Best Battle Bird Productions Podcasts (2025)

1
Program Provides Unique Science Lessons On Tahoe Slopes 11:20

7h ago11:20

11:20

Skiers cruising down Tahoe’s white slopes this winter had a unique chance to learn about the surrounding ecosystem. UC Davis scientists clicked on their skis and led public tours down the mountain. Reporter: Anna Guth, KQED The American Civil Liberties Union has asked a federal court to stop the government from cutting off legal services to familie…

1
Community College Job Training Program Struggles Due to Unreliable Funding 11:35

3d ago11:35

11:35

As the state grapples with the homeless population of over 187,000 people, a new program at Santa Monica Community College is training students for jobs to help people get off the streets and into housing. But it also faces an uncertain future. Guest: Marisa Kendall, CalMatters Farmworkers in the U.S. have historically been excluded from overtime p…

1
Immigration Officials Arrest More Than A Dozen People In Pomona 11:36

4d ago11:36

11:36

A bill aimed at bringing healthcare services directly to farmworker communities will be considered at the state legislature Wednesday. Immigrant rights groups say more than a dozen people were arrested by immigration officials on Tuesday at a hardware store in Pomona. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR The Trump Administration eliminated deportation …

1
Pope Francis Played Significant Role For Latinos In California 11:23

18h ago11:23

11:23

The death of Pope Francis is being felt around the world. And right here in California, millions of Latino Catholics are mourning not just the loss of a spiritual leader, but someone who, for many, felt like one of their own. Pope Francis was the first from Latin America. He spoke often about immigration, inequality, and the dignity of the poor. Gu…

1
Shasta County DA's Office Strained Under Heavy Workload 11:34

2d ago11:34

11:34

The district attorney's office in Shasta County is facing high workloads and high vacancy rates. Reporter: Roman Battaglia, Jefferson Public Radio Dry summer conditions have long been known to cause issues for vulnerable fish populations. A recent UC Berkeley study found dry winters can cause issues, too. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadio Learn mo…

1
From Science Fiction to Science Fact: Cal Scientists Discover Jupiter's "Mush Balls" 11:55

9d ago11:55

11:55

Imagine that severe storms sent ice balls containing chemical slush raining down onto the ground. While that sounds like science fiction here on earth, researchers at UC Berkeley have discovered, that is science-fact on our solar system's biggest planet--Jupiter. The U.S. Justice Department has ruled that tech giant Google has been holding an unlaw…

1
License to Kill: California DMV's History of Keeping Dangerous Drivers on the Road 11:47

10d ago11:47

11:47

It might sound farfetched, but the California Department of Motor Vehicles has a track-record of renewing the licenses of drivers whose dangerous maneuvers behind the wheel have caused deaths on the road. In Southern California, the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) has decided to move forward with plans to stabilize the coastal highway…

1
Sour Grapes Over Tariffs Could Cost California Wineries Canadian Market 11:23

11d ago11:23

11:23

The US wine industry let out a sigh of relief last week when President Trump decided to pause placing 20 percent tariffs on goods from the European Union, which would have included wine. However, the White House's global trade war is creating sour grapes with another major US trading partner--Canada; and that is jeopardizing California's wineries, …

1
Striking Video Game Performers Not Ready to Say Game Over 11:41

8d ago11:41

11:41

In 2023, the entertainment world in the US went on strike over production studios' embrace of artificial intelligence, and its potential to replace humans in the every role from actors to directors. While TV and movie studios eventually came to terms with striking workers in Hollywood, a year later, performers in the videogame industry represented …

1
Small California Cities Hope to Score Big With Pro Soccer 11:40

9d ago11:40

11:40

The United States is seeing a boom in professional soccer, especially in California. The state is already host to four Major League Soccer teams and three teams in the National Women's Soccer League. There is also a crop of minor league teams sprouting up throughout the state, in both big cities and small towns. We'll take to you to the Southern Ca…

1
As Trump Targets Schools for Deportation Sweeps, Undocumented UC Berkeley Students Call For More Support 11:41

16d ago11:41

11:41

President Trump says he will not limit the scope of his deportation efforts, going so far as to say schools across the country will also be targeted in sweeps and raids by Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents. That looming threat has undocumented students attending UC Berkeley calling on the university to issue a strong statement of support …

1
Border Patrol Arrest Claims From Bakersfield Raid Don't Match Records 11:42

17d ago11:42

11:42

In early January, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents from El Centro near San Diego launched a deportation raid in Kern County, more than six hours from their usual area of operation. The man behind the effort is Gregory Bovino, head of CBP's El Centro sector. He claimed the operation targeted criminals that were illegally in the US, but …

1
A Mojave Desert Solar Project Jeopardizes Thousands of Joshua Trees 11:43

14d ago11:43

11:43

California is aiming to make the entirety of its electricity production zero-carbon by 2045. One of the key areas that state leaders are looking to help the state reach its clean energy goals is the Mojave Desert. Since 2014, the desert has been home to one of the largest solar power plants in North America. However, California's zero-carbon effort…

1
Fire Retardants: Can They Harm Those That They Help? 11:31

15d ago11:31

11:31

Firefighter aircraft were cheered on back in January, when they were making headlines as they painted the areas being scorched by the Palisades and Eaton Fires in Los Angeles County with fire retardant. However, scientists are starting to wonder whether the contents of these retardants could impact the health or the environment of the people who ha…

1
Mobile Home Park Residents At Forefront Of Battle Over Affordable Housing 11:26

16d ago11:26

11:26

A Fresno mobile home park has become ground zero in a fight to save one of the last bastions of affordable housing in California. But residents there are facing an uncertain future as they wait for a federal judge to decide who will take control of the place they call home: another corporate landlord or an affordable housing non-profit. Reporter: M…

1
Tariffs To Have Widespread Impact On California Businesses 11:33

19d ago11:33

11:33

President Trump's tariffs are sending shockwaves around the world, and across car dealerships here in California, the U.S.'s largest car and truck market. A 25% tariff is being placed on all vehicles imported into the United States, but that tariff also covers car parts that are used to assemble vehicle models associated with "Made in the USA." The…

1
Why Medi-Cal And GOP Budget Could Cut Into Republican Gains In California 11:34

24d ago11:34

11:34

In last year’s presidential election, Donald Trump improved on his 2020 performance all across California. Voters in every congressional district in the state shifted toward Trump. But the areas moving most toward Republicans also have a lot to lose from the party’s budget plan in Washington. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Lawmakers are introducing …

1
Apprenticeship Program Aims To Help California's Struggling Logging Industry 11:44

21d ago11:44

11:44

California's logging industry has been shrinking for years, with an aging workforce and fewer young people entering the trade. But in Northern California, a community college is stepping in to change that, helping to train the next generation of loggers through an innovative apprenticeship program. Guest: Kate Rix, The Hechinger Report The Californ…

1
A's Welcomed By Thousands For Home Opener In West Sacramento 11:44

26d ago11:44

11:44

Major League Baseball is underway and for many fans of the Athletics, it’s a bittersweet season. That’s because the team used to be known as the Oakland Athletics, until they left Oakland last year. The A’s are now set to play at least three seasons in their new home in West Sacramento, while the team prepares for a permanent move to Las Vegas. Rep…

1
Update on Season 4! And Introducing... How i Died 29:06

27d ago29:06

29:06

Today we want to introduce you to How i Died, an award winning fiction podcast from Audiohm Media. The show follows Jon Spacer, a forensic pathologist with a secret ability to speak with the dead. When he takes a job in the small town of Springfield, a strange and shadowy place with an unusually high mortality rate, his abilities give him a bit mor…

1
Police Accountability Law Slowly Showing Results 11:30

23d ago11:30

11:30

Hundreds of police officers in California have been stripped of their badges in the last few years for serious misconduct. The offenses range from sexual assault to excessive force to racial bias. But thousands of cases still need to be reviewed. Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBS A pair of bills aiming to limit the harms of social media on children will f…

1
Nearly Two Dozen Bills Attempt to Cut Through Housing Red Tape 9:34

26d ago9:34

9:34

What does it take to get new housing approved in California? Way too much, say some lawmakers. To change that, a bipartisan group is proposing a package of nearly two dozen bills to cut through barriers they say is putting the brakes on housing production. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices…

1
Ramadan Traditions Continue Despite Devastation From Eaton Fire 11:36

27d ago11:36

11:36

The holy month of Ramadan is a special time when Muslim families often gather together. But when the Eaton Fire destroyed the only mosque in the Altadena area, it nearly upended the community’s ability to uphold tradition. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW A bill in the state Legislature asking for more accountability from California’s homeless shelte…

1
Program Aims To Help Sonoma Farmers Map Out Their Future 11:19

28d ago11:19

11:19

Sonoma County, is of course, famous for its vineyards but a lot more is produced there by small farmers. From eggs to milk and all kinds of specialty greens, Sonoma County is the Bay Area’s bread basket. But making it as a small farmer in Sonoma – like the rest of the state -- has gotten a lot harder in recent years. In part, because land has gotte…

1
Californians With Student Loan Debt Face Uncertain Future 11:33

29d ago11:33

11:33

President Donald Trump has vowed to eliminate the Department of Education. He also appears poised to make big changes to student loan programs. What could all this mean to people paying off their loans? Reporter: Rachel Livinal, KVPR A California non-profit is suing the Trump Administration over its decision to end humanitarian parole programs. Thi…

1
Bay Area Democrat Holds Town Halls In Red-Leaning Districts 11:22

1M ago11:22

11:22

In a series of town halls on Sunday, Bay Area congressman Ro Khanna urged residents of Republican-held congressional districts in California to organize against the Trump administration’s proposed cuts to programs like Medicaid and the wider social safety net. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED Congressman Khanna's next stop was an amphitheater in the I…

1
Yiddish Making A Comeback In Los Angeles 11:39

1M ago11:39

11:39

The historic language of Jews in Europe – Yiddish – was once spoken by tens of thousands of Jewish immigrants in Los Angeles. That language was almost destroyed by assimilation and the Holocaust. But now, Yiddish is making a comeback. Reporter: Robin Estrin, KCRW Dozens of postal workers gathered in protest outside a Bakersfield courthouse on Thurs…

1
Bird Flu Still Having A Huge Impact On Egg Supply, Prices In California 11:18

1M ago11:18

11:18

If you've been in your local market recently, you may have noticed empty shelves in the aisle where you normally find eggs. With the spread of bird flu, which is infecting chickens throughout the country, eggs have gotten expensive. Really expensive. The average price of a dozen eggs in California is now around $9. Reporter: Manola Secaira, CapRadi…

1
New Partnership Aims To Find Local Housing For Tahoe Workers 11:37

1M ago11:37

11:37

Finding a place to live in the Tahoe Basin is a difficult task for many local workers. A recent partnership between Placemate and Washoe County aims to remedy this problem. Reporter: Kat Fulwider, KUNR Under California law, if a person makes a threat to a place - like a school or house of worship - but they don't threaten specific individuals, it c…

1
Immigrant Rights Advocates Patrol Streets In Anticipation Of Possible Raids 11:32

1M ago11:32

11:32

Chicago, Boston and Aurora, Colorado have all seen high profile raids by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement as part of President Trump’s promise of mass deportations. Immigrants rights activists in Los Angeles say it's only a matter of time before we see the same there. One group has taken the unusual step of patrolling the streets looking for …

1
Legal Battle Pits Bay Area Counties Against Trump Administration Over Sanctuary Policies 11:35

1M ago11:35

11:35

President Donald Trump has been looking to punish sanctuary cities since his first presidency -- but last time around, his administration repeatedly ended up on the losing side in court. That hasn’t stopped him from trying again. Reporter: Marisa Lagos, KQED State Farm policyholders could soon see their bills go up. That's after California's Depart…

1
Volunteers Preserve History Of Landmarks Lost In LA Wildfires 11:37

1M ago11:37

11:37

Since January, Los Angeles residents have been volunteering to support wildfire recovery, sorting donations, or helping with cleanup. And there’s another cause that’s been bringing folks together: Fireproofing history — by preserving it online. Reporter: Andrea Domanick, KCRW California is joining 20 other states to sue the Trump administration ove…

1
Many Childcare Providers Facing Challenges After LA Fires 11:37

2M ago11:37

11:37

Many childcare providers lost their homes in the January fires in Los Angeles, and those homes often doubled as places of work. The state offered financial assistance for a month, but that money ran out in early February. For some, it's been a real challenge trying to get any type of relief. Reporter: Libby Rainey, LAist A Fresno County man who tes…

1
Another Big Name Enters Governor's Race 11:37

1M ago11:37

11:37

There's a growing field of candidates looking to replace Gavin Newsom as governor. The latest high-profile entry is former Orange County Congresswoman Katie Porter, who officially entered the race on Tuesday. Reporter: Guy Marzorati, KQED California law lets landlords evict tenants for nonpayment - even if tenants can prove they can pay off their o…

1
German Tourist Held For Weeks At CA Detention Center 11:39

2M ago11:39

11:39

A German tourist has spent more than a month in US Immigration custody here in California. Her friends say she’s experienced a terrifying ordeal. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS LA County District Attorney Nathan Hochman says he opposes the resentencing of the Menendez brothers, who are serving a life sentence without the possibility of parole for th…

1
Protection Of California's Public Lands Threatened By Federal Policies 11:45

1M ago11:45

11:45

When Sacramento and Washington, D .C. are at odds, California has some ability to insulate itself. It can partially set its own agenda through state laws, agencies, and funding. But that's not true in about half of the state because half of it is owned by the U .S. government in the form of public lands. In those parts of the state, federal policie…

1
Can Music Help With Mental Health Issues? 11:41

2M ago11:41

11:41

It’s a common belief that music soothes the soul. But some researchers and healthcare companies say it can be used to heal the mind, and maybe the body. Reporter: Robert Garrova, LAist Lawmakers should hit the brakes on one of Governor Gavin Newsom’s signature programs for cleaning up homeless encampments. That’s according to a report out this week…

1
San Diego Homeless Encampment Ban Pushes Many Further Away From Services 11:31

2M ago11:31

11:31

More and more tents are popping up along the sides of San Diego freeways, on state property managed by the California Department of Transportation, or Caltrans. City leaders call it a growing problem. Reporter: Katie Anastas, KPBS The U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the University of California for possible workplace discrimination. Lea…

1
Immigrant Day Laborers Trained On Safely Cleaning Up After LA Fires 11:29

2M ago11:29

11:29

The Los Angeles neighborhoods of Altadena and the Palisades are still a mess from the January fires. And some of the people out there struggling to clean it up are immigrant day laborers. They are dealing with toxic ash that can have lead and chemicals in it. What’s the best way to do that safely? One organization is training them. Reporter: Megan …

1
Bay Area Woman's Legal Victory Challenges State Encampment Crackdown 11:42

2M ago11:42

11:42

An unhoused Bay Area woman and her advocates are claiming a big win after a judge stopped officials from clearing her elaborate shelter. It’s believed to be the first court victory of its kind since the U.S. Supreme Court last year made it harder to stop encampment sweeps. Reporter: Vanessa Rancaño, KQED California is rolling back its more flexible…

1
Challenges Keeping Hollywood Production In California 11:30

2M ago11:30

11:30

On Sunday night, Hollywood had its biggest night of the year with the Academy Awards ceremony. But here’s a plot twist. None of the ten films that were up for the best picture Oscar were shot in Hollywood or the greater L.A. area. It’s just the latest example of how much film and television production now occurs outside of Los Angeles, costing loca…

1
San Francisco Judge Temporarily Halts Trump Administration's Mass Firings 11:50

2M ago11:50

11:50

A federal judge in San Francisco has temporarily blocked a Trump administration directive to mass terminate thousands of federal employees. The ruling only covers some federal agencies, including Veterans Affairs and the Department of Defense. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED The Sierra Nevada Snowpack is about average for this time of year. …

1
Teen Court Program Launches In Del Norte County 11:27

2M ago11:27

11:27

In Del Norte County, starting Thursday, teenagers in trouble will be held accountable by a true jury of their peers. Teen court is a diversion program run by teenagers for teenagers. Reporter: Jane Vaughan, Jefferson Public Radio California insurance commissioner Ricardo Lara says he'll make a decision soon on State Farm's request for an emergency …

1
Danger And Dysfunction Plague California's Homeless Shelter System 11:40

2M ago11:40

11:40

California's homeless shelters are deadlier than the state's jails and only a fraction of the people in them end up in permanent housing. Those are just a couple of the startling findings in a new investigation out this week from our California newsroom partner CalMatters. Guest: Lauren Hepler, CalMatters More than 50,000 University of California w…

1
Fire Survivors Face Uncertain Future In Altadena 11:34

2M ago11:34

11:34

You might think people whose homes survived the recent Los Angeles area fires might feel fortunate. But those homeowners are wrestling with their own problems, like how to make their homes livable again in largely destroyed neighborhoods. Reporter: Erin Stone, LAist Governor Newsom on Monday announced hundreds of millions of dollars in new homeless…

1
Health Care Facilities Prepare For Potential Immigration Actions 11:18

2M ago11:18

11:18

Health care workers across California are attending crash courses on constitutional law. They’re preparing for possible encounters with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers, who are now officially allowed inside health care facilities. Reporter: Jackie Fortier, KFF Health News After weeks of a fraying relationship, Los Angeles Mayor Karen B…

1
Trump Administration Launches Review Of High Speed Rail Project 11:27

2M ago11:27

11:27

California's long-delayed and over budget high-speed rail project is under threat again by the Trump administration. During his first term in office, Trump tried, without success, to claw back nearly a billion dollars in federal aid for the project, which one day is supposed to connect Los Angeles and San Francisco. Now this second Trump Administra…

1
Could Kamala Harris' Next Move Be A Run For CA Governor? 11:38

2M ago11:38

11:38

Former Vice President Kamala Harris has returned home to Los Angeles after losing to Donald Trump in the November election. The question now is what will she do next? Many pundits are speculating about a possible run for California governor. Reporter: Scott Shafer, KQED Insurers have already paid out around $7 billion in claims to people who lost h…

1
Will Families Separated At The Border Continue To Be Protected Under Trump? 11:29

2M ago11:29

11:29

During Donald Trump’s first term in office, his administration pursued a controversial policy of forcibly separating migrant family members, including young children, at the U.S.-Mexico border. The Biden Administration then set up a task force to help reunite those families. But with Trump’s return to office, one of his first executive actions diss…

Podcasts Worth a Listen

Battle Bird Productions Podcasts

Podcasts Worth a Listen