Talk of the Town
Talk of the Town: Jan. 14, 2026
Lyz Luke, Mike Blankenship, William D. Patterson and Anthony Severo join Dave Clark on this episode of KTVU's Talk of the Town.
Talk of the Town: Oakland Reparations
Dave Clark is joined by Debra Gore Mann, chairperson of the Alameda County reparations commission, Paul Cobb, publisher of the Oakland Post, and Tracey Webb, the facilitator of listening sessions for feedback on reparations.
Talk of the Town: Bay Area Author Sheila Young
Bay Area author Sheila Young , who wrote a book "Strands of Faith," joins Dave Clark on Talk of the Town.
Talk of the Town: Nikki Lopez and Liz Crawford
This episode of Talk of the Town, hosted by Dave Clark, features Nikki Lopez of Caregiver OneCall and caregiver Liz Crawford.
Talk of the Town: 12 days of Christmas
Talk of the Town features 12 Days of Christmas Oakland chapter representatives, Malaika Bobino, Lisa James and Roma Groves-Waters.
Talk of the Town: Regi Young
With recent cuts to SNAP benefits, Bay Area food banks are working overtime to deal with the need in the community. Alameda County Community Food Bank CEO Regi Young sits down with Dave to discuss how the organization is meeting the moment.
Talk of the Town: Regi Young, CEO of Alameda County Community Food Bank
With recent cuts to SNAP benefits, Bay Area food banks are working overtime to deal with the need in the community. Alameda County Community Food Bank CEO Regi Young sits down with Dave to discuss how the organization is meeting the moment.
Talk of the Town
Dave Clark hosts the latest episode of KTVU's Talk of the Town.
Talk of the Town: Health care chaplain and pastor Betty Clark on ancestral trauma
An in-depth conversation about the issues important to Oakland. In this episode health care chaplain and pastor Betty Clark, joins Dave Clark to talk about her work in the community and what she does at Highland Hospital in Oakland.
Talk of the Town: State Assemblyman Alex Lee, CA's Youngest Asian American Lawmaker
State Assemblyman Alex Lee, California's youngest Asian American lawmaker, joins Dave Clark on Talk of the Town.
Talk of the Town: Amy Nickerson
Amy Nickerson, an author and public speaker, joins Dave Clark to talk about race in America and her children's book, "How They See Us In School," which looks at racial discrimination.
Talk of the Town: Cyber security expert Malcolm Palmore
Malcolm Palmore, a former FBI agent and now-cyber security expert, joins Dave Clark to discuss staying safe online.
Talk of the Town: Aarav Sharma
KTVU's Dave Clark is joined by Aarav Sharma, a young high school student from Fremont who's focused on understanding autism and helping the many people diagnosed with it. He's the author of a book called "Beyond the Spectrum."
Talk of the Town: Preventing Teenage Suicide
Lynette and Jamahl Mackey of Mackey's Corner and psychologist Dr. Margaret Jones join Dave Clark on this episode of KTVU's Talk of the Town.
Talk of the Town: Pete Escovedo
Pete Escovedo joins Dave Clark and talks about his colorful career that spans decades and his travels around the world. He's part of a musical family in Oakland, most notably his daughter, SHEILA E.
Talk of the Town: Kendra Willis and Sonya Beavers
On this episode of Talk of the Town, Dave Clark sits down with three people working to help Black and Brown low-income communities in the Bay Area. Kendra Willis and Sonya Beavers are helping teach financial literacy to help people get ahead, and Marlon McWilson is not only working to feed the hungry every year at Thanksgiving, but also teaching people about financial independence.
Talk of the Town: Actor Delroy Lindo of 'Sinners'
Actor Delroy Lindo, one of the stars of the blockbuster film 'Sinners,' joins Dave Clark. Delroy talks about a movie he just shot in Australia, 'Godzilla and King Kong,' and the memoir he's writing about his life
Talk of the Town: Dr. Michael LeNoir
On this week?s episode, Dave is joined by Dr. Michael LeNoir, CEO and founder of the African American Wellness Project. His organization focuses on responding to inequities across the health care system, and helping people get better quality health care.
Talk of the Town: Major Howard Jackson and Author Regina Jackson
Major Howard Jackson (USMC Ret.) joins Dave on Talk of the Town to discuss his career as one of the few Black officers in the military during the Vietnam era, and his work with the Joint Chiefs of Staff following that military career. He was recently honored by the City of Oakland, with a street renamed to Major Howard Jackson Way near the Old Army Base.
Talk of the Town: Kyle Newport
Music festival producer Kyle Newport joins Dave Clark on Talk of the Town to talk about the events he has in store for 2025, and a big new program at the Orinda Theatre. He also discusses his late father, who was the second African American mayor of Berkeley.
Talk of the Town: Norma Jean Rogers-Jackson and Nanine Watson
On this week?s Talk of the Town, Dave Clark sits down with two women whose late husbands were prominent, history-making doctors in the Bay Area. Dr. Oscar Jackson and Dr. Carl Watson broke barriers, and had a major impact on the world of medicine. Their wives, Norma Jean Rogers-Jackson and Nanine Watson join Dave in studio to discuss their legacy and influence.
Talk of the Town: Gary Payton Sr. and Sam Moses
On this week's episode of Talk of the Town, we talk to NBA Hall of Fame and Oakland native Gary Payton Sr., and educator and athlete Sam Moses about the work they're doing with young men in Oakland using basketball to become leaders.
Talk of the Town: Monee’ Brown
This week’s guest on Talk of the Town is Monee’ Brown, founder of Knot Our Kidz, an initiative dedicated to protecting kids online. She has over 20 years of experience in law enforcement in Alameda County, and joins Dave to talk about what parents can do to make sure their kids are safe on the internet.
Talk of the Town: William Patterson and Delaine Simms
At 93 years old, William Patterson has been one of Oakland?s most important community leaders for years. In fact, it?s likely there would not be an Oakland Zoo if not for him. He was joined by Delaine Simms, who is a successful business owner who helps young single mothers to become successful through several training projects she created.
Mickel London, Felicie Standley, Khale?iya Harley
This week on Talk of the Town, Dave Clark talks with Mickel London, founder of the Music Medicine Benefit Concert, and Felicie Standley, a therapist at UCSF Benioff Children?s Hospital. That benefit concert is raising money for Sickle Cell Disease Research, as well as the Patient Care Fund at UCSF Benioff Children?s Hospital. The concert is scheduled for July 31 at Yoshi?s. Dave also talks with Khale?iya Harley, a 16-year-old sickle cell patient.
Lillian Samuel, Big Brothers Big Sisters
Our Talk of the Town guest is Lillian Samuel, CEO of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of the Bay Area. The organization aims to create and support one-on-one mentoring for young people, to help them achieve their potential, and has over a thousand matches across the Bay Area. She joins Dave Clark to talk about helping young people in crisis.
Celebrating diversity
Sheryl Grant, an internationally-recognized speaker and founder of FIT for Life, and Donna Ruff, of the Western Regional Minority Supplier Development Council talk to Dave Clark about a an event celebrating diversity in Oakland on May 10.
Simon Russell of Clefology
Simon Russell, from Clefology, along with his 10-year-old daughter, Jules, talk about the music school for young musicians that he founded.
Sam Moses, Open Gym Premier
Sam Moses runs Open Gym Premier in Oakland. It's a huge space for athletics where kids, in particular, are being helped to lead positive lives, and it's benefiting entire families as it helps to reduce Oakland's crime rate.
HOPE Academy
Courtney Smith and Nana Kofi Nti, from HOPE Academy and 510media, talk about the Oakland school's entrepreneurial education program that aims to shape, mold and transform learners and to try to create more Black entrepreneurs.
Tower of Power's Lenny Williams
Lenny Williams is a soul singer best known for his time as the lead singer of the legendary Oakland-based band Tower of Power. His voice can be heard on some of the band's most popular songs, including "What Is Hip?" and "So Very Hard to Go". He is also a successful solo recording artist, with more than a dozen albums released.
Shannon Nash, tech exec and film producer
Shannon Nash is the chief financial officer of Wing Aviation, a subsidiary of Alphabet. The company is working on developing drone delivery systems for packages. On top of being the CFO of Wing, Nash is also a film producer, working on projects focused on topics ranging from autism, to board diversity.
Elaine Brown, ex-Black Panthers leader
Elaine Brown, the only woman to lead the Black Panthers, joins Dave Clark to talk about her big project in Oakland ? the construction of a major affordable housing project on the city's west side that will be open to low-income tenants in May 2024.
LeRonne Armstrong, Ex-OPD chief, returns
Former Oakland Police Chief Leronne Armstrong is an Oakland native, and on top of playing basketball at McClymonds High School, also played college basketball at Sacramento State. He?s now using that basketball knowledge to help coach the basketball team at Bishop O?Dowd High School in Oakland.
Jamal Cooks, Chabot College president
Jamal Cooks is the new president of Chabot College in Hayward. He?s an Oakland native with more than 20 years of teaching, research, and leadership experience, who is now the tenth president of Chabot.
Chris Chatmon of Kingmakers
Christopher Chatmon is CEO and founder of Kingmakers of Oakland an award winning nonprofit that supports school districts around the country to improve the educational and life outcomes of Black male students.
Uncuffed Project's Damon Cooke and ex-Oakland A Bip Roberts
CEO Damon Cooke from The Uncuffed Project and former Oakland Athletics player Bip Roberts discuss the organization's mission and its collection of services uniquely tailored to formerly incarcerated individuals having earned their release
Brandon Nicholson, The Hidden Genius Project
The Hidden Genius Project is a true Oakland success story. The group introduces inner-city kids to coding and gets them on track for careers in tech. CEO Brandon Nicholson talks about his passion for the mission.
Brendon Woods, Alameda County public defender
Dave Clark speaks with Brendon Woods, the public defender for Alameda County. Woods is passionate that everyone deserves free access to legal services regardless of their position in life. Too many people who are innocent, especially people of color, wind up behind bars because they could not afford a vigorous defense, he said. Woods hopes Gov. Newsom will not slash funding for public defenders and he hopes to see more African-Americans serving on juries.
Fawn Weaver, CEO of Uncle Nearest whiskey
Fawn Weaver is the founder and CEO of Uncle Nearest premium whiskey, one of the fastest-growing brands in America. It's named for an enslaved man named Uncle Nearest who taught Jack Daniel everything he knew about making whiskey. Weaver's company, besides being Black-owned, also has an all-female staff. Weaver also sits on the boards of major corporations and makes supporting the education of Black college students a priority.
D'Wayne Wiggins of Tony! Toni! Ton?!
D?Wayne Wiggins is the leader of the nationally known Oakland-based group Tony! Toni! Ton?! Wiggins talks about his love for his Oakland roots, traveling around the world performing, and why he thinks it?s so important to be a mentor and encourage young performers who follow him. He also explains the origins of the group?s unusual name.
Rue Mapp, CEO of Outdoor Afro
Through her company Outdoor Afro, which is based in Oakland, Rue Mapp encourages Black people to enjoy the outdoors, be involved with the environment and to be surprised by the nature that exists in the Town.
Shelia Tyson
Shelia Tyson is the sister of the late Bernard Tyson, a former chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente. She stops by Talk of the Town to chat about her brother who was not only one of Oakland?s highest-ranking black business leaders, he was also a top business leader in America who happened to be black. He grew up in Vallejo, and passionately cared about the future of Oakland. Learn more about Bernard Tyson's personal life, beyond his legendary status as a business giant.
John Burris, Civil Rights Attorney
Civil rights attorney John Burris stops by ?Talk of the Town? to share his biggest efforts and life's mission.
Dee Johnson, Lend A Hand director
Lend A Hand has been around 20 years in Oakland and was created to do just that: help people in need, in a variety of ways. The foundation gives thousands of new backpacks for school students, food for those who are hungry and shelter when it?s needed. Dee Johnson is an African-American woman who works tirelessly as the Lend A Hand director along with her volunteers to make life better in Oakland.
Angela Watson, San Francisco Ballet
Angela Watson, 19, of Oakland, is the only African-American dancer with the San Francisco Ballet. She talks about how it feels to be "the only one" in the esteemed ballet company, how her Oakland upbringing prepared her for her dance career, her love for performing and about being a role model for young African-American dancers coming behind her.
LeRonne Armstrong, Oakland's police chief
Oakland Police Chief LeRonne Armstrong talks to Dave Clark about growing up in Oakland, how he handles the pressures of the job and his vision for improving safety in the city.
Stewart Perrilliat, creator of Man 2 Man
Stewart Perrilliat created Man 2 Man, a program that focuses on strengthening Black Men, Black families, and getting them to face historical problems. Man 2 Man helps men reach their full potential through personal development, professional enrichment and spiritual accountability.
Eric Jones, Sea Valor founder
Eric Jones received a Medal of Valor for pulling and carrying five people from the impact zone at the Pentagon on September 11, 2001. Jones runs a program called Sea Valor, based in his hometown of Oakland and aboard the USS Hornet, that mentors Bay Area teenagers, taking them out on the water, introducing them to sailing, and instilling discipline and hope for the future.
Hardy Nickerson, ex-NFL player, Cal star
Bishop O'Dowd High School Football Coach Hardy Nickerson stops by to talk about leadership and the importance of shaping the lives of young men. Nickerson is a former NFL linebacker and was a college football standout at Cal. He talks to host Dave Clark about his sports career and who changed his life as a young boy growing up in Compton.
Activist Oscar Wright
Oscar Wright at 99 continues to be an advocate for Black families in Oakland and remembers everything: from being a child, picking cotton in the segregated South to paying for scholarships for Oakland students.
Oakland Fire Chief Reginald Freeman
Oakland's Fire Chief Reginald Freeman stops by ?Talk of the Town? to chat about what it?s like to be the fire chief, a job he calls ?very rewarding?. Learn more about how Freeman?s childhood and early firefighting career shaped him to be the community leader he is today.
Actor Delroy Lindo
Acclaimed actor Delroy Lindo stops by ?Talk of the Town? to share why he calls Oakland home. The award-winning actor was born in England and moved to the United States when he was 16 years old. Lindo talks about his career from his early days on stage to his eventual move to movies and television.
Marsha Rhynes and the Maya Angelou Essay Contest
Marsha Rhynes runs the Maya Angelou Essay Contest within the Oakland Unified School District. The contest is dedicated in the late Guy Johnson?s honor. He was the only child of Dr. Maya Angelou and a longtime OUSD supporter who helped create the contest.
Kim Cloud of the It's All Good Bakery
Kim Cloud is the owner of It’s All Good Bakery. Since 1996, Kim and his family have created tasty treats using the finest ingredients and recipes handed down from his grandmother and mother. But, before it was a bakery, the building has a historic connection in Oakland’s black community and the Black Panthers.