The San Francisco Experience - podcast cover

The San Francisco Experience

We are a "deep dive" news podcast, for Americans who get their news from the Internet. Our mission is to give the listener succinct, fact based analysis both non-ideological and independent from a California, Silicon Valley perspective. Your host Jim Herlihy is a published author: his novel “Deceit and Dirty Money” is available on line. He served as President of the SF Public Library Commission 1992 - 1996. While working in Latin America, he was a stringer for The Economist, The Times and the BBC. Jim serves as a director on two SF sister city boards : Bangalore, India and Cork, Ireland.
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Episodes

Omicron Covid Variant comes to America

First identified and isolated in South Africa on November 24, 2021, the Omicron Covid variant is highly transmissible and breakthrough infections are more common. The first case in America was identified in San Francisco, December 1, 2021, a vaccinated traveler returning to the Bay Area from South Africa via London. What's next ?

Dec 07, 202115 minSeason 11Ep. 13

The Curse of Student Loans

America's student loan iceberg totals $1.7 Trillion, with one in six Americans -46million- carrying some student debt. The median loan amount is $17,000. But 6% have debt in excess of $100,000 as high cost graduate programs, med school, law school and business school expand at a faster rate than undergrad debt. Is loan forgiveness the best way to curtail this drag on the US Economy ?

Dec 02, 202118 minSeason 11Ep. 12

Solar Earth Technologies - Solar Power 2.0. Talking with CFO Anders Kruus.

The next phase of solar power technology is fast approaching. Our focus in today's podcast will be what lies ahead specifically in the field of photovoltaics embedded in existing infrastructure: sidewalks, driveways, trails, garage roofs and more. It's coming fast.

Nov 30, 202130 minSeason 11Ep. 11

Ringside with A.J.Kirsch: Life as a combat sports announcer and broadcaster.

A.J. began his career as a pro wrestler competing in the ring. His career has included such highs as working with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson and getting back in the ring as an announcer for wrestling, boxing and MMA matches. Listen to AJ's unique path to success which brings together announcing, broadcasting and being in the ring.

Nov 24, 202132 minSeason 11Ep. 10

Collateral Damage is Optioned as a Documentary: an update conversation with author Mark Shaw

Mark Wahlberg's "Unreasonable Ideas" production company has optioned Collateral Damage for a Documentary. Mark Shaw's book connects the dots between the 1962 death of Marilyn Monroe, the 1963 assassination of JFK and the 1965 death of ace investigative journalist and TV personality Dorothy Kilgallen, with Bobby Kennedy playing a lynchpin role.

Nov 19, 202136 minSeason 11Ep. 8

Storytelling to build a better San Francisco: In conversation with Carly Schwartz, Editor in Chief, The San Francisco Examiner

The venerable SF Examiner is under new ownership and management. Editor in Chief Carly Schwartz, after stints at The Huffington Post and Google has a 5 prong strategy to reorganize the paper: Findings, Fixes, Faces, Forum and Fanfare. And it will be a crusading force against some of the City's chronic problems. A new broom sweeps clean !

Nov 18, 202131 minSeason 11Ep. 7

I've been Walking: Los Angeles Photographs. In conversation with Janet Sternburg

Janet Sternburg is a fine art photographer who walked the streets of Los Angeles during the Covid lockdowns capturing images and scenes of a semi deserted city. Her book features 73 images all of which were taken with her iPhone camera. In this interview she shares with us her process and art. She was Co-Recipient of the Redcat Award in 2016, which is given to individuals who exemplify creativity and talent that define and lead the evolution of contemporary culture.

Nov 17, 202128 minSeason 11Ep. 6

Hollywood Confidential: In conversation with Tommy Lightfoot Garrett

Tommy Lightfoot Garrett is a veteran Hollywood publicist who has worked with the great stars of screen and stage: Bette Davis, Doris Day, Charlton Heston, Glenn Ford, Joan Fontaine, Jane Wyman as well as Julia Roberts and Jude Law, to mention but a few. And over the years, he has amassed the second largest collection of Hollywood photographs, second only to Ted Turner. With 4 celebrity biographies to his credit, he is finishing up his latest on Antony Perkins, due out in 2022. In this episode, h...

Nov 17, 202134 min

Dallas Texas: My Hometown. Talking with Tom Keener.

Dallas native Tom Keener talks about Dallas as it is today and as he remembers it in 1963. And he shares his personal memoir of Friday, November 22, 1963 when he and his mother went to Love Field to await the arrival of Air Force One, President Kennedy and the First Lady. What a day ! Even 58 years later his memories are fresh and vivid. The episode cover picture features the Keeners in the rope line greeting JFK and Jackie.

Nov 12, 202135 minSeason 11Ep. 4

San Francisco's Major Image Problem. In conversation with Sam Singer, of Singer Associates, Public Relations. Specialist in Crisis Management.

San Francisco's city government has been described as dysfunctional by the influential news magazine, The Economist. And other global newspapers like The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Daily Telegraph and The Daily Mail, regularly highlight our many travails like homelessness, City Hall corruption, rampant crime, inept school governance and stratospheric housing prices. Yet our civic leadership seems incapable or unwilling to fix them. Sam Singer, one of the nation's top Crisis Managem...

Nov 03, 202131 minSeason 11Ep. 2

My Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska. Talking with Tim McGargill

Anchorage is the largest city of the 49th state, with a population of 291,000. Close to 5 national parks, 60 glaciers and enjoying the Northern Lights, the great outdoors plays a major role in this diverse city. Tim McGargill is a recent transplant to Alaska, following 19th Century advice to Go West Young Man, he is living life on the Last Frontier. An ultra marathon runner, he is learning to share his running trails with Moose and bears !

Oct 29, 202132 minSeason 11Ep. 1

Forced Sterilizations: Sonoma County's shameful history.

California legalized involuntary sterilizations in 1909. Between 1919 and 1952, 5500 such procedures were performed, representing 25% of the involuntary sterilizations which occurred in California.

Oct 25, 20218 minSeason 10Ep. 20

Arson Profiler: Ed Nordskog.

Arson arrests in California were up to 120 in 2020 versus 70 in 2019. To paraphrase our guest, the wildland arsonist is the most dangerous criminal in the country and can burn down a whole town in one hour. Yet such cases are not considered in the same destructive category as a weapon of mass destruction. Why not ? And what makes an arsonist tick ?

Oct 21, 202128 minSeason 10Ep. 19

Carol Lynley: Her Hollywood Career. Talking with author Tom Lisanti, author of Carol Lynley her films and TV career and along for the discussion Shaun Chang, of the Movie and TV Blog, "Hill Place."

Carol Lynley had a remarkable 40 year career in films, TV and on the stage. And who could ever forget The Poseidon Adventure ? She was a hardworking actress who graduated from model to teen actress to adult roles during the turbulent 1960s when social and cultural norms were changing. But she adapted to the times.

Oct 21, 202143 minSeason 10Ep. 18

Wildfire Arsonists: A disturbing trend ?

Three recent arson cases in Northern California's forests, during our dangerous annual wildfire season, have raised the fear that deliberately set fires are on the rise and contributing to the megafires plaguing the Golden State. Cal Fire says that arson arrests jumped from 70 in 2019 to 120 in 2020. How can we stop this trend ?

Oct 15, 20219 minSeason 10Ep. 17

My Hometown: Liverpool, England. Talking with native son and actor Frank Cannon.

Liverpool is located 178 miles North West of London. A port and a city of colorful history, it has produced two Premier League Soccer Teams, The Beatles, countless actors and artists and has always been an immigrant melting pot. A key transportation artery during the Industrial Revolution, it played a role in the American Civil War facilitating the cotton trade, hosting a Confederate consulate and overseeing the building of a Confederate warship. Lincoln's assassin John Wilkes Booth is rumored t...

Oct 13, 202131 minSeason 10Ep. 16

Minneapolis votes to ditch its' Police Department and Chief.

Measure 2 is on the Minneapolis ballot November 2. It would remove the Police Department and Chief from the city charter. A new Department of Public Safety would be set up driven by public health considerations. Would police officers even be recruited in the future ? And if it passes, will other cities around the country follow suit ? If so, what impact would a national police department revamp have on the 2022 mid-term elections ?

Oct 09, 20219 minSeason 10Ep. 15

King Richard. Nixon and Watergate: an American Tragedy. In conversation with author Michael Dobbs.

Michael Dobbs was Moscow Bureau Chief for the Washington Post. He has written seven books. King Richard and several others deal with presidential crises. For King Richard he listened to the Nixon tapes at the presidential library in Yorba Linda for a first hand account of how the coverup that forced the President's resignation unfolded. The book zeroes in on the first 100 days of 1973 after the January 20th second inaugural. This was the timeframe when the fate of the Nixon presidency was sealed...

Oct 06, 202138 minSeason 10Ep. 14

Mexican American Moxie: Talking with author, Professor Frank P. Barajas

The rise of the Mexican American community in California is notable in many fields. But back in the middle of the 20th Century until the 1970s, The future was littered with struggle, poverty and lack of opportunity. Frank Barajas takes us through that period when giants like Cesar Chavez and Dolores Huerta were laying the groundwork for the emergence of Mexican Americans as a political, social and economic force to be reckoned with.

Oct 01, 202130 minSeason 10Ep. 12

Men Give Up on College: We Don't Need No Education.

Male College enrolment in 2020 was 40.5% male and 59.5% female. Since the mid-1980s women have earned more bachelors degrees than men. The good news is that women have excelled in higher education. But men have become disillusioned with the college experience and fewer are enrolling. So how will our society change if that trend continues for another 10 or 20 years ?

Sep 24, 202112 minSeason 10Ep. 11

Migrations: In conversation with author J.L. Torres

Award winning author J.L. Torres, discusses his critically acclaimed collection of short stories, Migrations. The Puerto Rican journey back and forth between the island and New York is the locus of the strong women and men he profiles. Inaugural winner of the Tomas Rivera Prize, this is a book which brings us to the heart of being Puerto Rican

Sep 22, 202132 minSeason 10Ep. 10

Newsom Recall Post Mortem: Talking with Dan Walters of CalMatters.org

The second Gubernatorial recall in California's 171 years history as a state failed. Governor Gavin Newsom handily saw off the challenge to oust him, 64% to 36%. Does his victory mean a renewed mandate to solve the state's big problems like homelessness, wildfires and healthcare ? Or was it a one off victory ? Veteran political opinion columnist for Cal Matters Dan Walters, joins us to analyze the results

Sep 17, 202130 minSeason 10Ep. 9

My Hometown: Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Talking with Marcel van Walt van Praag

Amsterdam, the capital of The Netherlands, with a population of 870,000 is a cosmopolitan city known for its artistic heritage, commerce, 165 canals, and the legacy of its' 17th and 18th Century Golden Age. City resident Marcel shares with us his impressions and insights of his hometown, Amsterdam.

Sep 16, 202126 minSeason 10Ep. 8

Christians Against Christianity: How Right Wing Evangelicals are destroying our Nation and our Faith. In conversation with Dr. Obery Hendricks.

The Evangelical Right has played a prominent role ensuring its agenda is part of the national debate especially during the presidential elections of 2016 and 2020. But is that agenda soundly based in scripture as they would have us believe ? Dr. Obery Hendricks a biblical scholar, social activist and one of the foremost commentators on the intersection of religion and politics, debunks that agenda as not being based in scripture. And argues that it is largely antithetical to Christ's teaching....

Sep 15, 202133 minSeason 10Ep. 7

The Eve of the California Recall Election: In conversation with Professor David McCuan

The second recall election of a California Governor in 171 years of statehood takes place tomorrow, Tuesday September 14. The polls are predicting a landslide victory for Gavin Newsom. But the seasoned political scientist Professor David McCuan breaks down the meaning of the race and its' impact on national politics.

Sep 13, 202134 minSeason 10Ep. 6

Escape to the Stars: Talking with author Mark T. Sneed

Escape to the Stars is a work of science fiction, but with an African American protagonist and hero. All too often the science fiction genre and space travel/adventure stories leave out people of color, and author Mark Sneed rectifies that shortcoming and gives us a unique and new perspective in his sixth novel. Christian Drake the protagonist unlike most space adventurers seems to have a live and let live tolerance for the aliens he encounters - another singular characteristic in science fictio...

Sep 10, 202129 minSeason 10Ep. 5
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