I Left My Podcast in San Francisco

Join us for a powerful conversation with Becca Prowda, First Lady of San Francisco, as she shares the inspiration and mission behind One City Day — San Francisco’s brand‑new, citywide day of service happening July 11.In this episode, Becca explains why service is at the heart of the city’s future, how One City Day was created, and what it means for all 11 districts, Treasure Island, our parks, gre...

In this episode of I Left My Podcast in San Francisco, we sit down with Honey Mahogany, Director of the San Francisco Office of Transgender Initiatives (OTI)—an activist, artist, entrepreneur, and public servant.  From growing up in the Outer Sunset and performing in musical theater and drag to practicing social work and shaping city policy, Honey shares a powerful journey rooted in service, commu...

In this episode of I Left My Podcast in San Francisco, we sit down with Dennis Herrera, General Manager of the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). From his early days serving on city commissions to nearly two decades as San Francisco City Attorney and his leadership at the SFPUC, Dennis shares stories from a career dedicated to public service. He reflects on landmark legal battles t...

In this episode of I Left My Podcast in San Francisco, we sit down with Sherrice Dorsey‑Smith, Executive Director of the Department of Children, Youth & Their Families (DCYF). From her early days in AmeriCorps to leading one of SF’s most impactful departments, Sherrice shares an inspiring journey rooted in service, equity, and commitment to young people. We talk about her first experiences in...

In this episode of I Left My Podcast in San Francisco, we sit down with Carol Isen, Director of Human Resources for the City and County of San Francisco. Carol traces her journey from Detroit activist roots to becoming one of SF’s leading voices on workforce development, labor relations, equity, and public service. She shares stories from her early days as a union organizer, what it was like being...

In this episode of I Left My Podcast in San Francisco , we sit down with Jorge Rivas , Executive Director of the Office of Civic Engagement & Immigrant Affairs (OCEIA). Jorge shares his powerful story as the son of immigrants, his mission to remove barriers for newcomers, and how San Francisco became the first city in the nation to earn a 5‑star Welcoming America certification . From Pride Mon...

Join us in the basement of San Francisco City Hall for an in‑depth conversation with City Attorney David Chiu , who breaks down the biggest legal battles shaping the city—from the lawsuit targeting ultra‑processed food companies to the urgent fight against AI‑generated deepfake pornography . He explains how these cases impact public health, safety, and civil rights, while also touching on housing...

Go behind the scenes of San Francisco’s film renaissance with Manijeh Fata, Executive Director of the San Francisco Film Commission. In this deep‑dive conversation, we explore SF’s iconic cinematic history, the city’s powerful new $1M filming incentive, how the film office kept productions alive during the pandemic, and the exciting wave of movies and series returning to shoot in the city. Manijeh...

Meet Gabrielle “Gabbie” Listana, the 18‑year‑old Chair of the San Francisco Youth Commission representing more than 175,000 young people across the city. In this episode, Gabbie opens up about growing up in the Tenderloin and SOMA, leading major youth‑driven legislation like Free Muni for Youth , pushing for language access , fighting for environmental justice , and supporting immigrant and LGBTQ+...

What does it mean to serve and protect the city that raised you? In this episode of I Left My Podcast in San Francisco , Sheriff Paul Miyamoto shares his story as a fourth‑generation San Franciscan, the first elected Asian American sheriff in California, and a leader dedicated to safety, compassion, and community. Sheriff Miyamoto takes us behind the scenes of the SF Sheriff’s Office—from growing...

San Francisco Treasurer José Cisneros joins us to share how his office helps keep the city running — and supports the people who call it home. From Bank On San Francisco to EITC outreach , free financial counseling, and major small‑business tax relief through Prop M, José breaks down the programs empowering residents across the city. If you care about community impact, financial empowerment, or ho...

San Francisco LOVES its libraries — and after this episode, you will too. City Librarian Michael Lambert joins us to spotlight the incredible free resources at SFPL — from teen media labs and music studios to AI workshops, vinyl collections, Bay Beats, recovery services, and cultural events like Night of Ideas. Celebrate National Library Week and discover why San Francisco reads. Explore resources...

What does it take to keep a world‑class city safe? In this episode of I Left My Podcast in San Francisco, we sit down with Mary Ellen Carroll, Executive Director of the San Francisco Department of Emergency Management — the woman overseeing 911 dispatch, large‑scale events, emergency operations, disaster planning, coordinated street response, and more. Mary Ellen shares how her love of surfing and...

What does it take to keep San Francisco online, secure, and connected? CIO Michael Makstman shares his journey from a 15‑year‑old refugee learning English through Star Trek to leading the city’s technology. From free Wi‑Fi in Chinatown to modernizing fire stations and bringing AI to 30,000 city employees, this episode dives into the tech shaping SF’s future.

San Francisco has been a climate leader for decades — but how did we get here, and what comes next? In this episode of I Left My Podcast in San Francisco, we sit down with Tyrone Jue, Director of the SF Environment Department, to explore his journey from growing up in Chinatown to shaping the city’s bold climate future to celebrate Earth month.https://www.sfenvironment.org/

Ralph Remington, Director of Cultural Affairs for the SF Arts Commission, joins Franco Finn to talk art, community, leadership, and why you shouldn’t sleep on San Francisco. From his journey through the military and the Obama administration to shaping public art and equity in SF, Ralph shares powerful insights on culture, creativity, AI, and the city’s future.

From childhood kite‑flying at Ocean Beach to leading one of the most important offices in SF government, Joaquin shares what makes our city truly special: its people, its neighborhoods, and the stories we create together.

City Administrator Carmen Chu joins us in the first episode of “I Left My Podcast in San Francisco” to share her personal journey—from her family’s immigrant roots to leading one of the city’s most complex public service operations. We talk resilience, representation, food, neighborhoods, and what it really takes to keep San Francisco running.