Hello,

I'm writing to you from beautiful San Diego, where representatives from Public Media stations from across the country have gathered to talk all about YOU! If your ears have been ringing, now you know why. We've been scheming and dreaming about ways to be there for you when you need us, which we hope is always.

Except for a day focused on women in public media leadership happening tomorrow (go women!), we're pretty much winding things up. Great ideas have been exchanged along with smiles, greetings, support, contact info, and hugs among old and new friends.

Your KCRW crew was rolling deep this year with 16 of us, thanks to San Diego's proximity (no flying!). We bonded, had fun, got pumped, and are excited to share and roll out some of our learnings with HQ and all of you. 

In the meantime, check out my 19th floor view –– I'm one lucky ducky! That's the bay on the left and the convention center in the center. 

Your humble public media servant, 

Connie Alvarez
Your KCRW Insider since 2001

Bonus Lost Notes: Talking Fela Kuti with Sandra Izsadore

Lost Notes is back with a bonus episode. This one adds context and commentary on the first episode of the recent season about Fela Kuti, his relationship with Sandra Izsadore, and the rise of Afrobeat in LA. KCRW’s relationship with Fela Kuti goes back to 1980 when KCRW’s Tom Schnabel and Roger Steffens were connected with the mighty Afrobeat innovator while he was still imprisoned in Nigeria. And now, Sandra returns to KCRW to talk with Michael Barnes about meeting Fela in LA in 1969, and her essential role in the creation of the Afrobeat genre.

Important Things of Great Importance: Trader Joes

“Don’t look up,” Concordia. Distraction and flattery are the name of the game as Concordia interviews “Joe” from the (in)famous Trader Joe’s. Concordia just found out that the grocery chain has been accused of stealing food ideas from small producers as part of their product development practices. Concordia is ready to ask the hard-hitting questions, putting “Joe” on the spot, as long as she can stay focused and not be swayed by her guest’s flattery and charm.

What Elephant Seals Can Tell Us About Our Health

Fatigued with flu talk? Well, as much as we may be tired of hearing it (and fearing it), strains of flu are still out there in the wild mutating, infecting, and moving from species to species. Out of sight, out of mind, until it’s not… again. So how should we prepare when it comes to future flus? Dr. Michael Wilkes with Second Opinion provides commentary on a recent outbreak of bird flu (H5N1) among the elephant seal population. Unfortunately, it’s devastating. What can we learn from last year’s mass death of elephant seals? Want to receive each episode of Second Opinion in your inbox? Sign up for the Second Opinion newsletter to get the latest every Friday!

Could Your Friend be Your Life Partner?

The “normal” or “acceptable” way of being an adult means that you must be partnering off into a singular couple. That’s a lot of pressure to put on one partner. Being a best friend, an intimate partner, an intellectual partner, a fun partner, a hobbyist partner, a parenting partner, an economic partner. While some of these are very necessary for a healthy relationship, finding someone who fits all these bills — all of the time — while growing together and not apart, seems impossible. Enter, friendships! Friendships can also be life partners fulfilling some of the needs that your romantic partner may not always be there for. It can act as a support system to ensure a well-rounded, fulfilling life. Life Examined explores the varying types of relationships that are changing the landscape of life partnerships in today’s world.

Is My Vibrant Sex Life…Vanilla?

Sex is not a black-or-white concept. It’s more like a four-dimensional, layer-cake, spectrum that will be defined differently by every individual. Did someone say cake? Vanilla cake? Is your sex “vanilla?” There are so many variables that go into sex and the relationships we have with others that vanilla is too generic to be an encompassing definition of a sex life. And also, vanilla is a GREAT flavor. Let’s not pass judgment on ourselves or others that the sex is vanilla. It just doesn’t capture the nuance of all our sex lives. If you or someone you know wants more from their sex life, it might just be time to have a conversation about expectations.