The San Francisco Experience

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.

Nomad Platforms: A Mobile High Performance Computer and Portable Data Center. Talking with CEO & Co-Founder Brandon Schultz.

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 !

11-18
27:18

Mayor of the Tenderloin, Del Seymour. Talking with author Alison Owings.

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.

11-13
40:54

My life in Business Suits, Hospital Gowns and High Heels. Talking with author Tom LeNoble.

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.

11-12
44:37

Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson. Talking with Dickie Arbiter, Queen Elizabeth's former Press Secretary

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.

11-07
49:29

Mode to Code: Educating students of all ages around the world about coding and technology. Talking with founder Jacob Shaul.

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.

11-07
23:59

Nancy Pelosi, Speaker Emerita, will not seek re-election to Congress in 2026. Speaking with Professor David McCuan.

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.

11-06
26:40

Proposition 50 sails to victory in California. Talking with Professor David McCuan.

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.

11-06
42:42

WearIt.AI - Embedding Fashion in User Generated Content. Talking with CEO and Founder Dr. Kitty Yeung

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

11-04
31:47

San Francisco Mercantile: a unique retail chain. Talking with owner and founder Robert Emmons.

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.

11-04
31:07

Isambard AI - The UK's Super Computer. Talking with Professor Simon McIntosh-Smith

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.

10-28
33:24

Walter Adams Framing and Capricorn Framing. A small business success story. Talking with owners Lloyd Haddad and Keith Wicker.

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.

10-24
32:37

President Trump postpones ICE deployment in San Francisco after talking with Mayor Lurie. Talking with Professor Jack Pitney.

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.

10-23
12:51

Daylight Savings Time : Should we abandon it ? Talking with Stanford Professor Jamie Zeitzer.

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 !

10-22
36:12

Family Zoning Plan - Mayor Lurie's take on Upzoning San Francisco Neighborhoods. Talking with Lori Brooke, Candidate for District 2 Supervisor.

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

10-21
40:11

Classical California KDFC: Classical Music for the San Francisco Bay Area and Beyond. Talking with Bill Lueth.

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.

10-16
36:24

Now we are here: Family Migration, Children's education and dreams of a better life. Talking with author Gabrielle Oliveira.

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.

10-15
37:23

The House of Diggs: The Rise and Fall of America's most consequential Black Congressman, Charles C. Diggs Jr. Talking with author, Professor Marion Orr.

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.

10-07
51:52

When do I start ? The Karl Malden Memoir. Talking to co-author Carla Malden and Shaun Chang.

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.

10-06
01:01:39

Mayor Lurie's plan to upzone San Francisco faces an uphill struggle. Talking with Tim Redmond

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 ?

10-02
31:34

The San Francisco Maritime Museum. Talking with CEO Darlene Plumtree.

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.

09-23
24:12

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