KTVU's Bay Area People

Erica Dann says living in the Bay Area wasn't part of her plan, but a job opportunity at Google brought her here. Now, she's Miss California USA. KTVU's Claudine Wong sat down with Dann to talk about being a woman in tech, what inspired her to enter the pageant world, and why she thinks the competition is changing.

Mt. Diablo High School senior Priscilla Martinez Rodriguez enlisted in the Marines last August and is now awaiting boot camp. KTVU's Claudine Wong caught her at the gym where she trains for free (more on that in this podcast), to talk about the journey that brought her to the United States and how the memory of her sister keeps her going.

KTVU's Claudine Wong continues her conversation with UC President Janet Napolitano to discuss her priorities, higher education, and why it's so difficult to get into college.

The Bay Area is home to Raina Telgemeier, a best-selling author and illustrator behind the books "Smile," "Drama," "Sisters" and "Ghosts." KTVU's Gasia Mikaelian sat down with the author who tells the story of when she fell and knocked out her two front teeth. Telgemeier said she drew on those experiences and emotions for her first book, the graphic memoir titled "Smile." That book spent more than four years on the New York Times bestseller list. 

Before she became UC president, Janet Napolitano led the U.S. Department of Homeland Security from 2009-2013. KTVU's Claudine Wong sat down with the Santa Clara University alum about her time in office and the big issues we're facing today. Stay tuned for part 2 of this interview to hear about her time as UC president!

Five-year-old James O’Leary has just been named an international ambassador for Nothing Down, a non-profit aimed at raising awareness about Down syndrome. KTVU's Claudine Wong visited James and his mother Larkin at the family's Santa Rosa home, where they talked about James, the difficulties they face as a family, and the message they hope to share with the world about Down syndrome.

East Bay congressman Eric Swalwell doesn't shy away from the national spotlight. He's an outspoken critic of President Trump and a frequent guest on cable news. Now, he's running for president. KTVU's Claudine Wong sat down with Rep. Swalwell on the day he kicked off his campaign to learn more about him and his upbringing, his college days and why he says living in the Bay Area has prepared him to be president.

He was San Francisco's first African-American mayor, and 15 years after his time in office, Willie Brown is continuing to make his mark across the city. KTVU's Amber Lee sat down with Brown to talk about his legacy, the issues facing the city today, and even has some advice for anyone considering a career in politics.

Feng Shui master and fortune teller, Y.C. Sun tells KTVU's Claudine Wong that the zodiac calendar can tell us a lot about work, love, health and even politics.

Working with your spouse isn't always easy. Take it from Scott Grinthal and Lauren Mayer, musical performers who've been married for 14 years. KTVU's Claudine Wong sat down with the couple to find out how real life influences their performance.

Jenni Cho, concert master for the California Symphony says her job is all about patience and collaboration. It's the same set of skills necessary at home, where she grows a "food forest" in her yard. But what exactly is a food forest? KTVU's Claudine Wong visited Cho at her home to see it for herself.

Have you ever thought about who makes your wine? We're not talking about the winery, but the actual winemaker. How does their story affect their product? KTVU's Claudine Wong went to a custom crush facility in San Francisco to talk about diversity in the wine industry with Theodora Lee, owner of Theopolis Vineyards, and Fern Stroud, founder of the Black Vines event, meant to showcase the work of African-American vintners.

After six years of suffering, Adam Jacobs was diagnosed with a condition that has no known cure. So to distract from the pain, he turned to his passion of photography. KTVU's Claudine Wong sat down with Jacobs to talk about how his pictures reflect the way he sees the world.

Earl "E-40" Stevens put his hometown of Vallejo on the map with songs like "Tell Me When to Go" and "Sprinkle Me." Now the rapper is expanding his empire with his own wine and tequila, and a popular, deep-fried Filipino food that he calls his "favorite dish in the world!" KTVU's Sal Castaneda sat down with E-40 to talk about his humble beginnings, his rise to fame, and his goals for the future.

KTVU Fox 2 anchor/podcast host Claudine Wong and senior special projects producer Anna Trinidad share the inspiration behind "Bay Area People." Our podcast launches April 10, with new episodes every Wednesday!