The San Francisco Experience

Jensen Hwang, Founder of Nvidia, says that we are now in the era of accelerated compute. And Nomad Platforms is a prime example of that leap in computer technology. The potential applications for Nomad v2 are too numerous to list. But to give you one visual that sums up its capability, its a portable data center the size of a carry on case you can stow in the overhead compartment of a plane !

Alison recounts the story of Del Seymour who recovered after a life of 18 years of homelessness and incarceration to go on to found Code Tenderloin which has reclaimed thousands of former drug addicts and homeless people from the streets of San Francisco. She also gives us a master class in journalistic interview technique drawing out her subject Del to discuss painful truths from his past life. For an unrelated project, she is looking to interview current and former ICE agents.

Tom's memoir of a life of accomplishment culminating with a business milestone of being employee number 57 at Facebook is inspirational and full of reflection and introspection. Today as a Coach to CEOs, Philanthropist and a podcaster, he continues to write more inspirational chapters in his personal Book of Life.

Dickie Arbiter served as the Queen's Press Secretary from 1988 to 2000, with a special remit for then Prince Charles and Lady Diana. Since then he has become a noted royal commentator and international lecturer. He brings a unique behind the scenes Palace perspective, and worked with the Queen during the 1992 Annus Horibilis and Diana crises. He discusses the current Andrew crisis and King Charles' decisive action to strip his brother of all royal titles in the wake of the ongoing Epstein scandal.

A High School senior has set up his own company to teach after school coding classes to middle schoolers in the Bay Area, overseas and online. Learning to balance life and work as a teenager.

With Nancy Pelosi's announcement that she is not seeking re-election next year, the starting gun to replace her has been fired. The coveted Pelosi endorsement is being discussed: nothing official but Connie Chan appears to be the likely recipient. While not a declared candidate, Supervisor Connie Chan is expected to run. Two other candidates State Senator Scott Weiner and Democratic Socialist and former Chief of Staff to AOC, Saikat Chakrabarti have are officially running.

Election night November 4th saw the Proposition that would re-draw California's congressional districts to favor the Democrats with five seats passed easily. Zohran Mamdani, a Democrat Socialist was elected Mayor of New York, and two moderate women were elected Governor in Virginia and New Jersey. An eventful evening for the Democrats.

The global fashion industry is $1.8 Trillion and represents 1.6% of global GDP. WearIt.AI enables individual users to embed their images wearing selected fashions on TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and earn commissions. Drawing on WearIt's team of stylists with access to leading fashion brands, users can build their personal brands

Retail is a challenging business sector due to on line retailers like Amazon for instance. But in San Francisco a unique retail chain located in two iconic and globally famous neighborhoods - the Castro and Haight Ashbury - is successfully showcasing local artists and artisans. It's a business strategy that is paying dividends to its owner and founder Robert Emmons.

The UK turned on its' fastest supercomputer several months ago called Isambard AI. Powered by more than 5000 Nvidia GPUs it is located on the campus of Bristol University. The Center for Supercomputing is headed up by Professor Simon McIntosh-Smith.

There are almost 35 million small businesses in the US and collectively they generated $40 trillion in revenues in 2024. So many people who enjoy corporate careers dream about running their own business. That's what Lloyd and Keith were able to achieve with their picture framing business in San Francisco.

In a detente between a big city Democrat Mayor and President Trump - a first - immediate ICE deployment in San Francisco will be paused. The Mayor also spoke with AG Pam Bondi and Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem. He announced that DEA and the FBI will work with San Francisco law enforcement to halt drug dealing and arrest dealers.

Professor Zeitzer argues that we now have scientific evidence to show that abandoning our biannual change of clocks would have health benefits for a significant number of Americans. The findings of which he is the senior author are published in The Proceedings of The National Academy of Sciences. Don't forget to turn back your clocks one hour on Sunday November 2nd !

Mayor Lurie has proposed a Family Zoning Plan which reflects the compulsory and unrealistic housing goals dictated by Scott Wiener, a State Senator. Lori is the Co-Founder of Neighborhoods United SF which has deep reservations about the plan. And she is running to replace incumbent D2 Supervisor (appointed by London Breed) who supports the plan. Lori's D2 Campaign Website is: www.LoriBrooke.com

Classical Music continues to be a popular music form for all ages. San Francisco's KDFC which will soon be re-branded as Classical California along with KUSC in Los Angeles on October 27, 2025 is a key part of San Francisco's music scene.

Gabrielle followed the lives of 16 migrant families from Brazil, El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras who have settled in the North East United States. Education for their children was a prime motivator to put up with the vagaries of the informal immigration process.

Congressman Charles C. Diggs Jr. was the founding Chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus and the first African American elected to Congress from Michigan in 1954. He was notable for his quiet, effective leadership . He was the personification of the shift in black politics from protest to elections.

Karl Malden's career as an actor spanned the stage, the big screen and TV. He won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in 1952 for his performance in A Streetcar Named Desire. He co-authored the memoir with his daughter Carla Malden.

The plan to upzone wide swaths of San Francisco, especially on the Westside of the City faces widespread opposition. Recalled Supervisor for District 4 Joel Engardio and State Senator Scott Wiener are major proponents of the plan. What happens next ?

The last 100 days of Franklin Roosevelt's life coincided with some momentous events in US history. As WWII was drawing to a close, the Yalta Conference brought together the three Allied leaders, Churchill, Roosevelt and Stalin to confront some of the thorniest issues of the day and that still loom large to this day. That conference laid the groundwork for the Post World War II Order which prevail to this day, 80 years later.

Lagoon Valley is a master planned community close to Vacaville, California about 65 miles NE of San Francisco. It's a new community of homes incorporating economic prosperity, environmental preservation and social responsibility. When completed by 2030 it will comprise 1000 homes.

The Maritime Museum along with the historic ships at Hyde Street Pier is part of the National Park that celebrates San Francisco's rich and deep maritime history. With Fleet Week coming up October 11th and 12th the Museum will be holding a viewing party at the pier to watch the Parade of Ships and the Blue Angels. Check Maritime.org website to buy your tickets.

San Francisco had never recalled an incumbent Supervisor, until September 16th, 2025, when Joel Engardio lost his seat on the Board of Supervisors. Preliminary results showed that 64.6 % of the voters in District 4 voted to recall him. Early into the evening, Engardio conceded the loss, but claimed that he was on the right side of history.Albert Chow is a resident, voter and small businessman in D4 and played a leading role in the Recall campaign.

NATO, the 76 year old defence pact of 32 countries that has weathered the Cold War, the Fall of the Berlin Wall, collapse of the USSR and liberation of Eastern Europe without firing a shot, faces new challenges: the Third Age. Renewed super power rivalry, the rise of populism and political disarray among liberal democracies, as well as European fears about US defense commitments, are angst inducing developments for Western security built around Atlanticism.

Investing in Crypto is poised to take off since the Department of Labor has recently clarified its' ruling on cryptocurrency investing through 401k accounts. Learn what the risks and potential rewards are for this class of alternate investment are and whether it is an appropriate choice for you.

Can Sailing as an athletic exercise help people with Parkinsons ? Listen to the episode to learn from Bertrand, a person with Parkinsons, about his experience sailing around the world in the Ocean Globe Race in 2023/24.

Cybersecurity is all about protecting computer systems, networks and data from digital attacks. Will Artificial Intelligence reduce the power of the hackers and bad actors or enhance it ?

IBHS is the leading safety institution that establishes standards that are used in building standards particularly at risk for fire among other risks. With September and October being the peak of wildfire season in Northern California, Steve Hawks joins us to discuss improving building standards to mitigate wildfire risk.

Carla Malden is an accomplished screen writer, novelist and memoirist. Among her literary works is the memoir "When do I Start", which she co-authored with her father, Academy award winning actor Karl Malden.

Artificial Intelligence is shaping the future of Cybersecurity.Risk = Threat x Vulnerability x Consequence

Rinaldo discusses the potential impact of tariffs on the corporate sector and the need to revamp the insurance industry before it collapses.

The Black Bear Ranch was established as a commune in Summer 1968 by a group of young men and women from San Francisco. Located 318 miles North East of San Francisco in remote Siskyou County on 80 acres, it still exists. The re-mastered 2005 film was re-released in Summer 2025.

Shaun highlights two podcasts Still the Place and We are Knot Done Yet that feature actresses who starred in Melrose Place and Knots Landing respectively, reminiscing about the shows. But the styles of the two podcasts are in stark contrast with lessons for making a successful show.

Chabad of the Neighborhood, West Portal Avenue, San Francisco welcomed a live podcast discussion about Anti-Semitism at the historic Empire Theater, the home of Chabad of the Neighborhood. Rabbi Mendel Levin and Devorie Levin were our hosts for the evening.

The 2024 campaign and in particular the 57 days between Biden's disastrous debate June 27th and Harris' formal acceptance of the Democratic Nomination August 23 was one of the most tumultuous and consequential periods in modern Presidential history. The Comeback relates Donald Trump's unlikely return to the White House.

Adam has two addictions: drugs and digital technology. Robbed and finding himself in an alley without his smart phone, he is untethered from the internet and his self created reality. He stumbles into town and meets several characters on an involuntary road trip who show him a life and experiences beyond the digital world.

The Los Padres Hotshots are an elite corps of Wildfire Fighters - like Navy Seals - who race into California's wildfires with chainsaws, shovels and pick axes, to halt the advance of fires. As civilians flee the fire, Hotshots aggressively arrest the advance of flames by carving fire lines through the blazing forests and undergrowth. Wildfires have given way to Megafires.

While millions of Americans track their biometrics daily - steps, heart rate, blood pressure - how do we interpret that data and give it context ? Can we use it to improve the quality of our lives, and make better health decisions ? Lotic AI enables you to do that.

Political violence in America is on the rise. As the Nation has grown more diverse through immigration, militant violence has grown. Attacks have targeted religious and ethnic minorities, law enforcement and have been perpetrated by anti government extremists, religious extremists and lone wolf shooters.

With a market Capitalization of $ 3.1 Trillion, Apple makes 500,000 iPhones everyday mostly in China. 90% of iPhones are produced there. Apple has built the world's most advanced electronic production supply chain in China, not America.

The Bay Area is home to a significant space industry. It benefits from the national labs located here, research universities and venture capital industry.

George Joannides was a CIA Branch Chief at the CIA Miami Station. He was responsible for the Anti Castro student group the DRE. The DRE baited Oswald in New Orleans for passing out pro Castro flyers. They also ensured that Oswald was interviewed on radio and TV as a left wing Castro sympathizer. Those clips were used after the assassination to bolster the Oswald lone nut Castro supporter image.

Independent voters, especially among Gen Z and Millennials is a growing cohort and eschews the binary choice of Democrat or Republican parties, unlike their Baby Boomer parents. Such a political realignment could help break the polarized politics that plagues our country.

Jayne Mansfield was a Hollywood film star of the late 1950s and early 60s. Her daughter Mariska Hargitay has directed this documentary with a strong personal memoir of her Mother. It can be seen on HBO.

An era of great technological change is unfolding before us which will transform every aspect of our lives sooner than you think.

To reduce the chasm of polarization in American Politics, Professor Fishkin has developed a successful process of Deliberative Polling that he has employed in 160 cases in the US and overseas to great success.

Michelangelo's 34 frescoes in the Sistine Chapel, which he painted in the 16th Century, are considered to be one of the greatest artworks in the Western artistic canon. Martin Biallas, the CEO of SEE Global Entertainment, walks us through the creative genius behind the Exhibition which is currently on display at San Francisco's St. Mary's Cathedral as well as eight other global venues.

Henry Christophe was a Haitian revolutionary leader and patriot who fought in the Battle of Savannah against the British. He rose through the ranks of the French Army to become a General. Then went on to be President and subsequently King of the State of Haiti.

Life has found ways to adapt on Earth for almost 4 billion years. Climate change, industrial pollution and diseases pose new and additional burdens on all forms of life. Yet adaptation continues all around us.

The Big Beautiful Bill contains AI legislation that would preclude all states from regulating AI for 10 years. Any existing laws would be paused for 10 years. Such action could decimate consumer protections. But AI fans argue that having 50 states each legislating their own rules would hamstring AI development putting the US at a competitive disadvantage to China.

Independent voters are a growing slice of the American electorate: They swung to Trump in 2024 and 2016 and Biden in 2020. The Independent Center focuses on these voters who are fiscally responsible, socially tolerant and free to choose the best options for themselves, their families and communities.