Best Lifestyle Frisco Podcasts (2024)

1
Ice Plant is Pretty but Pernicious 19:38

1h ago19:38

19:38

If you've been anywhere along the California coast, you've seen it—ice plant. It's a low, spreading succulent with finger-like leaves and bright pink or yellow flowers. Given its prevalence on our shorelines, you might assume ice plant is meant to be there. But it's actually an invasive species that threatens native plants and wildlife. This week o…

1
It's Electric! But Car Charging Infrastructure Could Use a Jolt 21:47

5d ago21:47

21:47

California plans to ban the sale of new gas-powered cars and trucks by 2035. But does the state have enough charging stations to support them? Today, some electric vehicle (EV) owners will tell you that charging an EV can be unreliable and stressful—especially if you are depending on public charging stations. Come 2035, the charging crunch could ge…

1
Scarlot Harlot Made Sex Worker Rights Her Life's Work 27:38

12d ago27:38

27:38

It has been called "the world's oldest profession," but it's not one that's often discussed openly. Of course, we're talking about sex work. Attitudes about certain parts of the industry—from porn to strip clubs—have evolved over time, and so has the language used to discuss it. Even the term "sex work" is relatively new. This week, reporter Steven…

1
Which Dinosaurs Roamed the Bay Area? 14:25

19d ago14:25

14:25

Before the rise of Silicon Valley, long before the 1906 quake, way before indigenous peoples settled in the Bay Area—actually way, WAY before humans even existed as a species—some fearsome creatures roamed this land. That's right, I'm talking about dinosaurs. This week we're reprising our 2017 episode from reporter Daniel Potter about what kinds of…

1
Roses Are Red, Glitter is Plastic 12:26

28d ago12:26

12:26

While strolling through the beautiful Morcom Rose Garden, Bay Curious listener Julia Fogelson noticed something peculiar. All over the garden are signs banning a very specific item: glitter. So, what's with all the "NO GLITTER" signs? This week, reporter Christopher Beale takes us to the garden to figure out what sparked the sparkle ban. Additional…

1
San Francisco's Equine Officers 15:52

1M ago15:52

15:52

Gone are the days of the Old West with sheriffs sitting astride their horses and star shaped badges gleaming in the dusty sunshine. But the idea of police on horseback isn't a total relic. San Francisco, with the country's second oldest mounted police force, still has a few hooved officers left. This week on the show, producer Katrina Schwartz head…

1
Is There Treasure At the Bottom of the Bay? 20:03

2M ago20:03

20:03

There are dozens of shipwrecks in and around San Francisco Bay. And Bay Curious listener Brian Teaff wonders: Is there treasure down there? In some ways yes, but it may not be the type of treasure you're imagining. Additional Reading Is There Treasure At The Bottom Of The Bay? Read episode transcript Sign up for our newsletter Enter our Sierra Neva…

1
How Activists Stopped Developers From Filling in the Bay 19:59

2M ago19:59

19:59

In the early 1960s, cities around the San Francisco Bay Area proposed plans to fill in the bay waters and expand. At the time, there was no regional agency looking at what all those projects together would do to the bay as whole. That's where three Berkeley women stepped in to save the bay. Additional Reading Read episode transcript EXHIBIT: Voices…

1
Why the Name Brotherhood Way in SF? 15:19

2M ago15:19

15:19

Which came first: the churches or the street named Brotherhood Way? That's what Bay Curious listener Noor Moughamian wants to know. She attends the KZV Armenian School located on the San Francisco street and has always wondered about the origin of the name. Additional Reading: Which Came First, San Francisco's Brotherhood Way Or The Churches On It?…

1
Is the Water in the Bay Getting Greener? 17:15

2M ago17:15

17:15

Bay Curious listener Justin Hartung grew up here, and remembers the waters of the bay being more blue than they are today. He wonders: Is the bay getting greener? Bay Curious producer Amanda Font gives us the answer, and takes us into the science behind it. Additional Reading: Feel Like the SF Bay Used to Be Bluer? You're Not Imagining It Read the …

1
Fountain of youth, get on the water? Maybe 17:29

2M ago17:29

17:29

Today we talk about swim prescription and why being in the water has huge benefits to your physical and mental health. --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/getmovingminute/support

1
Ever Seen A Koi Fish on the Sidewalk? 13:06

3M ago13:06

13:06

There's a hidden meaning behind the koi fish stencils, which can be found all over the Bay Area, and in some other cities too. In this episode, reporter Tamuna Chkareuli introduces us to artist Jeremy Novy's, the artist behind the koi, and we learn how to decode the hidden message within each design. Additional Reading: Web post: Ever Seen A Koi Fi…

1
The Homes BART Tore Apart 19:30

3M ago19:30

19:30

Back in the early 1960’s, when BART was just a sketch on a map, planners with the young transit agency had a task in front of them. BART had to acquire some 2,200 parcels of land in order to build the future transportation system in the Bay Area. In this week's episode, Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman explores what happened next, and how decades later, memor…

1
History of Sutro Baths 22:21

3M ago22:21

22:21

The ruins of Sutro Baths, at the far western edge of San Francisco, are mysterious. Clearly something big used to stand here. Today we take you back in time to what visiting this grand swimming facility would have been like. Additional Reading: Inside Sutro Baths, San Francisco's Once Grand Bathing Palace $1.99 e-book deal available at: Amazon. App…

1
Exploring San Francisco's Hidden Tunnels 17:17

4M ago17:17

17:17

San Francisco is 49 square miles, but contains more than 1,000 miles of sewer mains, running under every block. Take a trip with Bay Curious reporter Carly Severn into the depths of the city, and discover an otherworldly cave that has reached legendary status with some urban explorers. This story first aired in 2019. Additional Reading: Exploring S…

1
Behind the Scenes (and Underground) with Carly Severn 6:10

4M ago6:10

6:10

Reporter Carly Severn gives Olivia Allen-Price a behind-the-scenes look at what it took to get under the streets of San Francisco for her 2019 story. If you value the work Bay Curious does, we’re asking for your financial support. Give at donate.kqed.org/podcasts.By KQED

1
Alameda: The Island That Almost Wasn't 17:37

4M ago17:37

17:37

Nate Puckett lives, works and raises his kids on Alameda. In fact, he rarely leaves it. So he was surprised to learn that Alameda hasn't always been an island. We dig into a history with so many twists and turns it's make your head spin. Additional Reading: Alameda -- The Island That Almost Wasn't Why Is Part of Alameda Island in San Francisco? Bay…

1
1906 Earthquake: Oral Histories from Black San Franciscans 23:03

4M ago23:03

23:03

Listener Allison Pennell recently saw a museum booklet featuring archival photos of Black residents watching the fire that consumed the city after the 1906. It got her wondering how this specific community fared after the quake, especially given the entrenched racism of the time. Additional Reading: Stunning Archival Photos Of the 1906 Earthquake A…

1
How Eucalyptus Got Here, and Why It Burns 16:55

4M ago16:55

16:55

Depending on whom you ask, eucalyptus trees are either an icon in California or a fire-prone scourge. In today's episode, reporter Daniel Potter takes us on a journey through how this non-native tree came to the state. We'll learn why it was planted in such large numbers in the first place. Then we explore why some Eucalyptus groves have become a c…

1
Abalone: The Treasured Sea Snails Disappearing Off California's Coast 20:41

4M ago20:41

20:41

Bay Curious listener Lorraine Page likes to comb the Pescadero beaches for treasures in her spare time. She used to find abalone shells often, but says in the last ten years she hasn't seen any. She wants to know: what happened to all the abalone? Additional Reading: Climate Change-Induced Heatwaves Are Decimating California's Kelp and Abalone Bay …

1
Where Are All the School Buses? 22:33

5M ago22:33

22:33

Bay Curious listener Jules Winters has great memories of riding the school bus as a kid in suburban Philadelphia. When she moved to the Bay Area, she immediately noticed there weren't as many of those big yellow buses taking kids to school. She wants to know why. Additional Reading: Why Doesn't California Have More School Buses? How the San Francis…

1
Queer, Fabulous and Proud: SF’s Drag History 24:45

5M ago24:45

24:45

Love it or hate, drag is a hot topic of conversation now. And you really can’t understand how we got to this point nationally without heading to San Francisco. Today we’re taking a crash course through decades of drag herstory to better understand it’s larger impact on San Francisco, and the country. Additional Reading: How SF's Drag Queens Shaped …

1
Unraveling the Mysteries of the Universe at SLAC 19:07

5M ago19:07

19:07

On Interstate 280, just south of the Sand Hill Road exit, near Stanford, there is this overpass that crosses over a long, skinny building. Bay Curious listener Eric Nelson has wondered what that building is for years. Turns out, scientists are unraveling the mysteries of the universe inside SLAC. We take you on a tour. Additional Reading: Unravelin…

1
Why Is It So Hard to Fix Our Own Stuff Now? 19:25

5M ago19:25

19:25

Ever wonder why it can be so hard to fix your own appliances, laptops and other gadgets? Well, you're not alone. And there's a reason why so many things head to the landfill these days, rather than getting fixed. Bay Area "Fix It" advocates are taking matters into their own hands, while they wait for state laws to catch up. Additional Reading: Bay …

1
Hidden in the Oakland Hills Is An Outdoor Gallery of Murals 14:02

6M ago14:02

14:02

Hike near Leona Heights in Oakland, and you might come across vibrant graffiti art painted on the concrete remnants of an old conveyor tram that transported rock down the hill. This week on the show, reporter Katherine Monahan reveals the history of this place, and talks to artists who have transformed it into an art gallery hidden in the woods. Ad…

1
Has Aggressive Driving Gotten Worse? And Two Other Transit Qs 22:47

6M ago22:47

22:47

It's a three-part transit lightning round! First we look at if aggressive driving has gotten worse in recent years. Then we take a trip on the San Francisco Water Taxi, and discover a low-cost way to get out on the San Francisco Bay. Finally, we crunch on the numbers on if the SMART Train in Sonoma and Marin is easing traffic along the 101 corridor…

1
Unwrapping SF's Rich Chocolate History 16:31

6M ago16:31

16:31

When listener Beth Caissie moved to San Francisco she'd heard of Ghirardelli Chocolate, but she was surprised there were so many other fabulous chocolate shops around. She wondered if the lineage stretches all the way back to the Gold Rush. It does! And because high quality chocolate was produced here, innovative chocolate makers from all over the …

1
Prop 1: Big Changes to Mental Health Funding 21:57

6M ago21:57

21:57

California's primary is just around the corner, on March 5, 2024. This year, there's a statewide Proposition on your primary ballot, but don't worry we've got you covered. Prop 1 asks voters two big questions: Should mental health funding be used for housing? And should the state borrow money to build more housing and treatment facilities? There's …

1
Why Piedmont Is A Separate City From Oakland 14:48

7M ago14:48

14:48

Look closely at a map of Oakland and you'll notice an odd spot that seems to have been cut out. That's the city of Piedmont. Bay Curious listener David Levine wanted to know how and why Piedmont came to be separate. And he's curious about how that history has affected the relationship between the two places. KQED's Chris Hambrick went to find out. …

1
Squirrelmania! 18:06

7M ago18:06

18:06

Last year, we invited Bay Curious listeners to submit questions about squirrels, and wow did you deliver! In today's episode KQED's Angela Corral joins in as we tackle the nut economy, why squirrel tails are so fluffy, where they sleep and how long they nurture their young. Additional Resources Yes, That Squirrel Might Be Taunting Your Dog. And Mor…

1
The Hidden History of Fort Scott 17:33

7M ago17:33

17:33

Wander onto the parade ground of Fort Scott, and one of the first questions that comes to mind is: "What is this place?" A large grassy field is bordered by tall beige buildings with red roofs. Their windows are boarded up and the place feels deserted. It's particularly odd because Fort Scott is just steps away from epic views over the Golden Gate …

1
Two Water Temples ... Why?! 16:54

7M ago16:54

16:54

The Bay Area's two water temples can be an unexpected finding if you stumble upon one. Stately, round, and featuring tall stone columns, the open-air structures look like they've been plucked right from ancient Rome. Bay Curious listener Will Hoffknecht wanted to know why these monuments exist and look the way they do. KQED’s Katherine Monahan trac…

1
San Francisco's Sliver of Alameda 14:52

7M ago14:52

14:52

When Bay Curious listener Lori Bodenhamer looks at Google Maps, she's always wondered why a small slice of Alameda island is part of San Francisco. The answer takes us all the way back to women the Spanish colonized the area. Additional Reading: Why Is Part of Alameda Island in San Francisco? Sign up for our newsletter Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewi…

1
Dialing POP-CORN 14:37

8M ago14:37

14:37

For decades there was a phone service in Northern California that would read you the time and date if you dialed POP-CORN, the letters that represented 767-2676. That service went dark back in 2007, and Bay Curious listener George wants to know why. In this nostalgic episode, we take a romp through the innovative technlology that powered time-and-d…

1
How Italians Were Treated As 'Enemy Aliens' During WWII 19:05

8M ago19:05

19:05

During World War II, 10,000 Italian citizens living in California were forced to leave their homes as part of security measures meant to protect the West Coast from enemy invasion. Others were forced to register as enemy aliens, and were subject to property seizures, curfews and travel restrictions. On this week’s show, Pauline Bartolone investigat…

1
How Anchor Brewing Started the Craft Beer Craze 25:03

8M ago25:03

25:03

In the 1960s and 70s, American beer drinkers didn't have many options. Large brewers were pumping out beer that was bland, tasteless and characterless. But in San Francisco, one small brewer was doing it differently. Their methods weren't new — they were making beer the old fashioned way — but their brew stood out as robust and flavorful among the …

1
The Future of Fog 17:42

9M ago17:42

17:42

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. Addi…

1
It’s my birthday today Coach tool: Anticipate a wonderful day 7:46

9M ago7:46

7:46

A simple tool to prove our thoughts dictate our feelings and our feelings motivate our actions. Why not create a habit to practice thoughts that create happy feelings? What is we practice anticipating the good vs worry about that bad?--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/getmovingminute/support…

1
Rethinking San Jose's Urban Sprawl 23:37

9M ago23:37

23:37

San Jose is the most populated Bay Area city with a million residents. Yet, for a city its size, it feels pretty spread out. And that's not great for climate change or population growth. This week we're sharing an episode of the podcast Sold Out from our colleagues at KQED. Reporter Adhiti Bandlamudi takes stock of why San Jose is a so characterize…

1
The Poster Queen of the Fillmore 18:31

9M ago18:31

18:31

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 th…

1
Coach tool: How to find more time in your day 11:33

9M ago11:33

11:33

Need time to take care of you? Coach Gerryl shares an actionable coach tool to help you discover what’s getting in your way. Learn more at www.prediabeteshealthcoach.com--- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/getmovingminute/support

1
The Marijuana Minister of the Castro 31:55

10M ago31:55

31:55

During the height of the AIDS epidemic in San Francisco, in a small church a few blocks from the heart of the Castro, one pastor changed the experience of communion and committed felonies to comfort his flock. Reporter Christopher Beale brings us this story, which he originally produced for his podcast "Stereotypes: Straight Talk from Queer Voices,…

1
The Demon of the Belfry 21:24

10M ago21:24

21:24

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 mo…

1
Anton LaVey and the Church of Satan 25:35

10M ago25:35

25:35

One chapter in the Bay Area's long tradition of local subcultures is often overlooked: America’s first official satanic church was started right here in San Francisco. In the third installment in our Boo Curious series, producer Amanda Font finds the devil in the details of The Church of Satan's larger-than-life founder, Anton LaVey, and the Black …

1
A Spooky Mansion & The Notorious Lone Tree 21:44

10M ago21:44

21:44

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…

1
The House Sarah Winchester Built 21:42

11M ago21:42

21:42

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 kep…

1
32 -- Jason Ellerbusch 28:35

11M ago28:35

28:35

Today JD is joined by his friend and top realter Jason Ellerbusch JD Tomlin founded The Tomlin Team in 2010 and quickly built a successful team that has been voted one of the Best Real Estate Teams by D Magazine for the past 8 years. JD often is called upon to share his success and insight from years of experience as a Broker Associate, Certified L…

1
Bay Curious Presents Spooked: Teacher's Pet 25:46

11M ago25:46

25:46

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. Kri…

1
Is Our Bottle Recycling System Garbage? 23:44

11M ago23:44

23:44

Have you ever looked at your grocery receipt and seen a charge that says "CRV" next to your canned soda or bottled beer? That stands for California Redemption Value, and it's supposed to be a $.05 or $.10 deposit that consumers can then get refunded when they recycle the beverage container. The problem is, most people never get their money back bec…

1
What’s your personality type? How to use it to make successful changes. 8:58

11M ago8:58

8:58

Knowing your triggers, strengths, weaknesses, and motivations can help all of us be and do better. Harvard Business Review states that the "dynamics of interpersonal relationships depend on personalities" over hard skills or expertise in the specific field. Today’s CHALLENGE: Give one of these a try, then share your thoughts @friscofitcityThe MBTI …

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