California Sun Podcast
The California Sun presents conversations with the people that are shaping and observing the Golden State
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Sylvia Brownrigg's memory and imagination
05/02/2024
Sylvia Brownrigg's memory and imagination
Bay Area author Sylvia Brownrigg embarked on a captivating journey to uncover family secrets, set against the backdrop of California's allure of reinvention. In her new memoir, "," a lost package sparks an exploration that intertwines identity, hidden family histories, and the enduring influence of the past on the present. Through her evocative storytelling, Brownrigg juggles the essence of reinvention and the longing for self-discovery.
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Max Podemski defends multifamily housing
04/25/2024
Max Podemski defends multifamily housing
Max Podemski is an urban planner, writer, and illustrator who currently serves as a transportation planner for the city of Los Angeles. In his new book, "" he traces the evolution of American housing types, from the Philadelphia row house and Chicago workers cottage to the California bungalow. Podemski argues that California's rich history of desirable multifamily housing could hold a solution to the state's housing crisis.
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Napa's wine industry is not aging well
04/18/2024
Napa's wine industry is not aging well
The California wine industry is under siege. A global wine glut, younger generations turning away from alcohol, and a contentious battle over the future of Napa County wineries have left the enemy inside the gates. As if this weren't enough, Justice Department investigators have subpoenaed dozens of wine industry figures, including a member of the Board of Supervisors, and in January the head of Napa County's farm bureau died by apparent suicide. Stu Smith, proprietor of Smith-Madrone Winery in St. Helena and a longtime small winery activist, joined us to tell the story.
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A California voice for a distant land: Amy Wilentz's advocacy for Haiti
04/11/2024
A California voice for a distant land: Amy Wilentz's advocacy for Haiti
Though Haiti may seem distant, it is arguably as relevant to us as Ukraine or Israel. The Caribbean country serves as a global example of failed governance rooted in tribal strife. Amy Wilentz, a prominent voice in bringing attention to the horrors endured by the people of Haiti, has been covering the nation since the 1980s. A long-time resident of Southern California, she is a recipient of a National Book Critics Circle Award and a frequent contributor to the Los Angeles Times. Wilentz also teaches literary journalism at the University of California, Irvine.
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Bonnie Portnoy and the untold story of California's impressionist adventurer, Tilden Daken
04/04/2024
Bonnie Portnoy and the untold story of California's impressionist adventurer, Tilden Daken
Bonnie Portnoy, granddaughter of celebrated California impressionist Tilden Daken, is the author of a new biography of his life, "." Portnoy unveils the mysteries of an artist whose life was as colorful as his paintings of California's natural landscapes, filled with daring adventure, personal tumult, and a relentless pursuit of artistic expression.
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Dr. Susan Partovi is taking it to the streets.
03/20/2024
Dr. Susan Partovi is taking it to the streets.
Dr. Susan Partovi, a pioneer in street medicine, recounts her journey of providing compassionate care to the homeless on L.A.'s Skid Row in our conversation and in her recent memoir, "" With a career spanning decades, Dr. Partovi offers a unique perspective on results-based healthcare for the most marginalized. Her approach, shaped by early experiences and a commitment to treating patients as family, emphasizes the urgent need for listening to her patients on the streets to address the homelessness crisis. Her story is a testament to the power of caring and bravery in medicine.
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Andrew Cockburn on Silicon Valley's military fusion
03/07/2024
Andrew Cockburn on Silicon Valley's military fusion
Andrew Cockburn's cover story for the March issue of Harper's Magazine, titled “” illuminates the longstanding and increasingly intricate relationship between Silicon Valley's tech leaders and the Pentagon. Cockburn, the Washington editor of Harper's and a distinguished figure in journalism, argues that the traditional "military-industrial complex" has evolved into a more contemporary "military high-tech complex." This transformation signals a deeper integration of technological advancements with military operations, occurring within our own backyard.
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James Brosnahan has helped shape our legal landscape for six decades
02/29/2024
James Brosnahan has helped shape our legal landscape for six decades
James Brosnahan is one of California's most distinguished litigators, with a career that spans the Robert Kennedy Justice Department, 55 years in private practice in California, and more than 150 jury trials. His cases have mirrored the issues of our times, tackling challenges like refugees, gender battles, sexual taboos, terrorism, government misconduct, wrongful imprisonment, free speech, legal work in war zones, poverty and murder on Native American Reservations, and hunger in America. He shares his story with us and in his memoir, "."
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Sarah Swanbeck and Erin Heys decode millennials and Gen Z
02/22/2024
Sarah Swanbeck and Erin Heys decode millennials and Gen Z
The Berkeley Institute for Young Americans, part of the Goldman School of Public Policy at UC Berkeley, examines the evolving generational dynamics of millennials and Gen Z. The institute serves as a hub for exploring the aspirations and challenges of young people, offering unique perspectives on their impact in the workplace and across cultural and political landscapes. Joining us on the podcast are Sarah Swanbeck, the institute’s executive director, and Erin Heys, its policy director. Together, they delve into how today’s generational shifts are influencing everything from labor markets to climate change policies, emphasizing the pivotal role of these younger cohorts in crafting our future.
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Harold Bronson on L.A.'s rock record story
02/15/2024
Harold Bronson on L.A.'s rock record story
Harold Bronson discusses his memoir "." The book chronicles Bronson's journey in the music industry from writing for UCLA's Daily Bruin to co-founding Rhino Records. He covers four decades of rock history, highlighting the shift from fun and rebellion to business. Bronson's story is rooted in California, where he developed his passion for music and witnessed the state becoming a hub for the music industry. He introduces readers to great music and underscores the enduring legacy of California's influence on the music scene.
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Matthias Gafni gives voice to the lost souls of San Francisco
02/09/2024
Matthias Gafni gives voice to the lost souls of San Francisco
Matthias Gafni, an investigative reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, delves into the darkest corners of the streets of San Francisco. For a , he attempted to attribute names, faces, and families to 24 overdose deaths during a particularly harrowing week in 2023. They were not mere statistics but individuals with stories: a recent immigrant dreaming of a new life; a star student and athlete; a mechanic striving to escape his past, among others. Each narrative sheds light on the complex interplay of drug use, mental illness, and profound, systemic issues fueling the city’s drug crisis.
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Roger Rapoport is still searching for Patty Hearst —50 years later
02/01/2024
Roger Rapoport is still searching for Patty Hearst —50 years later
This Sunday, Feb. 4, will mark the 50th anniversary of Patty Hearst's kidnapping, a saga that remains a captivating and perplexing chapter of California history. For those who lived through it, this event was more than a headline; it epitomized an era. Yet, regardless of how vividly we recall the saga, the full truth has remained elusive. Roger Rapoport helps bridge the gaps in our understanding in our conversation and in his new book, ": A True Crime Novel."
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Daniel Sokatch on Israel and its local echoes
01/25/2024
Daniel Sokatch on Israel and its local echoes
Daniel Sokatch, a prominent figure in the Jewish community in California and across America, has served as CEO of the San Francisco-based New Israel Fund since 2009 and previously led in the Jewish Federation of San Francisco. His role became crucial on Oct. 7 when Hamas's attack on Israel reverberated around the world, including in American Jewish communities. Sokatch emerged as a voice of reason as protests roiled American cities. These protests not only mirrored global divisions but also highlighted deep-seated issues within American life.
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Matt Mahan knows the way to San Jose
01/18/2024
Matt Mahan knows the way to San Jose
Matt Mahan, the 66th mayor of San Jose, advocates for addressing a select number of specific issues rather than engaging in what he perceives as performative politics that aims to solve every problem for all constituents. During his first year as mayor, he has made in tackling housing and homelessness. A Watsonville native and Harvard alumnus, Mahan's background includes heading student government at Harvard, constructing irrigation systems in Bolivia, teaching middle schoolers with Teach for America, and founding a company as a tech entrepreneur.
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The mysterious power of 'The O.C.'
01/11/2024
The mysterious power of 'The O.C.'
In his new book "," Rolling Stone's chief television critic, Alan Sepinwall, provides an oral history of a cultural phenomenon that became an example of unpredictable success. Despite many shows featuring attractive casts and glamorous California settings, "The O.C." managed to stand out — and change the formula for television teen dramas. Its story offers insights into the cultural context of California and Orange County in the early aughts and underscores the elusive nature of hits in entertainment.
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David Kipen chronicles California's soul: from letters to tweets
01/04/2024
David Kipen chronicles California's soul: from letters to tweets
As we usher in the new year, we talk with David Kipen about his latest work, "." The anthology is a heartfelt ode to California, skillfully interweaving its diverse strands — from historic letters to contemporary tweets — creating a dialogue that transcends time. It reflects on California's evolving landscapes and captures the quintessence of what makes the state “a place apart.”
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Ryan Bedsaul learns about L.A's parts unknown
12/14/2023
Ryan Bedsaul learns about L.A's parts unknown
Ryan Bedsaul explores how Anthony Bourdain’s on-screen work, especially "Parts Unknown," helped him connect to and navigate the vast, enigmatic city of Los Angeles. In this week's podcast and in his recent article for , Bedsaul reflects on his experiences of living in Los Angeles and how Bourdain’s work has reoriented his attitude toward the city, and impacted his engagement with its people and places.
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John King's portal to San Francisco
12/07/2023
John King's portal to San Francisco
John King, urban design critic for the San Francisco Chronicle, explores how San Francisco’s Ferry Building mirrors the city's evolution and broader urban American challenges in his book new "." More than a historic transportation hub, the Ferry Building's journey from glory to neglect and resurgence symbolizes San Francisco's shifting narrative. King delves into the interplay of preservation, development, and adaptation, while addressing existential threats like climate change and seismic risks. He reveals how a single landmark encapsulates a city's history, growth, and future uncertainties.
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Jonathan Taplin vs. the tech billionaires
11/30/2023
Jonathan Taplin vs. the tech billionaires
Jonathan Taplin, a film producer, scholar, and director emeritus of the Annenberg Innovation Lab, is a vocal critic of excessive techno-optimism. In his book, ": How Four Billionaires are Selling a Fantasy Future of the Metaverse, Mars, and Crypto," he argues that the California-centric billionaires Peter Thiel, Elon Musk, Mark Zuckerberg, and Marc Andreessen are diverting public attention from critical issues. He criticizes the media's role in glorifying them and advocates for a cultural shift that emphasizes real solutions over escapist narratives.
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Katya Cengel's story of resilience and recovery
11/16/2023
Katya Cengel's story of resilience and recovery
The narrative in Katya Cengel's new memoir "" is set in motion by her volunteer work at a juvenile detention facility in the Bay Area in 2012. The experience served as a catalyst, unearthing memories of her own past. In 1986, at the age of 10, Cengel was hospitalized in the now defunct psychosomatic unit of Stanford Children’s Hospital, battling an extreme eating disorder. At the time of her admission, she weighed a mere 55 pounds. Her story is a reflection on the evolving landscape of mental healthcare and support for young people facing similar challenges.
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Conor Friedersdorf: D.E.I. vs. free speech at California colleges
11/02/2023
Conor Friedersdorf: D.E.I. vs. free speech at California colleges
Conor Friedersdorf, a California-based staff writer for The Atlantic, joins us to discuss his recent article, "." In it, he dissects controversial new diversity, equity, and inclusion mandates at California's community colleges, the largest higher education system in the U.S. These policies are not only sparking lawsuits but also raising questions about academic freedom and First Amendment rights. As Friedersdorf navigates this complex landscape, he sheds light on the historical context, the intentions behind the policies, and their broader societal implications.
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Robert Sapolsky and our Illusion of free will
10/26/2023
Robert Sapolsky and our Illusion of free will
Robert M. Sapolsky, a Stanford neurobiologist and MacArthur “genius” fellow, challenges our deeply ingrained beliefs about free will. Building on his seminal 2017 work "," which explored the dynamics of nature and nurture, Sapolsky's latest book, "," suggests that science, medicine, and philosophy may actually support determinism over free will. As societal discourse increasingly embraces a culture of victimhood, he questions the quintessentially Californian belief in personal agency.
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Brian Conrad unpacks California's 'math misadventure'
10/19/2023
Brian Conrad unpacks California's 'math misadventure'
Brian Conrad, the director of undergraduate studies in mathematics at Stanford University, recently broke down the proposal to overhaul of California's math curriculum in for the Atlantic. After reading the entire 1,000-page framework, Conrad criticized what he described as the document's reliance on questionable research and challenged its recommendations to do away with middle school algebra and introduce "data science" as an alternative to traditional math. He warns that the proposal's one-size-fits-all approach could limit career opportunities in quantitative fields and exacerbate educational inequities.
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Rosanna Xia on California against the sea
10/12/2023
Rosanna Xia on California against the sea
Rosanna Xia, a Los Angeles Times environmental reporter and Pulitzer Prize finalist, joins us to unravel a crisis that's reshaping California's iconic 1,200-mile coastline. But this isn't just a Golden State issue; it's a global wake-up call. Xia's frontline reporting and her new book "," reveals that we're at a crossroads: either we hurtle headlong into environmental disaster or pivot toward a new paradigm of coastal stewardship. This episode dives into the urgent need to redefine "resilience" in the face of climate change. Forget seawalls and beach replenishment; Xia is talking about a seismic shift in our relationship with the planet.
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Evelyn McDonnell peels back the layers of Joan Didion's world
10/05/2023
Evelyn McDonnell peels back the layers of Joan Didion's world
Evelyn McDonnell is a storyteller, writing about a storyteller. Her tribute to Joan Didion, “,” places each of us at the moment we first became aware of the California author. The book delves into Didion’s roles as a woman, mother, spouse, and consumer, even as she remains a bit of a political enigma. All these facets contribute to the complex landscape of Didion's life and her work as a kind of cartographer for California.
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Paul Carter on Richard Nixon's California
09/28/2023
Paul Carter on Richard Nixon's California
Paul Carter ventures where few dare to go — into the California life of Richard Nixon. Not as the man marred by Watergate, but as California's native son. Author of "," Carter delves into the former president's youth, exploring how Nixon, born in Yorba Linda and educated in Whittier, was shaped by the stories, places, and people of Southern California. Moreover, he examines how California politics, even today, remain linked to Nixon's complex legacy.
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Chris Tilly navigates California's labor landscape and growth challenges
09/21/2023
Chris Tilly navigates California's labor landscape and growth challenges
Chris Tilly, a professor and labor studies expert at UCLA's Luskin School of Public Policy, recently garnered attention in that explored the constraints on California's economic expansion. In this episode, Tilly examines California's dynamic workforce and its potential to set a precedent for overcoming limited growth nationwide. He delves into key topics such as the ongoing labor unrest in the state, the proposed creation of a wage-setting board, and the adoption of a $20 minimum wage for fast-food workers. With his deep expertise in labor markets, inequality, and public policy, Tilly provides an insightful look at the shifting labor landscape in the Golden State.
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Julie Johnson and the threat of smoke to California's firefighters
09/14/2023
Julie Johnson and the threat of smoke to California's firefighters
Julie Johnson, a reporter for the San Francisco Chronicle, the overlooked health crisis facing California's firefighters. While the public takes precautions against wildfire smoke — from wearing masks to closing schools — firefighters are alarmingly unprotected. Her reporting revealed that, despite evidence linking smoke exposure to long-term health risks like cancer and dementia, there's a glaring absence of protective measures or federal studies.
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Tony Platt unveils UC Berkeley's original sins
09/07/2023
Tony Platt unveils UC Berkeley's original sins
Tony Platt, author of "" peels back the layers of UC Berkeley's esteemed reputation. Beneath its status as a hub for innovation and progressive thought lies a troubling history of plunder, warfare, and white supremacy. Platt's research serves as a clarion call for the university to confront its original sins, from its role in the military-industrial complex to its large-scale hoarding of Indigenous remains.
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Dashka Slatter explores virtual harm and real consequences
08/24/2023
Dashka Slatter explores virtual harm and real consequences
Dashka Slater, in her recent and in her new book, "." unveils a shocking discovery in liberal Albany, California. She delves into a high school student's private Instagram account filled with disturbing and hateful content. Who was involved? What were the consequences? And what does this reveal about online accountability, societal norms, and the dark side of digital culture? Slater's exploration exposes a complex puzzle that challenges our understanding of responsibility in the virtual world.
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