California Frontier

The real story of California bandido Joaquin Murrieta is darker—and far more complicated—than the legend. Historian and New York Times bestselling author John Boessenecker joins Damian Bacich to separate fact from folklore and reveal how a Sonora-born miner became California’s most infamous outlaw. They explore the Gold Rush’s violence, anti-Mexican sentiment, Murrieta’s gang, the California Rangers, the Cantua Creek manhunt, and the truth behind the alleged display of Murrieta’s head. ...

This is the second interview in a series marking the 250th anniversary of the Presidio of San Francisco. Damian Bacich sits down with historian Dr. John Langelier, author of Bastion by the Bay: The Presidio of San Francisco, from Outpost of Empire to Magnificent Park, for a sweeping conversation covering the Presidio's founding by Spain, its Mexican and U.S. Army eras, the Buffalo Soldiers who became America's first Black national park rangers, two World Wars, the Cold War, and its transforma...

The story of the Presidio didn't end with Spain or Mexico—it was only beginning. In the second half of my conversation with Rob Thomson, Federal Preservation Officer, and Kari Jones, archaeologist with the Presidio Trust, we explore the remarkable transformation of the Presidio of San Francisco from a remote Mexican frontier outpost into one of the most important military installations on the West Coast—and ultimately into one of America's most innovative national parks. We discuss how the U....

How did a lonely Spanish outpost become one of America's most remarkable historic places? In this episode, I sit down with Rob Thomson, Federal Preservation Officer, and Kari Jones, Chief Archaeologist with the Presidio Trust, to explore the fascinating history of the Presidio of San Francisco—from its founding by Spain in 1776 to its role as the northernmost military outpost in Alta California. Our conversation examines why the Spanish chose this strategic location, what daily life was like ...

In Part 2 of this conversation, Damian Bacich talks with wine historian Kevin Ferguson, descendant of the Gemello Winery family, about the dramatic rise of California wine, the legendary 1976 Judgment of Paris, and the family stories that connect Silicon Valley, Napa Valley, and Italian immigrant winemakers. They also explore how Prohibition, entrepreneurship, and even Bank of America played unexpected roles in California's wine history. Whether you're interested in California his...