Beyond The Fog Radio

Beyond The Fog Radio presents our most exciting episode yet: an interview with former U.S. representative and current Oakland mayoral candidate Barbara Lee, in partnership with KALW! KALW (91.7 FM) is the oldest public radio station in the Bay Area, and it hosts a program called "Bay Made" which spotlights local creators and businesses. Ben Trefny is KALW's Executive Producer, and he kindly invited us on Bay Made to record our interview with Congresswoman Lee at KALW's event space in downtown San Francisco. On January 15, in front of a live audience that included former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown, Carolyn Tyler, and other community leaders, we launched into an in-depth look at Congresswoman Lee's life and career — her start in the Bay Area, her experiences in Washington D.C., and her goals as a mayoral candidate for Oakland. Many, many thanks to Ben Trefny, David Boyer, David Kwan, and Charles Lighthouse of KALW for helping us to reach a wider audience; to Congresswoman Barbara Lee for being our gracious guest; to everyone who came to the KALW event space on January 15; and to all of our listeners, partners, sponsors, and supporters! This was a tremendous occasion for us all, and we could not have made it happen without you.

PEER TALK is a fresh new podcast emerging from the halls of Willie L. Brown Jr. Middle School. At Beyond the Fog Radio, we recognized the need for a platform designed for and by middle school students — where youth can develop their voices and share their perspectives.

 

Located in Bayview—Hunters Point, in San Francisco — a neighborhood historically comprised of African-American families — Willie L. Brown Jr. Middle School carries the name of former San Francisco Mayor and Speaker of the California Assembly, who has devoted himself to the well-being of others.

 

In the wake of the 2024 Election, we realized just how critical it is to equip students with the confidence to speak out, learn from community leaders, and dive into civic engagement — preparing them to become the next wave of local and global change-makers. Each guest on PEER TALK is chosen to align with the students’ coursework, bringing lessons to life through real-world experiences.

 

Our debut episode features seventh-graders from Mr. O’s Peer Resource class interviewing Margo Hall — Artistic Director of the Lorraine Hansberry Theatre — to discuss the influence she and Lorraine Hansberry have had on American theatre.

 

Beyond the Fog Radio is thrilled to present PEER TALK at Willie Brown Middle School: a space for the next generation of community leaders to explore, learn, and inspire, right here in San Francisco.

Happy New Year! Thank you for supporting Beyond The Fog Radio over the past four years. We're excited to announce our new project: the Willie L. Brown Jr. Middle School Podcast! Students from Willie L. Brown Jr. Middle School in Bayview-Hunters Point, San Francisco, will host their own podcast, produced by Beyond The Fog Radio. The content will reflect their school experiences, and students will design the logo, website, name, and even compose their own theme music. The first episode launches Wednesday, February 19, 2025 — available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and more! Thank you for your continued support, Susan, Jae, Michaela, and our new Education Co-Host, Gregory Fischer

This year’s Holiday Special, we’re announcing our partnership with students at Willie L. Brown Jr. Middle School in San Francisco. This week, we teamed up with the 6th-grade boys from Mr. Matthews’ advisory class to co-host. Jae, Michaela, and the boys sat down with Ryan Stagg, co-owner of Bernal Bakery. During COVID, Ryan and his partner Danielle Banchero baked bread at home and used a pulley system to deliver it to customers in a basket. Four years later, their pandemic project is now a thriving bakery in Bernal Heights with spots at local farmers' markets. We had a blast with Ryan, Danielle, and the students at Willie L. Brown Jr. Middle School. Tune in to hear about Bernal Bakery’s journey, through the questions of our talented and bright young students. Meet Ryan Stagg — and introducing the students of Willie L. Brown Jr. Middle School! Happy Holidays!

Huckleberry Youth Programs began in 1967, as a means to protect and help troubled and runaway teenagers who would otherwise be arrested and jailed. The organization began out of Huckleberry House in San Francisco's Haight-Ashbury district, and more than fifty years later, it has expanded north into Marin County. To address the problems that these young people face, Huckleberry starts with the individuals — learning who they really are, rather than immediately trying to put them into categories. This approach allows Huckleberry to more effectively use its resources to be a force for good. Doug Styles is the current Executive Director and CEO of Huckleberry Youth Programs. Born and raised in San Francisco, Doug wanted to understand how people interacted within an ever-growing multicultural world with an unequal distribution of resources. After over ten years at Huckleberry, Doug remains committed to helping the at-risk youth of San Francisco, Marin, and beyond. We were honored to hear Doug's story in his own words, and learn about how he continues to positively impact the lives of young people and their families. For more information about Huckleberry Youth Programs, visit www.huckleberryyouth.org Meet Doug Styles!