Lesley McClurg

San Francisco

Health Reporter at KQED-TV (San Francisco,CA)

I'm a health correspondent and fill-in host at KQED/NPR. My thoughts are my own. If you have a story idea I'm all ears.

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Articles

The Marin Town Where RFK Jr.’s Message Took Root

1 week ago | ourcommunitynow.com | Lesley McClurg

Share Here, being “natural” isn’t just a health choice — it’s a worldview. The ground, presumably pesticide-free, was tilled and ready for Kennedy’s platform to take root. “Regulars at public meetings accused us of knowingly harming people with vaccines,” said Matthew Willis, who served as Marin County’s public health officer throughout the pandemic.
The Marin Town Where RFK Jr.’s Message Took Root

1 week ago | kqed.org | Lesley McClurg

May 28Failed to save articlePlease try againGood Earth Natural Foods, an independent grocery store open since 1969 serving organic and eco-friendly products, in Fairfax, Marin County, on May 15, 2025. Fairfax, a town built on wellness and a distrust in authority, has become fertile ground for Robert Kennedy Jr.’s MAHA movement.
What Happens When You Love Someone Who Votes for Everything You’re Against?

3 weeks ago | kqed.org | Lesley McClurg

May 15Failed to save articlePlease try againPolitical clashes between couples are increasingly common in today’s polarized climate, as differences in core values and worldviews often spark deep stress and lasting conflict. Has this happened to you? (iStock/Getty Images Plus)You believe the country is at a breaking point. Your partner thinks the media is lying — or that President Donald Trump is the only one telling the truth. Or maybe it’s the other way around.
Why Do I Keep Dating the Same Type?! Tell Us Your Story

1 month ago | kqed.org | Lesley McClurg

May 2Failed to save articlePlease try againKQED’s Love Lab blends science with real stories to explore our most intimate patterns. Do you want to share your story? (iStock/Getty Images Plus)You swore you were done with the emotionally unavailable type. Or the fixers. Or the charmers who vanish when things get real. But somehow you’re back in the same dynamic. Again. If this sounds familiar, we want to hear from you. KQED’s Love Lab blends science with real stories to explore our most intimate patterns.
RFK Jr. Announced a Phase-Out of ‘Poisonous’ Food Dyes. Critics Say the Plan Lacks Teeth

1 month ago | kqed.org | Lesley McClurg

Apr 23Failed to save articlePlease try againRobert F. Kennedy Jr. speaks to the media at a Cesar Chavez Day event at Union Station on March 30, 2024 in Los Angeles. RFK Jr. says the era of petroleum-based dyes is ending. But with no firm mandate, watchdogs worry the FDA’s plan to clean up food could rely too much on industry goodwill.
How Safe is AI Therapy?

1 month ago | kqed.org | Morgan Sung |Maya Cueva |Chris Egusa |Lesley McClurg

Episode TranscriptThis is a computer-generated transcript. While our team has reviewed it, there may be errors. Morgan Sung: A quick heads up before we start. This episode includes discussions of suicide and mental health conditions, which may be distressing for some listeners. If you or someone you know need support, we’ll have links to resources in the episode description.
CT Scans Save Lives. But as They’re Used More Often, How Many Are Causing Cancer?

1 month ago | kqed.org | Lesley McClurg

Failed to save articlePlease try againA nuclear medicine Technologist at Georgetown University Hospital, on May 19, 2015, in Washington. A new UCSF study estimates that CT scans performed in a single year could lead to more than 100,000 future cancer cases, reflecting a sharp rise in their use and higher radiation doses.
‘Lost at Sea’ Profiles Sausalito’s ‘Anchor-out’ Community

1 month ago | kqed.org | Lesley McClurg

Failed to save articlePlease try againA houseboat floating off of Sausalito in Richardson Bay. Off the coast of Sausalito lies one of the nation’s oldest unhoused communities. Known as “anchor-outs,” residents live aboard makeshift boats moored in the bay, carving out a precarious existence. For nearly a decade, author Joe Kloc immersed himself in their world, documenting their struggles and growing tensions with shoreline residents determined to push them out.
Zach Mack on Trying to Rescue His Father from ‘Alternate Realities’

2 months ago | kqed.org | Lesley McClurg

Has someone you love ever been enmeshed in online conspiracy theories? Podcast host Zach Mack’s father fell deep into a rabbit hole and wagered Mack $10,000 that 10 of his far-fetched political and apocalyptic beliefs would come true within the year. Mack created a podcast about the experience called “ Alternate Realities ,” which New York Magazine has already named one of the best of the year.
Can AI Replace Your Therapist? The Benefits, Risks and Unsettling Truths

2 months ago | kqed.org | Lesley McClurg

Mar 31Failed to save articlePlease try againAI therapy chatbots such as Woebot, Rosebud and TherapistGPT offer 24/7 mental health support, but what happens when they get it wrong? (Anna Vignet/KQED)When Lilly Payne turned to Woebot, a therapy chatbot powered by artificial intelligence, she was deeply unmoored. “I also felt like I was annoying people when I reached out for support,” she said.