The San Francisco Experience
News & Politics Podcasts
We are a "deep dive" news podcast, for Americans who get their news from the Internet. Our mission is to give the listener succinct, fact based analysis both non-ideological and independent from a California, Silicon Valley perspective. Your host Jim...
Location:
United States
Genres:
News & Politics Podcasts
Description:
We are a "deep dive" news podcast, for Americans who get their news from the Internet. Our mission is to give the listener succinct, fact based analysis both non-ideological and independent from a California, Silicon Valley perspective. Your host Jim Herlihy is a published author: his novel “Deceit and Dirty Money” is available on line. He served as President of the SF Public Library Commission 1992 - 1996. While working in Latin America, he was a stringer for The Economist, The Times and the BBC. Jim serves as a director on two SF sister city boards : Bangalore, India and Cork, Ireland.
Language:
English
Contact:
415-271-3943
Website:
https://anchor.fm/james-herlihy
Episodes
The Digital Democracy Project: The future of our electoral process. Talking with Ramon Perez.
4/20/2026
The Digital Democracy Project gives voters a secure, blockchain-based toolkit to let them tell legislators and politicians alike, how they should vote on specific bills. It also produces a record of accountability.
Duration:00:41:45
On Being a Political Centrist in San Francisco. Talking with Nancy Tung.
4/15/2026
November 2024 marked a significant political turning point in this, the bluest of blue cities. Moderate Daniel Lurie and a newcomer to politics defeated incumbent Mayor London Breed 55-45%. And Nancy Tung advanced the number of moderates on the 24 elected member SF Central Committee from 2 to 18. Has SF's performative political theater given way to a more results oriented, pragmatic approach ?
Duration:00:28:33
Helping climate companies sell benefits, not beliefs. Talking with Josh Dorfman, Climate Entrepreneur.
4/13/2026
Josh co-founded Plantd, a sustainable building supplies company that "Fast Company" named One of the Most Innovative Companies in 2024. And last year he created a podcast show called Supercool that showcases climate entrepreneurs.
Duration:00:42:11
The Independent Voter Project. Making the system more fair. Talking with Chad Peace, Co-Founder.
4/10/2026
According to the Gallup Survey, 45% of American adults identify as Political Independents rather than as members of an organized political party. At the same time 27% of adults consider themselves as Republicans and 27% identify as Democrats. Yet our politics have become even more polarized, perhaps as moderates flee extremes within organized parties. How can Independent voters be sure the system which was largely designed by partisan parties, is fair, non-partisan and non-ideological for them ?
Duration:00:55:18
Beverly Hills Spy : Talking with author Ronald Drabkin.
4/8/2026
Frederick Rutland was a British double agent but a much decorated WWI hero and naval flyer ace who helped Japan to attack Pearl Harbor in 1941. He shared cutting aircraft carrier designs and aircraft technology with the Japanese during the 1920s and 1930s.
Duration:00:54:11
Subsense: a Brain Computer Interface Technology, powered by NanoParticles. Talking with founder and CEO Tetiana Aleksandrova.
3/30/2026
A nanoparticle nasal spray, to cross the blood/brain barrier and access the brain for medical application purposes and to expand the frontiers of Artificial Intelligence.
Duration:00:29:58
Educated Out: How rural students navigate elite colleges - and what it costs them. Talking with author Mara Casey Tieken.
3/26/2026
Fewer rural adults earn college degrees than their urban counterparts: 31% to 45%. That 14% shortfall is a telling difference and negatively impacts our society and the broader economy. How can we boost rural advanced education participation ? "Educated Out" highlights what is wrong and how to correct it.
Duration:00:38:05
In conversation with Dr. Deepak Srivastava, President of the Gladstone Institutes.
3/25/2026
Gladstone announced a major expansion today to bring in hundreds of new scientists and grow key research teams in San Francisco's Mission Bay area. Artificial Intelligence and biotech are increasingly converging.
Duration:00:41:08
The Iran War and The Organization of Turkic States. Talking with geopolitical strategist and national security expert Alp Sevimlisoy.
3/24/2026
Turkiye, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kirghizstan and Uzbekistan comprise the OTS. Turkmenistan, Hungary and Northern Cyprus have observer status. Azerbaijan borders Iran, has been attacked by missiles and has a sizeable minority in Iran. Where does the OTS stand ?
Duration:00:42:37
California considers a tax on Billionaires: Profoundly anti-Capitalist, or an Idea whose time has come ?
3/22/2026
California voters may be asked to vote on a Billionaire Wealth Tax which has already seen the likes of Larry Page, Sergei Brin and Mark Zuckerberg consider relocating to Florida or Texas. Most European countries that had wealth taxes have scrapped them as they consider them hostile to innovators and entrepreneurs. So why would California consider a discredited tax strategy that even Governor Newsom has denounced ?
Duration:00:13:49
A Real Emergency: Stories from the Ambulance. Talking with paramedic and author Joanna Sokol.
3/18/2026
When you call 911 in an emergency you can be assured that committed and competent paramedics will show up in a matter of minutes. No one asks if you have insurance, can you pay or are you really in need. They take you at your word and show up. Joanna walks us through the world of a paramedic and why we are so fortunate to have them.
Duration:00:44:13
On the Road in Peru. Talking with Volker Langbehn
3/11/2026
On January 6th, 2026, Volker set out on a six month journey through South America. His first port of call was Lima, Peru. In today's episode, he joins us from Tacna, Peru, in the SW of the country, 22 miles North of the Chilean border to share his impressions of this wonderful country.
Duration:00:48:33
LUCIEN: Talking with author J.R. Thornton
3/10/2026
A gifted but guileless young painter (Chris/Atlas) on scholarship to Harvard is drawn into the orbit of a dazzling, wealthy, Euro jetsetter student, Lucien, who manipulates him. Further, Lucien realizes that he can monetize his protege's painting genius by having him forge known artists work. But the narrative of great privilege and wealth begins to fall apart driving Lucien to pressure Chris to the breaking point.
Duration:00:45:31
The Andrew Files: Epstein 2.0 ??
2/22/2026
Police searched Andrew's residence and seized documents, computer files and electronic devices looking for evidence to bolster their Public misconduct case. The Police are likely to call witnesses for interview who are familiar with his activity as UK Trade Envoy.
Duration:00:11:54
San Francisco puts its best foot forward. Talking with Rodney Fong, CEO of the SF Chamber of Commerce.
2/17/2026
Every year the Chamber sponsors a poll of San Franciscans regarding the health and vitality of our economy and well being of the City by the Bay. The results were unveiled last week at the City Beat breakfast. Mayor Lurie gave the Keynote address and CEO Rodney Fong presided. In today's podcast, Rodney discusses the poll results.
Duration:00:29:33
Capital Offence: Why some benefit at your expense. Talking with author Paul Musson.
2/16/2026
A majority of young adults believe that they will not be as well off as their parents. In other words, they are falling behind. And the economic data bears it out. The average age of first time homebuyers is 40. But in the 1980s it was 30. What can the average young man or woman do to build wealth ?
Duration:00:39:43
Venezuela and the fall of Nicolas Maduro. What does History teach us ? Talking with Professor Colin Lewis
2/12/2026
Venezuela went from being one of Latin America's wealthiest countries to an economic disaster. More than 7 million Venezuelans have fled the country . And despite having the largest proven oil reserves in the world, daily oil production stands at a measly 500,000 barrels per day. Meanwhile, Ex President Maduro sits in a NY jail awaiting trial as a narco terrorist.
Duration:00:40:37
The Union Square Alliance: Maintaining a San Francisco Gem. Talking with Marisa Rodriguez.
2/11/2026
The Great San Francisco Comeback is in full swing. And nowhere is the energy, drive and vision of The City that Knows How on display, than iconic Union Square. It's the heart and soul at the center of our Reimagining San Francisco, led by the Union Square Alliance.
Duration:00:29:48
Mandelson, Epstein, Starmer. Can Sir Keir Starmer survive as Prime Minister. Talking with Jim Pickard, Deputy Political Editor, Financial Times.
2/10/2026
Sir Keir Starmer's 18 month Premiership has been thrown into crisis as a result of Peter Mandelson's past associations with Jeffrey Epstein. Starmer appointed Mandelson UK Ambassador to Washington and then sacked him in September 2025. Can Starmer survive calls for his resignation ?
Duration:00:23:39
The End of Solitude. Talking with author Bill Deresiewicz
2/4/2026
Author, essayist and literary critic, Bill Deresiewicz assembled a collection of forty essays written over a 30 year period. The themes include, Individuality vs. Networks, The Purpose of Education, Culture and Technology, Art and Criticism and Social Trends. The former Professor of English Literature at Yale University shares his opinions.
Duration:00:48:17