Storied: San Francisco

Latest Episodes:

S2E19, Part 2: Dino Medardo Rosso on Bridging Cultural Gaps Through Language Apr 11, 2019

Show notes

When Dino Medardo Rosso was approached to help restaurant workers better communicate with, and thus better understand, one another, he was onto something.

In this podcast, Dino talks about expanding the work he does with Lingo, his language-instruction business. It's all about bringing groups of people closer together through language.

If you missed Part 1, when Dino talked about moving to San Francisco and getting started teaching high school and language, please go back and listen.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E19, Part 1: Dino Medardo Rosso on Starting the Language Program Lingo Apr 09, 2019

Show notes

Dino Medardo Rosso studied 16 languages and he speaks five or six, depending on the day. He moved to San Francisco about a decade ago, and got work as a bicycle tour guide and then, a high school teacher.

In this podcast, Dino tells the story of how a restaurant owner approached him seeking to solve the problem of her kitchen staff not being able to communicate effectively with the front-of-house workers. This effectively spawned Dino's business—Lingo.

Check back Thursday, when Dino will share how Lingo expanded to a point where he's working with grocery stores and even the SFFD to bridge the language gap between various groups of people.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E18, Part 2: Michael McConnell on the Loss of Artists in San Francisco Apr 04, 2019

Show notes

Michael McConnell owns a café and video store, but he's also an artist—one of a seemingly dying breed in San Francisco. In this podcast, he laments the loss of artists in the city over the last decade or so, adding that with their leaving, San Francisco is losing its character and its diversity.

Michael will be having open studio this weekend at 1980 Bryant, Suite 414. And the Social Sketch we talk about in the podcast will be on April 16 at Secret Alley in the Mission. Don't miss it!

If you missed Part 1, when Michael shared his story of moving to San Francisco and coming to own Fayes Coffee, please go back and listen.

We recorded this podcast at Fayes Coffee in February 2019.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E18, Part 1: Michael McConnell on Owning a Coffee Shop and Video Store Apr 02, 2019

Show notes

It's one thing to be an artist and work in a café as a barista. It's another to be part owner of that café, and for it to double as one of the last video stores in San Francisco.

In this podcast, Fayes Coffee owner Michael McConnell talks about moving to San Francisco in the late '90s and landing a job at Fayes within a year or so. Fast-forward to today, and the little coffee shop serves an important role in the busy neighborhood that 18th Street between Guerrero and Dolores has become.

Join us again Thursday, when Michael will talk about being an artist in San Francisco. He'll also share a couple of stories about the area around Fayes.

We recorded this podcast at Fayes Coffee in February 2019.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E17, Part 2: Sister Mary Media on the History of the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence (Part of Our Sisters at 40 Series) Mar 28, 2019

Show notes

One of the least interesting things about the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence is their name, but it's a damn good name.

In this podcast, Sister Mary Media tells the story of how a few young gay men decided to form a group based around performance, politics, charity, and spirituality. They came up with the memorable name, and the rest is history. Mary Media goes on to tell much of that history, a time spanning the last 40 years, including how she got her drag nun name.

If you missed Part 1 with Mary Media, please go back and listen. And for an even more in-depth history of the Sisters, go to their website.

Author Heather Jacks is publishing a book to commemorate the Sisters' 40th anniversary. The launch party for Sister Stories will be at Spark Arts in the Castro April 19–21. Check out the event page for more details.

And the Sisters will be back at Dolores Park on Easter (April 21) to celebrate their anniversary, bringing their annual Hunky Jesus contest back to where it started. This is something you do not wanna miss!

We recorded this podcast at Sister Mary Media's house in Upper Haight in March 2019.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E17, Part 1: Sister Mary Media on the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence Origin Story (Part of Our Sisters at 40 Series) Mar 26, 2019

Show notes

The Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, like any good spiritual group, have an origin story. There are some minor quibbles, but Sister Mary Media was there.

In this podcast, Mary Media describes the political and social climate from which the Sisters came to life in 1979. She goes on to talk about how the work they did back then evolved over time to include educating the public on the dangers of STDs and AIDS before it was known as that.

Check back Thursday for Part 2, when Mary Media will take us through the nearly 40 years (it will be 40 on Easter Sunday next month) of the wonderful work that the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence do.

We recorded this podcast at Sister Mary Media's house in Upper Haight in March 2019.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E16, Part 2: Sister Roma on Becoming a Drag Nun (Part of Our Sisters at 40 Series) Mar 21, 2019

Show notes

On April 21 at Dolores Park, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence will celebrate its 40th anniversary, bringing its Hunky Jesus contest back where it originated many years ago. There to emcee the event, as always, will be Sister Roma (Sister There's No Place Like Rome).

In this podcast, Sister Roma talks about finding out that her good friend was a Sister, getting made up for the first time (and looking "fucking amazing"), and many of the public awareness campaigns she's been involved with in her 30+ years with the organization.

If you missed Part 1, when Roma talked about her All-American, preppy young adult life before moving to San Francisco in the 1980s, please go back and listen.

We recorded this podcast at the Cinch Saloon in February 2019.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E15, Part 2: Sarah Davis on Building a New Houseboat and a Community Mar 14, 2019

Show notes

The thing about houseboats is ... they sometimes sink. In Part 1, Sarah told us how the houseboat she and her brother grew up on with their dad sunk in Mission Creek. In this podcast, Sarah tells the story of how the three of them built a new houseboat, the one Sarah lives in today with her daughter down near the ballpark. She goes to describe efforts to get more active spaces built in the surrounding neighborhoods, areas that seemingly grow and change overnight.

In case you missed Part 1, please go back and listen.

We recorded this podcast on Sarah's houseboat in Mission Creek in February 2019.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E15, Part 1: Sarah Davis's Childhood on a San Francisco Houseboat Mar 12, 2019

Show notes

Sarah Davis grew up unlike most of us. After her parents split up when she was young, her dad eventually decided to live in a houseboat down on Mission Creek. He brought Sarah and her brother with him part-time.

In this podcast, Sarah describes growing up on that houseboat (she still lives in a houseboat, albeit a different one, on the creek today). She talks about some of the colorful characters who were her neighbors, and ends this episode on her parents, whose lives involved the art and music scenes of San Francisco in the '70s, '80s, and on.

Join us again Thursday, when Sarah will talk about building the houseboat she currently lives in and shares details on the city's houseboat community today.

We recorded this podcast on Sarah's Mission Creek houseboat in February 2019.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

S2E14 Fernay McPherson on Growing Up and Cooking in the Fillmore (Part of Our La Cocina Series) Mar 05, 2019

Show notes

To help elevate the voices and stories of Black San Franciscans, we'll be rerunning those episodes over the next few weeks. We'll be back with new stories from your neighbors down the road a bit.

Fernay McPherson grew up in the Fillmore of the '80s and '90s, learning to cook from and being inspired by her San Francisco family who had various Texas and Southern roots.

In this podcast, Fernay, who owns and operates Millie Bell's Soul Movement in Emeryville, talks about her childhood and the community she misses (she still lives in the Fillmore). Fernay is a graduate of La Cocina, "a nonprofit working to solve problems of equity in business ownership for women, immigrants and people of color."

We recorded this podcast at Public Market Emeryville in February 2019.

Film photography by Michelle Kilfeather

Our TOPPODCAST Picks

Follow Us

Stay Connected

Related Podcasts

Links

Stay Connected