Listen to me fan girl Richard Miller, the host of Sparkletack. The original podcast on San Francisco history, 2006 - 2009.  I modeled my podcast after Sparkletack so getting to interview him was a huge honor.  monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly) monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources) buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast) twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me) facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me ..read more

Today, we do not cover Edwin Bryant's best 1848-selling book but I do have a friendly conversation, with Mr. Bryant. Please sit back and enjoy the rest of my talk with Edwin Bryant.  monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly) monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources) buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast) twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me) facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me ..read more

Today, I virtually interview Edwin Bryant, the author of the 1848 best seller, “What I Saw in California, Journal of a Tour, 1846- 1847”. Through the magic of AI generated voices, I simulate a virtual conversation with Edwin Bryant; a journalist, turned overland traveler, turned the second American Alcalde of Yerba Buena, and then finally, a bestselling author.  About 95% of the words our guest speaks, are taken directly from his book. I only made minimal changes to past tense descriptions and similar small changes.  monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly) monkeyblocksf.buzzspro ..read more

The story of the Hudson Bay Company, in Yerba Buena, has been reduced to a few sentences that are very Hudson Bay Company-centric. “That place was miserable, and we didn’t make any money, so we left.” It always felt like the guy who says, “Yeah, well, I didn’t want that job, anyway.”  Today’s episode is peripherally about the English Hudson Bay Company’s short-lived post in Yerba Buena. But, it’s mostly about the people involved at the store, whose credit to that history has been lost over the last two centuries. And, they deserve to have their story retold to a current audience. Maybe ..read more

I have found myself drawn to a specific piece of land that figuratively and literally became central to the Pueblo de Yerba Buena. Why was it left empty? And, considering it shows up on every Yerba Buena and early San Francisco map, why is it hard to find early information on it?  monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly) monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources) buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf (support the podcast) twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me) facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me ..read more

I have found myself drawn to a specific piece of land that figuratively and literally became central to the Pueblo de Yerba Buena. Why was it left empty? And, considering it shows up on every Yerba Buena and early San Francisco map, why is it hard to find early information on it?  monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly) monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources) buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me) facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me ..read more

If the Battle of Yerba Buena doesn’t sound familiar, there’s a good reason for that. The events, just before and after ‘The Battle of Yerba Buena’, tell the story. There are two events, in my opinion, that make up the ‘Battle of Yerba Buena’. If you enjoyed this episode, and my original research, you can make a one-time donation at www.buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf.       monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly) monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources) twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me) facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me ..read more

I’m diving into Davis’ story because it directly captures Yerba Buena and early San Francisco history, with an insiders look at how one, socially, and financially privileged, foreigner, experienced Yerba Buena, among other … socially and financially privileged foreigners and Californios.  If you enjoyed this episode, and my original research, you can make a one-time donation at www.buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf.    monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly) monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources) twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me) facebook.com/Monk ..read more

There are only a few foreigners who lived in Yerba Buena, Alta California, long enough to see the province go from Spanish, to Mexican, to American rule. A person who lived through all that, would have a unique perspective of early Yerba Buena, and California history.  William Heath Davis, is the most famous Yerba Buena/San Francisco resident, you’ve never heard of.  If you enjoyed this episode, and my original research, you can make a one-time donation at www.buymeacoffee.com/monkeyblocksf.    monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly) monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for t ..read more

Today we are celebrating our second year in review. If you’ve been on this journey with me the two years, thank you for making it to this milestone.  And, a journey is exactly what this has been.   Last year, we traveled from 1837, and we got stuck in 1846.  monkeyblocksf@gmail.com (email me directly) monkeyblocksf.buzzsprout.com (for transcripts and cited sources) twitter.com/monkeyblocksf (follow me) facebook.com/MonkeyBlockSF (follow me ..read more