Press Play with Madeleine Brand

KCRW

Latest episode

Sanders, Newsom on opposite sides of California’s ‘wealth tax’
2026-2-19 | 52 mins.
Plus, how the movie “Wuthering Heights” is a lot tamer than the nearly 200-year-old novel, our weekly film reviews, and Evan Kleiman celebrates the Lunar New Year with rice cake recipes.
Artist Sayre Gomez recreates LA’s infamous ‘graffiti towers’
2026-2-18 | 52 mins.
Plus, the U.S. orders warships to the Middle East. Any military action against Iran would likely involve Israel. And is AI coming for your job? It could radically reshape American life. One writer says we’re not ready.
How ‘America’s Next Top Model’ trafficked in abuse
2026-2-18 | 52 mins.
Plus, will LA28’s Casey Wasserman survive the Epstein scandal? A court ruled LA can’t throw away the belongings of unhoused people, and why Texas gives Democrats hope of flipping a Senate seat.
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.