osbourne. Brian Wilson. Sly Stone. David Lynch. We lost cultural luminaries, larger-than-life personalities and loved ones in 2025. We’ll celebrate their legacies and hear how they changed lives and communities for the better. And we want to hear from you: Who did you mourn this year — and what did they give you? Guests: Chloe Veltman, correspondent, NPR's Culture Desk Meaghan Mitchell, arts and culture journalist; her piece of KQED Arts is," Belva Davis Showed Me I Belong in Journalism" Dave Schilling, contributing writer, LA Times Image - author, "Horror's New Wave: 15 Years of Blumhouse" Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

We’ll look back at KQED’s Best Bay Area Albums of 2025 with our music writers. This year’s list of favorites includes local musicians putting out original hip-hop, punk, salsa, spiritual jazz and rock. We’ll hear live in studio performances from musicians that made the list – Oakland hip-hop artist Jamel Griot and instrumental band Arts and Crafts – and we’ll  talk about the local musicians topping your playlists. Guests: Nastia Voynovskaya, editor and reporter, KQED Arts Pendarvis "Pen" Harshaw, columnist, KQED Arts Jamel Griot, hip hop and soul artist Jeff Klein, drummer, Arts and Crafts Noam Teyssier, guitarist, Arts and Crafts Nadia Aquil, bassist, Arts and Crafts Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The White House says it’s submitting plans this month for its 90,000 square-foot gold-studded ballroom which will be bigger than the White House while Democrats call for inquiries into the funding of the project. Meanwhile, the Oval Office gleams with gold adornments, and an executive order decrees classical architecture for all federal buildings. Design historians say Trump is reshaping America’s visual identity in his own image, breaking with centuries of presidential restraint. We take a look at what’s driving the makeover, and we want to hear from you: How do you interpret Trump’s visual choices? Guests: Naftali Bendavid, senior national political correspondent, The Washington Post Jessica Winegar, professor, Northwestern University Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The killing of Alberto Rangel, a 51-year-old social worker at San Francisco General Hospital, has left colleagues grieving and questioning whether his death could have been prevented. Rangel was stabbed by a patient who authorities say had made multiple threats for weeks. Incidents of workplace violence in healthcare facilities have been on the rise for more than a decade nationwide, prompting hospitals and medical offices to adopt stricter safety protocols. But are they working? We’ll talk about workplace violence against health care workers and what employers are doing – and failing to do – to protect them. Guests: Annie Vainshtein, reporter, San Francisco Chronicle Dani Golomb, psychiatrist; Golomb was attacked by a patient in 2020 during her medical residency at California Pacific Medical Center in San Francisco Dan Russell, president, University Professional and Technical Employees Al'ai Alvarez, clinical professor of emergency medicine, Stanford University Cammie Chaumont Menendez, research epidemiologist, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices