FALL 2025
A WORD FROM OUR GENERAL MANAGER, DEANNA MACKEY
On July 18, Congress approved the elimination of all federal funding to the public broadcasting system. We had been preparing for this moment. While this is a challenging time, KPBS is not going anywhere. This moment in history will not unravel what we have spent 65 years building together an essential public service for San Diego. We are fortunate to be heading into this new chapter from a place of financial stability because of your support. Now we need your additional help to keep us going strong into the coming years ahead as we face an annual $4.3 million funding gap, representing 12% of our budget.
In the midst of the sadness of this time is also joy. We held our inaugural KPBS San Diego Book Festival on August 23 and it was a huge success. In September, we celebrated our 65th birthday at a special evening with Amna Nawaz, co-anchor of PBS News Hour. We also recently launched our new streaming service, KPBS+. More details are in this newsletter.
Thank you, as always, for your friendship and support. Your words and donations during this difficult time for public media have helped me and my staff stay positive and forward-thinking about our future and mission to super serve this region we all call home.
Forging a Nation
Ken Burns is back with “The American Revolution,” a six-part, 12-hour documentary exploring the chaos, courage and contradictions of a war that not only forged a nation, but reshaped the globe.
This compelling documentary explores the creation of the United States through the eyes of the people who lived it. Not just through generals and founders’ declarations, but from the young soldiers, Native American warriors, free and enslaved African Americans, refugees, Loyalists and ordinary people caught in the crossfire.
Directed by Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt, “The American Revolution” asks the hard questions and doesn’t shy away from uncomfortable truths. It looks at how the ideals of freedom and equality could coexist with injustice and exclusion, and how that tension birthed a new nation.
More than a history lesson, “The American Revolution” is a chance to better understand how the struggles of the past still echo in our lives today.
Premieres Sunday, November 16, at 8 p.m., and airs for six consecutive nights through Friday, November 21, on KPBS-TV. Watch anytime on KPBS+, our free new streaming app.
65 Years Strong: Let’s Secure the Future of KPBS
To celebrate KPBS’ 65th birthday, we’re inviting you to become an important part of our future. Our goal is to welcome 65 new legacy donors into our planned giving family, and we’re already close to reaching our target thanks to the amazing support of our community.
We need just 29 more donors to make a legacy gift of any size before December 31, 2025. If we meet this goal, a generous anonymous donor will contribute an additional $65,000 gift to our station to support the future of KPBS. Will you help us get there?
If you’ve already included KPBS in your will, thank you! Please consider sharing our campaign with friends who are passionate about public media. To make it even easier, you can create your free legal will or trust in just 20 minutes with the free online tool at FreeWill.com.
Your loyalty and support are what make KPBS’ future possible, and we’re so grateful. If you have any questions about leaving a legacy or this campaign, please reach out to Brenda Jones at [email protected] or (619) 594-8787.
Happy 65th Birthday, KPBS!
This year we celebrate 65 years since KPBS’ founding in 1960. It’s a powerful moment to reflect upon where KPBS has been, what we’ve been able to accomplish, and our responsibility to serve you and the next generation of community leaders, thinkers, supporters and voters.
For 65 years you have chosen to spend time with KPBS to find joy in the arts, learn important lessons through our children’s shows, find safety in times of crisis, discuss topics that matter to you and your neighbors, and so much more.
Today we are a group of nearly 200 people who love being here for you and believe in the power of public media. KPBS is a steadfast voice for the public good — largely made possible by this community’s investment and passion for what KPBS stands for.
We take our responsibility to the public very seriously – it has fueled us for 65 years and with your support we will be here for San Diegans for many years to come. Thank you. Learn more!
‘MASTERPIECE’ Mystery Marathon
The mystery starts with a gripping night of double premieres. First, “Maigret” introduces a brilliant but unconventional young detective solving serious crimes across Paris. A rising star of La Crim, Jules Maigret is relentless in his pursuit of justice and unwavering in his devotion to his wife. Premieres Sunday, October 5, at 9 p.m. on KPBS-TV, or watch anytime on KPBS+, our free new streaming app.
Then, “The Gold” tells the true story of the 1983 Brink’s-Mat robbery, one of Britain’s most notorious heists. When £26 million in gold bullion disappears, investigators uncover a high-stakes world of crime and corruption that shakes Britain to its core. Premieres Sunday, October 5, at 10 p.m. on KPBS-TV, or watch anytime on KPBS+, our free new streaming app.
Do More With KPBS by Joining the Producers Club!
Producers Club members share the distinction of being KPBS’ most generous annual contributors, giving $1,200 or more annually to strengthen the impact of local public broadcasting. With federal funding cuts to public media, their support is more vital than ever. Producers Club members are the station’s most invested and engaged supporters, serving as our ambassadors and counselors. They enable KPBS to expand its vision of excellence, develop new programs, and serve our communities. More importantly, they provide foundational support that sustains KPBS’ mission today and into the future.
Producers Club members also enjoy many unique opportunities to engage with KPBS, including by-invitation-only events with on-air personalities, advance notice of upcoming projects and programs of special interest, behind-the-scenes station tours and more. As a Producers Club member, you join a community of like-minded individuals who believe in public media.
To become a Producers Club member or to learn more, visit www.kpbs.org/pc or contact Ashley Carbonell at 619-594-6731 or [email protected].
Did You Know? You can make a Producers-Club level gift through your IRA and have it qualify against your annual Required Minimum Distribution. Contact us to learn more.
A Special Thank-You to Our Loyal Members
Membership support has long been the single largest source of funding for KPBS. You literally make KPBS possible.
As you know, the public-private partnership that built public TV and radio over five decades ended when our federal funding was rescinded in July. Now, we rely on the support of our community even more.
All of us at KPBS want to make a special note of thanks to our members. And we especially want to thank the more than 4,000 members so far who, as we go to press, have joined KPBS for the first time, rejoined after being away for a while, or increased their level of support since the federal funding rescission was announced.
United Through Conversation
“A More Perfect Union: Inspiring Civic & Civil Conversations Across America” is a one-hour PBS special that explores the enduring meaning of America’s founding ideals — liberty, democracy and equality — 250 years later.
Filmed at the National Constitution Center in Philadelphia, the program features a thought-provoking conversation with Ken Burns and other leading thinkers. At a time of deep national division, “A More Perfect Union: Inspiring Civic & Civil Conversations Across America” invites viewers to reimagine civic discourse through respectful dialogue rooted in the principles that shaped our nation.
Discover how the American idea continues to influence our democracy and how each of us can help build a more perfect union for generations to come.
Airs Monday, November 24, at 9 p.m. on KPBS-TV, or watch anytime on KPBS+, our free new streaming app.
Introducing KPBS+
KPBS+ is a new free streaming video app designed for ease and enjoyment everywhere you watch including Roku, smart TVs and mobile devices. It’s locally curated for San Diego by the KPBS programming team. With a clean and intuitive design, discovering and enjoying KPBS and PBS content on demand has never been easier.
On KPBS+ you can also tune in live to watch five TV channels in real time: KPBS, Create, KPBS Kids, World, and the newly added FNX (First Nation Experience).
Your KPBS Passport member benefit works on KPBS+ too! You’ll enjoy access to even more great shows when you simply log in with your KPBS Passport account.
We invite you to enjoy this new service!
The Future of Medicine
Discover the remarkable journey of Phil Sharp in “Independent Lens: Cracking the Code: Phil Sharp and the Biotech Revolution.” From growing up on a Kentucky farm and overcoming dyslexia to winning the Nobel Prize, Sharp’s story is one of resilience and groundbreaking achievement.
Narrated by Mark Ruffalo and featuring insights from Walter Isaacson, this powerful documentary explores how Sharp’s RNA discovery transformed biology and launched the biotechnology revolution, leading to life-saving treatments for millions.
Airs Monday, October 6, at 11 p.m. on KPBS-TV, or watch anytime on KPBS+, our free new streaming app.
‘Ken Kramer’s About San Diego’ Returns with New Episodes
A local favorite is back! “Ken Kramer’s About San Diego” returns this September with ten all-new episodes, debuting every third Thursday (with a short break in November and December). Each episode brings a fresh collection of fascinating stories about the history, people, and places that make our region unique. This season, join Ken Kramer as he remembers our city’s first tour guide, takes a look back at the radio art of Padre baseball recreations, learns the history of the North Park Water Tank, pays tribute to a Pacific Islander pioneer, and hears about the drama surrounding an unusual election.
Mark your calendar for February, when the series celebrates a major milestone, its 100th episode! It’s the perfect time to revisit the moments and memories that have made “Ken Kramer’s About San Diego” a beloved part of our community.
Catch new episodes Thursdays at 8:30 p.m. on KPBS-TV, or watch anytime on KPBS+, our free new streaming app.
Kissinger Revealed
“American Experience: Kissinger” is a two-part biography that examines the life and legacy of Henry Kissinger, one of the most powerful and polarizing figures in modern history.
Serving six U.S. Presidents, Kissinger shaped American foreign policy through the Vietnam War, the opening to China, and Cold War diplomacy. Was he a master diplomat or a ruthless strategist? This compelling series draws on eyewitness accounts, archival footage, and secret recordings to uncover the man behind the headlines and the enduring questions his legacy raises.
Airs Monday, October 27, and Tuesday, October 28, at 9 p.m. on KPBS-TV, or watch anytime on KPBS+, our free new streaming app.
A Groudbreaking Biography
“Marlee Matlin: Not Alone Anymore” is a raw, heartfelt look at a woman who broke barriers and kept going, even when the weight of being “the first” felt overwhelming.
For the first time, Matlin shares her story in her own language, opening up about the whirlwind of sudden fame after winning an Oscar at age 21. She speaks candidly about what that moment meant, not just for her, but for the Deaf community who saw themselves reflected on screen in a powerful new way.
Using ASL as its primary language along with stylized captioning and dynamic editing, the film pushes the boundaries of conventional documentary form.
The film also explores her personal life, including her complicated relationship with William Hurt, and the quiet battles she’s fought behind the scenes for better roles, for real inclusion in Hollywood, and for the chance to be more than a symbol.
This look back is a story about identity, growth and navigating life’s challenges, even when the world isn’t quite ready for what you have to share.
Premieres Tuesday, October 14, at 9 p.m. on KPBS-TV, or watch anytime on KPBS+, our free new streaming app.
Military Stories Week Returns to KPBS in November
Now in its second year, Military Stories Week on KPBS, an extension of the annual GI Film Festival San Diego (GIFFSD), presents a specially curated lineup of ten programs including a powerful concert performance, local stories, and acclaimed documentaries showcased at GIFFSD.
From November 10 through 13, join KPBS for a nightly lineup of compelling films that honor our nation’s veterans. The week’s storytelling spans a wide range of themes, from the Iraq War, the Black experience in the early 20th century Marine Corps, to the significance of preserving war memorabilia, memorials, and museums, to the fascinating history of military field photography, and more.
Tune in on KPBS-TV or stream anytime with KPBS+, our free new streaming app. Experience these unique and meaningful stories that celebrate service, sacrifice, and history through the power of film.
Consult the KPBS-TV schedule https://www.kpbs.org/tv/schedule for the film list and broadcast times.
Origins of Humanity
Explore “NOVA”’s groundbreaking five-part series “Human,” now available to stream. Journey through thousands of years of history in this epic series exploring how early humans survived, thrived, and shaped our world.
Start with “NOVA: Human: Neanderthal Encounters,” revealing how Ice Age Europe’s Neanderthals met Homo sapiens—and how those encounters left a lasting mark on our DNA.
Continue with “NOVA: Human: Into the Americas,” tracing the first bold migrations across a frozen landscape.
Then “NOVA: Human: Building Empires” reveals how farming, trade, and writing fueled humanity’s rise.
From fossil discoveries that rewrote the story of our origins to the rise of empires, this series reveals how resilience and innovation shaped who we are today.
“NOVA: Human” airs Wednesdays at 9 p.m. through October 15 on KPBS-TV, or watch anytime on KPBS+, our free streaming app.
‘Live at the Belly Up’ presents ‘Back To The Garden’
From the heart of beautiful Solana Beach, ”Live at the Belly Up” brings you a brand-new concert this September! “Back To The Garden” delivers a theatrical journey that recreates the magic of the Monterey Pop and Woodstock festivals complete with storytelling, iconic songs, and a vivid look at the artists and cultural backdrop of the 1960s.
Also newly added to the series: unforgettable performances from The Fabulous Thunderbirds, Henry Kapono, and Sue Palmer & Her Motel Swing Orchestra.
Don’t miss “Back To The Garden,” premiering September 29 at 11 p.m. on KPBS-TV. And remember, every ”Live at the Belly Up” concert is streaming free anytime on KPBS+, our new streaming app.
Drive Change this October!
Every car can drive change! Support KPBS by donating your vehicle during the Cartober donation campaign! Pick-up is free, and your gift is tax-deductible. Learn more and schedule your donation pick-up at www.kpbs.org/car. #Cartober2025
Sponsor Message
The Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank
At the Jacobs & Cushman San Diego Food Bank, we often say volunteers are the heartbeat of our mission, and during the holiday season, that couldn’t be more true.
From October through December last year, 6,538 volunteers gave 27,812 hours of their time across 813 shifts, helping us distribute nearly 14 million pounds of food—the equivalent of 11.4 million meals for families in need. That’s an incredible impact, and every single meal was made possible by people like you.
Each week, volunteers help sort, inspect, and pack tens of thousands of pounds, ensuring only the best reaches our Nonprofit Food Center and trusted network of more than 450 agency partners. Your attention to detail and compassion make this work possible.
As we prepare for another busy holiday season, we need your help again. Whether you’re a returning volunteer or joining us for the first time, your time and energy will make a real difference.
Please support the San Diego Food Bank feed those facing hunger. https://www.sandiegofoodbank.org/
Sponsor Message
Navy SEAL Museum San Diego
The Navy SEAL Museum San Diego (NSMSD) opens on October 4, 2025, marking an exciting West Coast expansion into San Diego, the home of Naval Special Warfare where SEALs are trained, based, and commanded.
NSMSD Museum aims to inspire visitors to serve a cause higher than themselves. Through immersive exhibits and one-on-one engagement with NSMSD’s docents of retired NSW operators, visitors will gain an appreciation for the sacrifice shared by all military personnel and gain an understanding of the timeless values of teamwork, dedication, innovation, perseverance to employ in their own lives.
The National Navy UDT-SEAL Museum, which opened in Fort Pierce, Florida in 1985, sought to expand to become a bi-coastal force with international impact. The Fort Pierce location operates on the historic beaches where Naval Special Warfare’s “Hell Week” originated, attracts approximately 80,000 visitors annually. San Diego, California, was identified as the ideal location for expansion due to its proximity to Naval Special Warfare in Coronado (where SEAL candidates undergo “Hell Week” today), its status as a top tourist destination, and its position as the country’s largest Naval installation.
Tickets available online: navysealmuseumsd.org
(619) 594-6983 or (888) 399-5727; [email protected]
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KPBS channel info—television
KPBS-TV—15.1, Cox 11, Spectrum 1221
KPBS 2—15.2, Cox 811, Spectrum 1277
KPBS Create—15.3, Cox 816, Spectrum 1275
KPBS Kids—15.4, Cox 809, Spectrum 1276
KPBS channel info—HD radio
KPBS Radio—89.5 HD1, Calexico 97.7 FM
Classical San Diego—89.5 HD2