KQED

Bay Curious

Society EN ↓ 521 episodes

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.

Author

KQED

Category

Society

Podcast website

www.kqed.org

Latest episode

Jul 9, 2026

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Episodes

The Mystery of the ‘East Bay Walls’ 30.08.2018

For more than a century, stone walls scattered through the East Bay hills have proven a puzzle. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who’s Behind the Knitted Animals in San Francisco’s Civic Center? 23.08.2018

Some have called yarn bombing a feminist response to graffiti. Meet the sisters behind one of San Francisco's most prominent displays. Reported by Suzie Racho. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour, Ryan Levi and Suzie Racho. Additional support from Carly Severn, David Weir, Katie McMurran and Howard Gelman. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by...

Palms, Prophecy … and Permits? How Fortunetelling Works in the Bay 22.08.2018

How the state Supreme Court cleared the way for psychics in California, and how regulation works. 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, Julia McEvoy, Ethan Lindsey and Howard Gelman. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a questio...

Is Ultimate Frisbee the Golf of Silicon Valley? 16.08.2018

Why does it seem like a lot of start-up execs play ultimate frisbee and use that to network with VCs? Reported by Rachael Myrow. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour, Ryan Levi and Suzie Racho. Additional support from Julia McEvoy, Erika Kelly, Ethan Lindsey and Howard Gelman. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a qu...

Why So Windy? Why So Foggy? And What’s With Karl? 26.07.2018

If you're coming to San Francisco in the summer, bring a jacket! We take a closer look at what causes the wind and fog to descend upon parts of our region each summer. Plus, a few bonus questions about famed Twitter account, @KarlTheFog. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Is Lane Splitting Only Legal in California? And Is it Safe? 19.07.2018

People have a lot of feelings about lane splitting, but they don’t always have all the information. Reported by Ryan Levi. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour, Ryan Levi and Suzie Racho. Additional support from Julia McEvoy, Ethan Lindsey, Howard Gelman. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question or sign up for...

Hetch Hetchy Water’s Epic Journey, From Mountains to Tap 12.07.2018

Take a journey with the Bay Area's drinking water -- from mountain to tap. Reported by Sarah Craig. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour, Ryan Levi and Suzie Racho. Additional support from Julia McEvoy, Ethan Lindsey, Howard Gelman. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCu...

Cracking the Bizarre Urban Legend of Alameda’s Little People Houses 05.07.2018

A small street inadvertently becomes ground zero for so-called "Hobbit Hunters," but is there truth in the legends? Reported by Chloe Veltman and Ryan Levi. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour, Ryan Levi, Suzie Racho, and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question at BayCurious.org. Follow Olivia A...

Is Rent Control Working and Should We Have More or Less of It? 28.06.2018

Rent control is in at least 15 California cities, but even in those cities there are many limits on what can be rent controlled. A proposition on the November ballot may get rid of those limits, but should it? Reported by Jessica Placzek. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour, Ryan Levi, Suzie Racho, Erika Kelly, Amanda Font, and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vic...

The Origins of Bay Area Place Names 21.06.2018

California was named after a fictional island for black Amazon-like warrior women, ruled by Queen Calafia. What about Bay Area names? Reported by Jessica Placzek and Dan Brekke. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Ryan Levi, Paul Lancour, Suzie Racho, Amanda Font and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question a...

The Forgotten Men of the Point Reyes Life Saving Service 14.06.2018

A tiny hidden cemetery reveals the brutal realities of saving shipwrecked sailors in the 19th century. Reported by Carly Severn. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Ryan Levi, Paul Lancour, Victoria Mauleon, Suzie Racho, Erika Kelly, Amanda Font, and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question at BayCurious.org....

The Serpent Statue in San Jose That People Think Is Something Else 07.06.2018

Is the Quetzalcoatl sculpture in San Jose the best tribute to the city's Mexican heritage? It's a matter of debate. Reported by Rachael Myrow. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Ryan Levi, Paul Lancour, Suzie Racho, Erika Kelly, Amanda Font, and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question at BayCurious.org. Fol...

Are There Really More Dogs Than Children in S.F.? 24.05.2018

It's a dog show! We answer how many dogs could fit on a Muni train ... and other pressing canine questions. Reported by Lisa Pickoff-White and Ryan Levi. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Ryan Levi, Paul Lancour, Suzie Racho, Erika Kelly, Amanda Font, and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question at BayCurio...

Spinning Rims, Spinning Cars: the History of the Oakland Sideshow 17.05.2018

Sideshows have a bad reputation, but they also have a long tradition, East Oakland roots and deep ties to the hyphy movement. Reported by Sandhya Dirks. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Ryan Levi, Paul Lancour, Suzie Racho, Erika Kelly, and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question at BayCurious.org. Follow...

This S.F. Fortress Is Full of Money That Will Never Be Spent 10.05.2018

The prettiest pennies are made in San Francisco. Take a trip inside the S.F. Mint. Reported by Amanda Font. Editing by Jessica Placzek and Julia McEvoy. Hosted by Ryan Levi. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Ryan Levi, Paul Lancour, Suzie Racho, Erika Kelly and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question at Ba...

Why Hasn’t the Tenderloin Gentrified Like the Rest of San Francisco? 03.05.2018

Tenderloin residents wanted to preserve its affordability. But will they be forced out as improvements come to the neighborhood? Reported by Kelly O'Mara. Edited By Jessica Placzek. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Ryan Levi, Paul Lancour, Suzie Racho, Erika Kelly, Amanda Font, and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. A...

Does Anyone Play Polo at the Golden Gate Park Polo Field Anymore? 26.04.2018

We go back in time to the days when polo was king at Golden Gate Park. Reported by Ryan Levi. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour, Ryan Levi, Suzie Racho, Erika Kelly, Amanda Font and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question at BayCurious.org. Follow Olivia Allen-Price on Twitter @oallenprice. Le...

420 Started in the Bay Area. Meet the Guys Who Invented It 19.04.2018

It all began with a treasure map to secret weed plants abandoned somewhere in Point Reyes. Reported by Olivia Allen-Price and Emmanuel Hapsis. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour, Ryan Levi, Suzie Racho, Erika Kelly, Amanda Font, and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question at BayCurious.org. Fol...

Have Ride-Hailing Apps Made Traffic Worse? 12.04.2018

Traffic is worse in the Bay Area. Are Lyft and Uber making it worse? Or could they be our salvation? Reported by Eli Wirtschafter. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour, Ryan Levi, Suzie Racho, Erika Kelly, and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question at BayCurious.org. Follow Olivia Allen-Price on...

Oil Beneath San Mateo County? You Betcha 05.04.2018

Bay Curious travels down the Peninsula and back in time to discover the history of oil drilling in San Mateo County. Reported by Rachael Myrow. Bay Curious is Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour, Suzie Racho, Ryan Levi, Erika Kelly and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question at BayCurious.org. Follow Olivia Allen-Pric...

How Worried Should You Be About Shark Attacks on the California Coast? 29.03.2018

Learn why our coastline is called the Red Triangle and how you can minimize the risk of an encounter with a great white shark. Reported by Jessica Placzek. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour, Ryan Levi, Suzie Racho, Erika Kelly, Amanda Font, and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question at BayCur...

Name That Team! How the Sharks and the Golden State Warriors Got Their Names 22.03.2018

Why are the Warriors the only team with a state nickname in their name? And how did we end up with the San Jose Sharks? Reported by Ryan Levi. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Paul Lancour, Suzie Racho, Erika Kelly, and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question at BayCurious.org. Follow Olivia Allen-Price o...

How Oakland Became a Gnome-Man’s Land 15.03.2018

There are thousands of gnomes nailed into the base of Oakland utility poles. Meet the man who painted them there and learn why he did it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Why Are People Convinced This California Ghost Town Is Cursed? 08.03.2018

Countless people who have stolen items from this deserted town have come to regret it. Reported by Carly Severn. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Ryan Levi, Paul Lancour, Suzie Racho, Erika Kelly, and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question at BayCurious.org. Follow Olivia Allen-Price on Twitter @oallenpr...

America’s Emperor, San Francisco’s Treasure: Who Was Emperor Norton? 01.03.2018

Almost 140 years after his death, the beloved eccentric is still celebrated and revered in San Francisco. So who was he? Reported by Ryan Levi. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Ryan Levi, Paul Lancour, Suzie Racho, Erika Kelly and Julia McEvoy. Holly Kernan is Vice President for News. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller. Ask us a question at BayCurious.org. Follow Olivia Al...

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