Beyond The Fog Radio Beyond The Fog Radio

Sister Vish-Knew is one of the founders of the Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence, a nonprofit activist organization originally based in San Francisco. Hailing from Iowa, Sister Vish-Knew produced the first Midwest Gay Pride Conference back when the entire state of Iowa had only three gay organizations, three gay bars, and two student groups. Sister Vish-Knew also formed a traveling drag performance troupe in Iowa City called the "Sugar Plum Fairies."

Shortly after, Sister Vish-Knew moved to San Francisco and — together with a few other friends in nuns' habits — founded the Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence. Since then, the organization has grown worldwide, with chapters all over the world championing LGBTQ+ rights and promoting joy through activism.

In May 2024, Michaela, Jae, and Susan had the privilege of speaking with Sister Vish-Knew about the origins, accomplishments, and longevity of the Sisters Of Perpetual Indulgence.

Meet Sister Vish-Knew!

Introducing Fog Horn, a new segment on Beyond the Fog Radio! Here, we'll share exciting new places and spotlight cultural events in the San Francisco Bay Area.

For our debut, we're joined by documentary filmmaker Marlene "Mo" Morris to discuss her film "From Here/From There" (De Aquí/De Allá), premiering May 3rd, 2024, at DocLands Film Festival in San Rafael. Mo is a former BAVC MediaMaker Fellow and CINE Golden Eagle Award recipient whose award-winning work has been broadcast on networks like PBS. Mo’s background as an immigration attorney informs her unique filmmaking perspective. In "From Here/From There," Mo highlights the high-stakes urgency of immigration reform through the story of DOCCA recipient Luis Cortes Romero, whose journey ultimately leads to a victorious outcome in the Supreme Court.

Welcome to Fog Horn!

This week, we feature Fred Rogers, former owner of the popular bar The Elephant Walk, along with guest host Gerard Koskovich, Historian at the GLBT Historical Society. The Elephant Walk, located in the Castro, was known for hosting disco star Sylvester in the 70’s and 80’s and serving daily brunch until 3:00 pm. It was a sanctuary as the rapidly transitioning neighborhood became a hub for the LGBTQ+ community. After Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone's assassination, The Elephant Walk became ground zero for the ensuing White Night Riot, thrusting the bar and the city of San Francisco into the national spotlight.

Tune in to hear our conversation with Fred and Gerard about the Castro's history and The Elephant Walk's fascinating story during these troubling times.

Meet Fred Rogers and Gerard Koskovich!

Renowned photographer Jim Marshall captured photos of the 20th Century’s most iconic musicians like Janis Joplin, Otis Redding, Jimi Hendrix, Johnny Cash, and many more. From famous shots on stage at major events like Woodstock, to intimate moments with second-to-none access, Marshall’s work is held in private and public museum collections worldwide. He likewise shot over 500 album covers and was posthumously awarded a Grammy for his contribution to the music industry. Marshall met his untimely death in 2010, and his legacy is preserved by his former assistant Amelia Davis and her wife Bonita Passarelli, trustees of his estate. Tune in to this incredible interview that we had with Amelia and Bonita in March 2024.

To learn more about Jim Marshall, please visit: https://www.jimmarshallphotographyllc.com/

Kevin Cline originally moved to San Francisco with intentions of returning home to the South after saving money through bartending. However, he quickly fell in love with the city and decided to make it his permanent home. Despite opportunities at iconic establishments like Bix, Cline ultimately preferred a slower pace, leading him to found The Front Porch—a Southern-style restaurant in the Southern Mission neighborhood. The restaurant embodies its name, offering a welcoming and easy atmosphere where patrons are encouraged to linger as if on their own front porch. As Kevin puts it: “We are good people serving good food to good people.”

Meet Kevin Cline!

https://www.thefrontporchsf.com/

Debi Durst is a versatile performer, director, and producer with extensive experience in improv, theater, and comedy. She’s best known for work in Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas, and has acted with Marin Shakespeare Company, earning her the 2015 BATCC Award. As a proud SF native, Debi successfully renamed the location of Comedy Day in Golden Gate Park to Robin Williams Meadow in 2017. Debi is also a huge SF Giants fan.

Will Durst's multifaceted career spans columns, books, radio, TV, acting, voiceovers, and stand-up comedy. He’s renowned for his outrageous wit as one of the nation's top political satirists, being praised by The New York Times as "possibly the best political comic in the country.” Will currently writes a syndicated humor column for various publications including The San Francisco Chronicle, Esquire, and The New York Times.

In 2006, Will teamed up with political icon Mayor Willie L. Brown, Jr. to co-host the award-winning Will & Willie Show. Starting as a weekly radio talk show, the Will & Willie Show has evolved into periodic podcasts, TV, and radio talk shows from iconic venues in San Francisco, featuring insightful and entertaining commentary on the day's news, delivered live and off the cuff by Will and Willie.

In December 2022, Jae and Susan had a great time chatting with Debi and Will Durst. Tune in to our hilarious conversation about comedy, politics, baseball and animation. You won’t want to miss hearing from these comedy legends.