SF Weekly Podcast

On this week's episode of the SF Weekly Podcast we chat with our newest columnist, Stuart Schuffman — better known to many as Broke-Ass Stuart — and we discuss what is quite clearly the biggest party foul of the summer: Not getting the vaccine. In addition to joining the SF Weekly team, Schuffman is also co-hosting a web series about the resilience of San Francisco businesses. Join us!

This is why we can't have nice things. Just as Americans were finally beginning to truly let their guard down, mother nature and a fair amount of unvaccinated folks, joined forces to put our hot vax summer on hold. But, in all seriousness, the delta variant is serious. It is more contagious than previous strains of the novel coronavirus, it is more deadly for the unvaccinated, and it is even causing so-called "breakthrough" cases of COVID-19 in those who have received the vaccine. So, what are we to do? Well, none of us at SF Weekly is qualified to answer that question, so we called up Dr. George Rutherford from UCSF to get his take on the situation. Join us.

As the Irish glam rock god once sang: The bars are back in town! (The bars are back in town!) One month after California's official unmasking, San Francisco just might be the safest place in the state, country, and even the world, to party... at least for now. But as we hopefully, truthfully, for real this time, begin to put the pandemic in the rear view mirror, there is a question on every San Franciscan's mind: What's going to happen to all those parklets? As of last week, the Board of Supervisors ruled they can stay and on this episode of the podcast we explore how they came to be and where they might be headed. Plus we run down some of the best albums of 2021 so far. Join us!

As Donald Glover once said, "This is America (whoo!)." On this week's edition of the SF Weekly podcast, given that it's the Fourth of July and all, we are taking a look at how the United States Anti-Doping Agency caught Sha'Carri Richardson slipping (ugh) and how one Alameda County police officer be trippin' (double-ugh). Happy Birthday, America. God... you're old.

On this week's episode of the SF Weekly podcast, contributor Saul Sugarman discusses how social media platforms like Instagram and Shopify are turbo-boosting the commercialization of Pride. Also, Veronica Irwin and Benjamin Schneider talk about Mayor London Breed's promise to divert funds from the police department to help underserved youth of color — which didn't exactly pan out the way all the glowing headlines made it appear earlier this year. Join us!

As Roger Daltrey once said: Meet the new boss! On this week's episode of the SF Weekly Podcast we get to know Carly Schwartz, the newly installed Editor in Chief of SF Weekly, the San Francisco Examiner, and the Nob Hill Gazette. Carly shares her vision for reimagining three storied local media brands, gives us a rundown on the breadth of experience she brings to the table, and discusses the state of journalism today. We'll also hear from SF Weekly contributor Veronica Irwin who discusses vaccine skepticism and hesitancy in the cannabis industry. Join us!

Tell 'em where to goooooooooo! In the past 14 months, Oakland, Berkeley, and San Francisco have seen a surge in sideshows — much to the chagrin of the over 30 professional crowd (and especially dog owners). Law enforcement and politicians have responded with measures aimed at shutting down the impromptu (and illegal) expressions of modern American car culture. But what if there were another way? Staff writer Veronica Irwin joins us to discuss what she discovered when reporting this story. Hint: the most effective solution doesn't necessarily involve special task forces and punitive public policy. Also: Kevin chastises Nick — reminding him how lucky he is to be alive after attempting his own sideshow maneuver back in his mid-20s.

This week on the podcast, staff writer Benjamin Schneider breaks down his most recent tome, which is focused on a plan to connect the 21-county NorCal "megaregion" by a network of trains. Nick and Kevin also discuss the prospect of a Metalocalypse movie and try to figure out why all the burners are so mad. Join us!

With each passing day, it's becoming increasingly clear exactly how this pandemic will be brought to heel. The more people get vaccinated, the fewer cases of coronavirus we have. It really, hopefully, knock-on-wood, seems to be as simple as that. With control of the pandemic in sight, it's now time to re-focus on the other challenges facing San Francisco. The drug overdose epidemic, driven by the opioid fentanyl, is, by any reasonable measure, San Francisco's gravest public health and safety threat. And it has never received the attention it deserves in the public eye. As SF Weekly staff writer Benjamin Schneider reports in this week's cover story, San Francisco went from being an exemplar in the field of drug overdose prevention, to an epicenter of America's escalating overdose crisis in just a few short years. In his story, he describes how that happened, and what politicians and public health researchers say we should do about it. It's not as simple as giving everybody a vaccine. We chose San Francisco street artist Calamity Fair to create this week's cover art precisely because his work can be difficult to look at. His wheat paste collages — with "Weird Lady" being the most recognizable and ubiquitous — are gonzo, bug-eyed, brains-out affairs, which seem to be aimed at unsettling the viewer. They are menacing reminders of the surveillance state… a perpetually humming anxiety… what Hunter S. Thompson might have described as “The Fear.” As the city continues to grapple with its epidemic of drug overdoses and death we take a hard, uncomfortable look at what this alpha opioid is doing to our streets and our people.

Caitlyn Jenner may be the highest profile challenger to Gov. Gavin Newsom, but she is far from the only one. On this week's episode we run down the list. Also, Nick talks with Lily Sinkovitz about this week's cover story, "Journalism at San Quentin," which explores how San Quentin is becoming a model for prison journalism and what it might portend for the future of crime and punishment in America. Join us!

This week on the podcast, SF Weekly contributor Veronica Irwin turns in a double feature. Veronica joins Nick as this episode's guest co-host, and also files her interview with a veteran of the legal cannabis space, Andrew Angelo. Find out how Veronica stumbled into her first dose of the vaccine while on a 100mg edible and searching for munchies at a local drugstore, and discover what she knows about a certain Silicon Valley big shot who has been talking a lot of shit about local taxes and advocating for businesses to leave the state, while continuing to keep a residence in the city.

It's 4/20, mannn... In the spirit of getting high, we talk about our latest cover story, "The Commodification of Psychedelics," with Peter Astrid-Kane. As substances like magic mushrooms, LSD, and DMT become more mainstream, what is gained and what is lost? Also, Nick and Kevin take a trip (down Memory Lane) back to Niles Canyon and the Secret Sidewalk. The large cement structure running through the hills east of Fremont is actually an old aqueduct managed by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. For generations, teens and young adults have trekked out to the spot to explore, rip the bong, and engage in mostly harmless mischief. Now, the local government is finally doing something about it: they're thinking about turning it into a legit park. And so, again, we ask the question: when a place or thing that is significant to the counter culture is legitimized and made mainstream, what is gained and what is lost? Join us!

What do Martin Luther King, Jr., Richard Nixon, Donald Rumsfeld, and Andrew Yang have in common? An interest in guaranteed income. With Nick on vacay, Grace gracefully helms the podcast — talking with Ben about numerous local efforts to bring guaranteed income and universal basic income to the people. And Veronica Irwin sits down with Yakpasua Zazaboi, the documentary filmmaker behind "Sydewayz," which takes a deep dive into Oakland's sideshow culture. Join us!

East Bay avant-pop duo tUnE-yArDs talk about their new album, 'sketchy,' their evolution from a solo looping project to a full band, soundtracking Boots Riley's excellent film 'Sorry to Bother You,' and why bassists tend to become producers. Also: Getting to know Matt Gaetz — Florida's creepiest congressional representative.

What the hell is a Gen Z and what does it look like? Well... just ask 24kGoldn. The 20-year-old San Francisco-born rapper, singer, and musician is the subject of this week's SF Weekly cover story. Tune in to hear his interview with our music writer Julian Robles. To get to it, you'll have to skip past Nick and Kevin talking about Kevin's experience getting the COVID-19 vaccine at Moscone center, and their painful discussion about not understanding the kids these days. Luckily, if you do want to skip ahead, you're probably technically savvy enough to do that. How do we work this remote control again? Join us!

Outside Lands is scheduled for Halloween weekend, spring — and vaccine optimism — is in the air, and State Sen. Scott Wiener wants to make some of the best drink and dining policies of the pandemic permanent. Let's celebrate! On this week's podcast SF Weekly music writer Will Reisman returns to talk about just a few of his top 100 indie rock albums of all time while sampling some of the newest beers from Anchor Brewing Company. Also on the podcast, Benjamin Schneider talks with Ca. State Sen. Scott Wiener about bills he is sponsoring to help San Francisco's dining and nightlife industries bounce back. Join us!

We're a year into lockdown and making questionable decisions... like taking a weed gummy just as we're falling asleep on a work night. Hear about Nick's accidental wake and bake and why "I think this acid is bunk" are famous last words. But more importantly, tune in to hear SF Weekly Podcast's audio engineer, Mike Huguenor, discuss his latest cover story, "A Year of Live(Streamed) Music." As a professional musician, the past year has been particularly trying for Mike and the rest of his peers. But the industry definitely discovered a few silver linings along the way and there is hope on the horizon. Join us.

Nick isn't really conspiratorially minded, but he sure is vain... and he finds it hard to resist a good head of hair. As such, he explains, while the impetus for the Gov. Gavin Newsom recall can certainly be traced to high taxes, there is another, far more simple school-yard-bully principle at play: jealousy. And so, he implores his listeners to follow the advice Hal Holbrook's Deep Throat gave to Robert Redford's Bob Woodward in that atmospherically lit parking garage: "Follow the hair." Speaking of conspiracy theories, we also dissect the numerology behind the latest QAnon nothingburger of March 4 and take a look at the latest in the militarization of American police. Yeah... The NYPD got one of those "Black Mirror" robodogs. Eeesh. All this, plus Benjamin Schneider explains what the hell is wrong with Muni.

We took a week off, and boy it was a doozie. The bulk of the country was crushed by ice, Texans were burning furniture to stay warm, and Ted Cruz was crushing Tecate Lights (we think) in Cancun. Also on the podcast, Veronica Irwin catches up with one of the co-founders of Artet, a cannabis company that produces low-THC weed beverages. Join us.

Tippling is out — but toking and tripping are totally cool, man... This week former SF Weekly Editor Peter-Astrid Kane is the guest co-host, as we find out what it means to give up on booze, but not necessarily other drugs. Join us!

The Association of Bay Area Governments recently determined that the Bay Area needs a whole lot more housing. No duh, right? Some people are pleased with the determination of the most recent Regional Housing Needs Allocation — or RHNA — process. Others... not so much. Staff writer and resident urban planning guru Benjamin Schneider breaks it all down for us, and explains the double entendre of his Twitter handle. Plus Kevin and Nick discuss the state of vaccines in San Francisco and which action hero we'd like to see in Sacramento if Gov. Gavin Newsom actually gets recalled.

This week we dive into the music of Hunter Ellis, a North Bay musician with connections to Nick and Kevin's rock and roll past. Hunter's new album, "Face Tapes," is an excellent listen — perhaps even better than this episode showcasing it. Join us!

Kevin has the week off, and we all take a breather from politics, as Veronica Irwin explains how the COVID-19 pandemic put a squeeze on the global aluminum can supply — and what that has meant for San Francisco breweries. Join us!

Donald Trump has been impeached a second time — proving, yet again, that this is definitely the dumbest timeline. Kevin and Nick feel a bit better after having a week to digest everything, but still don't know what the hell is coming next. Also on the podcast, Ben Schneider talks about his love of urban planning and his latest cover story on the unique Bay Area neighborhood characters. Join us!

It is said that those who do not learn the lessons of history are doomed to repeat them. So, now that the 45th president of the United States has incited a riot, can we all please agree not to ever let that happen again? We're looking at you, Ted Cruz, Lindsay Graham, Mitch McConnell, and the rest of you opportunistic enablers. Kevin and Nick unpack their feelings on the storming of the Capitol, plus SF Weekly contributor Hannah Holzer talks about the lessons San Francisco learned — or failed to learn — during The Great Influenza Pandemic of 1918. Join us!

Happy New Year! Auld lang sine! All that good stuff. For this, the final episode of a rotten year, we decided to take it easy — pouring ourselves a few cold ones and talking about music. SF Weekly contributor Will Reisman joins us to discuss a few highlights from his list of the best 20 indie albums from 2020. Join us!

This Christmas, while tipplers are nursing hangovers, tokers will be feeling just fine (provided they haven't stuffed themselves with one too many helpings of roast beast). Perhaps it's time to go California sober? In that spirit, SF Weekly cannabis contributor Veronica Irwin connects with veteran San Francisco weed advocate and the world's first licensed pot consumer, Wayne Justmann. So grab some green and hit play.

This week on the podcast, Benjamin Schneider talks about his latest cover story on the corner stores of San Francisco. Kevin has the week off, so no one is there to laugh at Nick's dumb jokes. Oh... and the paper is under new ownership, in case you hadn't heard. Join us!

This week, we revisit one of Kevin's pet peeves: the fact that sitting Senators don't have term limits. We discuss this in the wake of a "New Yorker" report that brings into doubt the mental fortitude of California Senator and former San Francisco Mayor Dianne Feinstein. Also this week: former Golden State Warriors forward Matt Barnes joins us to discuss his latest collaboration with Eaze, which aims to improve equity in the legal cannabis industry. Finally, we thank the health care workers of the world — who have a long four or more months ahead of them until a COVID-19 vaccine can be widely distributed. Join us!

There's just something about The French Laundry... On this week's episode, we touch briefly upon Mayor London Breed's very own Yountville scandal and discuss the best and worst (we're looking at you Sir Paul and Maria) Christmas music. Also, Mike Huguenor takes us to an alternate timeline of Oaktown and interviews the creators of the funny, scripted comedy and music podcast Tampon Rock. Join us!

Well... 11 down — one more to go... and we can finally close the book on 2020. This year was particularly crazy. Amid the pandemic, the civil unrest, the election, and the wildfires, we somehow managed to launch a podcast. As we recover from our turkey hangovers and look forward to the rest of the holiday season, we look back at the past 24 episodes of the SF Weekly Podcast — bringing you a few of our favorite, jolly moments. All this, plus we talk to our friends at Anchor Brewing and 21st Amendment to find what they have in the way of seasonal brews. Join us!

Governor Gavin Newsom is getting sous vide-d over his decision to attend an inside dinner at The French Laundry. Not a good look, but we can relate... especially if your friend is buying. You are, buying right? Kevin and Nick talk about the power of perfect hair, the hope of a vaccine, and the sweet relief cooler weather brings to those of us who sleep hot. Also on this week's podcast, Veronica Irwin chats with Amber Senter about the great work queer women are doing in the legal cannabis industry. Join us!

Jackie Fielder has that big progressive energy. The local political activist, who challenged California State Senator Scott Wiener in the November election, was defeated, but she generated quite a a buzz. So, what's next for Fielder? We'll ask her that and more on this week's edition of the SF Weekly Podcast. Plus: we celebrate our local Veep-to-be, Kamal Harris, and learn a lesson on sliding into the comfortable, conservative life is a lot like shopping at The Gap. Join us!

Joe Biden looks to be flipping Arizona, Pennsylvania, and maybe even Georgia — at least that was the case at the time we recorded this week's podcast. Nick and Kevin breathe a sigh of relief and Benjamin Schneider discusses how San Franciscans have been voting on local and state issues. Also, the print edition has returned. Be sure to pick up a copy next time you see one in one of those news box thingies. Join us.

OooOooOooOoo! It's the first ever Halloween episode of the SF Weekly Podcast. It's also our 21st installment, which means our young 'cast is now old enough to drink. Too bad all the bars are closed. This week we have SF Weekly Staff Writer Grace Li interviewing Ying Liu, a local woman with a passion for the paranormal. The third season of Ying's local ghost hunting show, “The Haunted Bay,” is available on Amazon Prime. And, we also have a ghost story — "The Witching Tree" by Mike Schneberg — a curious tale of dendrophilia set in Sonoma County's Armstrong Woods. Oh! And we don't talk politics on this one... well... except to say that Florida voters should take care to stab those hanging chads to death. Join us!

This week on the program we breakdown the final presidential debate — attempting to understand why two simple words aren't enough to diffuse the Trump bomb. We also dive into another bummer of an app: Party Squasher... Lame. Also, Veronica Irwin talks with Chris Garcia of Berkeley cannabis dispensary High Fidelity about the perils and pitfalls of running an all-cash business. And, we catch up with Frak, who discusses his new album, B-List Celebrities, how he was robbed by the King of the Dot judges and why he is head-over-heels in love with Aubrey Plaza. Join us!

Podcasting hero Roman Mars joins this week's edition of the SF Weekly Podcast to discuss his new book, "The 99 Percent Invisible City: A Field Guide to the Hidden World of Everyday Design." Plus, we do our thang discussing the news of the day — and boy what a week did we have. Between the Supreme Court confirmation hearings, the Hug Heard Round the World, kidnapped lemurs, and near collisions of giant space junk we don't even really know where to begin. But in the time of coronavirus, this podcast is just about the only time Kevin and Nick get to riff with each other — so, we'll try. Join us!

So... what does it say that the most explosive moment of this week's Vice Presidential Debate was when a fly landed on Mike Pence's head. Ugh... We can't wait for this to be over. In the meantime, we talk with Oakland-based bluesman Fantastic Negrito, who has a new album out: "Have You Lost Your Mind Yet?" The Answer is yes. And, in a first — perhaps in all of podcasting — but definitely for SF Weekly, we talk with a low-hanging cloud. That's right! Karla the Fog joins us on this week's episode. Join us!

Whoo boy. What a week. We thought we'd end up talking about the debate, then we thought we'd talk about the Melania tapes, but then Trump tested positive for the coronavirus. Nick and Kevin try to wrap their head around the news. Plus, we catch up with Benjamin Schneider, who recently wrote about San Francisco's dual economy; and we chat with the couple who brought us the story of Pinky the Cat — a story of love and war (on Nextdoor, that is). Join us.

Conservative or nah...? That was the question the Philadelphia Weekly asked their readers right before they got ratioed on Twitter. Kevin and Nick discuss why catching feelings for the Republican Party doesn't mean you're a free thinker — it just means you're basic AF. All this, plus we chat with San Francisco artist Jeremy Fish about his "Stay Strong San Francisco" campaign to benefit bartenders and the hospitality industry, and we talk to Ike Shehadeh of Ike's Love & Sandwiches. Join us!

Syndicated cartoonist Keith "Keef" Knight got his start at SF Weekly back in the '90s. Now, he is the co-creator of the new Hulu sitcom "Woke" — about a Black illustrator waking up to societal ills in San Francisco. We talk with Kieth about the show, his career, and the Black Lives Matter movement. Also on the podcast, SF Weekly contributor Veronica Irwin checks in on San Francisco's Cannabis Equity Program — finding that while the initiative means well, it is still not reaching the people it intends to help. Plus: Nick and Kevin fold space-time to find the connection between an unauthorized advertisement for a San Mateo cloud computing company projected on the side of City Hall and the Terence McKenna lecture series they used to listen to on tape while smoking weed back in the day. Oh... and the SF Weekly Podcast is now available in the Google Play store. Sorry for lagging on that. Join us!

We thought things were bad back on the Mordor Edition of the SF Weekly Podcast. This week, the skies over San Francisco turned the color of a blood orange. We discuss this ominous outcome of all the wildfires burning across the West Coast with SF Examiner staff writer Michael Barba. And we breakdown how the QAnon conspiracy theory landed on Senator Scott Wiener's doorstep. Join us!

Nancy Pelosi visited a hair salon, and Tucker Carlson isn't happy about it. Kevin and Nick breakdown the big blowout on this week's episode. Plus, we catch up with Ricky Reed. The East Bay-born musician, Wallpaper. frontman, and Lizzo producer has a new collaborative album, "The Room." Finally, we learn all about beer cocktails and the refreshing "Hazy McClaren" from Michael Huffman of San Francisco's Seven Stills. Join us!

The suburbs are under attack! Or so say the McCloskeys. We are a bit skeptical, however. Nick and Kevin breakdown the main thrust of the RNC — it was essentially all about law-abiding, totally non-racist, red-meat — and learn an important lesson about accepting free chipped beef. Also on this week's podcast: Muni can't seem to get the trains running on time and the unexpected joys of a pandemic wedding. Join us!

It was a particularly apocalyptic week in the Bay Area — even by 2020's standards. An oppressive heatwave, followed by a rare thunderstorm, followed by the beginning of fire season. Still, we find things to look forward to. Like the Inside Lands festival — the virtual event hosted by Outside Lands. Kevin and Nick figure out where they each come down on the +44/Angels & Airwaves divide, and Kevin learns about one of our regions most sought-after producers: Ricky Reed. Thanks for tuning in! Plus we hear a new song from San Francisco indie trio Fast Times and check in with Sara Gaiser — editor of our sister paper, The Examiner — who is now helping her fifth-grader navigate remote learning.

Dead-panning rap lyrics in your best square-ass white dude voice is never a good look. But just in case you forgot that, Ben Shapiro gave us all a reminder this past week. On this, tenth episode of the SF Weekly Podcast, we discuss the Cardi B. and Megan Thee Stallion slapper, "WAP," and mock Shapiro for just not getting it. We also discuss Nick's investigative piece, "Boats & Shows" and find out how a short blog post on a “Floating Boat Cinema” led him down a tangled, intercontinental clickhole. All this, plus: a new hard seltzer by 21st Amendment Brewing and what to stream with Grace and Ida. Thanks for tuning in!

We check in with expats in Tokyo and New Zealand to see how they've experienced the pandemic. One commonality to these two island nations: respect for scientific consensus and a willingness to wear masks. Also, we overhear an epic cat fight in Kevin's living room, re-visit "The Call of the Wild" and discuss why Republicans keep torturing themselves with "Rockin' in the Free World" and "Born in the U.S.A." and consider. Finally, we catch up with Oakland pop-punk trio Grumpster about being a band in the time of coronavirus and listen to their new single, "Teeth." Join us. (Photo: Ben Houdijk, Shutterstock)

Poison oak, some boyhood bravery... This week on the podcast Kevin and Nick recall an eventful vision quest to the "Secret Sidewalk" in Niles Canyon. The day was April 20th, some time in the early years of the 21st century, and we were chased out by a private security force of helicopters and unmarked SUVs. This episode is all about the great outdoors, and about trying to have fun in our surreal pandemic summer. In that spirit, we chat with SF Weekly intern Hannah Holzer about her story on Golden Gate Park's 150th anniversary, and we talk to longtime Bay Area film critic Richard von Busack about his life long love affair with drive-in movie theaters. All this, plus we have new music from ...And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead, who are playing a series of virtual concerts in support of local clubs all over the country — including San Francisco's very own Bottom of the Hill. Join us.

Kevin breaks down the timeless appeal of "Showgirls" on this week's edition of the SF Weekly Podcast. Fewer boobs, butts, and dongs than "Game of Thrones," but it is nonetheless a glorious piece of schlock. We also chat about when we'll feel comfortable eating outside as San Francisco continues to look for ways to help the ailing restaurant industry. Then, we talk with Nuala Bishari about a former San Quentin inmate who is now helping prisoners escape the COVID-19-infested facility, discuss how BART is working to defeat NIMBYs with Benjamin Schneider, and chop it up with Grace Z. Li, who recently wrote about the therapeutic process of making noodles from scratch. Join us.

On this week's podcast we get up close and personal with Kevin's grumbling tummy — plus, we discuss the arrival of a new shared moped line in San Francisco, why rich people drink more, and the bison cam of Golden Gate Park. We'll also check in with Oakland ambient music composer Chuck Johnson, who wrote and recorded his new album, "Mound of Shards," while sheltering in place and battling COVID-19. And we'll touch base with Benjamin Schneider, who wrote this week's cover story on just how maddening it is for many stuck in unemployment insurance limbo. Thanks for listening!

When you are a man, sometimes you wear stretchy pants. This week on the podcast we learn all about this Nacho Libre-ism — and also about "taqueria shorts" — the hard way... or, more precisely, the soft and squishy around the midsection way. Also! We speak with Grace Z. Li about her thoroughly researched story on systemic racism and performative allyship at Boba Guys; chat with Mike Huguenor about the San Francisco librarians on the front lines of the pandemic; and catch up with the boys from Fast Times, a local band with a killer new indie garage single, "Tuesday Night." We hope you'll join us.