The San Francisco Experience
Jim Herlihy
We are a "deep dive" news podcast, for Americans who get their news from the Internet. Our mission is to give the listener succinct, fact based analysis both non-ideological and independent from a California, Silicon Valley perspective. Your host Jim Herlihy is a published author: his novel “Deceit and Dirty Money” is available on line. He served as President of the SF Public Library Commission 1992 - 1996. While working in Latin America, he was a stringer for The Economist, The Times and the BBC. Jim serves as a director on two SF sister city boards : Bangalore, India and Cork, Ireland.
Episodes
Nuseum AI: Nutrition Intelligence for Healthcare, Food & Longevity. Talking with Founder and CEO JiYoung Kim. # TechCrunchDisrupt
Nuseum AI bridges the gap between clinical healthcare and dietary lifestyles. The majority of our chronic diseases are diet related. Can Food be Medicine ?
Stuff That Works: Health Crowdsourcing. Talking with President & CEO Julie Ross.
Building the world's first AI-native patient driven and patient connected data foundation using smart crowdsourcing and AI. More than 3 million patient users have generated 1.3 billion data points across 1250 illnesses. A patient friendly platform that is a win win for patients, physicians and clinical trials.
Kodamai: Controlling Agentic AI. Talking with CEO Dr. Maha Achour #TechCrunch Disrupt 2026
74% of Enterprises are moving forward with Agentic AI but only 21% of those Enterprises have mature governance models for Agentic AI according to Deloitte. Kodamai's proprietary Kelvingrove Platform addresses the Trust, Governance and Security deficits present in many existing systems today. A timely and necessary fix to keep AI and Agentic AI safe for Enterprise and public use.
On Duty with the Royals. The Inside Story of the Modern Monarchy. In conversation with Dickie Arbiter.
Dickie Arbiter served as press spokesman to Queen Elizabeth covering all aspects of her official life and her family until his retirement. He was there during the Diana tragedy and funeral. A witness to history. A consummate professional he continues to speak about the Royal Family across all media.
Bernadette's Problem: In conversation with author Clay G. Small
Clay Small returns to familiar themes in his third legal thriller novel: art forgery, Holland, the quirky US legal system and baby boomer protagonists who are living life to the fullest. Fine Art forgery occupies a grey netherworld in the lexicon of jurisprudence, jurists and the law and that double standard rings true in Bernadette's Problem.
Cashless Bail: Has it Increased or Decreased Violent Crime ? What are the results ? Talking with Ken Good.
Cashless Bail is a contentious policy which has been implemented around the country, with mixed results. California in particular has aggressively embraced policies that limit judges' discretion in the bail setting process. While Texas has moved in the opposite direction. Ken Good is a recognized bail expert and shares his perspective in today's episode.
“Never Say Die” at 80. Talking with Bay Area Creative Tom Donald.
Does creativity slow down with age ? Great painters like Matisse and Picasso or architects Like Frank Lloyd Wright did some of the best work when they were over 80. In fact creativity can thrive in later Life. Tom Donald has proved the point with his award winning film and music project Never Say Die, winner of a Telly award at the Oakland International Film Festival.
London Derangement Syndrome: Why has one of the world's most favored cities developed a bad reputation ? Talking with Mike Wendling.
London recently ranked as the top city in the world according to the World Cities Index. Yet a recent report published by The Policy Institute, Kings College London, paints a different picture. Mistaken Britain, London has fallen ? outlines some startling misperceptions on crime, race, religion and life in the UK capital. Mike Wendling joins us to discuss the findings.Photo Credit David Monaghan
First Graduate: Helping first generation students graduate from College. Talking to Terri Forman CEO.
For children who come from families where going to College has been out of reach, their parents often do not have the experience to navigate the application process. It can be complicated especially if English is not their native language. Enter First Graduate, a College readiness and access program devoted to San Francisco youngsters.
Money to Burn: The Unvarnished Truth about Leon Black, Apollo, and the Rise of New Wall Street. Talking with author William D. Cohan.
Leon Black is the founder and former CEO of Apollo Global Management, a leading alternate asset management firm with approximately $1 trillion under management. Black stepped down as CEO in March 2021 when the extent of his friendship with Jeffrey Epstein became public. In particular Black's payment to Epstein of more than $150 million continues to garner questions. The book explores Leon Black's career, the growth of Apollo and the rise of New Wall Street.
Renouncing US Citizenship: A practical, how to guide made easy. Talking to Alexander Marino
The American passport used to rank # 1 in the world, but today is #12. What happened ? Declining reciprocity between countries and other policies have dimmed the luster of a US passport. And more Americans for a host of reasons are considering renouncing their US citizenship. In today's episode Alexander Marino walks us through the pros and the cons. www.moodystax.com
Portugal's Golden Visa : More Americans Relocate to the EU. Talking with Jason Swan.
More Americans than ever are looking to relocate overseas. Their motivations are numerous. Portugal has created a special visa - the Golden Visa - to attract foreign investors and many Americans are attracted to it.
Proven in Blood: A Novel of War, Betrayal, and Belonging. Talking with author Top Shot Chris Cheng
The 442 and 100 Battalion were two of the most decorated combat regiments in World War II. Composed of Japanese Americans who had volunteered to serve on the front lines in Italy and France they were exemplary soldiers. Most of them had left behind families who had been interned/incarcerated under Executive Order 9066. Yet in the face of such trying circumstances and suspected by the US Government as potential sympathizers or collaborators they went off to serve honorably.
Mecca Defense Agreement. Talking with Dr. Rich Outzen
The Muslim NATO Alliance as some are calling the new pact between Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey brings three of the leading Sunni powers together. Modelled after NATO's Article 5, any armed attack against one of the three signatories will regarded as an attack against them all. The secretariat for the pact will be located in Saudi Arabia and the first Secretary General will be a Pakistani.
London Derangement Syndrome: Why has one of the world's most favored cities developed a bad reputation ? Talking with Mike Wendling.
A recently published study by The Policy Institute, Kings College London, focuses on misperceptions of crime, race, religion and life in London. It seeks to set the record straight with fresh, objective data. Mike Wendling who lives and works in London shares his impressions of life in the Capital 2026.Photo credit David Monaghan
Lassen Volcanic: America's least visited National Park.
When Mt. Lassen erupted in May 1915 it caught the imagination of the American public. Nearby San Francisco was hosting the Panama Pacific Exhibition to celebrate the 1914 opening of the Panama Canal. It was also a statement to the world that San Francisco had fully recovered from the destructive 1906 earthquake. But the massive volcanic eruption reminded San Franciscans of the unpredictable power of Mother Nature. And in 1916 Lassen Volcanic became a National Park.
The Front Lines of Social Change. Veterans of the Abraham Lincoln Brigade. Talking with author Richard Bermack.
The Abraham Lincoln Brigade was a group of about 3000 young, idealistic Americans who volunteered to fight in Spain against the fascists. When they returned in the late 1930s they maintained their social activism with support for the great causes of the 1950s, 60s and beyond. A memorial to their memory is under threat in San Francisco as a park is re-configured.
Fisherman's Wharf Community Benefit District. Talking with Bri Maughan.
Fisherman's Wharf is San Francisco's top tourist destination with over 13 million visitors annually - more than one million every month. It is also the City's historic working water front. Set up in 2005, the Community Benefit District (CBD) is overseeing a revitalization of this colorful and iconic San Francisco neighborhood.
Queens of Code. Inspiring True Stories from NSA's Computing Women. Talking with author Eileen Buckholtz
Women have played a major role at the National Security Agency as technology innovators, contributing to the Nation's security. Eileen Buckholtz recounts their contributions with a series of 29 profiles of former colleagues, mentors and co-workers. She was one of the first women to graduate with a degree in Computer Science in 1969 and had a 30 year career at the Agency.
Welcome to Fabulous Angeles. The Rock n' Roll adventures of a wayward Westside teen. Talking to Richard A. Lefkowitz
Rick Lefkowitz captures 1970s Los Angeles in his debut memoir. Accessing Rock legends was easy as he and his best friend Moxie discovered on their travels around LA. It was an open, more friendly city versus today and one where he could chase his dreams to write songs and make music. Mick Jagger, David Bowie, B.B.King, the Dooby Brothers - he met them all !
New Zealand's Golden Visa meets California's Billionaire Wealth Tax: Is it a match made in heaven ? Talking with Peter Fullerton-Smith
New Zealand's Golden Visa program is structured to attract high net worth individuals and families to relocate to this stable, safe and civil South Pacific island nation. The Active Investor Plus Visa has two categories - Growth and Balanced and require an investment of NZ$ 5 million and NZ$ 10 million respectively. And home purchase for properties valued at NZ$ 5 million are also permitted.
In conversation with the Honorable Amy L. Nechtem, former Chief Justice of the Massachusetts Juvenile Court Department.
Justice Nechtem during her distinguished judicial career has championed innovative approaches to improving outcomes for vulnerable children and families throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and across the nation. She continues to advance the conversation through her podcast " By Her Honor".
The Decline and Fall of Tabloid English. Talking with Christopher Gage.
Britain's tabloids developed a shorthand argot to cram racy and punchy stories into frontpage headlines. Often suggestive and cheeky, it is a writing style that has withered under the weight of Political Correctness, hypersensitivity and trigger happy offense taking. Christopher Gage shares his thoughts on the demise of Tabloid English from his recent essay in "The Spectator", one of the UK's oldest magazines.
In conversation with Breanna Sinclaire.
Breanna is a classically trained opera singer and graduate of CalArts Institute and the San Francisco Conservatory of Music. She was the first trans woman to sing the National Anthem for the Oakland "A"s, the San Francisco Giants and the San Francisco Deltas.
The Castro Theatre: an Iconic San Francisco Landmark. Talking with Mary Conde.
The Castro Theatre sits in the heart of San Francisco's Castro District. The 1400 seat lavish movie house dates from 1922 and is a mix of Beaux Arts meets Spanish Baroque and Art Deco architecturally. But after a $41 million renovation by Another Planet Entertainment, it has re-opened in 2026 to community acclaim. With modernized and updated systems as well as a more flexible floorplan The Castro Theatre retains its' charm of yesteryear.
The Hornblower Group: a leader in maritime experiences. Talking with Tim O'Brien
The Hornblower Group moves over 20 million people annually on a fleet of vessels across North America and the United Kingdom. Two of its' signature ferry services serve the Statue of Liberty in New York Harbor, and Alcatraz in the San Francisco Bay.
In a Good Place: How spaces where we live, work and play help us thrive. Talking with author Leidy Klotz.
Our physical environment - house, office, school, hospital, church, store - can influence our relationships and feelings in many ways. Leidy Klotz walks us up to the intersection of physical buildings and their emotional impact - for good and sometimes ill - on our psyche and well being.
Streetwise: Getting to and through Goldman Sachs. By Lloyd Blankfein. In conversation with William Cohan
Lloyd Blankfein, who retired as CEO of Goldman Sachs in 2018, relates his path to the C Suite of America"s most fabled investment bank in this insightful and witty memoir. Growing up in public housing in Brooklyn, his determination to succeed is apparent from page one. Author and financial journalist William Cohan interviewed Lloyd when he was CEO and more recently in retirement and brings a keen eye to Lloyd's story.
A Giant Leap: How AI is transforming Healthcare. Talking with author Dr. Robert Wachter.
A Giant Leap is a well researched analysis as to how Artificial Intelligence is being integrated into our healthcare system today. It also discusses the impact of a new technology on the doctor patient relationship . Overall an upbeat and positive outlook for integrating this new technology into our healthcare practices and culture.
The 36th NATO Summit in Ankara, Turkiye. A multipolar alliance led under the auspices of the United States. Talking with Alp Sevimlisoy.
President Erdogan hosted the 32 leaders of the NATO Alliance in Ankara on July 7th and 8th for a summit. President Trump attended. Key issues on the agenda were: Defense Investment, Defense Industries in NATO countries and Support for Ukraine. Alp was in attendance and shares his analysis and impressions.
Ecuador, The Galapagos and a 6 month South American driving adventure. Talking with Volker Langbehn.
The fifth and final episode chronicling a road odyssey through six South American countries. Transitioning into an active retirement while chalking up a lifetime goal and learning new skills.
Birthright Citizenship and Trans Athlete Ban. The Supreme Court's Decisions. Talking with Professor Luke Boso.
The Supreme Court closed out the term handing down two high profile decisions on birthright citizenship and Trans athletes. The former decision went in favor of maintaining it but nevertheless caused some partisan reaction especially toward Justice Amy Coney Barrett. Professor Boso also discusses the historic use of emergency actions from the Trump Administration to the Court, and the Court's willingness to agree to them.
Liberty and Equality in America: Examining the Radical and Paradoxical Legacy of the Declaration of Independence. Talking with author Byron Williams.
As America celebrates the 250th anniversary of its Independence on July 4th, we analyze the original and ongoing inspiration of our foundational document The Declaration of Independence. Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
The AI Instinct: The future of AI and Human Decision Making. Talking with author Rana Gujral.
Artificial Intelligence was created by modeling human cognition. While AI was built to run on slow and deliberate thinking processes, humans maintained dominance in fast, intuitive, emotion based cognition : until now. This book follows the rise of AI from a background tool to a force that shapes how we think, feel, and experience the world.
Roscoe: 12 hours living homeless in San Francisco. Talking with author Andrew Gregor.
Andrew brings an architect, home builder's perspective and empathy to the issue of one man's struggle with being unsheltered on the Streets of San Francisco. Having experienced a brief brush with homelessness himself, he relates the story of Roscoe with credibility and sensitivity.
Euna Solutions: Making Public Sector Agencies more user friendly through advanced Software and AI. Talking with CEO Tom Amburgey.
Euna Solutions is a leading GovTech Software company with clients across the United States and Canada. And AI is increasingly being introduced into their suite of software products. Challenges and opportunities abound for the enterprise, its' software engineers and management as Artificial Intelligence becomes part of the GovTech software offering.
We are the power to win the future. Talking with author Gary Lucks.
Our guest has published a "How To" manual for the political newbie or lapsed campaigner to translate protest energy and focus to the upcoming MidTerm races for Congress. 80 organizations are included in the book which will engage you and channel energies from protest rallies to Get Out The Vote drives. A practical guide to get involved in the 2026 campaigns and elections.
California's Election Results come into focus. Talking with Nolan Higdon, Lecturer, University of California, Santa Cruz.
With Javier Becerra and Steve Hilton being declared as the top two vote winners in the Governor's Primary and Mayor Bass and N. Raman the LA mayoral candidates, we have clarity on that score. But how will those races unfold after such contentious primaries ?
The Rainbow Honor Walk: A sidewalk tribute to LGBTQ+ Trailblazers. Talking to David Perry, noted publicist and community leader.
Inspired by Hollywood's Walk of Fame, the Rainbow Honor Walk was 20 years in the making. Founder Emeritus David Perry discusses the mission of this monument which is centered around the world famous Castro District.
Buenos Aires - Uruguay - Paraguay - Lima. From the East Coast to the West Coast of South America by car. Talking with Volker Langbehn.
Volker continues his South American trek through the Southern Cone of South America.
What did the voters say in the California Primary ? Talking with Chad Peace.
The Top Two Primary used in California was advanced by our guest and his firm back in 2010. Is it more democratic than closed primaries allowing independents to participate, or does it produce skewed results ?
California Primary Results: Talking with Professor Jack Pitney.
The June 2nd California primaries are just behind us and Professor of American Politics at Claremont McKenna College, Jack Pitney, gives us his analysis. Set up for the November 2026 midterms.
Brew Bird: Bringing the perfect pour over to the office of freshly brewed coffee on demand. Talking to founder Mickey Du.
The third wave of coffee connoisseurship is here, where beans are sourced from farms rather than countries and roasting is about bringing out the unique taste characteristics of each bean. Artisanal roasteries are plentiful in the Bay Area , Seattle and Portland, all of which are historic coffee regions and towns. Brew Bird brings craft coffee making to the office from the cafe.
Talking with Danny Sauter, San Francisco Supervisor.
Danny Sauter was recently elected from District 3, to the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. His District covers the North Eastern neighborhoods of the City including historic and iconic names like Chinatown, Telegraph Hill, the Embarcadero, Fisherman's Wharf, Nob Hill, The Embarcadero and North Beach. A millennial, Danny and his fellow newly elected millennials are bringing a new energy and leadership to City Hall to get San Francisco moving again.
The Heart Brain Connection: the key to long term wellness. In conversation with Dr. Mitch Elkind, Chief Science Officer, the American Heart Association.
Our guest leads the American Heart Association's initiatives on brain health and brain science, including stroke, aging and dementia, migraine, traumatic brain injury and mental health.
Xi's Forever Purge. The real goal behind China's Self Revolution. Talking with Shengyu Wang.
Since Xi Jinping has come to power in 2012 he has purged millions of cadres and senior officials. Of late he has used the term Self Revolution to ensure that the culture of anti bribery and anti corruption takes root in every corner of the CCP and Chinese society as a whole. Is it a viable, long term strategy to root out corruption ?
Dexterity night in San Francisco: Physical AI meets the Robotic Hand. Talking with Dr. Junghee Ryu, CEO of RLWRLD.
RLWRLD is a partner with NIVIDIA's physical AI ecosystem . It is developing a robotic hand, RLDX-1 , that can perform contact rich tasks with humanlike dexterity. Physical AI is the intersection of AI software and physical engineering. A robotic hand with humanlike dexterity is often cited as the last mile in the development of humanoid robots.
What They Stole: A familicide rooted in intercountry adoption. Talking with author Paige Towers.
In the wake of the Korean War (1950-53), intercountry adoptions between South Korea and the United States grew rapidly. More than 120,000 Korean children were adopted by American families from the 1950s to present day. Two evangelical Christians Harry and Bertha Holt, were early leaders and founded the Holt Adoption Agency. A young couple in Iowa , the Sueppels, worked with the agency to adopt four kids from Korea. What began as a storybook tale of family creation through adoption ended in shocking tragedy.
Forbidden Stories: continuing the work of threatened, silenced or murdered reporters. Talking with founder Laurent Richard.
International Investigative journalists are vulnerable to attack but Forbidden Stories is doing something about it. Safebox Network ensures that even if the reporter is killed, their story will be taken up and published be a network of collaborating journalists. The goal of the organization is to prevent reporters being silenced for their beliefs and discoveries.
San Francisco on the Rebound. Talking with Sean Randolph.
San Francisco is on the rebound after years of political mismanagement and Covid hangover. 17 of the largest AI companies in the world are located in San Francisco. And the City continues to be a magnet for top talent - this time, AI specialists. Venture capital investment is also fueling a rapid turnaround.