Muni Diaries
Muni Diaries
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The Muni Diaries podcast is where you'll hear true stories that happened on public transportation in San Francisco and the Bay Area, presented by the editors of MuniDiaries.com. Since our launch in 2008, we've gathered stories from more than 4,000 transit riders. To submit your own story, or read more bus tales, visit MuniDiaries.com.
Available episodes
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Sep 5, 2023
Ep. 145: The enduring impact of 'Forgotten Cemeteries' on San Francisco
What lies beneath the streets of San Francisco? In some cases, the history of how those streets and infrastructure we know and love (or at least use and tolerate) came to be.
San Francisco’s Forgotten Cemeteries: A Buried History, the newest book from local author Beth Winegarner, is out now. Beth stopped by the podcast to discuss the role the city's dead have on infrastructure (which includes public transit, as you'll learn in this episode), early NIMBY antics, and our civic responsibility to residents who've passed on.
Beth is a journalist, author, essayist and pop culture critic who has contributed to The New York Times, The New Yorker, and The San Francisco Examiner—where she first met Muni Diaries cofounder Tara Ramroop. She is the author of several books, including Sacred Sonoma, Beloved, The Columbine Effect: How Five Teen Pastimes Got Caught in the Crossfire and Why Teens are Taking Them Back, and Tenacity: Heavy Metal in the Middle East and Africa.
Check out more of Beth's work at bethwinegarner.com.
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Jul 16, 2023
Ep. 144: How a life lived on Muni evolved into a life of civic duty
Muni is San Francisco's deep end: immediate and immersive exposure to strangers, testing our tolerance for other people's music, aromas, food, volume, attitude, or public habits. Meymey Lee, a born-and-raised San Franciscan, was exposed to all of it since they were a baby. At Muni Diaries Live in April 2023, they shared how Muni not only spawned a best-friendship, but also an unwavering sense of civic pride and community.
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Jun 16, 2023
Ep. 143: A seasoned international bus rider tackles Muni
Storyteller Adrianna Tan is an enthusiastic bus rider who has ridden buses in more than 30 countries worldwide. But when she finally moves to San Francisco five years ago, she quickly finds out that in many ways, our Muni is not like all the rest.
This story was recorded at Muni Diaries Live in April, 2023 at Rickshaw Stop. If you have your own Muni tale to share on our podcast, pitch your story by emailing us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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May 23, 2023
Ep. 142: Finding a long lost Muni operator
We first got to know storyteller Kurt Schwartzmann when he shared the story of how Muni and Muni drivers gave him shelter while he was homeless. He went on to become a professional artist, with a series of paintings dedicated to Muni drivers. In this episode, he shares the story of searching for a long lost Muni operator.
You can find Kurt's art at Yellow Line Art. To pitch your own Muni story, write to us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com. And don't forget to subscribe and share this podcast with your friends!
Photo by Emily Huston
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Apr 27, 2023
Ep 141: Life on the school bus (Part 2)
Last time, we heard from Tanea Lunsford Lynx, one of the artists behind Muni Raised Me: a multimedia exhibition by San Francisco born-and-raised artists exploring what Muni means to the people who grow up riding it. An educator, Tanea brought their students to the show and we were lucky enough to experience some of their own original spoken-word artistry. We had so much material, we invite you to join us for Part 2. As ever, we're inspired by this next generation of folks that draw from Muni to create, contribute, and build community with one another.
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Apr 11, 2023
Ep. 140: Life on the school bus from (and for) those in the know
Tanea Lunsford Lynx is Chair of the Spoken Arts Department at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts and one of the artists behind Muni Raised Me, a multimedia exhibition by San Francisco born-and-raised artists exploring a central question: What does Muni mean to the people who grow up riding it?
Tanea brought their students to the Muni Raised Me exhibit to perform their own original poetry about Muni in a guerrilla-style spoken word show, and we had the privilege of sitting in to listen and record.
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Feb 21, 2023
Ep. 139: Muni's dramatic origin story
In today's episode, public transit advocate, designer and illustrator Chris Arvin shares the dramatic story of how Muni became the first public transit system in a major US city.
Complaining about the bus might be San Francisco's unofficial favorite past time, but few know about the true origins of our transit system.
You can find Chris at @chrisarvinsf on Twitter, and you can also shop their Transit themed merch at transit.supply.
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Jan 25, 2023
Ep. 138: The great loves of Sheila McElroy's life
Sheila McElroy has spent her professional life studying, writing about, and talking about place: how our sense of it grounds us in history and provides context for how we see, move around, and make sense of the world. In this story, told at Muni Diaries Live in November 2022, Sheila digs into her own personal sense of place and the role it plays in her journey.
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Jan 10, 2023
Ep. 137: When small talk pays off on Muni
What would make you take off your headphones on the bus to talk to a stranger? In this episode, storyteller Alex Randall shares how he started talking to his fellow riders, and how these "Muni chats" changed the way he looks at our city. Alex takes the 38 Geary often and he likes all things San Francisco: history, sports, art, politics, and public transit. You can find him at @ArtrepreneurSF on both Instagram and Twitter.
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Dec 13, 2022
Ep. 136: Asking the tough questions on Muni
How often do you ask yourself, "What would you do if this happened to you on Muni?" Storyteller Keli Dailey explores that very difficult question on stage at Muni Diaries Live, where she shared a tale about an unexpected turn of events on the bus. Keli is an award-winning journalist, performer and educator. She teaches media classes at the University of San Francisco, Saint Mary's College of California and Mills College, where she also leads the Communication program.
She says that she believes in the power of comedy to communicate news, and that's something we can definitely identify with here at Muni Diaries headquarters.
Got a story to tell on the podcast? Email us a short pitch at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com!
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Nov 29, 2022
Ep. 135: Leading the flock of Muni converts on Halloween
Storyteller Ilyse Magy has hella Muni bonafides: she was the first paid “staff member” of San Francisco Transit Riders, where she helped pressure city officials to actually ride the bus. But one Halloween evening, when Ilyse found herself evangelizing the value of public transit, the Muni gods had other plans.
You can see even more Muni (and SF!) goodies at the Muni Diaries Art Market this Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at 80 Albion, from noon to 4pm!
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Nov 22, 2022
Ep. 134: An evening with Mr. Boston, Muni operator
Many of you might know Mike Delia better as Mr. Boston, an operator on the F-Market and an impressive list of standard lines across town. Hailing from Massachusetts, he got bit by the transit bug when he was just 5 years old, riding the bus with his father, who was also an operator. You can often find him wearing his distinctive operator's cap on the F line, perhaps even on Car No. 1059 -- painted in his hometown Boston livery.
At Muni Diaries Live last month, Mike shared the story of his journey as a transit operator, which brought him to San Francisco, and his battle with a serious illness that brought him closer to so many of his passengers.
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Nov 1, 2022
Ep 133: Searching for one long lost Muni shelter
Here at Muni Diaries headquarters, we don't often talk about ourselves because, after all, Muni Diaries is about your stories. But every once in a while, something happens that still makes us go, "I can't believe that went down." So today, cofounders Tara and Eugenia are sharing the story of how, in 2010, they came across a particular Muni shelter that they're still looking for to this day.
Oh, and by the way, you DO have tickets to Muni Diaries Live this Thursday (Nov. 3), right? Head to MuniDiaries.com or this Eventbrite link, and use the listeners-only discount code PODCAST to get yours soon!
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Oct 25, 2022
Ep. 132: Meet the new additions to the Muni Diaries crew
You might have seen these two awesome people who joined the Muni Diaries crew earlier this year, and in today's episode, you'll get to know more about our new editors, Kat Siegal and Sarah Katz-Hyman. If you are a part of the local Transit Twitter community, you are probably already familiar with their names (and witty tweets), and today they'll share what makes them so passionate about San Francisco.
We’ve always admired Kat and Sarah’s deep knowledge of public transit, their local activism, and their love for this city. You'll meet Kat and Sarah live at our next Muni Diaries Live show on Nov. 3, 2022! Use the code PODCAST to get a listeners-only discount to the show. See you there!
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Oct 11, 2022
Ep. 131: Broke-Ass Stuart opens up about 20 years of documenting San Francisco
If you live in San Francisco for any length of time, you can't not know Broke-Ass Stuart. Stuart Schuffman (and his team of writers) have been writing about San Francisco for two decades now, and he is celebrating the occasion on Oct. 13 with a big 20th Anniversary Party.
We took the opportunity to chat with Stuart to find out what he thinks is going better in San Francisco since he started, how he's grown his Patreon in challenging economic times, and some behind-the-scenes stories from two decades of writing about the city.
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Sep 25, 2022
Ep. 130: Becca Henry's unbelievable New Year's Eve on BART
Comedian Becca Henry say she is San Francisco born, raised by wolves, and got her start on stage performing comedic burlesque before buying new bras and making her way into standup. In today's episode, she recounts one wild evening on BART on New Year's Eve before she was heading to a performance.
You can find Becca on Instagram @beehenry. Or, if you're in New York City, she's on the schedule doing comedy at The Grisly Pear in Greenwich Village.
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Jul 14, 2022
Ep. 129: Of trauma and forgiveness at a 22-Fillmore stop
San Francisco native and San Francisco Standard journalist Meaghan Mitchell takes the stage, sharing this life-changing experience from her youth at a 22-Fillmore stop. A reminder that stories on Muni Diaries can range from sweet and quirky, to weird and funny, to powerful, at times uncomfortable, and personal.
tw: violence against women
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Jun 15, 2022
Ep. 128: BART Board by day, Muni superhero by night
When BART Board Director Janice Li saw a fight break out on the bus, she took matters into her own hands. But what she saw after making a public information request for the bus footage (which anyone can do, BTW) was something else entirely.
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May 23, 2022
Ep. 127: Katie Haverkamp and LeBron James (the cat) just can't quit SF
The world’s biggest Boat Tram fan Katie Haverkamp (mom of Muni-riding cat LeBron James) returned to the Muni Diaries Live stage to explain why she can't quit San Francisco. Spoiler alert: this lady has got zero commitment phobia when it comes to her love for this city.
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May 9, 2022
Ep. 126: Hayden Miller's wild ride
Safe streets advocate Hayden Miller joined the Muni Diaries Live stage for the first time in April 2022. He might be in high school, but his expertise was known to a n00b Muni operator, who leaned on that knowhow for driving directions (seriously). All ended up in some...uncharted territory.
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Apr 25, 2022
Ep. 125: A Muni operator you really need to meet
We're thrilled to bring you a live taping from our return to the stage at Muni Diaries Live on April 7, 2022! In this episode, Muni operator MC Allen explains how he went from transit fan, San Francisco devotee, to a Muni operator who went absolutely viral on Twitter.
This is a story that we want every San Franciscan to hear. You can follow MC on Twitter @that_mc. And subscribe and share this story with your podcast-listening friends.
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Mar 22, 2022
Ep. 124: Two poets enter, one poet leaves...it's the Muni Haiku Battle!
If you’ve been to Muni Diaries Live, you know we end every show with a Muni themed poetry throw down called the Muni Haiku Battle. After taking a two year break from the stage during the pandemic, Muni Diaries Live is back at Rickshaw Stop on Thursday, April 7, 2022! We are so excited to be back and today’s episode is a little preview of what you can expect.
In today's episode, poet and transit enthusiast Mc Allen throws down with challenger Wonder Dave in a battle for his crown.
Mc Allen and Wonder Dave will both be back on April 7 at Rickshaw Stop. Get your tickets here to see them live!
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Mar 4, 2022
Ep. 123: Returning to the stage with Meaghan Mitchell
We are back! And in more ways than one. We've been busy cooking up a little something for you, and we're ready to let the cat out of the bag! Muni Diaries Live is returning to the stage on April 7, 2022!
It's been almost exactly two years since our pandemic-induced hiatus, and we can't wait to see you.
In celebration, we're bringing you a story from our live show by Meaghan Mitchell. She's a native San Franciscan and a journalist at the San Francisco Standard. You'll be able to see her return to the stage at our come-back show.
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Nov 23, 2021
Ep. 122: Finding the silver lining in teaching on Zoom
Educator Kelly Gregor Hartlaub had been a librarian for some time until the pandemic hit, and she was suddenly called to become a teacher on Zoom for distance learning. Her first task as a Zoom teacher? Sex education.
And that wasn't even the hardest part. Kelly shares the challenges of teaching on Zoom, how she and fellow teachers kept going, and how she reached out to a student who was an English learner having a hard time during this all.
We’re always looking for stories about how San Francisco has changed and transformed you, whether it happened on Muni or off.
If you’ve ever been inspired by a story on our podcast or gone to one of our storytelling shows and imagined yourself on stage, we are here to help!
Please email us your story idea at munidiaries.sf@gmail.com, or tag us @munidiaries on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
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Oct 5, 2021
Ep. 121: How the beloved Boat Tram became a real boi
We're bringing you a blast from the recent past from the stage of Muni Diaries Live in 2019. Storyteller Chris Arvin is a product designer who is passionate about cities and public transit. You might know Chris from the the adorable pins, stickers, Clipper card covers that they’ve designed at their store called Transit.supply. But what you might not know is that Chris is also a big part of what made Boat Tram - that famous open top tram on Market Street - such a part of San Francisco culture.
Chris shares how the life of Boat Boi started on Twitter, and you can follow Chris on Twitter @chrisarvinsf and Boat Tram @boattramsf for the latest going-on's of this beloved SF icon.
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Aug 4, 2021
Ep. 120: Aruna dreams of kimchi
Aruna Lee is the founder of San Francisco-based Volcano Kimchi, whose organic kimchi and sauces are made in her "Fermentation Lab" in Dogpatch. Aruna grew up in a Buddhist monastery in Korea, where every meal included an assortment of kimchi.
When she arrived in San Francisco in 2001, doing anything related to food was the furthest thing on her mind. In this episode, Aruna shares the journey of how she built her small business in San Francisco, using her childhood memories as inspiration.
You can find Volcano kimchi and sauces at the Ferry Building Farmer's Market, Clement Street Farmer's Market, Good Eggs, Rainbow Grocery, and more.
We are always looking for stories of people who make San Francisco the beautiful city it is today. If you have a story to share or someone to nominate, email us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Jul 20, 2021
Ep. 119: A print magazine of our very own: Meet the San Franciscan
Proving that San Francisco is still a place that cheers on grassroots ideas, Erica Messner and Amanda Legge launched a new magazine about our city and called it, The San Franciscan. Launching a magazine (a print one, at that) is no small feat, especially in the pandemic. Erica and Amanda share the story of how they made their pipe dream into reality, despite a little hiccup along the way from their other favorite magazine.
Amanda and Erica have a new issue out, and the cover features our favorite mode of transportation! You can get a copy of it, featuring work from 30+ local artists and writers, at local favs spots like Green Apple Books, Dog Eared, and Alley Cat.
We are always looking for stories from people who love and care about San Francisco. Nominate someone (or yourself) to be on our podcast by emailing us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Jul 7, 2021
Ep. 118: Opening Night at Rickshaw Stop
After shuttering for more than a year since the start of the pandemic, San Francisco venues finally opened their doors for the first time this summer. We talk to Rickshaw Stop managing partner Dan Strachota about their first indoor show and how things have changed for independent venues. Dan also gave us a behind-the-scenes peek at the unexpected things that happens when you haven't used your venue in 16 months.
You can find Rickshaw Stop's event calendar at RickshawStop.com.
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Jun 14, 2021
Ep. 117: Combating amnesia: a conversation with Shaping San Francisco's Chris Carlsson
After 15 months of COVID-related restrictions, San Francisco is opening up this week. There's no time like the present to look at what our history can teach us about pivotal moments like this. On the podcast today, we chat with Chris Carlsson, the director of Shaping San Francisco and the co-director of FoundSF.org, a rich online archive of San Francisco History,
Chris is a writer, San Francisco historian, tour guide, and wroyer. He recently published a new book called “Hidden San Francisco: A Guide to Lost Landscapes, Unsung Heroes and Radical Histories.”
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Feb 15, 2021
Ep. 116: When true love leaves you in stitches
Storyteller Kathleen Auterio moved to San Francisco from Massachusetts to do new things, just like in the BeeGees song. It was 2000, and everything seemed to be on track: she had an apartment, a roommate, and a job at SFWeekly doing the adult ads in the back of the paper -- a job that accepted her as a full metalhead. When she meets a new guy at the paper, they would soon come face to face with a relationship trust exercise that most people can't imagine.
Kathleen is also a Muni Diaries Live alum: you can hear her story about an eventful Muni ride on episode 81 of our podcast.
We are always looking for people to share their stories about what makes San Francisco uniquely ours. If you have a story to share, pitch your idea to us by emailing us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com. And don't forget to rate us on Apple Podcasts to help people find more stories about the city by the Bay.
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Jan 13, 2021
Ep. 115: Facing my Moonies childhood in San Francisco
Storyteller Teddy Hose grew up in the Unification Church of the United States, whose followers are more commonly known as the Moonies after founder Sun Myun Moon. His father came to San Francisco as an artist in the 1960s, living in the famed artist commune in the Goodman Building on Geary and Van Ness.
In this episode, Teddy shares his story of returning to San Francisco as an adult to start his life as an artist. San Francisco was, ultimately, the best place for him to examine his family’s past and the imprint it has left on him today.
We are bringing you stories about the people, places, and things that keep San Francisco ticking. Everyone has a story—submit yours by emailing us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com, or by tagging us @munidiaries on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.
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Dec 31, 2020
Ep. 114: Your 2020 commute, as seen by Muni Diaries readers
Here at Muni Diaries HQ, we usually end the year with a fun and lighthearted “Top Most WTF Moments of the Year” type of countdown. But in 2020…where do we even start?
As shelter-in-place became a more permanent fixture of our lives, documenting life in San Francisco, especially via commute tales, took on a different meaning. We saw the uphill battle faced by so many small businesses and venues (like our beloved Rickshaw Stop), and the struggles of essential workers, particularly Muni operators and first responders—many of whom relied on Muni to get around. We’re grateful that we could help share those stories.
So here are some highly memorable moments from your commuter tales, in this Dumpster fire of a year.
As always, Muni Diaries is made entirely of stories by San Franciscans like yourselves. Our inbox is always open for your tales: email us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
Thumbnail photo by @jack.kerouac.alley on Instagram.
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Dec 8, 2020
Ep. 113: "Hearts in San Francisco" to inaugurate newest member
Artist and Muni Diaries Live alum Kurt Schwartzmann is paying artistic tribute to other facets of San Francisco life with artist Deirdre Weinberg, who has created public art for more than two decades. The duo first collaborated on beautifying the outdoor dining space for the iconic Buena Vista cafe this summer, and now they've partnered on the newest of the Hearts of San Francisco—which have benefited the San Francisco General Hospital Foundation since 2004.
In this week's podcast episode, we chat with the artists about how they became stewards of a beloved San Francisco tradition.
Know someone who's giving back to San Francisco in a meaningful way? We want to know! Pitch a story to us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Nov 18, 2020
Ep 112: Artist Paul Madonna on finding the "Spirits of San Francisco"
Artist Paul Madonna just created a new book called Spirits of San Francisco: Voyages through the Unknown City, written with Gary Kamiya. The book features vignettes of the history and topography of 16 different locations in the city.
Madonna's drawings of San Francisco range from a well-known views spanning over the Embarcadero, to more obscure corners of the city like Calhoun Tower in North Beach on Montgomery and Union. As he draws en plein air—from real life rather than photographs—Madonna had to find just the right time of day to depict his subject. Sometimes, he and Kamiya even found themselves in places they weren't really supposed to be for the good of their project.
Go to MuniDiaries.com to see photos from Spirits of San Francisco. Got a story idea for us? Our inbox is always open: muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Nov 1, 2020
Ep. 111: Election Special: 2020's transit ballot measures that every rider should know
We invite San Francisco Examiner transit reporter Carly Graf to talk about this year's ballot measures that can change the landscape of public transportation as we know it today. Though the pandemic has severely reduced ridership and budget, public transit was already in trouble with the proliferation of Lyft and Uber. We chat about Prop 22, Prop B, why you should get to know the BART board of directors, and more.
What do you think of their take on the transit-related props on the ballot? We want to hear from you: email us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com. And if you haven’t done your early voting, now is the time!
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Oct 12, 2020
Ep. 110: Reporter shares BART busker afterstory
San Francisco Chronicle reporter Rachel Swan was reporting on the anti-panhandling ordinance last year when she met rapper Tone Oliver, whose story became symbolic of how this ordinance can impact artists like him.
You can follow her reporting at the San Francisco Chronicle website or on Twitter @rachelswan.
Don't forget to subscribe to the Muni Diaries podcast to keep up with more first-person stories about life in San Francisco. And if you have your own story to contribute, email us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Sep 29, 2020
Ep. 109: Bailing out a rookie Muni driver
You know when a way-too-crowded bus followed by a nearly empty bus right behind it, and you’d wonder, why doesn’t anyone get on the empty bus? In this episode, Muni operator Ricardo sheds some light on why this happens, and how he tried to bail out a rookie Muni driver in this predicament.
This story was read by Steve Pepple of VibeMap, who's also a Muni Diaries Live alum.
We are always looking for stories about life in San Francisco, on or off the bus. What’s the best thing that happened to you here? Did something or someone in SF change you? We want to hear all about it. Anyone can submit a story to this collective online journal: just email us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Sep 14, 2020
Ep 108: Playing Muni driver, if only for a few minutes
In today's episode, rider Tara got to do something that most bus passengers never get to do. This story is read by Muni Diaries reader Amanda Staight.
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Aug 31, 2020
Ep. 107: Painting the pandemic void, one storefront at a time
A couple of San Franciscans created a project that truly made lemonade out of all the lemons that 2020 has thrown at us. Paint the Void matches mural artists with shuttered storefronts, and since April, the nonprofit has matched artists who beautified over 84 shops and restaurants, making walking around in San Francisco a joy again.
In today's podcast episode, we invite Lisa Vortman, the Co-Founder, Director of Photography, Media and Storytelling of Paint the Void, to share the story of the first mural she photographed for the project. Go to MuniDiaries.com to see photos of the mural she talks about in the story.
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Aug 21, 2020
Ep. 106: SFMTA head Jeffrey Tumlin explains why taking Muni is the "right thing to do"
Muni, like many other public transit agencies around the country, is facing a financial "death spiral" in the face of the pandemic. In today's podcast episode, we talk with Jeffrey Tumlin, the Director of Transportation of the SFMTA who started in his role right at the end of last year after the underground meltdown.
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Aug 10, 2020
Ep. 105: Can you solve the mystery of the Dancing Leg Neon sign?
Where do neon signs of yesteryear go to retire? In this episode, we invite two neon historians to tell us about their neon "white whale."
Al Barna and Randall Ann Homan are the creators of San Francisco Neon, an organization of historians, educators, and advocates for the beautiful neon signs you see all over our city. They are also the authors of the book, San Francisco Neon: Survivors and Lost Icons.
SF Neon now has evening virtual presentations about the history behind beautiful neon signs in the Tenderloin and Chinatown. There’s an online version of their festival called Neon Speaks which is in September. You can find out more at SFNeon.org.
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Jul 24, 2020
Ep. 104: I miss Muni.
Muni Diaries reader Amanda Staight shares why she misses the bus, and after this many months of sheltering in place, we bet you feel the same.
Amanda is a lover of neighborhoods, communities and casual conversations. She collects and tells stories as a passion and occupation. Her favorite seat on the bus is next to the rear door, up the little steps in the back.
If you have your own Muni tale or sentiment to share, or a pandemic tale of San Francisco living, we want to hear from you! Email us your pitch at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Jun 23, 2020
Ep 103: Finding a connection on Muni
Today's episode features a story submitted by Muni rider Wil, who seized a moment of connection on Muni. This story is read by Muni Diaries reader Dayne Watai.
In the last few weeks we have all been re-examining social justice in our communities and our place in it - we've had some healthy debate on our social media about whether Muni should be used to transport police and protestors, and the role of public transit in race and class. Follow us @munidiaries on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter to chime in. We'll continue these conversations while also bringing you stories of everyday San Franciscans, as we always do.
If you have a story to share, our inbox is open for your pitch. Email us at muni.diaries.sf@Gmail.com.
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May 11, 2020
Ep. 102: San Francisco Diaries: How one Bernal business survived the ups and downs of SF
Today’s story is from Eden Stein, the owner of Secession Art and Design, an art gallery and boutique in Bernal Heights. Eden has seen the ups and downs of San Francisco in over a decade of keeping her store afloat. In this episode, Eden tells a story about one evening a few year ago when a man walked in, intending to rob the store.
Eden says that she is transitioning from in-store to online sales these days. In the past, 80% of her sales came from people shopping at the store in person, and it's been a major change to transition to an online-only business. You can find Secession at SecessionSF.com.
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Apr 27, 2020
Ep 101: San Francisco Diaries: Discovering the Secret Alley
The set of an obscure sci-fi film became the catalyst of building a new space in the Mission. Storyteller Noel Von Joo shares how he and a couple of friends started to build a quirky, inventive space for artists to gather in the Mission. Hidden in a nondescript building, the Secret Alley is a pirate ship, old diner, and indoor garden all at once.
This story was recorded at Muni Diaries Live in 2019. We are continuing to bring you stories about our city, submitted by readers like you. Please share this podcast with your friends and rate us on Apple Podcasts.
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Apr 16, 2020
Ep 100: Sing it together! A new anthem for Muni riders
We are celebrating 12 years of sharing your commute stories with our 100th episode. Most of us haven't been on a bus lately, and after this pandemic, we'd be so looking forward to getting back to our commute routine.
Meanwhile we will continue to bring you stories from everyday San Franciscans. Nothing says "we're in it together" more than commuters banding together.
Today's episode features Jefferson Bergey: he is a professional musician based in Oakland, and a regular performer in San Francisco's Bawdy Storytelling. He's performed at Punchline SF for SF Sketchfest; his music is featured regularly on the Bawdy Storytelling Podcast and on Kevin Allison's wildly popular RISK! podcast. Jefferson joined us at Muni Diaries Live in November 2019 after writing a new song just for us.
You can follow and support Jefferson @jeffersonbergey on Instagram, and find him on Spotify.
Keep the stories and SF spirit up by submitting your stories to muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com, and it would mean the w…
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Apr 1, 2020
Ep. 99: My "little hat" on multicultural Muni
We like to say that Muni is San Francisco's living room, and you never know where a conversation with a fellow bus rider will lead. In today's episode, rider Timo shares a story about the time when someone on the bus asked him why he was wearing his yarmulke.
Muni Diaries is made of stories by everyday San Franciscans, and in these times, your stories are more important than ever! We will continue to publish stories from our archive and hope this takes some stress off of your day while sheltering in place.
Photo by @jjinsf on Twitter.
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Mar 21, 2020
Ep. 98: When the entire bus stood up for you
In these times when most of your fellow bus riders are looking at their phone and have headphones on, reader Teresa submitted a story of how a group of women banded together when they saw another woman in a bad situation.
Muni Diaries is made of your stories. If you have a tale to share, email us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Feb 26, 2020
Ep. 97: San Francisco Diaries: Walking San Francisco's 49 Miles Scenic Drive
Kristine Poggioli and coauthor Carolyn Eidson became the first people known to have walked San Francisco’s historic 49 Mile Scenic Drive over the course of a year. You know the route, or at least you've probably seen the light blue signs with seagulls on them all over town. They’ve published a book about their experience called Walking San Francisco’s 49 Mile Scenic Drive.
In this episode, you’ll find out all about their journey and what they discovered along the way.
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Jan 12, 2020
Ep. 96: New year, new way to practice kindness
Storyteller Andrea Carla Michaels has worn many hats over the years, as a standup comic, writer for a game show, and briefly a writer for Designing Women. She now spends her time naming companies and constructing crossword puzzles for the New York Times. Two years ago she found her calling as "Pizza Lady" and you can find her daily in the alleys off lower Polk Street. We first aired this story in April 2018, and we feel like the new year is the right time to how to make a difference this year, no matter how big or small.
Got a story about how to make a difference in our city? Pitch us by email at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Dec 23, 2019
Ep. 95: Of 'ladyspreading' and leggings on BART with Annette Mullaney
Storyteller Annette Mullaney is a standup comic based in San Francisco. The San Francisco Chronicle named her one of six "comics to catch" in the Bay Area. She describes her comedy as self-deprecating, feminist, existentialist, smart, vulgar, and full of big words to prove she's been to grad school. In this episode, she shares a BART story that took a long time to see the light of day. But we're so glad she worked up the courage to share.
If you have your own story to share on our podcast, send us a short pitch to Muni.Diaries.SF@gmail.com.
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Dec 3, 2019
Ep. 94: Making my own crime scene on Muni, as told by Maureen Bogues
On her way home from a baby shower, storyteller Maureen Bogues encountered what most of us hope we wouldn't on Muni. Fueled by adrenaline, she chases after a mugger who took her phone. What would you do in this situation?
Maureen is a writer, editor, and occasional public speaker who has been featured at Beyond Borders Storytelling. This story was taped at Muni Diaries Live at Rickshaw Stop in November, 2019.
Do you have your own Muni story to share? Pitch us your Muni and San Francisco stories by emailing us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Nov 20, 2019
Ep. 93: Exploratorium After Dark: Journey to Big Lots
Storyteller Dhaya Lakshminarayana is a stand-up comedian and winner of the Liz Carpenter Political Humor Award. She's also the subject of the documentary “NerdCool.” This story was recorded at Exploratorium After Dark in 2019.
If you have your own story to share on our podcast, pitch your stories at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Oct 28, 2019
Ep. 92: San Francisco Diaries: Tradeswoman Molly Martin searches for a friend from the "Rosa Luxemburg" Collective
Today's story is from Molly Martin, a long-time activist and Bernal Heights resident. She was an organizer of Occupy Bernal, which saved many homes in the neighborhood from foreclosure.
Molly is also a tradeswomen activist and is working on a book about the history of women construction workers in the Bay Area. Her story takes us back to 1973 San Francisco.
Subscribe to the Muni Diaries podcast so you don't miss a minute of our new episodes! Muni Diaries Live is back on Nov. 2, 2019 at Rickshaw Stop. Go to MuniDiaries.com to get tickets.
If you have a San Francisco story to pitch, email us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Oct 21, 2019
Ep. 91: San Francisco Diaries: DJ Steve Fabus recounts Sylvester's farewell
DJ Steve Fabus literally provided the soundtrack to one of the most tumultuous periods in San Francisco history. He has been a fixture in the underground music scene in San Francisco since he moved here in the '70s—he described it as a calling that brought him to the city. In today's episode, Steve shares the story of how he found himself at the turn table for the farewell party of disco legend Sylvester.
You can hear stories like these live on stage at the next Muni Diaries Live show on Nov. 2, 2019, at Rickshaw Stop. Tickets are on sale at MuniDiaries.com.
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Oct 2, 2019
Ep. 90: Live from Clarion Alley
Today's podcast episode was recorded live in Clarion Alley as a part of Litquake's LitCrawl in 2017. Storyteller Jesse James shares a story about his days working at the now-closed Nob Hill Theater, the famed all-male adult theater. One evening while working behind the counter, Jesse sees a familiar face walking in, and hilarity ensues.
If you'd like to hear more stories live, we have two events coming up: a live podcast taping at Betabrand Podcast Theater on Oct. 3, and Muni Diaries Live at Rickshaw Stop on Nov. 2, 2019. Tickets are on sale at MuniDiaries.com.
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Sep 28, 2019
Ep. 89: San Francisco Diaries: Mission Comics and Art's Leef Smith on gardening the AIDS Memorial Grove
Leef is the owner of Mission Comics and Art on Mission and 18th Street. He’s a San Francisco native who is passionate about making an open, inclusive space that celebrated the creative people in San Francisco. The store features lots of mainstream AND indie comic books and a gallery space.
In today's episode, Leef shares the story of the AIDS Memorial Grove from the perspective of the city gardener's family. Leef's father was one of San Francisco's city gardeners, and helped build the the grove before it became the space we know today.
Go to MuniDiaries.com to see photos of the grove with Leef and his family.
If you are looking to hear stories like Leef's and the tales you have heard on this podcast, we are having two events this fall: a live podcast recording at the Betabrand Podcast Theater on Thursday, Oct. 3, and our Muni Diaries Live fall show at Rickshaw Stop on Saturday, Nov. 2, Go to MuniDiaries.com to buy tickets and see more information.
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Aug 22, 2019
Ep. 88: How a high school student found herself...on Muni
Muni is the through line in this week's podcast story from Simone Herko Felton, a senior at Lowell High School in San Francisco. Simone has lived here all her life and takes the 23-Monterey to go to school daily. She explains what it's like to be a high school student in San Francisco taking this cross town bus, and why this particular line is symbolic of her multi-ethnic identity.
Simone is the President of the literary magazine at Lowell High School called The Junkyard. If you have a story to share, we are all ears! Pitch your story to muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Aug 7, 2019
Ep. 87: San Francisco Diaries: Justina Wu on the consequence of assumptions
Do you often wish you said something to someone who was acting inconsiderate or rude, and you spend days thinking about what you should have said? In this episode, our storyteller didn't hold back and called out a rude fellow shopper at the checkout line, and the results would surprise you.
Justina Wu is a writer, storyteller, and producer of Beyond Borders Storytelling, a series of travel-themed workshops and story jams. Check out Beyond Borders online at beyondbordersstorytelling.org, and mark your calendars for the next show on August 14 at PianoFight in the Tenderloin.
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Jul 24, 2019
Ep. 86: San Francisco Diaries: Who gets to define this city? Listeners sound off.
Our previous episode featured Smiley Poswolsky, a self-described Millennial workplace expert who quit his stuffy Washington, D.C. job to become a writer in San Francisco. His story about personal growth and change, with NOPA/Western Addition in a prominent guest-starring role, really got our listeners talking more broadly about the state of our city—a hot topic lately.
For this episode, we invited Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight from The San Francisco Chronicle, and Bernalwood blog founder Todd Lappin, to give us their take on San Francisco's oft-discussed existential crisis, and to share their own experiences with this town we call home.
Got something to say about Smiley's story or the state of our city? Email us your thoughts at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com, or tag us #sanfranciscodiaries on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
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Jul 9, 2019
Ep. 85: San Francisco Diaries: A "Millennial expert" on who gets to define San Francisco
Smiley Poswolsky quit his D.C. government job and left his suit-wearing days behind in order to become a writer in San Francisco. A few years in, he found himself realizing that some of the things he was excited about the city were also perhaps ruining the place he loves. But who has the right to define what this city is about?
Poswolsky is an expert on millennials in the workplace, a topic that he speaks about professionally, and he is the author of the book, The Quarter-Life Breakthrough.
The state of our city has been a hot topic lately. Got something to say about Smiley's story and the current state of our city? Email us your thoughts at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com, or tag us #munidiaries on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.
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Jun 24, 2019
Ep. 84: Celebrating Pride: artist Kurt Schwartzmann on how Muni provided refuge
This weekend is Pride weekend, and we are highlighting stories from our LGBTQ community.
Today’s story is from Kurt Schwartzmann. Kurt is an artist, printmaker, and photographer. In 2006, he lost all vision in his left eye due to complications of AIDS. In the first half of 2007 Kurt was homeless and living on the streets of San Francisco. Muni buses, running around the clock, often provided him the only safe place to sleep at night. He dedicated his first series of 64 drawings to Muni operators, depict his view of what's in front of the "yellow line."
This story was told at Muni Diaries Live in April, 2019 at Rickshaw Stop. If you'd like to see more of Kurt's art, visit www.yellowlineart.com.
And remember to subscribe and rate this podcast if you liked what you heard! If you have your own story of Pride to share, email us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Jun 12, 2019
Ep. 83: Ady Lady on how her Muni ride went "from piss to bliss"
Ady Lady is a writer, performer, and all around funny person who's been described as wildly funny by The San Francisco Examiner. She's written and performed two solo shows: Sara Jane Tried to Shoot the President and From Piss to Bliss. She says she actually started writing From Piss to Bliss in a desperate attempt to maintain a state of love while riding Muni.
This story was recorded at Muni Diaries Live at Rickshaw Stop in April, 2019.
If you liked what you heard on the Muni Diaries podcast, don't forget to rate our podcast on iTunes and share it with your friends. Follow us @munidiaries on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to stay up to date on the latest entry in our collective online journal.
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Jun 3, 2019
Ep 82: San Francisco Diaries: The residents of "Camp Folsom" share their own tales of the city
San Francisco has been a place where many young transplants found their own identity and voice. In today's episode, storyteller Colin Daly shares the tale of a house on Folsom Street where he and his group of friends found their own "chosen family" in the 1990s. The friends lovingly named the house "Camp Folsom," where a room in the Mission was only $300 and life lessons—about money, community, heartbreak, and learning to be a grownup—were included in the rent.
We are celebrating the release of Tales of the City on Netflix with our own tales of the city. If you have your own tale, we want to hear all about it! Email us your story at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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May 14, 2019
Ep. 81: Kathleen Auterio breaks the rules in a Muni holdup
When the bus came to a halt, storyteller Kathleen Auterio noticed a familiar face from her Mission neighborhood. What happened next will keep you on the edge of your seat. This story was recorded at Rickshaw Stop in San Francisco.
Kathleen was born in Boston but has called San Francisco home for 19 years. She is a heavy metal and horror movie fanatic, and has told stories at The Moth Grandslam, Risk, Porchlight and many more events in the bay.
Subscribe to the Muni Diaries podcast so you don't miss an episode of true and hilarious Muni tales! And rate us on iTunes; we want to know what you think!
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Apr 30, 2019
Ep. 80: SF Chronicle artist George McCalman documents life on the bus
Artist George McCalman shares a story of how he came to be illustrating strangers on Muni, inspired by growing up on the New York subway system. This in turn helped inspired his Observed column in the San Francisco Chronicle. Nowadays he documents life on and off the bus.
Trained as a philosophy-focused fine artist at St John’s University, George had a 14-year editorial magazine career before opening the doors of his creative branding studio McCalman.Co in 2011. In 2016, he resuscitated a dormant fine art calling and began obsessively illustrating, dreaming and painting everything he saw. And we are so glad he did! You can follow him on Instagram @mccalmanco, and go to MuniDiaries.com to see the drawing of the riders he mentions in this episode.
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Apr 16, 2019
Ep. 79: Comedian Sureni Weerasekera talk about one hot topic on BART
Sureni Weerasekera is a Sri Lankan-born, San Diego-raised, & San Francisco-based stand up comedian, actor and writer. In this story, told at Muni Diaries Live at Rickshaw Stop, Sureni shares a story about how people relate to race while riding public transit.
Sureni is a contributing writer and actor for "Life of Trying" and runs two of Berkeley's top comedy shows, "Pizza Party" and "Subhumans." Follow her on Instagram @sureni. Check out her upcoming shows at: surenicomedy.com.
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Apr 1, 2019
Ep. 78: Dhaya Lakshminarayanan's surprising reunion at the Castro Safeway
Growing up nerdy is not easy anywhere, especially in Alabama. Storyteller Dhaya Lakshminarayanan thought she'd left those teenage memories behind when she moved to San Francisco. But one day, she unexpectedly reunites with one of her long lost friends who shares those high school memories. Upon finding each other at the Castro Safeway, Dhaya and her friends embark on a new friendship that involves an urban rodeo and other very San Francisco experiences.
This story was recorded at the Betabrand Store on Valencia Street in San Francisco, as the inaugural Betabrand Podcast Theater. You can follow Dhaya at dhayacomedy.com.
Got your own San Francisco tale to share? Email us your story submission at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Mar 28, 2019
Ep. 77: Two SF Chronicle reporters on how they fell in love with San Francisco again
Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight are long time San Francisco Chronicle reporters who have seen it all. But it took riding every Muni line in one day for them to remember why they love it here so much. This year, they will be embarking on a new journey called TotalSF. We invited Peter and Heather to sit down to have a chat about their experience in front of a live audience. This episode was recorded as a part of the Betabrand Podcast Theater at the Betabrand store on Valencia Street in San Francisco.
Heather also hosts a podcast called San Francisco City Insider where you can hear all the latest on local politics. You can hear Peter on his podcast, The Big Event. Peter and Heather will be doing their own Betabrand podcast theater event on May 16, 2019.
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Mar 19, 2019
Ep. 76: The Elbo Room's Matt Shapiro finds Satan's leather jacket
Matt Shapiro is a musician and the co-owner of the Elbo Room in Oakland. After initially working at the Elbo Room for years as its manager and booker, Matt and co-owner Erik Cantor purchased the bar in 2010.
The Elbo Room has been the home of Muni Diaries Live for many years, and just before its San Francisco location closed permanently, Matt joined Muni Diaries Live on stage to share one of the many memorable, behind-the-scenes tales from the fame club. This story involved Satan, his leather jacket, and the lengths that club owners will go to keep a promise.
You can visit the Elbo Room's Jack London Square location in Oakland or find them on Elbo.com.
Muni Diaries Live has a new home at Rickshaw Stop in Hayes Valley, with a new show coming up on Saturday, April 6, 2019! Go to MuniDiaries.com to get your ticket today.
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Mar 3, 2019
Ep. 75: Gwen Carmen on saying good by to Aretha Franklin
Gwen Carmen is a storyteller, cancer survivor, and a long time teacher of the San Francisco Unified School District. In this episode, Gwen tells a story about taking BART to see one of Aretha Franklin’s final performances. On her journey home from the concert Gwen finds herself in the middle of a crime scene, luckily some of her previous students arrive to save the night.
You might remember her from the live shows or from episode 62, where she told a story about bus justice to our live audience about riding the 24.
If you have your own story to tell, email us at muni.diaries.sf@Gmail.com.
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Feb 20, 2019
Ep. 74: Meaghan Mitchell on finding a life lesson from a Muni driver
Meaghan Mitchell is a native San Franciscan and news editor at Hoodline, which you can imagine gives her tons of local cred. Meaghan shares a story of one really hard day at school and how it brought her to Muni.
And podcast listeners: we will be at the Betabrand Podcast Theater on Thursday, March 7 at 7p.m. to tape our first episode with a live audience! If you'd like to be in our audience, make sure you get a ticket (only $5!) by going to MuniDiaries.com.
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Feb 7, 2019
Ep. 73: Pete Mulvihill of Green Apple Books
Green Apple Books is one of the most beloved bookstores in San Francisco, and a mainstay on Clement Street (and now also in the Inner Sunset). Founded in 1967, the bookstore is now owned by three of its employees. We invited co-owner Pete Mulvihill to the San Francisco Diaries podcast studio to share how he went from being a young book lover working at this iconic shop to being its owner. You can follow Green Apple Books on Twitter @greenapplebooks, and be sure to visit the store on 506 Clement Street.
Got your own favorite San Francisco spot with a rich history? Send us your own tale of the city by emailing us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com!
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Jan 29, 2019
Ep. 72: Nuala Sawyer on the worst year in San Francisco
Storyteller Nuala Sawyer was having a terrible year in San Francisco. One of those times in your life when you just think things couldn't get any worse. Then, a man on Muni shared a vulnerable moment with her that changed her perspective.
Nuala is the news editor at SF Weekly. She writes about a little bit of everything: City Hall, the courts, homelessness, immigration, housing, crime and of course, transportation.
You can follow her on Twitter at @TheBestNuala, or hear her on Rollover Easy Thursday mornings at bff.fm.
If you have a story to share on and off the bus, we want to know! You can submit your own diary to the Muni Diaries podcast by emailing us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com, or tag us @munidiaries on Twitter, Instagram, or Facebook.
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Jan 10, 2019
Ep. 71: Irene McCalphin on taking up space on public transit
Storyteller Irene McCalphin has often experienced the invasion of personal space on public transit, but this one time she decided enough was enough, and she was going to take up the space she deserves.
As co-founder and massage therapist of A Sovereign Embodiment Healing Collective and Board-member of the Body Political, Irene blends magic with massage, storytelling and performance art to liberate, heal and reclaim space for marginalized community. They’re currently working on a book and facilitating the creation a healing and retreat space for queer femmes in Grass Valley, CA. You can find her writing on MammyIsDead.com.
You can also see Irene's first Muni Diaries entry involving a burrito as deterrent for pickup artists.
Got your own Muni or San Francisco story to contribute? Email us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com! And remember to subscribe to this podcast so you don't miss an episode!
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Nov 13, 2018
Ep. 70: Baruch Porras-Hernandez on giving San Francisco a second chance
Storyteller Baruch Porras-Hernandez is a writer, performer, host, storyteller, and regular KQED community events host based in San Francisco. He is a Lambda Literary Fellow in Poetry and regularly organizes poetry shows in the Bay Area. In today's story, Baruch shares an exchange that he had with a visitor while working at one of the longest running gay sex clubs in San Francisco. Upon realizing that the visitor was having a hard time in our city, Baruch encourages him give San Francisco a second try.
Please note that this story has themes about suicide if this topic may be triggering for you. The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals: 1-800-273-8255.
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Oct 16, 2018
Ep. 68: San Francisco Diaries: How BFF.fm's Rollover Easy crew made Herb Caen come alive on Market Street
Today’s story is from Luke and Chris, who you might know as Sequoia and the Early Bird on the radio show, Rollover Easy on BFF.FM.
Rollover Easy is a morning radio show that has a "healthy dose of positive news, banter, and interviews with interesting San Francisco locals." Luke and Chris are up every Thursday morning at 8 a.m. to report on and chat with locals over coffee.
In this episode, Luke and Chris shares how their mutual love for Herb Caen led to an art project on Market Street. With little construction experience, these two San Francisco lovers were determined to make Herb Caen's writing come alive to pedestrians on Market Street.
Got a San Francisco diary you'd like to share? Email us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com to submit your own!
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Oct 3, 2018
Ep. 67: Muni Haiku Battle: Alexandria Love vs. Jessica Cohen
If you’ve been to our live shows, you know the highlight of every show is The Muni Haiku Battle. It’s a Muni-themed poetry throw down and we’ve had some pretty intense battle on stage of the 5-7-5 variety.
In this episode we have our reigning champion Alexandria Love and challenger Jessica Cohen from our 10th anniversary show this April at the Elbo Room. Jessica is an illustrator, an infrequent performer/fortune teller. Jessica grew up in the East bay and went to college in San Francisco. Reigning champion Alexandria is a writer from Oakland and also the current reigning champion of the Dirty Haiku Battle at Oakland's Tourette's Without Regrets.
You can see our next Muni Haiku Battle at our fall show: Muni Diaries Live, Nov. 3, 2018 at the Elbo Room (tickets).
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Sep 20, 2018
Ep 66: San Francisco Diaries: Louis Evans and the most unexpected day in a underground parking lot
In this episode, storyteller Louis Evans shares a story of one seemingly uneventful day when he was leaving the underground parking lot at Civic Center, only to find out that there's an active shooter situation above him.
Louis is the host of the new literary event, Cliterary Salon. Cliterary Salon is a show of rowdy, original stories about female sexual pleasure or feminism or anything in that umbrella, bringing a spirit of fun sexuality to a literary scene that's traditionally been focused on cis male experience.
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Aug 28, 2018
Ep. 65: How Thea Selby makes sure there's always 'Love in the Lower Haight'
Storyteller Thea Selby has lived in the Lower Haight since 1999. She's a mom, a member of the City College of San Francisco's Board of Trustees, and, as you'll learn in this episode, a tireless advocate for the art that has defined her neighborhood for decades.
Listen up as Thea walks us through the tumultuous history behind the Love in the Lower Haight mural project
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Aug 15, 2018
Ep. 64: Judson True on interviewing Joan Didion after 9/11
When City Arts and Lectures call you to be the backup for your favorite writer, you clear your calendar right away. In this episode, storyteller Judson True recalls that one fortunate phone call in 2001, right after 9/11, when he was called to be the backup interviewer for Scott Shafer. The subject? His favorite writer, Joan Didion.
Judson is currently the chief of staff for state assemblyman David Chiu. Before that, he was once the spokesperson for the SFMTA, a job that probably no one envies. You can find him on Twitter at @judsontrue.
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Aug 1, 2018
Ep. 63: Molly Martin explores international relations on the 14-Mission
It wouldn't be a cross-town Muni line if manspreading, drinking, and unintentional, impromptu history lessons didn't factor in somewhere, right?
Today's storyteller, Molly Martin, is a tradeswoman and longtime Bay Area resident. Molly previously served san activist and organizer for Occupy Bernal, a neighborhood group focused on fighting evictions in Bernal Heights. She's currently working on a book about the history of women construction workers in the Bay Area.
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Jul 17, 2018
Ep. 62: Gwen Carmen pursues citizen justice on Muni
This San Francisco teacher survived cancer, taught hundreds of middle school kids, so you bet she wasn't going to let a creeper on the bus get off easy. Gwen Carmen told this story at Muni Diaries Live's 10th anniversary show and our jaws were on the ground.
Gwen is an activist, actress, educator, and writer whose work has appeared in Essence magazine, Plexus feminist news paper, Haight Ashbury literary journal, and numerous other small presses during the 80’s and 90’s. She was also the editor/publisher of La Morena Women of Color bilingual news paper.
Got your own story to share? We are all ears! Pitch your own Muni or San Francisco story to us at muni.diaries.sf@Gmail.com. You can help us keep the light on at Muni Diaries HQ by supporting us on Patreon.
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Jun 25, 2018
Ep. 61: Jeremy Fish's seriously San Francisco story about a Silly Pink Bunny
Some of you may remember Silly Pink Bunny, a sculpture by local artist Jeremy Fish, which held court in the Lower Haight until 2013. Jeremy joins us on the podcast today to tell the story, in his own words, of the bunny's evolution from a goofy pink (and occasionally peed-on) neighborhood fixture to the revered bronze bunny sculpture it is today.
Buckle up for a story that connects art, taggers, grand theft bunny (that's a thing, right?), crowdfunding, community, and condos into one so-San Francisco story.
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Jun 11, 2018
Ep. 60: Nato Green on being raised on Pride in San Francisco
Nato Green is an organizer, writer, and comedian in the Bay Area. The East Bay Express sums him up as, “a San Francisco-raised father, union organizer, gastronome, bibliophile, and political sparkplug.” Nato wrote for Totally Biased with W. Kamau Bell on FX. Nato's story takes us back in time to 1990s San Francisco, which was still finding its progressiveness. In this episode, he recalls an act of courage by one of his high school classmates at a time when coming out was even more complicated than today.
You should definitely check out Nato's new album, The Whiteness Album, and follow him on Twitter @natogreen.
If you liked what you heard today, please support Muni Diaries on Patreon and help us keep telling stories from everyday San Franciscans! You can find us on Patreon.com/munidiaries.
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May 30, 2018
Ep. 59: Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight: 2 reporters, 1 transit system, 60 Muni lines...in 1 day
No one's can-do spirit (and tolerance for municipal mishaps) is stronger than that of tenacious journalists. Enter San Francisco Chronicle reporters Heather Knight and Peter Hartlaub with a not-so-simple goal: riding all of the Muni lines in one day.
They called it, appropriately, #TotalMuni2018. In this episode, the intrepid pair walks us through the who, what, why, and how of this very ambitious goal.
And for all us Harry Potter nerds: Can we alternately call this experiment The Knight (Hartlaub) Bus?
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May 14, 2018
Ep. 58: Reporter Vivian Ho on the ONE thing you shouldn't do on BART
Reporter Vivian Ho has worked for the San Francisco Chronicle since 2011, covering criminal justice and breaking news. She reported on the Mario Woods shooting, the San Francisco Police Department, wild fires, and she’s just published an incredible investigative piece called "A Life on the Line." She's seen a lot of San Francisco, from the incredibly serious and life-and-death moments to the more quirky and offbeat happenings around town.
In today's episode, Vivian tells is about the one BART story that she didn't expect to be known for.
You can also hear Vivian's San Francisco Diaries story here. If you have your own story that happened on or off the bus, our inbox is wide open for your pitches at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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May 1, 2018
Ep. 57: Senait Hailemariam on being 21 on Muni
Storyteller Senait Hailemariam uses her time on the K/T train to tell her mom about her life as a twenty-something: it's the only form of therapy she can afford, she says. One day, she encounters a kind stranger who had a surprising reaction upon hearing Senait's phone conversation.
Senait is a San Francisco transplant who studied Digital Communication at San Francisco State University. Senait now works at BAYCAT, a nonprofit media production studio that educates and employs young people in digital media. You can check out BAYCAT at www.baycat.org.
If you liked what you heard on this episode, please rate and share our podcast! We are always looking for storytellers to share a slice of life in San Francisco, whether it is on or off the bus. If you have a story you'd like to tell, please email us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Apr 17, 2018
Ep. 56: SF Chief Attorney Matt Gonzalez on keeping one eye open on Muni
Matt Gonzalez, chief attorney at the San Francisco Public Defender’s Office, has a packed schedule these days, which is why we were even more delighted to have him as a part of Muni Diaries Live in 2017. Matt took us back to the 2003 mayoral election—in which he was neck and neck with current Lt. Governor of California, Gavin Newsom, and why riding the bus as a politician in a highly contested race means you gotta always keep one eye open.
Liked what you heard today? Share the Muni Diaries podcast with your friends and review us on iTunes! And we can't do this without your stories. You can submit your own slice of life in San Francisco by emailing us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Apr 9, 2018
Ep 55: San Francisco Diaries: The Polk Street Pizza Lady
Andrea Carla Michaels says that she has never done something two days in a row, but a commitment to her neighborhood led to her new identity. Two years ago she found her calling as "Pizza Lady" and you can find her daily in the alleys off lower Polk Street.
Andrea just celebrated her 25th anniversary in San Francisco.
Originally a standup comic, game show writer and briefly a writer for
"Designing Women", she now spends her time naming companies, constructing crossword puzzles for the NY Times and feeding folks.
Know another San Franciscan with a story to tell? We are always looking for tales of what makes living in San Francisco meaningful to you. Submit your own story or nominate a San Franciscan you know by emailing us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com. And please share this story with your podcast-listening friends!
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Apr 3, 2018
Ep. 54: Comedian Dominique Gelin on the best pickup lines on public transit
What do you do when you meet a smug pickup artist on public transit? Storyteller Dominique Gelin is a comedian in Oakland, and she says she offers strong opinions on stupid things, -isms, and assholes. She has performed at SF Sketchfest, Boston’s Women in Comedy Festival, the All Jane Comedy Festival, and was a finalist for the Ultimate Miami Comedian. She's here with a lesson in transit etiquette for the newbies — especially if you’re a pickup artist, or for everyone who could use a refresher.
You can follow Dominique on Twitter at @heydomgelin.
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Mar 20, 2018
Ep. 53 San Francisco Diaries: Bob Collins on the transformation of a super tiny SF apartment
In this episode, architect and long-time SF resident Bob Collins recalls transforming his super tiny apartment and how, in the process, he discovers the real reasons why he calls San Francisco home.
Bob has lived in the Bay for 30 years, with stints in the Mission, Nob Hill, Russian Hill, and the Richmond. He has a blog about walking around San Francisco called Urban Ambles, told from the dual perspectives of a regular pedestrian and professional architect.
His walks in the blog cover a cross-section of the city; just like some of our favorite Muni stories from the cross-town lines. Go to MuniDiaries.com to check out a photos of how Bob transformed his tiny apartment.
We're celebrating 10 years of storytelling on and off the bus with a special bonus code for our upcoming anniversary show on April 21, 2018, at the Elbo Room. Listen to this episode for the discount code.
If you liked this episode, please share it with your friends and rate our podcast on iTunes. You can submit your o…
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Mar 7, 2018
Ep. 52: Alexandria Love's not-quite love story with a bonus transit twist
Alexandria Love is a stand-up comedian, podcaster, and writer from Oakland. She's performed at some of the best venues in California, including Tommy T's, The San Jose Improv, and Cobb's Comedy Club. She is the current reigning champion of Tourettes Without Regrets' Dirty Haiku battle with 5 victories under her belt. She was also the sleeper hit at the Muni Haiku Battle at Lit Crawl in 2017.
This tale about relationshipping in your Roaring 20s hits home for all of us who wished we could find love—or that it would find us, as promised in the RomComs—but kept looking for it in all the wrong places.
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Feb 20, 2018
Ep. 51: San Francisco Diaries: Anna Pulley on taking a date to a fertility party
Love comes in all forms, and in San Francisco, you'll encounter love and relationship rituals you never imagined possible. Today's episode comes from writer Anna Pulley. She is the author of The Lesbian Sex Haiku Book (with Cats!), which Cheryl Strayed called a “must-read,” Tegan and Sara said was “an adorable and hilarious way to start the day,” and Jennifer Tilly said was “thoroughly charming.” You can find her sex and relationship advice column on her blog, as well as in weekly advice columns for The Chicago Tribune’s RedEye and (formerly) AfterEllen. Anna also holds the distinction of being in the first Muni Haiku battle in Clarion Alley.
Witnessed your own only-in-SF ritual? Tell us all about it: submit your own story at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com. Or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/SanFranciscoDiaries. Please help us spared the word and share this podcast!
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Feb 5, 2018
Ep. 50: San Francisco Diaries: Vivian Ho and her pigeon housemates
You may know storyteller Vivian Ho as the criminal justice reporter at the San Francisco Chronicle since 2011. She's reported on the Mario Woods shooting, the San Francisco Police Department, wildfires, and she’s just published an incredible investigative piece called "A Life on the Line." In this episode, Vivian shares a personal story about the challenges of adulthood in San Francisco, and how a pair of pigeons helped her realize the importance of a new love in her life.
You can find her on Twitter @VivianHo.
Got your own story about finding yourself in this foggy city? Share your story with us by emailing us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com. Follow us on Facebook at Facebook.com/sanfranciscodiaries.
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Jan 22, 2018
Ep. 49: Steve Pepple advocates for the BMW experience in San Francisco
Steve Pepple is on the board of San Francisco Transit Riders, a rider-supported group for world-class transit in San Francisco. He works as a designer at OpenGov, where his goal is making cities more livable, whether he’s working on a budget or a bus. In this episode, he brought us the thoughtful back story behind his passion for world-class urban transit and the BMW (BART, Muni, walking) experience.
Is your own story burning a hole in your brain? Want to share an unexpected conversation with a stranger that stuck with you? We are all ears at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Jan 8, 2018
Ep. 48: Comedian Tirumari Jothi finds his way on Muni
In this podcast episode, comedian Tirumari Jothi loses his way on Muni, but a stranger's conversation helps him find his way. Tirumari has been performing comedy for six years, with stand-up as his first love, but he also loves improv and sketch acting . You can find him either performing with the geeky comedy group he co-founded, Komedio Comedy (facebook.com/komediocomedy), or acting on stage with Killing My Lobster (find him at Sketchfest 2018). He says if you can't find him doing any of that, then he's home playing video games or watching cartoons.
Got your own story to share, or a conversation worth repeating? We are all ears at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com
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Dec 20, 2017
Ep. 47: Broke-Ass Stuart learns his SF ABC's
Who gave you your first "San Francisco education"? In this episode, Broke-Ass Stuart shares the story of living in a house on Golden Gate where his housemates were artist, thinkers, and some of Burning Man's original participants.
You might know Broke-Ass Stuart from Brokeassstuart.com, where he lists cool things to do if you don't have a lot of money. He is also a travel writer, TV host, a poet. He has a column in the San Francisco Examiner called “Broke-Ass City,” and he ran for mayor a few years back. Check out Stuart's Patreon page where you can support his site and podcast.
Stuart tells us that he actually went to Burning Man for the first time after his housemate P gave him her ticket. Go to MuniDiaries.com/podcast to see a picture of Stuart at his first burn.
So, what is YOUR defining San Francisco moment? If you're inspired by Stuart's story, please share this podcast with your friends and share your own story by emailing us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Dec 12, 2017
Ep. 46: The Shard, The Tissue, an Affair: from writer Andrew Lam
When a poet lands in San Francisco, even our city may not be enough to make this love affair last. Today's podcast is from Vietnamese American author Andrew Lam. He was the web editor of New America Media for many years. In 2005, he published his first book, Perfume Dreams. He is also the author of the book Birds of Paradise, about the Vietnamese immigrant community in the Bay Area. He is working on a fourth book tentatively titled, Stories From the Edge of the Sea. The book is a collection of stories about love and loss, many of the stories are based in San Francisco and Vietnam.
Today's story is excerpted from Andrew's new collection of stories. You can find a transcript of "The Shard, The Tissue, an Affair" on MuniDiaries.com. To submit your own story, please email us your pitch at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Nov 28, 2017
Ep. 45: Meet Irene Tu, Muni celebrity
Comedian Irene Tu was a Muni celebrity last year and turned her friends into last-minute paparazzo to chase that fame.
Irene Tu is a Chicago-born, San Francisco-based stand-up comedian, actor, and writer. In 2017, the San Francisco Chronicle singled her out as an “artist on the brink of fame,” on the heels of being named one of the “Bay Area’s 11 Best Stand Up Comedians” (SFist) and one of 20 “Women to Watch” (KQED). Irene hosts several popular shows in the Bay Area: Man Haters, The Mission Position, and Millennials Ruin Everything (they do). You can follow her @irene_tu and find her on irenetu.com.
Got your own San Francisco story? Submit your own diary by emailing us at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com, or find us on Facebook at facebook.com/sanfranciscodiaries.
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Nov 14, 2017
Ep. 44: Sexual folklorist Dixie De La Tour on the magic of the telepersonals
Dixie De La Tour is the founder of Bawdy Storytelling (“The Moth for Pervs,” per LA Weekly), America’s Original Sex+Storytelling series featuring Real People & Rockstars sharing their bona fide sexual exploits, live onstage. In this episode, she reaches back in time to those bad old days without Tinder, and you have to call the telepersonals to find Mr. Right/Mr. Right Now.
If you enjoyed the Muni Diaries podcast, please share our podcast and rate it in iTunes so people can find it!
And if you have your own story to tell, pitch your story at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Nov 1, 2017
Ep 43. Baruch Porras-Hernandez on taking a friend on her first Muni ride
This week's story is from our reigning Muni Haiku champion, Baruch Porras-Hernandez! You can see him at Muni Diaries Live on Saturday, Nov. 4 at the Elbo Room. Tickets are at munidiarieslive18.eventbrite.com
Baruch tells a story of taking a visiting friend on her first Muni ride, promising that nothing will go wrong. And if you've been on Muni at all, you know that's a hard promise to keep.
Baruch Porras-Hernandez is a Pushcart Prize nominated writer, performer and standup comedian, named one of the 13 Top Bay Area Writers to Watch in 2016 by 7×7 Magazine in San Francisco. He’s been featured in Writers with Drinks, has performed several times with Radar Productions, LitQuake, and is a winner of Literary Death Match, Write Club, The Moth, and of course, Muni Diaries.
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Oct 24, 2017
Ep. 42 Comedian Ronn Vigh on practicing zen on Muni
This episode features Ronn Vigh, whose attitude and wit earned him a comparison to a young Joan Rivers by SF Weekly. A yoga instructor, Ronn puts his teachings of compassion and letting go (and working on your core) to practice on Muni. You can find Ronn on Twitter @ronnronnvigh.
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Oct 10, 2017
Ep. 41: San Francisco Diaries: Designer Steve Pepple finds a secret door
An unmarked door at a SOMA diner turned out to be a portal that led to a mysterious place, as storyteller Steve Pepple discovers one evening. Steve is a designer at OpenGov, where his work aims to make cities more liveable, whether he's working on a budget or a bus.
What's *your* unexpected San Francisco experience? Is there another portal that opened your eyes to something that's quintessentially SF? Find us on Facebook at facebook.com/sanfranciscodiaries to submit your own story.
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Oct 3, 2017
Ep. 40: Na’amen Gobert Tilahun on the magic of the late night metro ride
Na'amen Gobert Tilahun is a writer whose craft spans multiple genres. The follow up to his 2016 novel, The Root, is The tree, which is coming out later this year. You can find him at naamentilahun.com. In this episode, he shares the magic of the late night metro ride.
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Sep 19, 2017
Ep. 39: San Francisco Diaries: writer Hiya Swanhuyser on the secret past of the Montgomery Block
Writer Hiya Swanhuyser is writing a book about a lost piece of San Francisco history, the Montgomery Block building, which stood where the Transamerica Pyramid stands today. It was there for 107 years, and was a crucial gathering place for artists and writers, including Mark Twain, Ambrose Bierce, Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera, and thinkers and political people including Emma Goldman and Sun Yat-Sen, among many many others.
Listen and share this San Francisco Diaries episode on the secret past of the Montgomery Block.
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Sep 12, 2017
Ep 38: Sal Castaneda’s ‘Bad-Ass’ Muni Moment
You know Sal Castaneda as your long-time KTVU traffic reporter. We grew up listening to him in the mornings, and here he is at Muni Diaries Live with his tale attempted (and imagined) bravado on the 44.
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Aug 29, 2017
Ep. 37: Kirk Read practices radical empathy on the 14-Mission
Kirk Read is a writer and storyteller who grew up in Virginia. His memoir, How I Learned to Snap, was named an Honor Book by the American Library Association. He works in the healthcare industry and has curated a host of literary events around the San Francisco Bay Area.
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Aug 14, 2017
Ep 36: San Francisco Diaries: my first job at the Nob Hill Theater
You've seen the marquee, "Touch our junk" on Bush street probably a thousand times. Storyteller Jesse James brings us deep into the back room of the famed adult theater where he unwittingly becomes an employee after a brief interview.
Today's story is a part of our new series, San Francisco Diaries! We are expanding our lens to gather stories about our fair city, and we welcome your stories about the people and experiences that make our city what it is today.
What makes San Francisco our beloved city? How has living here shaped you?
Pitch your stories at muni.diaries.sf@gmail.com.
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Aug 1, 2017
Ep 35: Jesse James and the litter bug on Muni
Storyteller Jesse James recounts a day that started with ordering a Thor hammer on Amazon -- easy peasy, right? But of course Muni had other plans for Jesse's day.
Jesse James is the former Muni haiku champion, return storyteller, and has had battle of wits against Airbnb's ridiculous ads. You can find him on Twitter at @LoudGayAmerica.
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Jul 18, 2017
Ep 34: The humans behind Muni's official Twitter account
Say you're frustrated waiting for the bus and you fire off a tweet, "Where the hell is my bus?", there are three people at the SFMTA whose job is to respond to you to make sure you're ok. We found these very patient humans at the SFMTA whose jobs we never want to have, and ask them: what's it like to be on the receiving end of all our ire?
As it turns out, it's not all terrible. SFMTA's Schad and Rick tell us all about behind the scenes stories of responding to your Muni complaints and real life crisis -- everything from violent crimes to a lost scarf.
You can find Schad, Rick, and their colleagues at @sfmta_muni.
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Jul 5, 2017
Ep. 33: H.P. Mendoza on cinema, Muni, and SF life
Filmmaker H.P. Mendoza's dad was a Muni driver for 25 years. Add that to a life time of San Francisco transit-riding, H.P. has lots of fodder for another original composition about cinema, Muni, and an ode to the Mission district.
Bonus: in this very musical episode, we're also featuring Mesquite and Mustard, the western fiddling band with a spirited original song about Charlie the Muni Rider, the "man who never returned."
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Jun 19, 2017
Ep. 32: the ultimate Pride party at a Muni stop, from Jerry Lee Abram
Storyteller Jerry Lee Abram shares a story of the ultimate Pride party at a Muni stop. Remember when Muni shelters were domed (not doomed!) and … and just worked? One Dyke March, Jerry and his friends climbed up on one said shelter and took it all in.
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Jun 13, 2017
Ep 31: Dhaya Lakshminarayanan and her dad, on Muni weirdos
Comedian Dhaya Lakshminarayanan shares a tale of her trip to Big Lots on Muni with her pop. Hilarity ensued, of course. And a new slogan for this site and Muni general is born.
Dhaya Lakshminarayanan is the 2016 winner of the Liz Carpenter Political Humor Award (previously awarded to Samantha Bee, Wanda Sykes and satirist/humorist Mark Russell) presented by the National Women’s Political Caucus. She is also a storyteller and runs storytelling workshops and corporate events. You can find her on DhayaComedy.com.
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Jun 6, 2017
Ep 30: Writer Annalee Newitz on Muni vs. obnoxious driver
Science writer Annalee Newitz fulfilled our geek dreams by sharing a story of how Muni is actually on the side of righteousness when an obnoxious driver gets in its way. Bonus: she also recounts the early days of being in the tech industry in the Bay Area. Look out for her new sci-fi novel coming out in September called AUTONOMOUS, which does not contain any Muni bus references but does feature a pirate with her own badass submarine.
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May 31, 2017
Ep 29: Glynn Washington confronts a Muni mugging
Glynn Washington, host and executive producer of NPR’s Snap Judgment, gave everyone a lot of food for thought when he was confronted with a mugging on his commute.
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May 22, 2017
Ep 28: From writer Mat Honan: What does the Forest Hill station smell like?
Technology journalist (and BuzzFeed San Francisco bureau chief) Mat Honan had once used Muni data to find out when the next bus was coming. Imagine that! He dug deep into Muni’s history to find out why Forest Hill station smells the way it does—and what is really wafting through the air when you take a deep breath at Muni stations.
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May 16, 2017
Ep 27: Bay to Breakers on Muni -- from Elbo Room sound man Gabe Armstrong
Gabe Armstrong stepped out of the sound booth (he is the audio engineer at the Elbo Room) to share his own Muni story, which happened during Bay to Breakers. Riding public transit can really change your perspective of what you should and shouldn’t be afraid of in life, Gabe says. And how did he learn this? By hauling the remainder of his B2B vehicle on Muni while under the influence of jello shots, of course.
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May 9, 2017
Ep 26: J. W. Friedman witnesses an unlikely hero on Muni
Learning the rules of Muni isn't easy, especially when you've just moved from the driver-centric state of Florida. Storyteller J. W. Friedman shares a tale of how, as a Muni newbie, he encountered an unexpected superhero on the bus.
J is also the host of the podcast I Don't Even Own a Television, a podcast all about terrible books. You can check out his hilarious book reviews on IDontEvenOwnATelevision.com.
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May 1, 2017
Ep. 25: BART operator Kelly Beardsley on intercom drama
BART operator Kelly Beardsley lets us in on one little secret about driving BART: passengers love pressing the intercom button to chat with him about annoyances big and small, or even to just shoot the shit with him for no reason at all.
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Apr 25, 2017
Ep 24: Yayne Abeba on growing up on Muni
Did you know there was a movie theater on 17th Ave. and Geary that used to play lots of children’s films? That was just one of the destinations that this Muni Diaries storyteller would see on her Muni journeys growing up in San Francisco. Comedian and native San Franciscan Yayne Abeba started riding Muni by herself when she was 7, along with all her relatives ages 1 to 6.
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Apr 10, 2017
Ep. 23: Cynthia and Jeremy Pollock on how to set a street bird free
Self-described San Francisco political nerds Cynthia and Jeremy Pollock took time out from writing the League of Pissed Off Voters voting guide to share how they became Twitter-famous from riding Muni. We found Cynthia and Jeremy when they tweeted a photo of Cynthia holding a crow on Muni, and of course we had to know how this all happened.
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Apr 4, 2017
Ep 22: Jesse James and the rules of Muni
Storyteller Jesse James recounts his first impression of Muni when he moved to San Francisco, and how he learned the rules of Muni when he saw a pickup line gone wrong.
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Mar 28, 2017
Ep 21: Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez on behind the scenes story of being a transit reporter
Joe Fitzgerald Rodriguez is one of the few transportation reporters in San Francisco. You might have seen many of his stories in the San Francisco Examiner. In this episode, Joe shares why the mundane, boring City Hall meetings that he often attends can mean life and death for some in San Francisco.
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Mar 21, 2017
Ep 20: Driver Doug on the zen of being a Muni operator
Muni operator Doug has written two books on driving the bus, and in this episode, he shares some behind-the-scenes gems. He's got his eyes on you, whether you're furtively holding your expired transfer or digging in your wallet for your Clipper card. You can find Doug's books at the San Francisco Public Library or your friendly local bookstores near you.
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Mar 14, 2017
Ep 19: Isaac Fitzgerald's college antics on the Metro
Buzzfeed Books Editor Isaac Fitzgerald proves a universal fact: stories happen on public transit in any city. In this Muni Diaries live performance, he shares the story of falling in love with a girl (and getting over it quickly) with the aid of a few heroic acts on the D.C. Metro.
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Mar 7, 2017
Ep. 18: Gina Gold and one unforgettable night on BART
Comedian Gina Gold is the host of TMI Storytelling, a monthly series in Oakland. In this week’s story, Gina shares what happened when she rode BART with her coworker from Market Street Cinema, all in the name of improving her job skills.
Gina has a new podcast called "Do You Think I'm Kidding?" -- check her out on iTunes.
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Feb 28, 2017
Ep 17: H.P. Mendoza's Ode to Bay Area Public Transit
H.P. Mendoza is a San Francisco treasure. The seemingly tireless moviemaker and musician’s works include Colma: The Musical, Fruit Fly, and I Am a Ghost. When he’s not making movies, he’s doing rad museum takeovers with ‘80s-style scavenger hunts. All of this, and he’s also just one of the smartest, nicest people you’ll ever meet.
H.P. graced the stage of Muni Diaries Live back in 2011. This week’s episode is the story of how he came to love San Francisco when he was a kid thanks to his dad’s Muni routes. He even included a rather catchy song about Muni and BART at the end of his performance.
Please enjoy, share, subscribe, and rate the podcast!
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Feb 21, 2017
Ep 16: Courtney Riddle daydreams of becoming a Muni driver
Courtney Riddle is the zine ambassador of Market Street, selling small handmade books out of a formerly abandoned newspaper kiosk, The Grand Newsstand. She’s been distributing zines to unwitting tourists for more than a year now. When not sitting in peculiar street furniture, she makes her own zines, does calligraphy, daydreams about urban planning, and rides unusual Muni lines (how about that 36?).
In this episode, she shares her aspiration of becoming a Muni driver, but there's just one small issue she had to overcome.
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Feb 13, 2017
Ep 15: Ariel Dovas on getting his first kiss...on Muni
For Valentine's Day, we bring you Ariel Dovas and his story of his very first kiss...and it happened on Muni! Ariel is a local filmmaker and the Creative Director at BAYCAT (Bayview Hunters Point Center for Arts & Technology). He is also a co-founder of the collaborative art space The Secret Alley. Go to MuniDiaries.com to see episode extras and old photos of Ariel that he dug up just for the podcast.
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Feb 7, 2017
Ep 14. Comedian Caitlin Gill on making out on public transit
In preparation for St. Valentine, we have an episode from comedian Caitlin Gill, who won't hold back her opinions about couples who make out on Muni! SF Weekly said this about one of our favorite comedians: "If hapless and fearless could occupy the same body, it's in Caitlin Gill."
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Jan 30, 2017
Ep 13: Peter Hartlaub Remembers the 'Muni Booze Cruise'
When he was a kid, SF Chronicle writer Peter Hartlaub would take public transit to San Francisco 49ers football games at Candlestick Park with his dad. Years later, Peter discovered his own "transit utopia" aboard the 77X-Candlestick Express to the stadium. That bus was filled with the rowdiest, most colorful, most loyal and dedicated football fans this city has possibly ever known. Now Candlestick and the 77X are memories—gone, but clearly not forgotten.
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Jan 24, 2017
Ep 12: Justina Wu and the street stray that captured the entire bus
Writer Justina Wu is the producer of Beyond Borders Storytelling, a series of bi-monthly workshops and story jams for travel adventurers in San Francisco. In this week’s story, Justina tells us about how one Muni driver really took charge of a crazy situation.
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Jan 17, 2017
Ep 11: Aussie transplant Sarah Hunt becomes an SF local
Recent Aussie transplant, cartoonist, and writer Sarah Hunt tells the story of what it’s like to arrive in a strange, new land that mirrored the one she grew up watching in movies and TV. It has to be a good thing for those of us who’ve been here a minute to see San Francisco, BART, and the Mission through Sarah’s fresh, loving eyes. Hear about all those things we take for granted as Sarah experienced them for the first time.
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Jan 10, 2017
Ep 10: Cara Tramontano meets SF's most enthusiastic Muni driver
Comedian Cara Tramontano is a model Muni rider. One day she meets Edison, the world's most enthusiastic bus driver who is doing this job for a very quirky reason.
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Jan 3, 2017
Ep 9 Klee Wiggins Owes Her Life to Muni
For SF native Klee Wiggins, Muni isn't all that bad. After all, if not for Muni, she might not be here to share her comedy with the world. Her origin story starts in the '70s, when, as Klee describes it, Muni was a "mafia of sorts." Stories in her early San Francisco life are tied intimately to various bus lines, including some that no longer exist.
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Dec 27, 2016
Ep 8: Kristee Ono on finding her own Muni community
San Francisco comedian Kristee Ono comes clean about how she finally learned to take Muni. An unfortunate incident involving chapped lips and a DUI helped her find her own Muni community.
You can see a video of this story and other episode extras on MuniDiaries.com/podcast. Submit your own stories at MuniDiaries.com.
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Dec 20, 2016
Ep 7: Tarin Towers and her tale of riding Muni during the first dot-com wave
On this week’s episode, we bring you Tarin Towers, a writer and longtime San Francisco resident. She's been riding Muni since 1995; in fact, she used to take the 22-Fillmore to her graveyard shift in the Japantown Denny's. Remember that place?
On a bus ride during the first dot-com wave, she encountered someone whose casual nod was hardly the end of the exchange.
This story was recorded at Muni Diaries Live on April 18, 2015, at the Elbo Room in San Francisco.
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Dec 13, 2016
Ep 6 Beth Spotswood Learns to Ride Muni
San Francisco writer Beth Spotswood tells the tale of how a group of Muni riders banded together during a slight bus malfunction. With the help of a good friend and her phone's audio-recording app, Beth became a Muni pro during the course of one commute home.
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Dec 6, 2016
Ep 5: BART operator Kelly Beardsley's story on scatology
BART operator Kelly Beardsley has had many odd jobs in his life, but driving a BART train is probably the quirkiest of them all. And sometimes being a BART operator means you have to deal with some very human elements of life. In this episode, Kelly tells a story about a disturbing and hilarious behind-the-scenes tale from the driver’s seat.
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Nov 29, 2016
Ep 4: Wonder Dave on Muni Texting Etiquette
Wonder Dave is the cohost of Seduction Feroce, Story Showdown, and Tourettes Without Regrets. In this week's episode, Wonder Dave shares a story of how he uses his Muni time to keep the flame hot with his long-distance boyfriend. This story was recorded at Muni Diaries Live in San Francisco on April 16, 2016. For episode extras, go to MuniDiaries.com/podcast.
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Nov 22, 2016
Ep 3: Jesse James' First Ever Muni Ride
Former Muni Haiku champion Jesse James grew up in Southern California. He and his mom were very close, but Jesse wanted to move to SF. When he did, his mom came to visit. Naturally, they rode the bus together.
This is Jesse's story of what happened when he and his mom took Muni together and Muni dared to challenge an older lady trying to cross the street in front of their bus.
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Nov 15, 2016
Ep 2: Mandy Hu, the Most Efficient BART Rider
Mandy Hu is a lawyer by day; by night, she tells stories at the Moth, Queer Open Mic, and the Basement Series. In this week's episode, Mandy brings us a story about learning to let go of some habits when it comes to late-evening commutes, and somehow it involves Harry Potter.
This story was recorded at Muni Diaries Live on April 16t, 2016 at the Elbo Room in San Francisco.
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Oct 30, 2016
Ep. 1: Chris O. and His Record Collection
ChrisO is a musician and hair stylist at Honeycomb Salon in Noe Valley who has an impressive record collection. He regaled the Muni Diaries Live crowd at Elbo Room in April 2016 with a story of running into someone he knew from a past life on the bus, and you’ll have to watch the video to see what he found out.
“I was taking the 19-Polk bus for the first time. In 2003, the buses that were used for the 19 line were the most florescent light-flickering, brownish yellowy interior-having, murdery buses in the whole city. They just looked like you were gonna die on them. We all get on the bus and I notice there is this guy staring at me. I thought: Is this like a “Cruising me to have sex thing, or pretending to cruise me to have sex thing so you can kill me?”
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