The warm weather has at last inspired hitherto home-bound humans to get outside for long walks; but social distancing dictates that we mostly walk alone. To put some meaning into meandering, San Francisco Travel has compiled a list of podcasts to help enliven the journey.
Featuring some of the most interesting voices in city, segments range from highlighting Bay-area gems for future travellers to discover to unique human-interest stories, current affairs, even concerts from the San Francisco Symphony Orchestra, plus audio essays on things you’ve always wanted to know, such as the history of toilet paper.
But no matter what you download, San Francisco promises “you’ll never walk alone.”
Bay Curious: Bay Curious is all about the unexplored San Francisco Bay Area. Each week, host Olivia Allen-Price uncovers a quirky new mystery from the region. Start with the episode about Dutch Crunch bread, a staple of Bay Area sandwich shops. https://www.kqed.org/podcasts/baycurious
Check, Please! Bay Area: The popular local television show “Check, Please! Bay Area” has a weekly podcast featuring Bay Area residents giving their views on some of the best restaurants in San Francisco and beyond. In a recent episode (recorded before the coronavirus put a damper on dining), host Lisa Sbrocco took the stars of “Hamilton” to Mourad, Niku Steakhouse, and Causwells. https://www.iheart.com/podcast/256-check-please-bay-area-podc-31101057/
Ear Hustle: The ground-breaking Ear Hustle podcast showcases the daily realities of life in prison and the struggles of reintegrating with the world after time served. It was created by Bay Area visual artist Nigel Poor and former San Quentin State Prison inmates Earlonne Woods and Antwan Williams. https://www.earhustlesq.com/
Equity: Aspiring tech titans need to listen to Equity. Hosted by TechCrunch reporter Alex Wilhelm, the podcast takes listeners behind the financial decisions that fuel Silicon Valley. https://techcrunch.com/tag/equity-podcast/
The Finch Files: Veteran radio producer Peter Finch scours the streets of San Francisco to put a spotlight on some of the most interesting Bay Area stories in The Finch Files: Stories from San Francisco and Beyond. What qualifies as interesting? How about competitive women’s pinball or the 50th anniversary of the infamous Altamont rock concert? http://www.finchfiles.net/
Inside Giants Moments: If you’re a baseball fan lamenting the delay of the season, turn on Inside Giants Moments. Each week, host Mark Willard interviews a living legend from the San Francisco Giants about memorable moments in franchise history, such as an interview with former manager Bruce Bochy, who led the team to three World Series titles.
Raw Material: Raw Material is an arts and culture podcast from the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art. Each season is hosted by a different “podcaster-in-residence” who explores modern and contemporary art through their own unique lens. Artists from around the world join for discussions about their work and the inspiring works of others. This episode from Season 4, hosted by artist and curator Chelsea Beck, starts exploring the connections between “that dynamic duo: art and sex.”
San Francisco Symphony: The San Francisco Symphony has two podcast series for listeners: The Program Notes Series features Symphony recordings with award-winning commentary, while the American Orchestra Forum series features musicians, scholars, and others discussing the current state and future of American orchestras. https://www.sfsymphony.org/Discover-the-Music/Listen-to-Podcasts
99% Invisible: Local host Roman Mars uses his 99% Invisible podcast to explain how architecture and design influence every aspect of our world, from massive buildings to fortune cookies. In our current situation, is there any better place to start than Roman’s episode about the history of toilet paper?