Fusion Ignition: Limitless Clean Energy?

On this episode of Table Talk, we look back at the third season of the podcast with a special guest host -- and we also share the future of the podcast.

Senator Glazer goes on a ride along with Bay Area Rapid Transit system Board President Bevan Dufty where they review safety changes in the system, new crisis intervention teams, ridership problems and even BART karaoke. The doors are closing...come on in.

This week I take you inside the world's fastest supercomputer: El Capitan. It's run by the Lawrence Livermore National Lab at a peak performance of 2.79 exaFLOPS (which translates to 2.79 quintillion calculations per second). Listen to the episode to hear how those calculations help "solve the problems of our time." 

In this episode, Senator Glazer speaks to a national audience of journalism funders about efforts in California to rescue independent journalism. The sobering discussion continues with local news publishers.

Come along on a recycling truck as we take a close look at the stuff on the curb on "Reuse Day," when residents place ‘gently used’ items to donate to people in need. We check out the distribution center where items are readied for non profit organizations. Hear about some surprising items picked up or left behind.

On this episode of Table Talk we take you behind the scenes at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory as we talk to the scientists who created Starfire; the first fusion reaction that produced more energy than was used to spark it. Its cutting edge science could change the world. 

This week on Table Talk I sat down with three leaders in the California Agave industry to talk about how the magnificent plant is grown, why it's such a compelling crop for water-conscious farmers and tasting notes as we sipped our way through the podcast. 

In a wide ranging interview with State librarian Greg Lucas, we discuss the future of libraries in the digital age, the impact of social media, what book he would recommend to Taylor Swift and if he was trapped on a desert island what book would he most want to possess. You don’t have to be a bookworm to enjoy this conversation. 

A new high school phenom that's heading to the Olympics in 2028: this week on Table Talk we hear from players and coaches who are involved in girls flag football. We learn the new rules, the plays, and the bonds being forged on the field. Grab a flag for some serious competition. 

This week we take on the controversy of a proposed law banning contact in football for youth under 12 -- intended to keep kids safer from chronic head injuries that cause neurological problems later in life.