Total SF

Total SF

A San Francisco culture podcast featuring celebrity guests, non-celebrity guests, personalities from the San Francisco Chronicle and a celebration of Bay Area life. Hosted by culture critic Peter Hartlaub and columnist Heather Knight and recorded on the streets, hilltops, parks and landmarks of San Francisco. The pair's focus on the whimsy and wonder of San Francisco began in 2018 when they rode every bus, train, cable car and street car in the city in one day. They believe in highlighting the eccentric characters, independent bookstores, burger joints and bars that make the bay so great.

Episodes

A new chapter for Total SF!

May 10, 2024 • 5 mins
Total SF is returning to the San Francisco Chronicle as a newsletter, stories and guides to explore the Bay Area, and an expanded event series. Please subscribe to the free newsletter at www.sfchronicle.com/totalsfnewsletter! Peter Hartlaub and Tony Bravo dig out the old podcast equipment and talk about what's coming up next for Total SF, including a "The Towering Inferno" movie night, San Francisco Public Library event and more fu...
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6 things we learned about San Francisco (a Total Farewell!)

July 28, 2023 • 49 mins
With Heather Knight leaving for the New York Times, co-hosts Knight and Peter Hartlaub talk about how they met, their friendship and bond with the Total SF community, then each list three things they learned about San Francisco over a five-year partnership. Also in this episode, Hartlaub and Knight give each other the lightning round — and address "Star Trek IV," doom loops and the future of San Francisco. THANK YOU for listening. ...
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Secrets of San Francisco City Hall

July 21, 2023 • 37 mins
San Francisco City Hall has a legendary dome and rotunda, featured in movies including "Milk" and "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and literally covered in gold. Total SF hosts Heather Knight and Peter Hartlaub take a dome tour with City Hall building manager Rob Reiter, visiting behind the scenes and climbing to the very top of the structure. Then they sit down with City Hall historian Ellen Schumer, who is also chair of the City Hall Pr...
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Pouring one out for Anchor Brewing

July 14, 2023 • 40 mins
With the news that Anchor Brewing is closing, Total SF hosts Heather Knight and Peter Hartlaub pay tribute to the 1927-year-old brewery, share some fond beer memories and talk about what Anchor meant to San Francisco. They also talk about the La Cocina closing, and pledge to support surviving small businesses. The second half of the episode is a repeat of the Jan. 27, 2023, Total SF interview with Anchor brewmaster Dane Volek. Prod...
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Secrets of the S.F. Public Library archive

July 7, 2023 • 32 mins
When the San Francisco Public Library moved to its new location at 100 Larkin St. on April 18, 1996, it had a brand new archivist, Susan Goldstein, who brought the library into the 21st Century with new ideas, digitization and a proactive approach toward gathering more diverse and complete collections that represent the city. Goldstein, who retires this month after 28 years with the library, gave Total SF co-host Peter Hartlaub a t...
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Happy 50th birthday Sutro Tower!

June 30, 2023 • 30 mins
As Sutro Tower reaches its 50th anniversary on July 4, 2023, Total SF co-hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight pay tribute to the controversial TV tower — which began as a fiercely protested structure, and has developed into one of the most beloved San Francisco landmarks. Hartlaub and Knight also recount their trip in a very small elevator to the top of the tower, and talk about the history, including plans for a restaurant at t...
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9 San Francisco things we miss when we're gone (Flashback episode!)

June 23, 2023 • 28 mins
In this July 15, 2022 flashback episode, a return from vacation sparks a Total SF discussion between hosts Heather Knight and Peter Hartlaub about the San Francisco things they miss when they're gone, including weather patterns, food and one very specific transit agency. Knight just returned from two weeks in England, and Hartlaub — who rarely travels — channels the things he missed while living in Los Angeles in the 1990s. Total S...
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Secrets of the Cow Palace!

June 16, 2023 • 32 mins
The Cow Palace is the Swiss army knife and working class hero of Bay Area arenas. Total SF co-host Peter Hartlaub gets a tour of the 82-year-old arena then sits down with Cow Palace president Chris Corgas and CEO Allison Keaney to talk about Evel Knievel, Cow Palace hockey, Dianne Feinstein's livestock queen win and the present and future of the arena. Future events include boxing, a lowrider show, mariachi festival and NOFX Punk i...
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Is San Francisco a great running city?

June 9, 2023 • 33 mins
San Francisco's hills and busy streets can make it a challenge for runners. But professional runner and UCSF cancer biologist Paddy O'Leary says S.F. is an outstanding running city, and produced "Urban Oasis: A Love Letter to San Francisco" as proof. With Total SF host Peter Hartlaub days away from competing in the grueling Dipsea Race, O'Leary, last year's second-place finisher, offers tips for the Dipsea course and some of his fa...
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Ask a drag queen, with D'Arcy Drollinger

June 2, 2023 • 33 mins
D'Arcy Drollinger, drag star and owner of Oasis SF, achieved his biggest role yet when he was named San Francisco's first drag laureate by S.F. Mayor London Breed. Drollinger joins Total SF hosts Heather Knight, Peter Hartlaub and Tony Bravo to talk about the new role, the potential for a drag emporium in S.F. and the future of "Golden Girls Live" after the passing of drag icon Heklina, who played Dorothy. Drollinger also answers T...
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The story behind S.F.'s official instrument

May 26, 2023 • 32 mins
What's the story behind North Beach and San Francisco's official instrument? Accordion player Tom Torriglia and San Francisco Italian Athletic Club chief operating officer Nick Figone join Total SF hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight to explain the history of North Beach, take some accordion requests and talk about the Festa Italiana street festival coming up on Saturday and Sunday June 3-4. The festival will feature accordion ...
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Secrets of the San Francisco Opera House

May 19, 2023 • 35 mins
The San Francisco Opera is celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2023, with programming returning on June 3. Total SF hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight paid a visit to the War Memorial Opera House, getting an insider's tour — including a drop inside the iconic chandelier — from building steward John Boatwright and prop master Lori Harrison. Boatwright and Harrison share their best stories, including high points in S.F. Opera h...
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Archery lessons and S.F. love with Dave Eggers

May 12, 2023 • 42 mins
Author Dave Eggers has made his home in San Francisco, founding McSweeney's Publishing and co-founding the 826 Valencia writing workshop. His latest book, "The Eyes & the Impossible" may be his most S.F. book yet, following the adventures and poetic thoughts of a dog in a loosely fictionalized version of Golden Gate Park. Eggers joins Total SF hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight to talk about archery, the inspiration he finds i...
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Secrets of SFMOMA!

May 5, 2023 • 29 mins
The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art is internationally known, but it remains dedicated to local artists and art-lovers. Total SF hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight take a tour with chief curator Janet Bishop, who has worked at the museum for 35 years. After a walk through the One-Way Color Tunnel, Bishop talks about SF MOMA's amazing founder Grace McCann Morley, last year's Soap Box Derby and the museum's post-pandemic rebo...
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The best hidden stairways of San Francisco

April 28, 2023 • 28 mins
Is San Francisco a great stairway city? Walk SF's Nancy Botkin answers with a definite "yes," after designing the S.F. Stair Challenge, a 4-mile, 2,000-step path through North Beach, Russian Hill and Telegraph Hill that's happening Saturday, May 6, 2023, exclusive to members of the pedestrian advocacy group. Botkin leads Total SF hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight on the bulk of the hike, then sits down at Joe DiMaggio Park in...
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8 things to do in S.F. this spring!

April 21, 2023 • 25 mins
With the weather improving after a frigid winter, Total SF hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight pick eight fun things to do this spring. Outdoorsy adventures include a super bloom flower tour, walk from Oracle Park to North Beach, SF City FC soccer game at Kezar Stadium and fun on the Treasure Island ferry. Also in this episode, an important announcement about Heather's Bay Area Hip-Hop Mixtape. Produced by Peter Hartlaub. Music...
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Secrets of S.F. International Airport!

April 14, 2023 • 30 mins
San Francisco airport commissioner Jane Natoli gives Total SF hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight a tour of SFO's Harvey Milk Terminal, then sits down to discuss the artwork, amenities and hidden gems in San Francisco International Airport. Also in this episode, Natoli discusses the concept of a "quiet airport," the importance of making transgender travelers feel welcome, her favorite S.F. burrito and why SFO should have a gay ...
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The ultimate Bay Area hip-hop mixtape

April 7, 2023 • 38 mins
KQED launched the ambitious That's My Word project earlier this year, assembling several music and culture writers to celebrate the 50th anniversary of hip-hop in the Bay Area. KQED's Gabe Meline and Pendarvis Harshaw join Total SF hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight in The Chronicle archive to talk about the project, the KQED/Chronicle rivalry and the legacy of rap music in the Bay Area. Meline, Hawshaw and Hartlaub also draft...
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Secrets of the Pier 39 sea lions

March 31, 2023 • 32 mins
How did the sea lions get to Pier 39? With the pinnipeds dominating the voting for the Official Animal of San Francisco, Total SF hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight sat down with Pier 39 harbormaster Sheila Chandor and former CEO Taylor Safford to learn about the history of Pier 39's famous marine residents. Chandor and Safford also talk about Pier 39's beginnings as a much-derided tourism center, and why a larger number of lo...
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Secrets of the wild parrots of Telegraph Hill

March 24, 2023 • 34 mins
The parrots of Telegraph Hill have been getting strong support for Official Animal of San Francisco. "Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill" director Judy Irving and parrot rescue volunteer Sarah Lemarié join Total SF hosts Peter Hartlaub and Heather Knight to talk about the 20th anniversary of the movie, its restoration and what the flock is up to now. News about Irving's films, including her new documentary "Cold Refuge," can be found a...
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