
Bay Curious
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.
Latest episodes

Nov 30, 2023 • 18min
The Future of Fog
Foggy days are a fact of life in the Bay Area, but climate change could lead to fewer of them in the coming years. While that might be welcome news to some, the truth is fog is an important weather phenomenon for all kinds of reasons. This week, reporter Dana Cronin demystifies the mist and finds out what we might expect for the future of fog.Additional Reading:
With Climate Change, What Will Happen to the Bay Area’s Fog?
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Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcastsThis story was reported by Dana Cronin. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Amanda Font, Christopher Beale and Brendan Willard. Additional support from Cesar Saldana, Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, and Holly Kernan.

Nov 16, 2023 • 24min
Rethinking San Jose's Urban Sprawl
Learn about San Jose's urban sprawl, its impact on climate change and population growth. Discover the city's efforts for a denser, greener future through biking, building urban villages, and embracing innovative ideas for sustainable cities.

Nov 9, 2023 • 19min
The Poster Queen of the Fillmore
The Fillmore Auditorium is so chock full of musical history, it feels like the building itself has a soul. Nowhere is that better on display than in the theater's iconic poster room, filled with colorful framed signs for hundreds of shows through the decades. Since 1985, concertgoers have gotten their own free copies of the posters as they leave the theater. But who is the person behind these awesome keepsakes? Reporter Bianca Taylor introduces us to Arlene Owseichik, the creative director responsible for more than 2,000 of them.Additional Reading:
Meet the Woman Behind the Fillmore's Famous Posters
Check our episode on the Fillmore apples
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Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcastsThis story was reported by Bianca Taylor. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Amanda Font, Christopher Beale and Brendan Willard. Additional support from Cesar Saldana, Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, and Holly Kernan.

Nov 2, 2023 • 32min
The Marijuana Minister of the Castro
During the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco, a pastor incorporates marijuana into communion to support his congregation. The chapter explores the pastor's journey and activism. They distribute medical marijuana to AIDS patients, reflect on their activism, and visit an abandoned church. The energy-filled service in the Metropolitan Community Church highlights the transformative power of love. The podcast also mentions a trivia game and walking tours related to the AIDS Memorial Grove.

Oct 26, 2023 • 22min
The Demon of the Belfry
One hundred twenty-eight years ago, San Francisco was haunted by a bizarre, brutal murder case. And in terms of macabre ingredients, this story truly had it all. In the final episode of our Boo Curious series, reporter Carly Severn digs into the story of Theo Durrant, and the subsequent media frenzy around this case that draws parallels with our modern-day obsession with 'true crime.'Additional Reading:
Murder in the Belfry: How the Story of Theodore Durrant Captivated Victorian San Francisco
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Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcastsThis story was reported by Carly Severn. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Amanda Font, Christopher Beale and Brendan Willard. Additional support from Cesar Saldana, Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, and Holly Kernan.

Oct 19, 2023 • 26min
Anton LaVey and the Church of Satan
Anton LaVey, founder of The Church of Satan, is explored in this episode. The controversial beliefs and rise to celebrity status of LaVey are discussed, along with the controversies surrounding the Church of Satan. The episode also delves into personal freedom in the Satanic ideology and the aftermath of LaVey's death and changes within the Church of Satan.

Oct 12, 2023 • 22min
A Spooky Mansion & The Notorious Lone Tree
This is the second episode in our month-long BOO Curious series! Today we've got a double feature. First, we look at how 19th century estate in Oakland became the undisputed star of spooky films dating back to the 1970s. Then, we head a little south to Hayward, where the centuries-old Legend of the Lone Tree inspires intrigue with its story of love, betrayal ... and gruesome murder.Additional Reading:
Dunsmuir: The Oakland Mansion that Inspired Hollywood Nightmares
The Legend of Lone Tree Connects Us to Hayward's History
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Get tickets for our walking tour at the AIDS Memorial Grove
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Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcastsThese stories were reported by Rachael Myrow and Pauline Bartolone. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Amanda Font, Christopher Beale and Brendan Willard. Additional support from Pauline Bartolone, Cesar Saldana, Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, Jenny Pritchett, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED family.

Oct 5, 2023 • 22min
The House Sarah Winchester Built
Welcome to the first episode in our October series we're calling BOO Curious! We're kicking off this month of stories about creepy places in the Bay Area with a trip to a tourist attraction that's steeped in ghostly legend: the Winchester Mystery House. This unusual, sprawling Victorian mansion was built by Sarah Winchester, who is said to have kept building onto the house for decades in order to keep the spirits at bay. Is there any truth to this story of paranormal paranoia? Reporter Carly Severn went to find out.Additional Reading:
After 100 Years, the Mysteries of the Winchester House Endure
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Get tickets for our walking tour at the AIDS Memorial Grove
Vote for us in the listener's-choice Signal Awards!
Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewing Company monthly trivia contest
Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcastsThis story was reported by Carly Severn. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Amanda Font, Christopher Beale and Brendan Willard. Additional support from Cesar Saldana, Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, Attila Pelit and Holly Kernan.

Sep 28, 2023 • 26min
Bay Curious Presents Spooked: Teacher's Pet
Starting next week, we've got a whole month of stories about creepy, eerie and potentially haunted places in the Bay Area planned for you, as part of a series we're calling BOO Curious! To get you in the mood for spooky season, we thought we'd share a ghost story from our friends over at the Spooked podcast, from Snap Judgment Studios and KQED.Kristen Cortez is a new teacher in beautiful Los Gatos, California. From her classroom window, she can see rolling, golden hills. Redwood trees. The sun is almost always shining. And yet… something lurks.Additional Reading:
Check out the Spooked podcast!
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Spooked is hosted by Glynn Washington. This episode was produced by Zoë Ferrigno, original score by Richard Haig.Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Amanda Font, and Christopher Beale. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Cesar Saldana, Maha Sanad and Holly Kernan.Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts

Sep 21, 2023 • 24min
Is Our Bottle Recycling System Garbage?
"Bay Curious" explores the challenges of California's bottle recycling system and why most people never get their deposits back. The podcast investigates the lack of redemption centers in the Bay Area and the difficulties Californians face in returning recyclable beverage containers. It discusses the broken bottle deposit system and potential solutions to improve it. Additionally, the podcast explores the effectiveness of bottle bills in reducing litter and the role of the Beverage Container Fund. Overall, it sheds light on the financial aspects of recycling and highlights the need for better accessibility to redemption centers.