218 episodes

Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.

Rightnowish KQED

    • Society & Culture
    • 4.9 • 175 Ratings

Rightnowish digs into life in the Bay Area right now… ish. Journalist Pendarvis Harshaw takes us to galleries painted on the sides of liquor stores in West Oakland. We'll dance in warehouses in the Bayview, make smoothies with kids in South Berkeley, and listen to classical music in a 1984 Cutlass Supreme in Richmond. Every week, Pen talks to movers and shakers about how the Bay Area shapes what they create, and how they shape the place we call home.

    One Time for Public Media Podcasts

    One Time for Public Media Podcasts

    We love having conversations about culture, identity and place with local change makers and hometown heroes. If you appreciate the work that we do on Rightnowish, please visit https://donate.kqed.org/podcasts to support us.

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    • 3 min
    ‘Ear Hustle’ Introduces Us to Seniors in the California Institution for Women

    ‘Ear Hustle’ Introduces Us to Seniors in the California Institution for Women

    As we celebrate Mother's Day, we're taking some time to honor those who have strained relationships with their mothers, are missing their mothers or grew up without their mothers. We're also thinking about the mothers who are missing their children for one reason or another.
    More than just thinking about them, we're hearing from them. This week we're passing the mic to our friends over at "Ear Hustle", a podcast from PRX’s Radiotopia. This special episode highlights the stories of elderly mothers who are incarcerated at California Institution for Women, a prison located in Chino, CA.
    Their tales of aging behind bars, while yearning for family are gut-wrenching but necessary, for we can't grow as a people unless we understand the plight of those on the margins of society. And when it comes to ensuring that we grow as a people, that's something that mothers know best.
    Happy Mother's Day from the Rightnowish family!
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    • 26 min
    D Sharp: The DJ with Four NBA Championship Rings

    D Sharp: The DJ with Four NBA Championship Rings

    The Golden State Warriors had a rough 2023-2024 campaign, but at least the music was slappin'. During timeouts, breaks between quarters and sometimes even when the ball was in play, the Chase Center's speakers would vibrate with the sounds of legendary Bay Area hip-hop artists. The person often on the turntables making it happen: DJ D Sharp.
    He's been the Warriors in-house DJ for a decade, providing the soundtrack for Steph, Klay, Draymond and company during their legendary run of four NBA championships. DJ D Sharp, clearly an essential part of the team, even has four NBA championship rings of his own. This week, we talk about providing a soundtrack for the Warriors' dynasty while building a lasting legacy for his family and community.
     
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    • 21 min
    nic feliciano Is Blessed With The ‘Curse of an Overactive Creative Mind’

    nic feliciano Is Blessed With The ‘Curse of an Overactive Creative Mind’

    nic feliciano (who also goes by Coco Machete) contains multitudes. She's a fashionista who currently resides in Berkeley, but was born in the Philippines and spent her teenage years in Southern California. After moving to the East Bay for school two decades ago, she's grown into a playwright, chef, thespian and — as she says — "a master of fun." feliciano's creations go beyond the stage. She's currently writing a comic book in which she gives a modern spin on the mythological creature from Filipino folklore.
    This week, we talk about how the Bay Area has assisted feliciano's artistic endeavors, from rapping over bass-heavy hip-hop beats in the early 2000s to forging a "creative family of misfit Filipino kids who didn't follow the path."
    Episode Transcript
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    • 24 min
    Deep Sea Fishing, Filipino Roots & Belonging “Where We Are”

    Deep Sea Fishing, Filipino Roots & Belonging “Where We Are”

    Adonis is a DJ who is immersed in downtown Oakland's nightlife scene. When they're not on the turntables, Adonis spends significant portions of their summers deep sea commercial fishing in Alaska. Adonis sees it as a way to pay bills, build community, and learn more about their Filipino roots.
    This week we discuss how it all intertwines-- the search for self, the love of community, the deep sea fishing and the appreciation of the Bay Area.
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    • 24 min
    The Chronic Pain Of White Supremacy

    The Chronic Pain Of White Supremacy

    In her book White Supremacy Is All Around: Notes from a Black Disabled Woman in a White World, Dr. Akilah Cadet brings the reader into her life as a Black woman living with a disability who recognizes that oppressive forces are as constant as her chronic pain. Dr. Cadet talked with the Rightnowish team about racism, ableism and ways one can go about fixing a broken system. 
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    • 27 min

Customer Reviews

4.9 out of 5
175 Ratings

175 Ratings

Yani323 ,

Loving these!

Sometimes I listen to multiple podcasts at once and this is one I can listen to for hours.
It’s so wonderful to go into these peoples lives and their activities within the communities. Pen is a great guide as he navigates us through these stories that touch so many lives.
Happy 1 year anniversary!

alixeleonorev ,

addicting, educational, just the best

I'm one of those people who usually find podcasts a bit annoying but I've been binging this for the past three days. A must listen if you live in the Bay Area. Every episode is real, enlightening, and lifts the voices of those who make Oakland and its surroundings the amazing cultural haven that it is. Thank you Pendarvis Harshaw for this show.

Aïdah ,

Thank you @ogpenn

Pendarvis is a master storyteller. His thoughts flow naturally, and his gift is a blessing to the Bay Area. May we continue to support his work and keep his voice lifted.

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