Best Rural Organizing Project Podcasts (2026)

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Teachers Re-Energized By New Transitional Kindergarten Classes 10:47

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16h ago10:47

10:47

All 4-year olds in California can now go to school for free in a grade called transitional kindergarten, or TK. And to lead those classrooms, the state needs teachers with special training. A lot of teachers. So what does it take to do the job? Reporter: Julia Barajas, LAist A new project in San Diego is gathering stories of government persecution …

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Bird Flu Changes How County Fairs Live Chicken Shows 10:45

1d ago10:45

10:45

The fall bird migration in California typically peaks from September through November. And this past year, scientists discovered a new wave of avian influenza - or bird flu. Two farms in Sonoma County fought new outbreaks. State officials have been taking steps to mitigate the spread of infection, since major outbreaks were seen in dairy herds in A…

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Hispanic-Serving Institutions Face Challenges With Federal Funding Cuts 10:28

3d ago10:28

10:28

California is home to the largest number of Hispanic-serving institutions in the country. That’s a federal program that allows colleges and universities to apply for federal grants if at least a quarter of their students identify as Hispanic. Earlier this year, The Trump administration cut funding for the program, which has helped serve many Latino…

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CA Project Makes Thousands Of Rare Songs Available To The Public 10:33

4d ago10:33

10:33

Thousands of old and rare recordings - some that date back a full century, are now available for the public to enjoy online. That’s thanks to a collaboration between UC Santa Barbara and record company Dust-to-Digital. Reporter: Robert Garrova, LAist Mountain lions, foxes, hawks and dozens of other species are dying at an alarming rate from rat poi…

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Traditional Knowledge Meets Science in Northern California Tribe's Environmental Planning 10:40

4d ago10:40

10:40

The Karuk Tribe in Northern California is crafting an environmental policy that unites traditional knowledge with more contemporary environmental sciences--pushing back against years of bias dismissing tribal knowledge of the Karuk's ancestral lands. A federal judge in the Bay Area has halted ICE from making arrests at immigration courthouses in th…

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SF Self-Defense Class Helps Transgender Community Build Bonds 10:39

8d ago10:39

10:39

In San Francisco, advocates for transgender people are trying to beef up protections for their community, in the face of anti-trans policies from the Trump administration. This work isn’t just about legal threats, but also fears of physical violence. Reporter: Bianca Taylor, KQED A new analysis warns the Colorado River could fall to dangerously low…

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Cricket Makes Its Way To The Central Valley 10:38

9d ago10:38

10:38

When you drive or walk past a public park, one of the sounds you’ll likely hear is the thwack of a bat before seeing a ball flying through the air. But at some parks in Fresno, these aren’t due to that all-American sport you may be thinking of. Reporter: Israel Cardona Hernandez, KVPR Some mental health clinicians are worried AI is coming for their…

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Farmworkers Train As Doulas In Santa Cruz County 10:43

10d ago10:43

10:43

Some Mixtec farmworkers in Watsonville have trained as doulas to support other Indigenous women during pregnancy and childbirth. Reporter: Ngozi Cole, KAZU A tribal group in central California is celebrating the return of thousands of acres of land back from the state. Reporter: Cresencio Rodriguez Delgado, KVPR Learn more about your ad choices. Vi…

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Talk of Alaska: Holiday Greetings from Across the State 2025 1:56:22

2d ago1:56:22

1:56:22

Alaska Public Media’s warmest holiday tradition, Talk of Alaska: Holiday Greetings from Across the State, is back again this year with hosts Steve Heimel and Wesley Early.Connecting Alaskans, from Utqiaġvik to Juneau, hear festive greetings, well wishes and sentiments from those who call Alaska home. With listeners all over the state, and even in t…

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A Day In The Life Of Santa 10:38

2d ago10:38

10:38

Christmas is two days away which means Santa Claus is pulling overtime. He’s at the mall taking photos and he’s project managing toy production. This story is all about the work of being Santa. So, if you’re listening with a child who’s expecting a visit from jolly old Saint Nick this year, you may want to turn down the volume. Reporter: Megan Jame…

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Fire Departments Struggle To Meet Demands Of Rural Communities 10:37

12d ago10:37

10:37

In Humboldt County, a rural volunteer fire station is struggling to meet its community’s needs. They’re hoping a state budget allocation to expand Calfire staffing might offer some support, but nothing has materialized yet. Reporter: Katherine Monahan, KQED The Trump administration continues to drastically shrink the immigration courts in Northern …

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Bay Area Christmas Tree Farm Gives Customers A Chance To Cut Down Their Own Tree 10:23

15d ago10:23

10:23

The holiday season brings many traditions for families across California. One that is tried and true - decorating your home with a Christmas tree. While most families buy artificial trees these days, there are still some places in the state where you can not only get a living tree, but even cut it down yourself. Reporter: Keith Mizuguchi, The Calif…

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Fresno Airport Expansion Exemplifies Growing Region 10:46

12d ago10:46

10:46

Fresno Yosemite International Airport may be considered small, but more than 2 million travelers passed through it last year. And the city of Fresno is moving to expand the airport and accommodate a growing customer base for a growing region. In 2023, the airport broke ground on a new terminal. And that terminal opened just in time for Christmas an…

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Sikh Truck Drivers Have A Second Chance In California 10:35

17d ago10:35

10:35

The Newsom administration confirmed it’s backtracking on a plan to indefinitely revoke thousands of commercial drivers licenses held by immigrants. That’s welcome news to the drivers and their families. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED As Jewish communities around the globe struggle to comprehend the deadly mass shooting at Australia's Bondi …

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The Home for Good program | Talk of Alaska 54:37

9d ago54:37

54:37

Stable housing helps people live healthier, happier lives with less risk of injury, illness and trauma that our unhoused neighbors face on a daily basis. In the past decade, increased attention to the growing numbers of people experiencing homelessness has resulted in multiple efforts to help get people off the streets with mixed results. The Unite…

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The Trump Admin Has All But Stopped Reuniting Detained Migrant Children With Their Families 10:28

18d ago10:28

10:28

For the last six weeks, children who crossed the US-Mexico border alone have been inexplicably stuck in federal custody at shelters across the country. The Trump administration has stopped releasing these kids to their families and loved ones. It’s not saying why. But sources in the government agency that’s in charge of unaccompanied kids — and law…

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Community Seafood Program Helps Feed The Hungry In Monterey 10:48

19d ago10:48

10:48

Santa Cruz and Monterey counties largest food banks report a third of residents can’t consistently afford healthy food. And in this rich fishing region, some of the freshest catch is helping fill those empty bellies. Reporter: Katie Brown, KAZU Doctors are petitioning California to prohibit the use of a popular countertop material linked to the dea…

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Ukrainian Woman Freed From ICE Detention 10:38

22d ago10:38

10:38

ICE has released an immigrant from Ukraine who was arrested after her green card interview last week. She says she was held for days inside a federal building in downtown San Diego. Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS We're getting into the cold, wet part of the year, and for many people that means it's time to nestle indoors and stay cozy. But for some, t…

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Catholic Bishops Hold Mass For ICE Detainees In Adelanto 10:16

23d ago10:16

10:16

Catholic bishops from across California held mass at the Adelanto ICE Detention Center near the Mojave Desert on Wednesday. This is part on of an outreach effort to immigrants who have been caught up in the Trump administration's ongoing immigration crackdown here in California. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR Farmworkers across the country are su…

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Why Aren't There More Condos For Sale In California? 10:48

24d ago10:48

10:48

The condominium used to be a relatively affordable home ownership option in California. But it has almost disappeared from our cities. Why? A new generation of housing activists says California laws have killed the condo, and they want that to change. Reporter: Frances Anderton, KCRW Hundreds of millions of dollars to address homelessness in Califo…

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North to the Future | Talk of Alaska 54:24

16d ago54:24

54:24

Many young people have been inspired to venture to the 49th state by the book Coming into the Country, by John McPhee.Nearly 50 years later, a student of McPhee’s followed in his footsteps and wrote about his life changing travels through Alaska’s vast wilderness. The author and Alaskans who helped him learn about the state, and how climate change …

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National Parks Changing Fee-Free Calendar 10:36

16d ago10:36

10:36

Californians hoping to take advantage of free entry days at national parks will see big changes next year. The Trump administration is removing civil rights holidays and adding President Trump's birthday instead. The move is already prompting backlash from civil rights groups and conservation advocates. International visitors will also face new rul…

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San Diego Law Enforcement Accessing Private License Plate Readers 10:48

17d ago10:48

10:48

Dozens of cities and law enforcement agencies from around the state are using automated license plate readers. And in some cases, those communities are fighting back, suing to stop their use. In San Diego County, law enforcement agencies are also searching license plate cameras owned by private businesses -- with little oversight.Reporter: Scott Ro…

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Deported Pomona Man Finally Able To Reunite With His Dog 10:38

29d ago10:38

10:38

A man and his best friend are being reunited in Mexico on Friday, three months after being separated by immigration agents outside a day labor center about an hour east of Los Angeles. Reporter: Anthony Victoria, KVCR The Inspector General for California’s massive prison system says a backlog of investigations into staff misconduct has ballooned to…

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First Of Its Kind Campus In The Works In San Diego County 10:47

30d ago10:47

10:47

After decades of planning and setbacks, officials are laying the groundwork for something that would be the first of its kind in California — a hybrid campus that houses degree programs from multiple universities across San Diego County. Reporter: Kori Suzuki, KPBS California cities cannot choose to disobey the state's immigration sanctuary law. Re…

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Research Confirms Heavy Metals In Elkhorn Slough After Battery Plant Fire 10:38

1M ago10:38

10:38

Nearly a year after a lithium-ion battery fire in Moss Landing, we're learning the extent of the damage to nearby Elkhorn Slough, a protected marine estuary. Reporter: Elena Neale-Sacks, KAZU California Attorney General Rob Bonta is joining six other state attorneys in calling out buy-now-pay-later lenders, amid concerns that they're putting consum…

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The 25th Anchorage International Film Festival | Talk of Alaska 53:54

23d ago53:54

53:54

If you’ve ever attended the Anchorage International Film Festival, you know their slogan, films worth freezing for, is accurate. The annual line up of features and shorts from Alaskan filmmakers and other U.S. and international creatives brings a festive start to December. This year is the festival’s 25th anniversary and Alaska Native film adaptati…

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Rise In Robot Workers Leads To Debate Over Future Of Workforce 10:47

1M ago10:47

10:47

Robots have come a long way in the last ten years. They can move parts around a warehouse, clean hotel floors, and deliver food. But they’re still rare in everyday life. This could change as businesses look to cut rising costs by hiring fewer people. Reporter: Megan Jamerson, KCRW The search continues for the suspect or suspects who opened fire at …

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Immigration Crackdown Changes Everyday Life In California's Farm Towns 10:43

1M ago10:43

10:43

Fear, isolation, uneasiness. Ever since the Trump administration ramped up immigration enforcement efforts, immigrant communities in California have a growing sense of anxiety. One community worried about enforcement is farm workers, where many people's lives have been upended. Guest: Nigel Duara, CalMatters A shooting at a banquet hall in the Cent…

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Watch Duty App Changes Approach To Wildfire Response 10:46

1M ago10:46

10:46

The nonprofit app Watch Duty is revolutionizing how people get information about wildfires and evacuations. And it’s not just residents in vulnerable areas downloading the app — firefighters are using it too.Reporter: Scott Rodd, KPBS People who often eat fish caught in the San Francisco Bay could be consuming unhealthy levels of persistent, danger…

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Modesto Loses Single-A Minor League Team 10:22

28d ago10:22

10:22

Minor league baseball has a rich history in California, going back more than a century. But minor league baseball is changing. Like other professional sports, it has become a big-money game, attracting owners looking to cash in on rising team values. One Central Valley city has witnessed what that big-money game looks like firsthand, losing its lon…

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For Surfers, Santa Cruz Waves Are Priceless 10:16

1M ago10:16

10:16

Santa Cruz County’s surf breaks are free to enjoy, but worth millions. That’s one of the findings in the first report to put a price on the world-renowned surf playground. Reporter: Katie Brown, KAZU Humboldt County recently approved its first green cemetery. The model allows bodies to decompose in a more environmentally friendly way. Reporter: Jan…

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Improving Alaska's foster care system | Talk of Alaska 54:05

1M ago54:05

54:05

The Alaska office of Children’s Services, OCS, is tasked with protecting children and supporting struggling families. Providing a stable, loving home for children helps improve their chances for success in health, education, social settings and future employment. An audit required by a 2018 law aimed at improving OCS outcomes found problems persist…

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Immigration Lawyers Organize In Effort To Free Clients 10:45

1M ago10:45

10:45

Lawyers from around the country are working together and organizing, to find legal strategies to free detained immigrants. Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS A congressional hearing in downtown Los Angeles on Monday focused on what witnesses called the chilling effects of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown. Learn more about your ad choices…

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Lawyers Using Habeas Corpus In Last-Ditch Efforts To Free Detained Immigrants 10:42

1M ago10:42

10:42

As the Trump administration continues its aggressive mass deportation campaign, immigration lawyers are increasingly turning to a law the founding fathers established to protect against a king. The use of habeas corpus petitions has skyrocketed in recent months.Reporter: Gustavo Solis, KPBS Governor Gavin Newsom has shut down four prisons, with a f…

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Advocates Fight To Save Mother Bear And Cub In Lake Tahoe 10:41

1M ago10:41

10:41

In Lake Tahoe, a mother bear and her cub — known as Hope and Bounce — have been breaking into homes. Now, wildlife officials want the mother euthanized, but bear advocates are fighting to save her. Reporter: Maria Palma, KUNR In California, dozens of stoneworkers have died and nearly 50 underwent lung transplants because of cutting engineered stone…

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What Will School Meals Look Like Under New Law On Ultra-Processed Food 10:33

1M ago10:33

10:33

A new California law requires the phaseout of certain ultra-processed foods from school meals starting next year. These foods, which could include deli meat or soda, have attracted mainstream attention recently as the federal administration’s Make America Healthy Again campaign has named eliminating them a key issue. But while federal officials hav…

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Advocates Call For Urgent Changes In Countertop Industry To Help Prevent Silicosis 10:45

1M ago10:45

10:45

Asbestos, lead, coal dust. All of those posed big health hazards to workers before legal protections finally rolled out. Now, thousands of stoneworkers in California who make our kitchen and bathroom countertops are breathing in something so toxic, nearly 50 had lung transplants. Reporter: Farida Jhabvala Romero, KQED Farmworker communities and env…

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The science and beauty of the Northern Lights | Talk of Alaska 56:16

1M ago56:16

56:16

Aurora Borealis, more commonly known as the Northern Lights, have inspired legends, songs and stories for generations. Recent atmospheric conditions have made the aurora especially active and have delighted Alaskans as well as people in the lower 48. What’s the science behind the spike in activity? Why do the colorful displays happen at all? And ho…

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LA Jails Scale Back Opioid Addiction Treatment 10:37

1M ago10:37

10:37

Los Angeles County's jail system is in the middle of one of its deadliest years on record. According to the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, there have been more than three dozen in-custody deaths so far this year, and many have involved overdoses. Now, new reporting from CalMatters reveals that access to critical opioid addiction treatment has be…

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Program For Veterans Faces Major Funding Cuts 10:36

2M ago10:36

10:36

In Oceanside in San Diego County, there’s a small nonprofit that’s become a steady place of support for Marines and veterans working through the hardest parts of coming home. The group trains dogs to work alongside service members, helping them rebuild routines, confidence, and a sense of stability. But now the program is facing a financial hit. A …

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Many Californians Face Uncertainty With Healthcare Coverage 10:28

2M ago10:28

10:28

Congress ended the shutdown this week, but it didn’t reach a deal on health care. Roughly two million Californians who buy insurance through the state’s marketplace now face steep price hikes after the Trump administration refused to extend enhanced federal tax credits. And some Californians can’t afford to keep their coverage. Reporter: Lesley McC…

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Atmospheric River To Drench California In The Coming Days 10:46

1M ago10:46

10:46

Heavy rain and winds are forecast throughout California as a strong atmospheric river makes its way down the Golden State. Reporter: Billy Cruz, The California Report For the first time in 30 years, the U.S. has not sent a delegation to the United Nations annual climate summit. President Trump has called climate change a hoax and his administration…

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As LA Fire Victims Look To Rebuild, Some Are Turning To Concrete For New Homes 10:39

2M ago10:39

10:39

The Palisades and Eaton fires are a sober reminder of just how flammable many urban and suburban homes are. Some survivors are responding by planning to build differently. Instead of the usual wood framing, these homeowners are opting to choose a material many of us associate more with freeways and skyscrapers - concrete. Reporter: David Wagner, LA…

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California's Lax DUI laws Lead To Spike In Alcohol-Related Roadway Deaths 10:35

2M ago10:35

10:35

45 years ago, a Sacramento woman founded Mothers Against Drunk Driving after her 13-year-old daughter was struck and killed in Fair Oaks. MADD would go on to advocate for some of the nation's toughest DUI laws in the 1980s. But a new investigation from our California newsroom partner CalMatters found our home state now has some of the weakest DUI l…

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AI Boom Leads To Increased Concerns Of Environmental Impacts Of Data Centers 10:29

2M ago10:29

10:29

California legislators considered dozens of bills related to artificial intelligence this year. Those numbers have spiked as lawmakers grapple with the technology’s increasing presence and possible negative consequences. One point of concern: the impact that generative AI will have on the state’s natural resources as it becomes an everyday tool for…

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Delay In CalFresh Benefits Leaves College Students Struggling To Afford Food 10:32

2M ago10:32

10:32

A federal judge ordered the Trump administration to restore full funding for SNAP benefits by Friday. The Justice Department is appealing. Meanwhile, Governor Newsom's office says some people in California are starting to receive their benefits, but it's unclear how many. The uncertainty is leaving many college students to wonder how they'll afford…

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Fed. Tax Breaks for "Going Green" at Home Set to Expire 10:35

2M ago10:35

10:35

Biden-era federal tax breaks for home owners that want to switch from gas-powered appliances in their homes to electric or "greener" solutions are expiring at the end of the year. Speaker Emerita Nancy Pelosi has announced her retirement from Congress. With the announcement, she will NOT be seeking re-election as representative of San Francisco. Le…

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Proposition 50 Sails to a Win in California's Special Election 10:46

2M ago10:46

10:46

California voters pass Proposition 50, setting the state up to redraw its congressional district maps, challenging a move by Texas to redraw its maps to give Republicans an edge in next year's mid-term elections. California Senator Alex Padilla has squashed any rumors that he has eyes on his state's Governor's seat. Yesterday, he announced his inte…

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The changing landscape of public health | Talk of Alaska 54:28

2M ago54:28

54:28

For decades, most Americans have relied on the American Medical Association, the Centers for Disease Control and their own local physician to get advice and guidance on everything from a healthy diet and exercise to air quality, disease prevention and which annual vaccines they should get. But the Trump administration’s pick of RFK Jr. as Health an…