401 episodes

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.

Bay Curious KQED

    • Society & Culture

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.

    Is the Water in the Bay Getting Greener?

    Is the Water in the Bay Getting Greener?

    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

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    Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts
    This story was reported by Amanda Font. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, and Christopher Beale. Additional support from César Saldaña, Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, Joshua Ling, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED family.

    • 17 min
    Ever Seen A Koi Fish on the Sidewalk?

    Ever Seen A Koi Fish on the Sidewalk?

    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 Fish on the Sidewalk? Artist Explains Hidden Meaning


    Read the transcript for this episode

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    Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts
    This story was reported by Tamuna Chkareuli. This episode of Bay Curious was made by Olivia Allen-Price, Tamuna Chkareul, Pauline Bartolone, Katrina Schwartz and Christopher Beale. Additional support from Cesar Saldana, Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Xorje Oliveras, Paul Lancour, Katie Fruit, Lusen Mendel, Jasmine Garnett, Joshua Ling, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED family.

    • 13 min
    The Homes BART Tore Apart

    The Homes BART Tore Apart

    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, memories of the homes and communities that were destroyed remain strong.
    Additional Reading:

    When BART Was Built, People — and Houses — Had to Go

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    $1.99 e-book deal available at: Amazon. Apple. Barnes & Noble. Google Play. Kobo.


    Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts
    This story was reported by Azul Dahlstrom-Eckman. This episode of Bay Curious was made by Katrina Schwartz, Olivia Allen-Price, Pauline Bartolone and Brendan Willard. Additional support from Tamuna Chkareuli, Cesar Saldana, Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, Joshua Ling, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED family.

    • 19 min
    History of Sutro Baths

    History of Sutro Baths

    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. Apple. Barnes & Noble. Google Play. Kobo.

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    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/podcasts
    This story was reported by Katrina Schwartz. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, and Christopher Beale Additional support from Tamuna Chkareuli, Cesar Saldana, Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, Joshua Ling, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED family.

    • 22 min
    Exploring San Francisco's Hidden Tunnels

    Exploring San Francisco's Hidden Tunnels

    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 San Francisco's Hidden Tunnels (YouTube)

    Tunnels Under San Francisco? Inside the Dark, Dangerous World of the Sewers

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    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. The episode was also made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Tamuna Chkareuli, Jessica Placzek and Rob Speight. Additional support from Cesar Saldana, Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Jasmine Garnett, Carly Severn, Joshua Ling, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED family.

    • 17 min
    Behind the Scenes (and Underground) with Carly Severn

    Behind the Scenes (and Underground) with Carly Severn

    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.

    • 6 min

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