JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2021
Introducing Our Interim General Manager, Nancy Worlie
We’re thrilled to welcome Nancy Worlie to a new role: KPBS Interim General Manager. Below is a note from Nancy and a special Q&A that will help you get to know this 17-year KPBS veteran.
A WORD FROM OUR INTERIM GENERAL MANAGER, NANCY WORLIE
Welcome to a new year! At the end of 2020 we said goodbye to longtime KPBS general manager Tom Karlo and wished him well in his much-deserved retirement. I am honored to take the reins from him and guide KPBS into its next chapter.
I was born and raised in San Diego and attended SDSU. This is my home. Sharing stories that bring us together is important to me. That is why this year you will find more stories to celebrate community.
Whether it be the beloved story “All Creatures Great and Small” retold by “MASTERPIECE,” Henry Louis Gates’ moving series “The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song,” new seasons of “Crossing South” and “A Growing Passion,” or our ever-expanding local podcasts, there will be something to connect you to the world around you. And no matter what the news cycle brings, you can continue to rely on us for news coverage you can trust.
Your membership makes all this possible. Thank you for entrusting me with KPBS and thank you for being part of our family.
We interviewed Nancy about her experience at KPBS and what she hopes to see happen in the future.
Q. What’s your favorite part about working for KPBS?
A. My favorite part is the group of dedicated, passionate, skilled people who make it a joy to come to work each day. Together, we ensure that KPBS rises to any challenge presented.
Q. It’s been a challenging year for all of us. What’s stood out to you about KPBS’s role in keeping our community safe and informed?
A. When it comes to getting essential information to make the best decisions for you and your family, KPBS is the place to go. From the pandemic to the election, we’ve been here this year for families who needed information. On the other hand, we were also there to provide an escape when needed.
Q. What are your favorite KPBS programs?
A. My family have always been fans of “Nature” and “NOVA.” We also love “Crossing South” and this year, we’ve pretended to travel to Baja with Jorge Meraz from the confines of our living room.
Q. What do you hope to see happen at KPBS this coming year?
A. I hope to safely return to in-person events soon! Our events allow us to celebrate your support, get to know each other, and share our love for KPBS programs and our region.
“Nature: The Alps” Explores the Secrets of Mountains
What secrets do our mountains hold? They will be revealed in the two-part “Nature” series “The Alps” on KPBS! From sea level to peaks rising 12,000 feet, the Alps connect eight countries, with many of the world’s environments located within their boundaries. Discover how Alpine plants and animals face the extreme seasonal changes, from summer’s thunderstorms and landslides to winter’s avalanches and dangerous freezing conditions.
The series will introduce you to all 750 miles of the Alps, from the Mediterranean Sea to the Adriatic Sea. Tune in to discover the real-life drama as animals and other wildlife fight for survival in Europe’s treacherous mountain range.
Airs Wednesdays, January 13 and 20 at 8 p.m. on KPBS-TV.
“NOVA” Explores Hidden Clues in our Genealogy
Have you sent your DNA to be analyzed by a company like 23andMe or AncestryDNA? If so, you’re in good company: More than 12 million Americans have shared their DNA hoping to obtain hidden clues to family origins and forecasts of their future health. But what actually happens once the sample is in the hands of testing companies? What are they looking at and how accurate are their results?
“NOVA: The Secrets in our DNA” explores the value of the information you receive when submitting your DNA, as well as the risks of entrusting this data to commercial enterprises and online databases.
Airs Wednesday, January 13 at 9 p.m. on KPBS-TV.
Spend Sunday nights with “MASTERPIECE” on KPBS-TV
This year marks the 50th anniversary of “MASTERPIECE,” the iconic PBS drama series that sparked America’s infatuation with British television. To celebrate, KPBS will air four brand-new “MASTERPIECE” shows that you won’t want to miss.
For more information, visit video.kpbs.org/franchise/masterpiece.
“Elizabeth Is Missing”
Did you watch the premiere of “Elizabeth is Missing,” the touching and compelling drama about a woman with dementia who searches for her missing friend? If you missed it, you can catch up on-demand right on your PBS App.
“All Creatures Great and Small”
On January 10 at 9 p.m., watch the premiere episode of “All Creatures Great and Small,” a seven-part adaptation of James Herriot’s beloved books about a rural veterinarian.
“Miss Scarlet & The Duke”
On “Miss Scarlet & The Duke,” a six-part series kicking off January 17 at 8 p.m., you’ll follow the headstrong, first-ever female detective in Victorian London as she solves mysteries alongside her childhood friend.
“The Long Song”
“The Long Song” closes out the month with its first episode on January 31 at 10 p.m. The three-part miniseries based on Andrea Levy’s award-winning novel follows a young slave named July and her detestable mistress, Caroline, as they live through the final days of slavery in Jamaica.
Celebrating Black History With Special Programming on KPBS-TV
Air dates and times are subject to change. Consult kpbs.org/tv/schedule for latest information.
“American Masters: How It Feels to Be Free”
On Monday, January 18 at 9 p.m., “American Masters: How It Feels to Be Free” tells the inspiring story of six iconic African-American female entertainers who challenged the entertainment industry for perpetuating racist stereotypes.
“Women in Blue” from “Independent Lens”
“Women in Blue” from “Independent Lens,” airing on Monday, February 8 at 11 p.m., follows Minneapolis’ first female police chief as she works to reform her police department by diversifying the ranks and promoting women into every rank of leadership.
“American Experience: The Voice of Freedom”
On Monday, February 15 at 9 p.m., “American Experience: The Voice of Freedom” takes you back to 1939, when contralto Marian Anderson
performed in front of the Lincoln Memorial after being barred from singing at Constitution Hall by the Daughters of the American Revolution.
“The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song”
“The Black Church: This Is Our Story, This Is Our Song”—an intimate four-hour series from Henry Louis Gates, Jr. tracing the 400-year-old story of the Black church in America, airs on Tuesdays, February 16 and 23 at 9 p.m.
“Mr. SOUL!” from “Independent Lens”
And on Monday, February 22 at 11 p.m., tune in to watch “Mr. SOUL!” from “Independent Lens,” which portrays a revolutionary time in American culture and entertainment through vibrant archival footage and interviews with numerous Black luminaries who appeared on the first-ever Black variety show.
“Port of Entry: Crossing for Care”
Medical tourism is booming at the San Diego-Tijuana border. Even in the middle of a pandemic, thousands of people continue to cross from the United States into Mexico, motivated by more affordable healthcare.
This January, the KPBS original podcast “Port of Entry” will document some of these stories on “Crossing for Care,” a collection of four special episodes that will take a deep dive into the lives of people powering the medical tourism trend. You’ll meet a woman from the U.S. whose cancer came back, but this time she opted for alternative care in Tijuana instead of chemo treatment in San Diego. You’ll follow a mom in San Diego who crosses to Tijuana to buy much cheaper insulin her diabetic son needs to stay alive. And you’ll hear more cross-border stories about people and even pets who cross the border for more affordable care.
Learn more and listen at portofentrypod.org, or wherever you listen to podcasts.
Jane Austen fan?
Four classic Jane Austen titles from PBS and BBC are available now exclusively for streaming with KPBS Passport:
- “Sanditon”
- “Mansfield Park”
- “Pride and Prejudice”
- “Sense and Sensibility”
“Throughline” hosts Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei
Explore the History Behind the Headlines
Is the past really past? What does the past tell us about our present? The NPR podcast—and now weekly radio show—”Throughline” explores just that.
Join hosts Rund Abdelfatah and Ramtin Arablouei for a journey back in time that will help us better understand the present. The show provides important history lessons we sometimes forget—or didn’t know in the first place—that better explain the events, news, and ideas that dominate our modern-day conversations.
“Throughline” airs Sundays at 10 a.m. beginning January 17 on KPBS Radio. Please visit kpbs.org/radio/schedule for details.
Sponsor Message
Ending hunger is an ambitious goal, but Feeding San Diego knows it is solvable through food rescue. The organization’s mission is to connect every person facing hunger with nutritious meals by maximizing food rescue. The vision is a hunger-free and healthy San Diego.
Before the pandemic, one in eight people in San Diego County faced hunger. Now, the need for food assistance has surged by 50%, with thousands of people facing hunger for the first time.
There are many faces of hunger in our communities: children, families, seniors, military families, and veterans. Feeding San Diego’s wide variety of programming—from its mobile pantry programs that support people living in food deserts, to its after-school and summer meals programs for kids, to senior-focused distributions—ensures that anyone facing hunger across San Diego County has somewhere to turn.
COVID-19 is a once-in-a-century crisis that has challenged people around the world like never before. Feeding San Diego is calling on people across San Diego County to unite together to help those facing hunger. No action is too big or too small. Every action counts.
To learn more about Feeding San Diego, or to support the organization’s COVID-19 Response Fund, please visit feedingsandiego.org.
Planned Giving Seminar
Is your estate plan prepared? When you check this simple thing off your list in 2021, you’ll safeguard your inheritance and your future health decisions, provide for loved ones, and create your legacy.
Join KPBS and our panel of experts on Thursday, January 28, 2021, 4 p.m.—5 p.m. for Planting the Seed: Estate Planning 101, a virtual event where we will provide a general overview of estate planning and explain what you need to know about preparing your will or trust, advance health care directive, and power of attorney. You won’t want to miss this special event that will give you peace of mind tomorrow and ensure you and your loved ones are protected.
For more information or to RSVP, please contact Jared Blakeley at [email protected] or by phone at (619) 595-0851.
We Make Donating Your Vehicle Easy
Free yourself of unnecessary financial worries by donating your unneeded or unused car to KPBS!
Donating is easy, and the pickup is free. Our program finds the best buyer for your vehicle so you can receive the maximum tax-deductible donation amount. To learn more, call 877-572-7227 or give online at www.kpbs.org/car.
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KPBS channel info—television
KPBS TV—15, Cox 1011, 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—radio
San Diego—89.5 FM, Calexico 97.7 FM