The coronavirus vaccine rollout in California has felt chaotic, in part because the state has changed course several times. Many Bay Area residents are wondering when and how they can get vaccinated. And what do all the changes mean for getting the most vulnerable people vaccinated? Additional Reading: California Debates Speed Versus Equity in Vaccine Distribution Plan Where Can I Get A COVID-19 Vaccine In The Bay Area? Your Questions Answered KQED.org/podcastsurvey Reported by April Dembosky. B...
Jan 28, 2021•18 min
On this week's episode, Olivia says goodbye (temporarily!) as she gets ready to welcome a new baby to the Bay! But don't fret, Bay Curious producer Katrina Schwartz will be hosting the show while Olivia's away. We'll learn all about Katrina's roots in San Francisco and the thing that made the city finally feel like home. Additional Reading: Bay Curious Podcast Listeners: We've Got Some Changes For You What's The Story Behind The Wrecked Car On Mount Tamalpais? (video) Bay Curious is made by Oliv...
Jan 21, 2021•14 min
Want to know what time it is? These days, it's as easy as looking at your phone. But before the digital age, Bay Area residents could dial POP-CORN or 767-2676 to hear a woman's recorded voice giving the time. Bay Curious unpacks the human history of this now obsolete telephone service. Additional Reading: You Used To Be Able to Call POP-CORN And Get the Time. What Happened To That? Reported by Christopher Beale. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Suzie Racho and Katie ...
Jan 14, 2021•15 min
In just two-and-a-half years the utility’s equipment started more than fifteen-hundred fires, a Wall Street Journal investigation found. Some of those were small, but others were deadly, like the 2018 Camp Fire, which burned the town of Paradise to the ground and killed 85 people. The Camp Fire caused about $16.5 billion in damages. Additional Reading: KQED coverage on PG&E 'Deflect, Delay, Defer': Decade of PG&E Wildfire Safety Pushback Preceded Disasters Why Doesn't PG&E Bury the P...
Dec 17, 2020•19 min
Listener Ben Kaiser loves watching films shot and set in San Francisco, and is looking for some recommendations. This episode features Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle culture critic, and host of the Total SF podcast; and Carly Severn, KQED's resident movie obsessive and senior engagement editor. Additional Reading and Listening: Share your favorite Bay Area movies in our Facebook discussion QUIZ: How Many of These Bay Area Movie Locations Can You Spot? Subscribe to the Total SF podcast: ...
Dec 10, 2020•31 min
Bay Curious listener Erin Al Gwaiz wanted to know more about the time that famous Mexican artists Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera spent in San Francisco. In this episode, reporter Marisol Medina-Cadena immerses us in their world — exploring who they were, how they spent their time here, and ultimately how their legacy still resonates today. Additional Reading: Inside Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera's Life in San Francisco Book: Frida in America: The Creative Awakening of a Great Artist Reported by Mar...
Dec 03, 2020•23 min
We've got food on the mind this week, so are bringing back one of our all-time favorite episodes! Dig into the science behind San Francisco sourdough, and get to know the bacteria that shares our name: Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis. Additional Reading: What Makes San Francisco Sourdough Unique? Reported by Julia Scott. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, and Katie McMurran. Additional support from Erika Aguilar, Jessica Placzek, Kyana Moghadam, Paul Lancour, Suzie Racho...
Nov 26, 2020•14 min
August Vollmer was Berkeley's first police chief and is credited with pioneering many common aspects of policing used today. Listener Blake Schmidt wanted to know, is Berkeley responsible for the tactics and attitudes police are often criticized for? Additional Reading: How a Berkeley Police Chief Gave Rise to the Modern Force "The Imperial Origins of American Policing: Militarization and Imperial Feedback in the Early 20th Century" by Julian Go The Invention of the Police by Jill Lepore Reporte...
Nov 19, 2020•19 min
For more than a century California has relied on incarcerated firefighters to help combat devastating wildfires. Bay Curious listener Brittany Powers wanted to know how much these firefighters are paid, and why it's so hard for them to find similar employment when they get out of jail. Brittany's question won our September voting round. Additional Reading What's Next For Incarcerated Firefighters in California? Inmates Saved Homes in the Kincade Fire. They'll Face An Uphill Battle Getting Firefi...
Nov 12, 2020•16 min
Are ballots counted by machines or humans? How sure are we there was no meddling with votes along the way? When do they stop counting ballots? What happens to ballots after they're counted? We explore these questions and more with KQED's Guy Marzorati. Additional Reading: When to Expect Election Results in the Bay Area Featuring KQED politics reporter Guy Marzorati. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz and Rob Speight. Additional support from Erika Aguilar, Jessica Placzek...
Nov 05, 2020•12 min
What happened to the Donner Party survivors after they escaped the snowy Sierra? In this episode we explore how this notorious disaster struck deep at the heart of everything California held dear — and came to represent everything it wanted to forget. This is part two in our two-part series. Part one recounts the Donner Party Saga in full -- the version you haven’t heard before. Find it now in the Bay Curious podcast feed. Additional Reading: Part II: Surviving the Donner Party -- California, Go...
Oct 29, 2020•26 min
You probably know the broad strokes of the Donner Party Saga: In 1846, a group of migrants traveling to California got stuck in a surprise October snow storm. After exhausting all their resources, they turn to cannibalism to survive. It's a grisly tale ... but the way it's often told is incomplete. We’ll delve into the details many leave behind. This is part one in a two-part series. Part two follows the Donner Party survivors after they escaped the mountains, and explores the fallout for the en...
Oct 29, 2020•33 min
Colin Nichols gets the official California voter guide in the mail like folks in 11 million other households. It got him wondering, who puts it together? And why does one guy -- Gary Wesley -- write so many of the arguments? This question won our February voting round. Additional Reading: 11 Million Households, 10 Languages -- That's Right, It's the Official Calif. Voter Guide: https://www.kqed.org/news/11842131 Bay Curious Prop Fest: https://www.kqed.org/propfest KQED's Voter Guide: https://www...
Oct 22, 2020•13 min
Proposition 25 would eliminate the use of cash bail in California, replacing it with a threat assessment system using algorithms and judicial discretion. This episode is part of our Bay Curious Prop Fest series, which explores the 12 propositions on California's ballot. The series runs from Oct. 1-16, with new episodes dropping every weekday. Additional Reading: Episode transcript: https://www.kqed.org/news/11842445 Prop Fest Homepage: https://www.kqed.org/propfest KQED Election Coverage: https:...
Oct 16, 2020•16 min
Proposition 24 would expand California's privacy laws, including the creation of a new state agency to regulate how companies collect and use consumer data. This episode is part of our Bay Curious Prop Fest series, which explores the 12 propositions on California's ballot. The series runs from Oct. 1-16, with new episodes dropping every weekday. Additional Reading: Episode transcript: https://www.kqed.org/news/11842350 Prop Fest Homepage: https://www.kqed.org/propfest KQED Election Coverage: htt...
Oct 15, 2020•16 min
We're exploring the 12 statewide ballot propositions in our Prop Fest series. This episode takes a closer look at Prop 23, which would require dialysis clinics to have a physician on-site during all hours patients are receiving treatment. Additional Reading: Episode transcript: https://www.kqed.org/news/11842100 Prop Fest Homepage: https://www.kqed.org/propfest KQED Voter Guide: http://kqed.org/voterguide Reported by April Dembosky. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Ka...
Oct 14, 2020•17 min
Proposition 22 asks Californians if they want to define app-based transportation and delivery drivers as independent contractors, instead of as employees, as state law currently requires. This episode is part of our Bay Curious Prop Fest series, which explores the 12 propositions on California's ballot. The series runs from Oct. 1-16, with new episodes dropping every weekday. Additional Reading: Episode transcript: https://www.kqed.org/news/11842012 Prop Fest Homepage: https://www.kqed.org/propf...
Oct 13, 2020•14 min
Proposition 21 asks voters if local governments should be allowed to enact rent control measures. It would replace the Costa Hawkins Rental Housing Act, a state law pass in 1995 that limited what local governments could do. This is part of the Bay Curious Prop Fest series, covering the 12 statewide propositions on the Nov 2020 ballot. This episode has been updated. Additional Reading: Episode transcript: https://www.kqed.org/news/11841779 Bay Curious Episode on Rent Control: https://bit.ly/33ICN...
Oct 12, 2020•15 min
We're exploring the 12 statewide ballot propositions in our Prop Fest series. This episode takes a closer look at Prop 20, which aims to roll back some criminal justice reforms made over the past decade. Additional Reading: Episode transcript: https://www.kqed.org/news/11841579 Prop Fest Homepage: https://www.kqed.org/propfest KQED Voter Guide: http://kqed.org/voterguide Reported by Marisa Lagos. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz and Rob Speight. Additional support from...
Oct 09, 2020•17 min
Proposition 19 would allow adults 55+, people living with severe disabilities, and victims of natural disasters to transfer their property tax assessment to another home. It would also close the so-called "Lebowski" loophole ... requiring people who inherit property to pay market rate tax assessment if they do not make the home their primary residence. This episode is part of our Bay Curious Prop Fest series, which explores the 12 propositions on California's ballot. The series runs from Oct. 1-...
Oct 08, 2020•16 min
We're exploring the 12 statewide ballot propositions in our Prop Fest series. This episode tackles Prop 18, which would allow 17-year-olds to vote in primary and special elections, as long as they will be 18 by the general election and are otherwise eligible to vote. Additional Reading: Episode transcript: https://www.kqed.org/news/11841211 Prop Fest Homepage: https://www.kqed.org/propfest KQED Voter Guide: http://kqed.org/voterguide Reported by Guy Marzorati. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen...
Oct 07, 2020•11 min
Proposition 17 asks Californians if people convicted of felonies should be allowed to vote while on parole. This would impact about 40,000 people in the state. This is part 4 in our 12-part Prop Fest series, which explores the statewide ballot propositions Californians are voting on this year. Additional Reading: Episode transcript: https://bit.ly/33FygZD Prop Fest Homepage: https://www.kqed.org/propfest KQED Election Coverage: https://www.kqed.org/elections Reported by Guy Marzorati. Bay Curiou...
Oct 06, 2020•11 min
We're exploring the 12 statewide ballot propositions in our Prop Fest series. This episode tackles Prop 16, which asks voters to overturn a ban on the use of affirmative action by public institutions. The ban was originally put in place by California voters in 1996. Additional Reading: Episode transcript: https://bit.ly/3cPYkUU Prop Fest Homepage: https://www.kqed.org/propfest KQED Election Coverage: https://www.kqed.org/electionsnews Reported by Katie Orr. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Pr...
Oct 05, 2020•15 min
We're digging into the 12 statewide ballot propositions in our Prop Fest series. This episode tackles Prop 15, which would change how the state assesses taxes on commercial and industrial property to raise money for public schools. Additional Reading: Episode transcript: https://bit.ly/3cLCvWw Prop Fest Homepage: https://www.kqed.org/propfest KQED Election Coverage: https://www.kqed.org/elections Reported by Scott Shafer. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz and Rob Speigh...
Oct 02, 2020•16 min
This year Californians are voting on 12 statewide propositions that will have a big impact on criminal justice reform, taxes, and voting, among other things. Some of them are pretty complicated, so we've broken them down for you. We kick it off with Proposition 14 -- a bond to fund stem cell research. Additional Reading: Episode transcript: https://bit.ly/2G50GU4 Prop Fest Homepage: https://www.kqed.org/propfest KQED Voter Guide: http://kqed.org/voterguide Reported by Danielle Venton. Bay Curiou...
Oct 01, 2020•13 min
Sep 24, 2020•16 min
The area north of San Francisco has come to be known as "wine country," but listener Michael Viray wanted to know, how did it get that way? Bugs, taxes and war all played their part. We take you through 160 years of wine making history. Additional Reading: The Birth of 'Wine Country' Is A Story of Bugs, Taxes and War Climate Change Offers Up A New Wine List Take Our Podcast Survey, Please! Reported by Christopher Beale. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz and Rob Speight....
Sep 17, 2020•15 min
Listener Ryan heard an eerie noise while crossing the Golden Gate Bridge on his motorcycle. He's not the only one -- the sound can be heard from miles away. What's going on? Additional Reading: The Story Behind the Golden Gate Bridge's New Howl Why the Golden Gate Bridge Is Now A Giant Orange Wheezing Kazoo Engineers discuss the phenomenon on Reddit . Reported by Rob Speight with support from Gabe Meline. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz and Rob Speight. Additional sup...
Sep 10, 2020•9 min
Recent fires in the Bay Area have a lot of us thinking about how to evacuate our homes, maybe for the first time. We answer all the basics about when you'll know it's time to go, what to bring, and where to go. And, we take some hope from the resilience of our redwood forests, even after tragic wildfires. Additional Reading: What Big Basin's Redwoods Mean to You (and Why They'll Be OK) Fire Evacuation: What Actually Happens? And How Can You Plan? We Can Make Wildfires Less Horrific. Will We? Rep...
Sep 03, 2020•16 min
The lagoon in front of San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts has been home to swans since its was built in 1915. Bay Curious listener Mishi Nova loves the spot and the swans. She wondered how the swans survive the night and escape the coyotes. Additional Reading: The Swans at San Francisco's Palace of Fine Arts Have Attitude Check out what different birds sound like on the Audubon website A Very Curious Activity book Reported by Asal Ehsanipour. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina S...
Aug 27, 2020•10 min
