Bay Curious

KQED

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.

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Yesterday · 17 min
Prop 45: Faster Environmental Reviews for Certain Projects
The California Environmental Quality Act, or CEQA, requires state and local agencies to consider the environmental impact of public and private projects. Prop 45 on the 2026 California ballot would change CEQA by speeding up environmental reviews for certain projects such as housing, roads, bridges, and broadband centers. Additional Resources: Read the transcript for this episode Catch up on all of Prop Fest 2026 Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Laura Klivans. Prop Fest is a collaboration between Bay Curious and The Bay. It’s made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Alan Montecillo, Gabriela Glueck and Pauline Bartolone. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Thursday · 15 min
Prop 44: Health Clinic Spending Requirements
Proposition 44 on the 2026 California ballot would require private non-profit health clinics serving the lowest income Californians to spend 90% of their revenue on medical services. If they do not, they would pay fees. Additional Resources: Read the transcript for this episode Catch up on all of Prop Fest 2026 KQED Voter Guide Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Lesley McClurg. Prop Fest is a collaboration between Bay Curious and The Bay. It’s made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Alan Montecillo, Gabriela Glueck and Pauline Bartolone. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Wednesday · 19 min
Prop 43: Special Tax Voter Threshold
Proposition 43 on the 2026 California ballot would increase the vote threshold to pass new local taxes earmarked for special causes. Additional Resources: Read the transcript for this episode Catch up on all of Prop Fest 2026 Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Guy Marzorati. Prop Fest is a collaboration between Bay Curious and The Bay. It’s made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Alan Montecillo, Gabriela Glueck and Pauline Bartolone. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tuesday · 16 min
Prop 42: Bans New State Taxes on Investments and Personal Property
Proposition 42 on the 2026 California ballot prohibits new state personal property taxes and certain retroactive state taxes. Additional Resources: Read the transcript for this episode Catch up on all of Prop Fest 2026 Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Marisa Lagos. Prop Fest is a collaboration between Bay Curious and The Bay. It’s made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Alan Montecillo, Gabriela Glueck and Pauline Bartolone. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Tuesday · 15 min
Prop 41: Requires Audits of New Special Taxes
Proposition 41 on the 2026 California ballot would require more audits on the programs that are funded by special taxes. Is it good governance? Or red tape meant to make it harder to pass new taxes? Additional Resources: Read the transcript for this episode Catch up on all of Prop Fest 2026 Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Marisa Lagos. Prop Fest is a collaboration between Bay Curious and The Bay. It’s made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Alan Montecillo, Gabriela Glueck and Pauline Bartolone. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Monday · 25 min
Prop 40: One Time Tax on Billionaires
Proposition 40 would impose a one time 5% tax on Californians whose net worth is over a billion dollars. The resulting revenue would be primarily used to replace cuts to Medi-Cal and food assistance programs passed at the federal level in H.R. 1 or the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Additional Resources: Read the transcript for this episode Catch up on all of Prop Fest 2026 Political Breakdown Podcast: Dave Regan Political Breakdown Podcast: Joshua Rauh Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Marisa Lagos. Prop Fest is a collaboration between Bay Curious and The Bay. It’s made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Alan Montecillo, Gabriela Glueck and Pauline Bartolone. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 2 · 15 min
Prop 39: Requires Voters Show ID to Cast A Ballot
Proposition 39 on the 2026 California ballot would require voters to show a valid ID when casting their ballot. Currently, voters have to show ID to register to vote, but not at the ballot box. Additional Resources: Read the transcript for this episode Catch up on all of Prop Fest 2026 Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Izzy Bloom. Prop Fest is a collaboration between Bay Curious and The Bay. It’s made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Alan Montecillo, Gabriela Glueck and Pauline Bartolone. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 2 · 20 min
Prop 38: Immunology Research Bond
Proposition 38 on the 2026 California ballot would authorize the state to borrow money to fund immunology research. Additional Resources: Read the transcript for this episode Catch up on all of Prop Fest 2026 Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by April Dembosky. Prop Fest is a collaboration between Bay Curious and The Bay. It’s made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Alan Montecillo, Gabriela Glueck and Pauline Bartolone. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
October 1 · 15 min
Prop 37: Creates Middle-Income Homebuyer Program
Proposition 37 on the 2026 California ballot authorizes the state to borrow money to create a middle-income homebuyers program. Additional Resources: Read the transcript for this episode Catch up on all of Prop Fest 2026 Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Adhiti Bandlamudi. Prop Fest is a collaboration between Bay Curious and The Bay. It’s made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Alan Montecillo, Gabriela Glueck and Pauline Bartolone. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 30 · 15 min
Prop 5: Recall Reform
Proposition 5 on the 2026 California ballot would change the rules around recalls of elected officials. Additional Resources: Read the transcript for this episode Catch up on all of Prop Fest 2026 Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Guy Marzorati. Prop Fest is a collaboration between Bay Curious and The Bay. It’s made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Alan Montecillo, Gabriela Glueck and Pauline Bartolone. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 30 · 13 min
Prop 4: Public Financing For Political Campaigns
Proposition 4 on the California 2026 ballot would repeal an earlier statewide ban on public financing programs. It would open the door for state and local governments to set up public financing programs for election campaigns. Candidates would have to meet certain eligibility criteria and agree to spending limits. Additional Resources: Read the transcript for this episode Catch up on all of Prop Fest 2026 Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Izzy Bloom. Prop Fest is a collaboration between Bay Curious and The Bay. It’s made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Alan Montecillo, Gabriela Glueck and Pauline Bartolone. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 29 · 20 min
Prop 2: The Rainy Day Fund
Proposition 2 on your 2026 California ballot would make changes to how the state's Rainy Day Fund would work. It would both allow lawmakers to set aside more money during abundant tax years and change the kinds of debt the state can pay off with that fund. Additional Resources: Read the transcript for this episode Catch up on all of Prop Fest 2026 Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Guy Marzorati. Prop Fest is a collaboration between Bay Curious and The Bay. It’s made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Alan Montecillo, Gabriela Glueck and Pauline Bartolone. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 29 · 16 min
Prop 3: Tax on High-Income Earners
California has what’s known as a “progressive tax system” – basically, the more money you make, the more you pay in income taxes. For years, California voters have approved certain tax rates for high income earners. And now, Prop 3 could make some of those rates permanent. Additional Resources: Read the transcript for this episode Catch up on all of Prop Fest 2026 Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Guy Marzorati. Prop Fest is a collaboration between Bay Curious and The Bay. It’s made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Alan Montecillo, Gabriela Glueck and Pauline Bartolone. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 28 · 16 min
Prop 1: Affordable Housing Bond
Proposition 1 on the 2026 California ballot authorizes the state to take out an $11.25 billion bond to fund an array of affordable housing programs, including the construction and preservation of affordable housing and the CalVet program, which helps veterans become homeowners. Additional Resources: Read the transcript for this episode Catch up on all of Prop Fest 2026 Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Adhiti Bandlamudi. Prop Fest is a collaboration between Bay Curious and The Bay. It’s made by Olivia Allen-Price, Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme, Ericka Cruz Guevarra, Alan Montecillo, Gabriela Glueck and Pauline Bartalone. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 26 · 45 min
Bay Curious Presents: The Speaker
Nancy Pelosi is many things: Trailblazer. Lightning rod. First woman Speaker of the House. Mom of five. To some, she’s an out-of-touch elitist, to others, a champion for democracy. In The Speaker, political reporter Scott Shafer reflects on Pelosi’s historic life and career as she prepares to exit public office. Featuring exclusive interviews with Pelosi herself, along with other prominent figures like Gavin Newsom, Ilhan Omar, Rahm Emanuel and Mick Mulvaney. The Bay Curious team is hard at work gearing up for Prop Fest, our series examining the 14 propositions on the California ballot. As a little amuse-bouche, we're sharing an episode from KQED's new podcast, The Speaker! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 24 · 30 min
The Best Scary Movies Set in the Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area isn't as popular of a filming location as Los Angeles or Vancouver, Canada, but there are some very creepy films that use our unique weather and topography as characters. Check out top picks this Halloween season from Peter Hartlaub, San Francisco Chronicle culture critic, and Carly Severn, Senior Editor of Audience News at KQED. It's a fun conversation about movies, stars and some of the great directors who've been inspired by our region. Additional Resources: Dunsmuir: The Oakland Mansion That Inspired Hollywood Nightmares The Best San Francisco Movies to Stream This Holiday Season Read the transcript for this episode Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! 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 and Peter Hartlaub. Bay Curious is made by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme and Olivia Allen-Price. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 17 · 16 min
The Forgotten Chinese Flower Growers in the S.F. Bay Area
For much of the 20th century, swaths of San Mateo and Santa Clara counties were home to seas of chrysanthemums, asters and irises. About 200 acres of chrysanthemums — roughly 150 football fields — were grown at the time. The total valuation of the crop amounted to roughly $2 million. And many of the farmers who grew those flowers were Chinese and Japanese immigrants who had to lease land from white landowners because they weren't allowed to own property. Additional Resources: When Chinese Flower Growers Helped the Bay Area Flower Market Bloom Read the transcript for this episode Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Gabriela Glueck. Bay Curious is made by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme and Olivia Allen-Price. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
September 3 · 26 min
The Island Lighthouse Turned Romantic B&B
Just off San Pablo Point, near the Richmond-San Rafael Bridge, there's a tiny spec of an island with a beautiful Victorian-era building on it. East Brother Light Station has been there since 1874, its light beaming out to warn boats away from unexpectedly shallow waters. Bay Curious listener Kathleen Taylor noticed the lighthouse on a ferry ride from Vallejo to San Francisco for a baseball game and wondered what went on there over the years. She tagged along as we visited the island and got a private tour with the current keepers. Additional Resources: A Trip to the Remote Island Lighthouse in the Middle of San Francisco Bay Read the transcript for this episode GoFundMe for East Brother pier replacement Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Olivia Allen-Price. Bay Curious is made by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme and Olivia Allen-Price. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 27 · 16 min
Why So Many Golf Courses in Public Parks?
Bay Curious listener Mary Newsom went on a lot of walks during the coronavirus pandemic. While hiking in the Oakland and Berkeley hills, she noticed that wildlife had come back to the golf courses located in East Bay parks. But once shelter-in-place lifted and golfers were back at it, all she saw were golf balls -- everywhere. It made her wonder, why are there so many golf courses in public parks in the Bay Area? Do they help the parks financially? Additional Resources: Why Are There so Many Public Golf Courses in the Bay Area? Read the transcript for this episode Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Sarah Wright. Bay Curious is made by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme and Olivia Allen-Price. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
August 20 · 36 min
Why Flock License Plate Readers Are So Controversial
Many Bay Area cities from Oakland to San Francisco have contracts with Flock Safety, a surveillance company that offers license plate readers that yield far more data than an average speed camera. Many citizens and privacy activists are concerned that the cameras are collecting so much information it's actually a violation of our fourth amendment rights. But law enforcement agencies and their supporters argue that since cities started using the cameras, crime has gone down. Bay Curious listener Dennis Riley has heard some of the news about Flock cameras and began to wonder, how much information do they have about someone like him, who hasn't done anything wrong and isn't suspected of a crime. We dig into why Flock is so controversial, how the technology works and learn what kind of information the cameras are collecting about people and vehicles that pass by. Additional Resources: Why Is Flock Safety So Controversial in the Bay Area? Read the transcript for this episode Sign up for our newsletter Got a question you want answered? Ask! Your support makes KQED podcasts possible. You can show your love by going to https://kqed.org/donate/podcasts This story was reported by Morgan Sung. Bay Curious is made by Katrina Schwartz, Christopher Beale, Anna Casalme and Olivia Allen-Price. Additional support from Jen Chien, Katie Sprenger, Maha Sanad, Ethan Toven-Lindsey and everyone on Team KQED. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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