Press Play with Madeleine Brand

KCRW

Latest episode

Ski patrol deaths at Mammoth Mountain prompt scrutiny
2026-2-13 | 51 mins.
Plus, how Infinite Jest is not just a novel for pretentious guys (according to one female novelist at least), our weekly film reviews, and a new Stanford dating app may be the antidote to swiping.
Humanity’s first trip to the moon in 53 years is weeks away
2026-2-11 | 52 mins.
Plus, new reporting from The New York Times reveals Jeffrey Epstein had hidden cameras in his homes, ICE is recording and identifying people to be deported with technology that’s far from reliable, and Evan Kleiman has a can’t-miss Valentine’s Day idea.
How ICE is defying court orders to release immigrants
2026-2-11 | 52 mins.
Plus, what a rollback of a landmark environmental policy could mean, how peptides became the “it drug” in the wellness world, and the history of romcoms from the screwball era to today.
Decoding the political messages in Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show
2026-2-10 | 52 mins.
Plus, a last-minute addition upends the LA mayor’s race, Instagram and YouTube face accusations their algorithms are addictive, and Tesla kills its iconic models S and X in favor of…humanoid robots.
Chuck Klosterman argues football’s hold on America will fade away
2026-2-06 | 52 mins.
Plus, more candidates consider running for LA mayor after a critical Los Angeles Times story about Mayor Karen Bass, and our film critics tackle a man in love with vacuum cleaner and a BDSM “dom-com.”