Rephonic
Artwork for Once Upon A Bay
San Francisco Bay
Baykeeper
Point San Pablo Harbor
Water Diversions
Bay Model
Army Corps Of Engineers
San Pablo Bay
Gold Rush
California Maritime History
Mercury Contamination
Real Estate Development
Reber Plan
Clean Water Act

Michael Herz founded Baykeeper and spent decades defending the health of San Francisco Bay. His wife Kate fell in love with it from 3,000 miles away — through his stories. Now they live on a trawler in San Pablo Bay and are sharing that trove with the world.

Shipwrecks. Whale migrations. Hippies, fish tales, courtroom battles, and secret CIA vessels. ONCE UPON A BAY explores the natural and human ... more

PublishesTwice monthlyEpisodes7Founded6 months ago
Number of ListenersCategories
NatureHistoryScience

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Artwork for Once Upon A Bay

Latest Episodes

Birds in the freezer. Taxidermy in the trunk. Grownups screeching like hawks.

Elizabeth Terwilliger was an unforgettable teacher who taught generations of Bay Area children to see the natural world with wonder. She inspired a conservation movement t... more

Hidden behind Chevron's tank farm and built on the bones of condemned ships, Point San Pablo Harbor feels like a place that shouldn't exist. In this episode, we explore the history, characters, and unlikely revival of one of the last truly eccentric ... more

A small team takes on big polluters and wins. In this episode, the story of San Francisco Baykeeper, from its scrappy beginnings to a formidable force defending the Bay. Along the way, a deeper question emerges: What does it mean to be a keeper?

It ... more

A love letter to a giant analog computer made of concrete, copper, and tidewater.

Mike and Kate spend a day inside the San Francisco Bay Model, an enormous mid‑century scale model in Sausalito that once tested radical plans to dam, pave over, and re... more

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Recent Guests

Rob Fyfe
Owner/partner involved in Point San Pablo Harbor revival
The Harbor (Point San Pablo Harbor)
Episode: 6. The Last Place Like This
Yaella Frankel
Partner in life and co-owner involved in harbor management
The Harbor
Episode: 6. The Last Place Like This
Daryl Henline
Harbor master and part owner
The Harbor
Episode: 6. The Last Place Like This
Kathleen Clancy
Resident and harbor co-occupant
Point San Pablo Harbor
Episode: 6. The Last Place Like This
Bob Beard
Charter operator and harbor resident
Raptor Sports Fishing
Episode: 6. The Last Place Like This
Captain Blood
Harbor figure with a notable license plate nickname
Harbor lore
Episode: 6. The Last Place Like This
Ross Kaplan
Chef and restaurateur involved with Sailing Goat Restaurant
Sailing Goat Restaurant
Episode: 6. The Last Place Like This
Raymond Clark
Historical figure linked to early harbor development
Historical figure referenced
Episode: 6. The Last Place Like This
Sejal Chokschichu
Executive Director of San Francisco Baykeeper
San Francisco Baykeeper
Episode: 5. Who Will Keep This Place?

Host

Mike Herz
Host of the show; Co-creator with Kate; Baykeeper founder and environmental advocate

Reviews

4.9 out of 5 stars from 17 ratings
  • Bravo/Brava!!

    After much anticipation, we are delighted that Episode 1 of Once Upon a Bay has landed ~ it is an absolute delight…informative, engaging, encouraging ~ wonderful! We know a little of what it took to produce this and it’s worth every pound of energy, angst and love you put into it. Thank you, Mike and Kate, for this remarkable gift.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    soozala
    United States5 months ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Shows deep local knowledge and community spirit.
A warmly produced, informative inaugural episode with engaging hosts.
Balances history with practical advocacy and action.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Apple Podcasts
#34
United States/Science/Nature
Apple Podcasts
#207
United States/Science

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

3. Dirt, Water & Power
Q: In your book, you talk about families that affected the fate of San Francisco in the past. Can you point to any families who have similar power today?
Brechin notes the historical power of families like Hearst, De Young, Spreckels, and the Scots, among others, and explains that today power is more obscured by corporate structures, making it hard to identify the current centers of influence.
1. The Baykeeper & Me
Q: What is a Baykeeper or a Riverkeeper or a Waterkeeper exactly?
A Baykeeper is someone who dedicates their life to a water body, becomes its voice, and works to stop violations of environmental laws, potentially through legal action if needed, to protect the resources and life that rely on the water.
2. Gold, Cuban Cigars & Mud
Q: How did the General Harrison and other bay wrecks change your understanding of the bay's history?
Delgado describes the bay as a living archive where everyday life, commerce, and migration are written in mud and timber, turning wrecks into vivid storytellers about San Francisco's past and the people who built its maritime economy.
2. Gold, Cuban Cigars & Mud
Q: Tell us how you got started digging and diving into history.
Jim Delgado explains his early fascination with the past, inspired by family stories and a drive to uncover buried histories, which led him from San Jose to joining digs and eventually working on major shipwrecks around the Bay.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Once Upon A Bay

What is Once Upon A Bay about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A compelling, ecology-leaning conversation series that blends environmental activism, local history, and maritime culture around the San Francisco Bay. Episodes routinely center on Bay health, historic preservation, and community stewardship, often featuring researchers, policymakers, and long-time residents who illuminate how people have shaped and saved the Bay over decades. Notable strengths include a strong local focus, accessible storytelling that ties science to lived experience, and guests who bring practical insight into advocacy, governance, and restoration. The show stands out for its hands-on history, activist roots, and a warm, conversational interview style that makes complex topics approachable for listeners who care about pla... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Once Upon A Bay?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Once Upon A Bay:

1. Sidedoor
2. Radiolab
3. Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!
4. This American Life
5. Fresh Air

How many episodes of Once Upon A Bay are there?

Once Upon A Bay launched 6 months ago and published 7 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Once Upon A Bay?

Recent guests on Once Upon A Bay include:

1. Rob Fyfe
2. Yaella Frankel
3. Daryl Henline
4. Kathleen Clancy
5. Bob Beard
6. Captain Blood
7. Ross Kaplan
8. Raymond Clark

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