NOTES FROM THE EDGE with Jeff Chang

About NOTES FROM THE EDGE with Jeff Chang

In these increasingly uncertain times, America feels perched at the edge of division, despair and disaster. But it's at the edge where we can also see the land and the water — and imagine what's next. What matters is what we see here: Problems or possibilities? The abyss or a new bridge? Introducing Notes from the Edge (https://www.kalw.org/show/notes-from-the-edge-with-jeff-chang) with Bay Area author and intellectual JEFF CHANG (https://jeffchang.net) (Can't Stop Won't Stop (https://cantstopwontstop.com) and Water Mirror Echo (https://jeffchang.net/water-mirror-echo/) about the influence of Bruce Lee). The radio show and podcast is being co-produced with KALW Public Media (https://www.kalw.org). In each episode, Jeff and his guests look at our rapidly changing world from a different angle. He’ll invite in visionaries who might see things in those shifting tides that we can’t, who might be able to tell us where the currents are taking us.

Publisher

Jeff Chang

Category

society & culture

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

21 Jul 2025

Latest episode

31 Aug 2026

Latest episodes

5 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   31 Aug 2026

   NOTES FROM THE EDGE of Work

   Just in time for Labor Day, this episode of Notes from the Edge, we ask: why are some kinds of work valued more than others? Where does care fit into our work? And what would it take to build an economy that allows us to take better care of ourselves and each other? Jeff Chang talks with the organizer and advocate, Ai-jen Poo (National Domestic Workers Alliance), and the writer and artist, Jenny Odell (How to Do Nothing (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/600671/how-to-do-nothing-by-jenny-odell/))about what it means to work, and what it means to care. We'll also dives into the history of the work song and speak with musician Valerie June about her anthem, “Working Woman Blues.” ------------------------------------------------ GUEST BIOS Ai-Jen Poo is the President of the National Domestic Workers Alliance (https://www.domesticworkers.org) (NDWA) and the Executive Director of Caring Across Generations. Under her leadership, NDWA has won domestic worker bills of rights in 13 states, two cities, and the District of Columbia. She has been named a MacArthur “Genius,” one of Fortune’s / World’s 50 Greatest Leaders/, and one of Time’s 100 Most Influential People. She is the author of an acclaimed book, The Age of Dignity: Preparing for the Elder Boom in a Changing America (https://thenewpress.org/books/the-age-of-dignity/). She is based in Chicago. Jenny Odell is a writer, artist, and teacher based in Oakland, California. Her first book How to Do Nothing: Resisting the Attention Economy (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/600671/how-to-do-nothing-by-jenny-odell/), was one of President Obama’s favorites. Her second book, Saving Time: Discovering a Life Beyond the Clock (https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/672377/saving-time-by-jenny-odell/), was also a highly acclaimed bestseller. She has been an artist in residence at Recology SF (aka the dump), the Internet Archive, and the Montalvo Arts Center. She is working on a new book now on the topic of repair. Valerie June is a Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter and three-time Americana Music Honors and Awards nominee. She has written for Mavis Staples and The Blind Boys of Alabama, and her songs have been praised by Bob Dylan. Her albums have been featured by Pitchfork, Rolling Stone, The Washington Post, NPR Music, Vogue, Elle, Mojo, and Uncut, and she’s made television appearances on The Tonight Show, CBS Saturday Morning, PBS, and BBC. She splits her time between Tennessee and New York. SHOW HOST Jeff Chang is a writer, host, and a cultural organizer known for his work in culture, politics, narrative strategy, the arts, and music.  His first book, Can't Stop Won't Stop: A History of the Hip-Hop Generation (http://www.cantstopwontstop.com/), garnered many honors, including the American Book Award and the Asian American Literary Award. Slate named it one of the best nonfiction books of the past 25 years (https://slate.com/human-interest/2019/11/50-best-nonfiction-books.html). His latest book, Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America (http://watermirrorecho.net/) (Mariner), was named one of 2025’s Best by Publisher’s Weekly, Alta, Vogue, Kirkus, and NPR.

2. 

   29 Jun 2026

   NOTES FROM THE EDGE of America's 250

   In honor of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, NOTES FROM THE EDGE looks beyond the fireworks and fanfare, and examines the stories we tell about who we are as a country. Host Jeff Chang talks monuments with Jamelle Bouie (NYT columnist), Paul Farber (Monument Lab). He also talks with three culture makers—Leyla McCalla, La Doña and Julian Brave Noisecat—about their ideal national anthem.

3. 

   25 Apr 2026

   NOTES FROM THE EDGE of Climate Change

   Host Jeff Chang brings you notes from the edge of climate change with Indigenous human rights lawyer Julian Aguon, urban hydrologist and UC Berkeley professor Kristina Hill, and the musician Anohni ("Four Degrees"). Full episode out on April 21.

4. 

   12 Nov 2025

   NOTES FROM THE EDGE of Artificial Intelligence

   Listen to the second episode of KALW's new show Notes from the Edge with Jeff Chang. Jeff brings you notes from the edge of AI with journalist Karen Hao, tech ethicist Rumman Chowdhury and DJ Shadow,

5. 

   21 Jul 2025

   NOTES FROM THE EDGE of Resistance

   Listen to the first episode of KALW's new show-in-development NOTES FROM THE EDGE with Jeff Chang. In this pilot episode, Jeff brings you notes from the edge of resistance with writer Rebecca Solnit and comedian W. Kamau Bell.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

17 ratings

Contact NOTES FROM THE EDGE with Jeff Chang

Guest appearances

Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.

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