Bay Curious

Rachael Myrow, investigative reporter who unearthed the life of Agapius Honcharenko, narrates a globe‑spanning tale. Hear about his exile from the Russian empire, daring escapes, early Ukrainian publishing in America, and the Hayward farmstead named Ukraina. The segment traces his radical sermons, community rituals, and the enduring local memorial that keeps his story alive.

Asal Ehsanipour, a KQED radio reporter, joins Fronzo W. King, the founding Archbishop of the St. John Coltrane African Orthodox Church, to explore the church where jazz meets spirituality. They dive into Coltrane's transformative music and its role as doctrine, discussing the significance of 'A Love Supreme' as a sacred text. Fronzo shares the church's origins and community activism, while Asal highlights their ongoing fight against gentrification. Together, they connect Coltrane's artistry to the Black Power movement, revealing a vibrant blend of faith and music.

Ana de Almeida Amaral, a journalist and reporter, uncovers the fascinating history of Hazel's Inn, a vital 1950s queer gathering spot in Pacifica. She reveals how a shocking police raid in 1956 exposed the hidden nightlife of the area and sparked a broader conversation about LGBTQ+ rights. The discussion delves into the legal reforms that allowed queer patrons to gather and the mix of resilience and backlash that followed the raid. Ana's insights highlight the intertwined history of community, repression, and civil rights in the Bay Area.

After the 1906 Earthquake and Fire, thousands of San Franciscans were homeless. City leaders needed them to stay in the city to help rebuild, so they built tiny homes and set up villages in neighborhood parks. These earthquake cottages gave many people their first shot at homeownership and helped the city recover. You can still find a few of them dotted around the city if you know what to look for. Additional Resources: San Francisco's Historic 'Relief Cottages,' Built After the 1906 Earthquake, Are Hidden in Plain Sight Read the transcript for this episode Stunning Archival Photos of the 1906 Earthquake and Fire Sign up for our newsletter Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewing Company monthly trivia contest Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Katrina Schwartz. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Gabriela Glueck, Christopher Beale and Katrina Schwartz. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

San Francisco is an iconic looking city, so it's a little surprising that more movies aren't shot here. There are a lot of reasons for that -- cost being a main one -- but there are some very cool movies both set and filmed here. Olivia discusses some of the best ones with San Francisco Chronicle writer Peter Hartlaub and resident KQED movie obsessive, Carly Severn. Additional Resources: The Best San Francisco Movies to Stream This Holiday Season Read the transcript for this episode Sign up for our newsletter Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewing Company monthly trivia contest Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Carly Severn and Peter Hartlaub. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz and Christopher Beale. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Barry Asin flies through SFO about once a month and often stops to take a look at the art exhibits dotted throughout the terminals. He particularly loves the history exhibits that showcase what makes the Bay Area unique, seeing it as a nice welcome to travelers visiting the area. He wants to know more about who curates the exhibits, how they decide what to bring in and what we can expect in the future. Additional Resources: Read the transcript for this episode Why the 'O' In San Francisco's Airport Code, SFO? Why SFO Is Notorious For Delays Sign up for our newsletter Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewing Company monthly trivia contest Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Ericka Cruz Guevarra and Jessica Kariisa. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz and Christopher Beale. Additional support from Alan Montecillo, Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tucked under the new eastern span of the Bay Bridge is a once-grand mansion known as the Nimitz House. Bay Curious listener Ben Kaiser wants to know nearly everything about it from who lived in it, to what it might become in the future. Turns out, this weathered home in the middle of San Francisco Bay used to be the quarters of the top Navy commander on Yerba Buena Island and is named for a five-star admiral who died there. Additional Resources: There's a Grand Historic House Hiding Under the Bay Bridge Read the transcript for this episode How Treasure Island Got Made Sign up for our newsletter Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewing Company monthly trivia contest Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Gabriela Glueck. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, and Christopher Beale. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Aaron Peskin, a longtime San Francisco supervisor and neighborhood advocate, shares his insights on local land-use politics and the historical resistance to chain stores. Scott Schaefer, a senior politics correspondent, explains the evolution of the city's planning code regarding formula retail. They discuss successful neighborhood efforts to block chains like Starbucks and highlight the controversy surrounding Lowe's. Additionally, they delve into the balance between preserving neighborhood character and the economic pressures posed by chain stores in San Francisco.

Bianca Taylor, a KQED reporter, dives into the quirky history of Bimbo's 365 Club and its most famous act, Dolphina, while Michael Cherchiai, the club’s current owner and grandson of its founder, shares captivating memories. They discuss how Dolphina, a 6-inch illusion created as a publicity stunt in 1931, has intrigued audiences for decades. Notable performers and the act's evolution are covered, alongside reflections on its cultural significance and the empowerment felt by the women behind the fishbowl. It's a colorful journey through entertainment history!

Katherine Monahan, a reporter at KQED, dives into the shocking historical account of Operation Sea Spray, a covert U.S. military biological weapons test in San Francisco in 1950. She reveals how harmless bacteria were sprayed over the city, leading to illnesses and even one death. Monahan discusses the military's motivations, the public outcry that followed, and the ethical implications of such tests. She also shares the poignant story of the Nevin family, who uncovered their grandfather's link to the operation, culminating in a significant lawsuit against the government.