Author: KQED

If you can brave the cold and get over your worries about sharks, is it a good idea to swim in the bay's somewhat murky depths? This week, reporter Dana Cronin dives into this question about whether it's safe to swim in the bay and when it might not be such a good idea.

Additional Reading:

• Is it Safe to Swim in the Bay? Braving the Cold (and Sometimes Dirty) Water
• Read a transcript of the episode
• Sign up for our newsletter
• 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 Dana Cronin. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Amanda Font, Katrina Schwartz and Christopher Beale. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED family.

Do you ever finish a big plate of lo mein and suddenly think, 'Boy, I could really go for a Boston cream'? If you're in the Bay Area, you're in luck! There are plenty of spots here where you can get both, and a burger to go. Bay Curious listener Jaimie Cohen wants to know: "Why are there restaurants that serve Chinese food, donuts and burgers all in one location?" Reporter Asal Ehsanipour found that it's a uniquely Californian combination with an unexpected history.

Additional Reading:

•  Why Donuts + Chinese Food = A Very Californian Combination
• Read a transcript of this episode
• 'The Donut King'

Reported by Asal Ehsanipour. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Amanda Font, Ana De Almedia Amaral and Christopher Beale. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED family.

About 25 years ago, Fernet-Branca went from a somewhat eclectic drink, shared among the city's old school bartenders, to one of the most iconic spirits in San Francisco. Its polarizing taste profile has been compared to Vicks NyQuil and VapoRub on one end of the spectrum, to a delightful Christmas Tree or Chinese herbs on the other end. How did this divisive Italian spirit work its way into the hearts of San Franciscans? Bay Curious producer Amanda Font bellies up to the bar to find out.

Additional Reading:

• How Fernet-Branca Became San Francisco's Favorite Spirit
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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 Amanda Font. Kelly O'Mara contributed. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Amanda Font, Ana De Almedia Amaral and Christopher Beale. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED family.

Our lives are full of sounds. The rumble of car engines, a particular birdsong, the 'ding' of phone alerts, even the voices of our friends and family — these everyday noises become so regular we don't even consider that you might hear them one day and then never hear them again. This week, KQED's Rachael Myrow takes back in time to track down some of the lost sounds of San Francisco.

Additional Reading:

• Read a transcription of this episode here
• Sign up for our Newsletter
• Enter our Sierra Nevada Brewing Company monthly trivia contest
• Check out our kid-friendly playlist of Bay Curious favorites

Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://donate.kqed.org/donate/podcasts

This story was reported by Rachael Myrow. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Amanda Font, Ana De Almeida Amaral and Christopher Beale. Additional support from Jen Chien, Maha Sanad, Katie Sprenger, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED family.

Most people believe that Monterey Jack Cheese originated in ... Monterey. And while the name 'Monterey Jack' establishes a clear claim, this week we're asking: Where is this silky cheese really from? You might be surprised.

This episode originally aired on the podcast in 2022.

Additional Reading:

• Move Over Monterey? Pacifica Lays Claim to Iconic Jack Cheese
• Read the transcript of this episode here
• Check out our kid-friendly playlist of Bay Curious favorites
• Buy the Bay Curious Book here!
• Sign up for our Newsletter
• 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 Christopher Beale. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Amanda Font, Ana De Almeida Amaral and Christopher Beale. Additional support from Jen Chien, Maha Sanad, Katie Sprenger, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED family.

The Wave Organ is an environmental sculpture that goes below the surface of the bay to create a unique sonic experience for visitors. Listener Robbie Rock has been visiting The Wave Organ since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic, and came to Bay Curious looking to learn who built it, why and how. Reporter Ana De Almeida Amaral takes us on the sonic journey that ensues when the moon, tides, human creativity and San Francisco history collide.

Additional Reading:

• San Francisco’s Wave Organ Brings Sounds of the Bay to Life
• Episode Transcript
• A Kid-Friendly Spotify Playlist of Bay Curious Favorites
• Bay Curious Book
• Sign up for our newsletter
• 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 Ana De Almeida Amaral. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Amanda Font, Ana De Almeida Amaral and Christopher Beale. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED family.

When people think of the Black Panthers, most imagine militant Black men in berets carrying guns. While that's not an inaccurate picture, the Black Panthers did much more than just fight back against racist policing. They created a whole host of community programs. This week, we bring you an excerpt from the Mindshift podcast about one of them — an elementary school in Oakland that made a big impact on education.

Additional Reading:

• 5 Ways the Black Panthers Shaped U.S. Schools
• Read a transcript of this episode
• Sign up for our newsletter
• 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 Nimah Gobir. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Amanda Font, Christopher Beale, and Ana De Almeida Amaral. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan, and the whole KQED family.

These days, Glen Canyon Park is a tranquil urban park with hiking trails, soccer fields and a playground, which makes it all that more difficult to imagine that it was once home to the first dynamite factory in the United States. Today we’ll join reporter Gabriela Glueck to learn how dynamite made its way to San Francisco and why it was such a transformative product in this state. Plus, we'll explore the stories of Chinese laborers who often had the most dangerous jobs of all in the high explosives industry.

Additional Reading:

• The Explosive History Hidden in Glen Canyon Park
• Read a transcript of this episode
• Listen to our kid-friendly playlist on Spotify
• Sign up for our newsletter
• 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 and produced by Gabriela Glueck. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Amanda Font, Ana De Almedia Amaral and Christopher Beale. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Holly Kernan and the whole KQED family.

There are plenty of 'haunted' places in the Bay Area. But some locations are said to attract ghosts, even if they don't have a connection to the place. Ghost hunters say the USS Hornet, a retired WWII aircraft carrier docked in Alameda, is one such place. Reporter Katherine Monahan recently took a late night tour of the ship with a group of paranormal enthusiasts, and took along her recorder to see if she could pick up any ghostly communications.

Additional Reading:

• The USS Hornet in Alameda Is a Destination for Paranormal Enthusiasts — and You Can Spend the Night There
• Read a transcript of this episode
• Sign up for our newsletter
• 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 Katherine Monahan. Bay Curious is made by Olivia Allen-Price, Amanda Font, Christopher Beale, and Ana De Almeida Amaral. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Holly Kernan, and the whole KQED family.