California Sounds: What’s It Like to Navigate the Bay Area While Blind?
Follow one man through his morning routine to get a taste of what's helpful and harmful for commuters who are blind.
Jun 20, 2019•17 min
Bay Curious
Bay Curious is a show about your questions – and the adventures you find when you go looking for the answers. Join host Olivia Allen-Price to explore all aspects of the San Francisco Bay Area – from the debate over "Frisco", to the dinosaurs that once roamed California, to the causes of homelessness. Whether you lived here your whole life, or just arrived, Bay Curious will deepen your understanding of this place you call home.
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Episodes
Marin Was Once Armed With Nuclear Missiles, Luckily They Were Never Deployed
Veterans say the Cold War missile batteries that ringed the Bay Area packed nuclear warheads with a punch that more than equaled the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs combined.
Jun 13, 2019•12 min
Why Are There So Many Crows in the Bay Area?
There are a lot of crows in the Bay Area, but maybe that's not such a bad thing.
Jun 06, 2019•16 min
Why Wild Turkeys Love the Bay Area’s Suburbs
The turkeys we see today are descendants of birds captured near the Rio Grande in Texas that were brought to California. Learn more about our wild turkeys and hear the story of a turkey that broke into prison.
May 23, 2019•12 min
The Not-So-Crystal Clean History of San Francisco’s Drinking Water
As San Francisco's population exploded in the 1850s, speculators looked to cash in by delivering fresh drinking water to the new boomtown.
May 16, 2019•13 min
How Old Oakland’s Historic Buildings Survived Decay (and Demolition)
Many of the classic buildings were condemned and padlocked in the 1970s before an architect undertook a massive project to restore them.
May 09, 2019•13 min
Meet Charley Parkhurst: The Gold Rush’s Fearless, Gender Non-Conforming Stagecoach Driver
Read our web story: Meet Charley Parkhurst: The Gold Rush’s Fearless, Gender Non-Conforming Stagecoach Driver Reported by Jessica Placzek. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Katie McMurran, Rob Speight, Suzie Racho, Paul Lancour and Ryan Levi. Additional support from Julie Caine, Ethan Lindsey, Vinnee Tong and David Weir. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org. Follow Olivia Allen-Price on Twitter @oallenprice....
Apr 25, 2019•14 min
From Arks to Anchor-Outs: The History of Waterfront Living on Richardson Bay
People have been living for free anchored in Richardson Bay for decades, but living on the water in Marin County goes all the way back to the state's early days.
Apr 18, 2019•14 min
The Flying Aircraft Carrier That Once Called Moffett Field Home
If you’ve driven north on 101 through Mountain View, you really can’t miss Moffett Field. Seeing the giant open airfield is one thing — but what really grabs the eye is the larger-than-life birdcage-looking structure known as Hangar One. This week on the show, we learn why the airfield was built, what majestic airship that was once house there, and what’s going on at Moffett Field now. Read the web story: That Giant Structure Off 101 Once Housed a Flying Aircraft Carrier Reported by Rachael Myro...
Apr 11, 2019•12 min
Why is Piedmont a Separate City From Oakland?
Piedmont is surrounded on all sides but the city of Oakland, yet has remained an independent city since it incorporated in the the late 1800s. We take a closer look at the wild circumstances that lead Piedmont to form, and discuss some of the tensions that exist between Oakland and Piedmont residents today.
Apr 04, 2019•14 min
Lightning Round: Where Kids Live, Palo Alto’s Two Downtowns and S.F.’s Weeping Women
We answer three listener questions: Where do kids live in the Bay Area? Why does Palo Alto have two downtowns? And what's with the 'weeping women' statues at the Palace of Fine Arts?
Mar 28, 2019•18 min•Ep. 126
Yabba Dabba Don’t? A Trip Inside the (Now) Controversial Flintstone House
If you’ve ever driven northbound on Interstate 280 through Hillsborough, you’ve surely seen The Flintstone House from the highway. A cluster of orange and purple tubular domes, the home is reminiscent of the 1960s Hanna-Barbera cartoon. The house has always had it’s fans and detractors, but recent renovations have sparked controversy, and prompted the city of Hillsborough to sue the homeowner and declare the home a “public nuisance.” The renovations include the addition of several large sculptur...
Mar 21, 2019•11 min•Ep. 125
How Bill Graham’s Nazi Escape Might Explain His Fillmore Apples
The barrel of free red delicious apples have been a mainstay of the iconic San Francisco music venue.
Mar 14, 2019•10 min•Ep. 124
Know, Know, Know Your Boats, Drifting Through the Bay
The San Francisco Bay is full of boats, but do you know what most of them actually do?
Mar 07, 2019•12 min•Ep. 123
This Pricey San Francisco Cocktail Was a Gold Rush Knockout
This mysterious (and super-strong) cocktail cost $25 — and drove 19th century San Francisco wild. Why? It was probably the secret ingredient, that could get you jail time if you used it today.
Feb 28, 2019•13 min•Ep. 122
Are There Dinosaur Bones in UC Berkeley’s Campanile?
On the way up to the observation deck, visitors pass five stories of prehistoric bones. Are dinosaurs among them?
Feb 21, 2019•13 min•Ep. 121
Is There a San Francisco Accent?
When you think about America’s biggest cities, many have a recognizable accent. Does San Francisco have one? And no, saying 'hella' doesn't count.
Jan 24, 2019•16 min•Ep. 118
Mile Rocks: A Bay Area Lighthouse Unlike Any Other
The Mile Rocks Lighthouse used to stand more than 80 feet tall guiding ships through some of the most treacherous waters in San Francisco Bay. But that was before it was automated and decapitated.
Jan 18, 2019•10 min
From Aviators to Apps: The Evolution of Traffic Data
How do Bay Area traffic reporters do their jobs? From flying high in the 1950s to the tech-powered tools of today.
Jan 17, 2019•13 min•Ep. 117
When Recycling Pays the Bills … and When It Doesn’t
In California over 18 billion beverage containers were recycled in 2017. Meet some of the people who recycled them and what their scraps are worth.
Jan 10, 2019•12 min•Ep. 116
Lightning Round: Brisbane’s Stars, Millbrae’s Sweet Smells and Red Rock Island
For our last episode of the year, we get the answers to three of your questions: What's with the stars in Brisbane? Why does Millbrae BART station smell like chocolate? And is Red Rock Island for sale?
Dec 21, 2018•15 min•Ep. 114
Stew on This: Cioppino Comes From San Francisco, Not Italy
Cioppino's San Francisco origins are undisputed. But the origin of its name? That's another story.
Dec 20, 2018•10 min•Ep. 113
How SantaCon Got Its Start in San Francisco Counterculture
The event's roots go back to 1994, when a counterculture group called the Cacophony Society hosted "Cheap Suit Santas."
Dec 06, 2018•12 min•Ep. 111
Bike Theft: How It Works, and What Police Are Doing in San Francisco
Thousands of bikes are stolen in San Francisco every year. What are police doing about it? And how does this crime operation work? Reported by Daniel Potter. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour, Ryan Levi, Katie McMurran. Additional support from Julie Caine, Ethan Lindsey, Suzie Racho and David Weir. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org. Follow Olivia Allen...
Nov 29, 2018•14 min•Ep. 110
Why Are San Francisco Houses So Close Together?
Early on, housing lots in San Francisco were subdivided into plots as little as 25 feet wide -- just enough room for a parlor and a staircase. Reported by Sarah Craig. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour, Ryan Levi and Suzie Racho. Additional support from Julie Caine, Ethan Lindsey, Katie McMurran and David Weir. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org. Follow Olivia Allen-Price on Twitter @oallenpri...
Nov 22, 2018•12 min•Ep. 109
‘Frisco’: It’s Not Just for Tourists
Frisco is the nickname we love to hate. How did this once widely-used name fall out of favor? Reported by Vinnee Tong. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour and Ryan Levi. Additional support from Julie Caine, Ethan Lindsey, Katie McMurran, Suzie Racho and David Weir. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org. Follow Olivia Allen-Price on Twitter @oallenprice.
Nov 15, 2018•13 min•Ep. 108
There Were Once More Than 425 Shellmounds in the Bay Area. Where Did They Go?
These mounds were used by Ohlone as burial sites for their ancestors, to help navigate bay waters and as a gathering place. Reported by Laura Klivans. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour, Ryan Levi and Suzie Racho. Additional support from Julie Caine, Ethan Lindsey, Katie McMurran and David Weir. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org. Follow Olivia Allen-Pri...
Nov 08, 2018•15 min•Ep. 106
Who Invented the Martini? A Bay Area Story, With a Twist
There are two origin stories for the much-beloved martini, and both place its birth in the Bay Area.
Nov 03, 2018•12 min•Ep. 115
Why Is Part of Alameda Island in San Francisco?
The answer stretches back to 1820, when California was still a part of Spain. Reported by Ryan Levi. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour, Ryan Levi and Suzie Racho. Additional support from Julie Caine, Ethan Lindsey, Katie McMurran and David Weir. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org. Follow Olivia Allen-Price on Twitter @oallenprice, or use the hashtag #BayCurious.
Nov 01, 2018•15 min•Ep. 105
Ghost of a Legend: How a San Francisco Civil Rights Icon Was Made a Monster
One of San Francisco's purported “ghosts,” has a remarkable real-life story often left out of San Francisco's history books. Reported by Carly Severn. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour, Ryan Levi and Suzie Racho. Additional support from Julie Caine, Ethan Lindsey, Katie McMurran and David Weir. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org. Follow Olivia Allen-Price on Twitter @oallenprice....
Oct 25, 2018•14 min•Ep. 104
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