As part of our series "In My Experience," spotlighting the personal stories of our listeners, we talk with a panel of biracial and multi-racial people about race, identity and what it's like to grow up looking different from your neighbors and even your parents. We listen to their stories, and we welcome yours.

As the clock ticks down, holiday gift giving gets stressful. Whether shopping online or in stores the search for the perfect gift can be bewildering. Forum offers some suggestions, including how to do some social good with your generosity.

After serving as San Francisco's sheriff for more than 30 years, Michael Hennessey is retiring next month. We talk with Sheriff Hennessey about three decades of crime and justice in San Francisco and his pioneering role in bringing education and rehabilitation programs to the jails.

The U.S. military engagement in Iraq is almost over, following the orderly exit of tens of thousands of American troops from the country. Just a few thousand soldiers remain, and those are expected to be gone in two and a half weeks, leaving behind some U.S. advisers and contractors. In this hour, we discuss what's next for Iraq, and the political, economic and social impact of the pull-out.

Governor Jerry Brown has announced $1 billion in automatic mid-year cuts to social programs, saying state revenues continue to lag. The cuts will affect in-home services, higher education and school transportation, but will largely avoid reductions in K-12 education budgets.

Just over a month ago, Edwin M. Lee made history by becoming the city's first elected Asian-American mayor. We'll talk to him about his agenda and get his take on a wide range of topics including Occupy San Francisco, America's Cup, MUNI, and homelessness. We'll also find out how he plans to fulfill his pledge to attract businesses and jobs to the city. What do you think Mayor Lee's priorities should be?

After two long weeks of climate change talks in Durban, South Africa, a deal was finally made on Sunday. And though some observers are applauding the global summit as groundbreaking, the majority of environmental experts say perhaps the biggest positive was that it wasn't a complete collapse. We'll take a look at what happened, what didn't, and examine all the important details of the controversial climate change talks in Durban.

Author Walter Isaacson discusses his new biography of Apple co-founder Steve Jobs, which was released just three weeks after Jobs' death in October. The biography has already become Amazon's top-selling book of 2011.

It was 20 years ago that the nation was transfixed by Anita Hill's testimony alleging sexual harassment by Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. These days, Hill is a professor of social policy, law and women's studies at Brandeis University. She joins us to discuss her new book, "Reimagining Equality: Stories of Gender, Race, and Finding Home."

Occupy Wall Street protesters say they'll try to shut down ports along the West Coast from San Diego to Alaska today as a statement of solidarity with longshoremen, port workers and truckers. But the International Longshore and Warehouse Union says any actions and "decisions made by groups outside of the union's democratic process are not valid, regardless of intent."

European leaders hammered out a deal Friday that they hope will stave off a Eurozone collapse. But Britain is refusing to join the agreement. We discuss the deal, and how Eurozone instability affects U.S. markets.

For more than 30 years, Oakland-based vocal ensemble Kitka has wowed audiences worldwide with their Eastern European-inspired vocal techniques and repertoire. Kitka joins us for an in-studio concert and conversation focusing on seasonal music from their current show, "Wintersongs."

There are more than 2,000 schoolchildren in San Francisco who are homeless. The number has been rising, and schools are struggling to meet their extra needs. It's the same story in other cities as the recession takes its toll on families. We discuss how homeless students navigate the educational, social, and economic maze of school.

San Francisco's Bi-Rite Market aims to be more than a neighborhood grocery. It's a community hub focused on food and learning about local farms and sustainable eating. The owners have just released a cookbook called "Eat Good Food," and they've recently expanded a space in which they offer food-centric classes and more. We talk with Bi-Rite's owner and produce buyer about how to find the freshest produce and what to cook this season.

A recent report finds that about 8 percent of California's adult population has mental health needs, yet more than half receive little or no treatment. That's despite a state law mandating health insurance providers include mental health treatment in their coverage options. Why is it that so many Californians aren't getting mental health services?

Every Friday, NPR listeners learn something new from Ira Flatow about science, technology, health, space or the environment -- from how pigeons fly, to Mars Rovers, to keeping girls fired up about math. Flatow joins us to talk about talking science on the radio, and why science is so important.

In a recent trip to Asia, President Obama emphasized America's role as the strongest and most influential nation on Earth. This notion of U.S. leadership is sometimes called American exceptionalism. But does that mean more than just being better than others? Historian David Kennedy joins us to discuss the origins and history of American exceptionalism - and America's changing role in the world.

Author Jeanne Darst's memoir "Fiction Ruined My Family" tells the story of her father's failed career, an unconventional family and her discovery that though she is a writer like her father and an alcoholic like her mother, it doesn't mean she's destined for ruin.

The California Hospital Association has withdrawn its support for a project measuring the quality of care delivered by hospitals around the state. Could this move prevent consumers from getting important hospital safety information? We discuss hospital ratings, where to find them and what they can tell us.

Criminologists and urban planners have been at a loss to explain the 80 percent drop in crime over 19 years in New York City. But in his book "The City That Became Safe," UC Berkeley's Franklin Zimring explains the tactics and techniques that have challenged long-held notions about law enforcement.