Bay Curious
KQED
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.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Jul 4, 2019 • 12min
Yes, Your ‘Tropical’ Mai Tai Was Invented Here in Oakland
You might think the iconic rum cocktail was born in Hawaii. We set off to discover its true roots.
Jun 22, 2019 • 17min
Lightning Round: Dead Whales, Expensive Gas and ‘Earthquake Weather’
This week we answer three listener questions: What happens to whale carcasses that wash ashore? Why is gas so expensive in the Bay Area? What is 'earthquake weather' and is it real?
Jun 20, 2019 • 17min
California Sounds: What’s It Like to Navigate the Bay Area While Blind?
Follow one man through his morning routine to get a taste of what's helpful and harmful for commuters who are blind.
Jun 13, 2019 • 12min
Marin Was Once Armed With Nuclear Missiles, Luckily They Were Never Deployed
Veterans say the Cold War missile batteries that ringed the Bay Area packed nuclear warheads with a punch that more than equaled the Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombs combined.
Jun 6, 2019 • 16min
Why Are There So Many Crows in the Bay Area?
There are a lot of crows in the Bay Area, but maybe that's not such a bad thing.
May 23, 2019 • 12min
Why Wild Turkeys Love the Bay Area’s Suburbs
The turkeys we see today are descendants of birds captured near the Rio Grande in Texas that were brought to California. Learn more about our wild turkeys and hear the story of a turkey that broke into prison.
May 16, 2019 • 13min
The Not-So-Crystal Clean History of San Francisco’s Drinking Water
As San Francisco's population exploded in the 1850s, speculators looked to cash in by delivering fresh drinking water to the new boomtown.
May 9, 2019 • 13min
How Old Oakland’s Historic Buildings Survived Decay (and Demolition)
Many of the classic buildings were condemned and padlocked in the 1970s before an architect undertook a massive project to restore them.
Apr 25, 2019 • 14min
Meet Charley Parkhurst: The Gold Rush’s Fearless, Gender Non-Conforming Stagecoach Driver
Read our web story: Meet Charley Parkhurst: The Gold Rush’s Fearless, Gender Non-Conforming Stagecoach DriverReported by Jessica Placzek.Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Jessica Placzek, Katie McMurran, Rob Speight, Suzie Racho, Paul Lancour and Ryan Levi. Additional support from Julie Caine, Ethan Lindsey, Vinnee Tong and David Weir. Theme music by Pat Mesiti-Miller.Ask us a question or sign up for our newsletter at BayCurious.org. Follow Olivia Allen-Price on Twitter @oallenprice.
Apr 18, 2019 • 14min
From Arks to Anchor-Outs: The History of Waterfront Living on Richardson Bay
People have been living for free anchored in Richardson Bay for decades, but living on the water in Marin County goes all the way back to the state's early days.
