CIVIC CIPHER with Ramses Ja and Q Ward Wed 4pm

Can you believe it? We are 5 years old this week! In the first half of today’s program, we tall our origin story and discuss why we felt a show like this was important to create and distribute around the country. Our hope is that our story will encourage you in your own social justice endeavors! In the second half of the show, we examine our story since starting Civic Cipher. We have had many ups and downs as a show and as a country and we use this segment to reflect on all of it—and also invoke a bit of optimism for the future!

Civic Cipher is a nationally syndicated radio show and podcast hosted by Q Ward and Ramses Ja. The program was created to foster allyship, empathy, and understanding, and bolster social justice efforts in hopes of creating a more equitable society for all. This show seeks to directly engage with diverse populations across the country.

Set in motion in early 2020 by the violent and egregious murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Ahmaud Arbery, Civic Cipher was created as a response to a desperate call to action, and an urgent need for change.

Civic Cipher is intentionally, curated to be an invaluable, and timeless, resource for everyone. These conversations serve non-POC allies (as well as POC) who may not otherwise be privy to these types of discussions, perspectives, and optics.

Providing long-form, engaging, data-driven conversations that easily fit in ALL spaces across personal, academic, and professional realms, Civic Cipher excellently packages and delivers purposeful, educational, and relevant material and warmly welcomes audiences across all demographics.

Ramses Ja is an award-winning broadcasting professional with a career spanning over two decades on radio and television stations across the country. Being a celebrated DJ and media personality, Ramses has been featured on many billboards, magazine covers, newspaper articles, and naturally radio and television. Ramses has always taken this notoriety and used it to inspire Black and Brown youth. As a former president of his college’s Black Student Union, this has been central to his efforts his whole career. Ramses has gone on to win media and activist awards from several prestigious institutions including the NAACP and The Black Philanthropy Initiative. Currently, Ramses hosts Civic Cipher with Q Ward. Additionally Ramses hosts The Black Information Network Daily Podcast where he interviews Black journalists around the country to gain more insight into national news stories. The Black Information Network Daily Podcast is found on the Black Information Network—a subsidiary of iHeartmedia. @ramsesja

Q Ward is a 15+ year DJ and broadcast veteran. The Detroit native has
spent over 20 yrs in the entertainment space spanning several different
roles in and around professional sports, film, television, music and
philanthropy. He’s had a very diversified life and career having lived
and worked in 4 countries, on 3 continents and in over a dozen cities. Q
is the former in-arena DJ for the Phoenix Suns, a manager for
creatives, a BMI-published songwriter, co-host of Civic Cipher (a
one-hour talk radio show currently broadcasting on over 100 stations
nationwide), co-host of iHeartmedia’s Black Information Network Daily
Podcast, and currently owns the media imprint Hip Hop Weekly. @iamqward

TALK OF THE TOWN with Mike Aguirre Wed 1pm

WHAT ARE WE FACING WITH THE CURRENT LOOK AT SOCIAL SECURITY AND CUTS TO PROGRAMS LIKE MEDICAID AND OTHER PUBLIC BENEFITS PROGRAMS? HOW ARE CHILDREN AFFECTED?

Mike and his guest are in an in-depth conversation about the origin and reason for social security and other programs that help support all of us.

THOM HARTMANN IN SAN DIEGO

BOOK TOUR AND KNSJ FUNDRAISER http://bit.ly/Thom2025

OCTOBER 17, 5:30-9 PM

THE COLUMBUS CLUB, 4425 HOME AVENUE, SAN DIEGO 92105

REGISTER NOW FOR TICKETS AT bit.ly/Thom2025

Join KNSJ for A Conversation with Thom Hartmann as he previews themes from his forthcoming book—connecting history, power, media, and the future of American democracy. Thom shares insights, then opens the floor for a community Q&A.

Expect sharp analysis on corporate power, the health of our institutions, the information ecosystem heading into 2026, and what practical civic action looks like right now.

#1 Progressive Talk Show
7 million weekly listeners
450,000 YouTube Subscribers
225,000 Facebook Followers
185,000 X Followers
NY Times Best Selling Author

Thom Hartmann is a progressive national and internationally syndicated talk show host whose shows are available in over a half-billion homes worldwide. He’s the New York Times bestselling, 4-times Project Censored Award-winning author of 24 books in print in 17 languages on five continents. Leonardo DiCaprio was inspired by Thom’s book “The Last Hours of Ancient Sunlight” to make the movie “The 11th Hour” (in which Thom appears), and the movie “Ice On Fire.”

Talkers Magazine named Thom Hartmann as the 10th most important talk show host in America in 2019 and has been in the top ten for over a decade and is the #1 most important progressive host, in their “Heavy Hundred” ranking.

http://bit.ly/Thom2025

FRIENDLY FIRE LIVE with Don Kimball Sat 2pm

A Show For and About Veterans

Call in with your comments and questions 619-790-KNSJ (5675)

With GARY BUTTERFIELD, Past President of Veterans for Peace

Don and Gary are in conversation about pollution, military contribution to the climate crisis, air shows, militarism and more. Be part of the conversation. Call in to talk to Don and his guest. Did you know the US military is the largest consumer of fossil fuels? How much of our taxes go to the military? Has Congress received an audit of the military budget?

https://www.sdvfp.org/

TALK OF THE TOWN with Mike Aguirre LIVE Sat 11am-Noon

Mike’s guest is DAVID SWARENS, Vice President of SOHO (Save Our Heritage Oganisation)

Mike and David are in conversation about SB79

– David Swarens is a staunch preservationist, longtime SOHO Board Member and twice two-term president of the organization. David sits on the Preservation Action committee, where he is part of the negotiating team that meets with developers and other agencies, the Events and Education committee, and is a member of the Preservation Advisory Group (P.A.G.) which implemented the landmark preservation agreement with the San Diego Padres Ballpark redevelopment project.

– As a member of Los Californios, David is involved in interpreting early California history with California music of the 19th Century at historic sites and museums throughout the state. He serves on his community planning group, Golden HIll, and has served on the Enterprise Community Governance Board, and the Sherman Heights Revitalization Team..

______ABOUT SOHO

Save Our Heritage Organisation (SOHO) is San Diego County’s leading preservation nonprofit, founded in 1969 to save the 1887 Sherman-Gilbert House. Over more than 50 years, SOHO has grown into one of the largest and most respected preservation groups in the nation. Based in Balboa Park, SOHO manages historic sites across the county and advocates for the protection of San Diego’s architectural and cultural heritage. Its work includes proactive and responsive advocacy, legal action when necessary, and public education through exhibitions, tours, and events. SOHO has played a key role in preserving nearly every iconic building and historic neighborhood in the region, making preservation a part of public policy and urban planning.

https://www.sohosandiego.org

FRIENDLY FIRE with Don Kimball Sat 2pm

On today’s show hear the recent shocking details unconvered by Army veteran Julie Akey and by Pat Elder of MilitaryPoisions.org. Shocking amounts of numerous poisons were discovered on Ft. Ord that have caused cancer! Many that were stationed there like Julie developed cancer because they were unknownily exposed to TCE, Agent Orange and other VOC’s on the base.

Saturday 1pm

ISRAEL’S WAR ON THE U.N. with MARA KRONENFELD

– The Executive Director UNRWA USA describes how important UNWRA has been in Gaza for decades, and how Israel’s targeted destruction of UNWRA infrastructure is an attack on all civilian life in Gaza.

THE WOMEN’S RADIO HOUR with Patricia Law Sat Noon

LET’S MEET NEIGHBORS FOR A BETTER SAN DIEGO

Patricia is in conversation with Geoff Hueter

Geoff Hueter is the Chair of Neighbors for a Better San Diego, a volunteer grassroots organization that promotes sensible, data-driven planning for San Diego. Prior to that, Dr. Hueter was the Chief Data Scientist and Co-Founder of Certona Corporation, a leader in real time, AI powered omnichannel personalization for the world’s largest retailers. Dr. Hueter holds 12 patents and received his Ph.D. in Physics from the University of California at San Diego, where he studied gamma ray bursts.

With Angela de Joseph Sat 10am

WOMEN OF COLOR ROAR, a weekly political talk radio show,is hosted by journalist and activist Angela de Joseph.  A life-long journalist, Angela is an Emmy-nominated filmmaker who began her career as an editor at Essence Magazine in New York.  She is the chair of Indivisible Watu, a grass-roots community activist organization dedicated to voter education and engagement.  Angela is also a Program Manager for GRID Alternatives, the nation’s largest nonprofit solar installer and training program that places low-income community members in clean energy jobs.

TALK OF THE TOWN LIVE with Mike Aguirre Sat 11am

Call In With Your Questions or Comments 619-790-KNSJ (5675)

VACCINATIONS IN THE NEWS–WHAT DO WE KNOW?

Mike is in conversation with Dr. Samuel Halpern

Dr. Samuel Halpern is a San Diego physician who spent most of his long career as a faculty member at UCSD Medical School, specializing in internal medicine and nuclear medicine.  He saw patients in clinical settings; taught medical residents and fellows; led basic research in radiopharmaceuticals to diagnose and treat various diseases, including cancer.  Much of his research involved radio-labeled monoclonal antibodies for both imaging and therapy.  He spent several years in medical administration as well.  He is the author of many professional journal articles in peer-reviewed journals and has served as a reviewer of grant proposals for the NIH and Veterans Administration.

Dr. Halpern is presently an emeritus professor at UCSD, but is still actively licensed and sometimes works as a volunteer physician in the local community.