Best Muni Diaries Podcasts (2025)

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Muni Diaries: A Bus of Whimsy 8:45

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2h ago8:45

8:45

We share a selection of bite-sized stories from everyday Muni riders of all ages about whimsical transit rides they’ve taken in our beloved San Francisco.By KALW

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SHOW: Stories About Spirituality 24:50

5h ago24:50

24:50

Today, we meet a hairdresser who begins to contemplate the end of life. Now her mission is to get other people to think about it. Then, in honor of Yom Kippur, we’ll learn about the importance of a book called the Zohar.By KALW

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SHOW: Basketball Dreams and Life Lessons 26:51

5h ago26:51

26:51

Today, in a new story from Uncuffed we hear how one woman’s passion changed her life … but not as she was expecting. Then, a dance show gives the Bay Area a taste of Irish culture. Plus, we hear readings from Bay Area authors in a collection from our pocket sized book tour, New Arrivals.By KALW

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Uncuffed: Basketball Changed Her Life — But Not How She Expected 8:48

5h ago8:48

8:48

Today a new story from Uncuffed that comes to us from the California Institution for Women (or CIW) in Chino California. Ever since she was a kid, Bellows loved playing basketball. Not only was she good at it, but being on the court helped her escape the challenges at home. She thought it would be a part of her life forever, but something happened …

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Bay Poets: 'For Lily, For Arlene, For all Daughters Tending Fathers, For All the Water and Salt Between Them' 2:20

1h ago2:20

2:20

Here's San Jose's Lorenz Mason Dumuk reading an excerpt of his poem “For Lily, For Arlene, For all Daughters Tending Fathers, For All the Water and Salt Between Them.” It was recorded outside on the streets of the Mission for the International Flor Y Canto Literary Festival.By KALW

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Sights + Sounds: 'A Taste of Ireland' 8:58

1h ago8:58

8:58

Gavin Shevlin is an international dance champion and Megan McGinley is an award-winning fiddle player. They’re performing in the show “A Taste of Ireland,” that’s currently making stops in Northern California during their U.S. tour.By KALW

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New Arrivals: Fiction Writers 4:41

1h ago4:41

4:41

Here are some readings from our series New Arrivals, a pocket-sized book tour with Bay Area authors.By KALW

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The Atheltics wrap up their first season in Sacramento 10:34

2h ago10:34

10:34

KALW's news editor Sunni Khalid spoke recently to Mark Demsky, a reporter for KFBK in Sacramento, about the A's inaugural season in their temporary home.By KALW

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SHOW: African Dance and a Bus of Whimsy 26:51

2h ago26:51

26:51

A molecular biologist from Kenya switches gears to bring African music and dance to Bay Area kids. Today, a taste of Africa. Then, we'll share stories of public transit with a touch of whimsy. And, a quick update on the A’s as they end their first season in Sacramento.By KALW

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African dance, music and cultural diplomacy 11:57

3h ago11:57

11:57

This weekend is the Taste of Africa festival in Livermore, an annual African arts and music festival hosted by Cheza Nami an award winning African arts organization based in Pleasanton.By KALW

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SHOW: Remembering Belva Davis 24:14

22h ago24:14

24:14

Belva Davis was an Emmy Award-winning journalist who broke the color barrier here in the Bay Area with her work in radio and television in the 1960’s. She died Wednesday at 92. Today, we look back on the career of the pioneering journalist.By KALW

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SHOW: The Stoop - Just Following Up 26:51

5d ago26:51

26:51

Following the murder of George Floyd, corporate America promised a lot to the Black community. So what happened Today, we’re just following up with an episode from The Stoop Podcast.By KALW

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SHOW: Stories that move us 26:51

6d ago26:51

26:51

One phone call changed everything a granddaughter thought she knew about her grandfather in a new story from Uncuffed. Then, a glimpse into the day to day of a Muni mechanic. And, a poet gives us a true reflection of our times.By KALW

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Uncuffed: The phone call that changed everything 6:06

6d ago6:06

6:06

A new story from Uncuffed and the California Institution for Women about a phone call that changed everything a granddaughter thought she knew about her grandfather.By KALW

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Muni Diaries: Rory O’Neill to the Rescue 13:22

6d ago13:22

13:22

Getting stuck on a dark, stalled Muni train is every rider’s worst nightmare. But what’s it like being one of the mechanics with the daunting task of getting that train and its frustrated riders moving again?By KALW

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Bay Poets: 'I Heard the Heart Beating' by poet Joceline Hernandez Marroquin 3:04

6d ago3:04

3:04

Today's poem is a true reflection of our times.By KALW

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SHOW: Leveling the playing field 26:50

7d ago26:50

26:50

One group is working to keep women’s basketball careers alive. Today, we bring you the story of the Women’s Premier Basketball Association in the latest episode from Bounce. Then, a day on the field with the Bay Area’s newest women’s soccer team.By KALW

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Hoops, Hope, And A Second Chance — The Story Of The WPBA 16:57

7d ago16:57

16:57

The WPBA is a pro developmental league in the East Bay with big ambitions and real impact. It’s recognized by FIBA — rare for a U.S. women’s league outside the WNBA — and it’s becoming a place where players continue their careers, get seen by scouts, and find community.By KALW

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Women’s soccer is here to stay and play in the Bay 7:58

7d ago7:58

7:58

The Valkyries first season has come to a close. And if you are still looking for a similar energy and vibe to tap into and cheer for, then you can catch a Bay FC game. The team was launched last year with one of the largest institutional investments ever made in a women’s professional sports franchise.…

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SHOW: Artists and Creators of The Bay 26:51

8d ago26:51

26:51

Today, a conversation with the executive director of San Francisco’s Dance Mission Theater about the loss of federal funding. Then, an Oakland film tackles the challenges parents face when caring for kids with disabilities. And, we learn about the lost art of steam power.By KALW

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State Of The Bay: Dance Mission Theater’s Fight to Thrive 8:45

8d ago8:45

8:45

Today, a conversation with the executive director of San Francisco’s Dance Mission Theater about the loss of federal funding.By KALW

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The Sights and Sound Show: Oakland filmmaker Anthony Lucero on his new film 'Paper Bag Plan' 8:45

8d ago8:45

8:45

An Oakland film tackles the challenges parents face when caring for kids with disabilities.By KALW

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Kinetic Steam Works: Breathing life into industrial machines in West Oakland 5:40

8d ago5:40

5:40

In this Audiograph, we go to a warehouse tucked away behind a metal scrap yard. Kinetic Steam Works is an industrial workspace for people to tinker with old machines in West Oakland.By KALW

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SHOW: The Stoop: I got it from my mama? 26:50

14d ago26:50

26:50

Some people’s bodies feel like they’ve been weathered by storms they never experienced firsthand. Today, we discuss the science behind generational trauma in an excerpt from The Stoop podcast.By KALW

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SHOW: Moving Through Our Lives 26:51

15d ago26:51

26:51

Sometimes, unconditional love can lead us to think we can do no wrong. Today, a story about taking advantage of a grandmother’s love. Plus, we hear how one local artist is celebrating the Golden State Valkyries. And, our transportation reporter launches a new series on Bay Area transit.By KALW

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Getting Around the Bay Q&A: Transit month edition 9:01

15d ago9:01

9:01

Introducing a new series on Crosscurrents where we round up what’s happening in transportation news in the Bay AreaBy KALW

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Taylor Smalls paints for the Golden State Valkyries 9:05

15d ago9:05

9:05

Taylor Smalls is a painter who uses knives to create large, beautiful, bold and colorful images of Black women. The Valkyries commissioned her to create a few pieces, including one for this past Juneteenth.By KALW

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A grandmother's love 7:17

16d ago7:17

7:17

A new story from Uncuffed and the California Institution for Women about how we don’t always appreciate unconditional love when we have it. And how that can lead us to think we can do no wrong.By KALW

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SHOW: The Power of the Pen 26:50

17d ago26:50

26:50

While incarcerated, one man relied on music to ground himself. Today, the power of lyrical therapy. Then, how a Bay Area couple is celebrating ten years of publishing books by international writers. And, three Oakland writers share their poetry.By KALW

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Lyrical therapy 10:35

17d ago10:35

10:35

At 21-years-old, Armstrong was sentenced to life in prison, a moment he now says may have saved his life. In this segment from Bay Area Beats, we hear how music kept him grounded through grief, loss, and isolation.By KALW

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Transit Books' 10th anniversary 8:31

17d ago8:31

8:31

Berkeley’s Transit Books is an independent, nonprofit publisher celebrating 10 years of publishing works by international authors. And some of their books have led to major awards, including a Nobel Prize. Adam and Ashley Nelson Levy are the founders of Transit Books. They spoke with KALW’s Jenee Darden.…

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New Arrivals: Oakland Poets 5:13

17d ago5:13

5:13

We bring you poetry readings from three Oakland writers.By KALW

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SHOW: Keeping Culture and History 24:51

18d ago24:51

24:51

Oakland elementary school students are connecting creativity and Latino cultures through Mexican tin art. Then, we hear about a San Francisco walking tour designed around the city’s first Black millionaire. And, a KALW DJ Patrick King Most shares how he curates his music line up.By KALW

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Teaching the tradition of Mexican tin art to Oakland youth 9:36

18d ago9:36

9:36

Oakland elementary school students are connecting creativity and Latino cultures through Mexican tin art called "repujados."By KALW

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State Of The Bay: America's First Black Millionaire 6:35

18d ago6:35

6:35

We hear about a new San Francisco walking tour that covers the improbable life of William Leidesdorff, America’s first black millionaire.By KALW

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On Repeat: Patrick King Most 6:12

18d ago6:12

6:12

Tshego Letsoalo is KALW’s Music Editorial Director. Her series, On Repeat is a mini-pod for music discovery. In this episode, we hear from KALW’s Tuesday night DJ Patrick King Most.By KALW

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SHOW: Learning from our past, thinking about the future and healing in the present 26:50

22d ago26:50

26:50

Today, we from A group of immigrant women who are turning to cultural knowledge to research mental health practices. Then, an excerpt from KALW’s townhall on the future of public media. And, a reading from an Oakland author.By KALW

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Somos Remedios: A community project aiming to improve mental health within immigrant communities 13:06

22d ago13:06

13:06

A group of immigrant women are turning to cultural knowledge to research mental health practices. In this story, the group “Somos Remedios” shares what they have learned.By KALW

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The Bay Agenda: The Future of Public Media 8:04

22d ago8:04

8:04

A live broadcast town hall conversation about the local and national implications of a devastating federal funding cut to public broadcasting.By KALW

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Kat Crosswell coming of age novel features Jazzy protagonist 2:17

22d ago2:17

2:17

Kat Crosswell is based in Oakland. Her novel is about a Black family living in Chicago in the 1970s. It’s called, “Pieces of Eight: A Harper Family Mixtape.” It came out earlier this year.By KALW

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SHOW: Movies, Music, And Lessons For Hard Times 18:25

23d ago18:25

18:25

The silver screen will be shining at this year’s Oakland International Film Festival. Today, a conversation with the festival’s co-founder David Roach. Then, a reflection on parenting, perfection and discipline. And, a Berkeley author’s book on how the government tried to save the country, one song at a time.…

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Oakland International Film Festival 6:57

23d ago6:57

6:57

The silver screen will be shining at this year’s Oakland International Film Festival. Today, a conversation with the festival’s co-founder David Roach.By KALW

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It's okay to fail sometimes 7:23

23d ago7:23

7:23

By Patricia Bellows, a new story from Uncuffed about breaking away from a sheltered life at home and learning the hard way that some discipline can work.By KALW

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Sheryl Kaskowitz book details secret government folk music program 2:23

23d ago2:23

2:23

Sheryl Kaskowitz's latest book is about a secret government folk music program that was part of FDR New Deal during the Great Depression.By KALW

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SHOW: A Basketball Trailblazer 22:00

24d ago22:00

22:00

What if your mom played basketball from high school, to college, and then for the WNBA. And what if as their kid, basketball wasn’t really your thing? That is reporter Audy McAfee’s story. She dug into her mother’s basketball history and found out what an O.G. baller she was.By KALW

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SHOW: The Fear Of Flight 17:14

25d ago17:14

17:14

A Bay Area program is helping fearful flyers get back into the sky. Today, a young woman confronts her fear of flying. Then, poetry that soars above the ground.By KALW

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The clinic helping nervous flyers to soar 15:59

25d ago15:59

15:59

Over 25 million Americans share a fear of flying. One program in the Bay Area is helping nervous flyers get into the sky.By KALW

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SHOW: Hiding In Plain Sight 23:16

29d ago23:16

23:16

The Berkeley Rose Garden is a beautiful place, but did you know it was built during FDR’s “New Deal” in the ‘30s? Things built through this program are still all around us today — if you know where to look. Then, a new documentary about the people who study a mammal we don’t often see. The Bay Area animals and infrastructure hiding in plain sight.…

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Public Space: New Deal history hides among the roses 14:19

29d ago14:19

14:19

The New Deal was created more than 90 years ago to help the U.S. recover from the Great Depression. This first episode of "The Public Works" a series from reporter Sheryl Kaskowitz, looks at how the New Deal has shaped public space in the Bay Area and remains part of our everyday lives.By KALW

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'The Invisible Mammal' Director Kristin Tièche 7:22

29d ago7:22

7:22

Little Brown Bats are facing a disease that is pushing them to extinction. Filmmaker Kristin Tièche followed a group of female scientists working to save brown bats, in her new documentary "The Invisible Mammal."By KALW