EPISODE · Apr 24, 2025 · 1H 11M
Industry makes and breaks the Bay Area: A crash course with Richard Walker
from East Bay Yesterday · host East Bay Yesterday
From the gold rush to the tech boom, this region has been shaped by successive waves of business growth and decline. Every generation, new investments, innovations, and industries have led the way in building the Bay Area, attracting immigrants, and impacting every aspect of life here. For better or worse, the legacy of these trends is the world we live in today. In this episode, urban geographer Richard Walker, author of “Pictures of a Gone City: Tech and the Dark Side of Prosperity in the San Francisco Bay Area,” discusses the pros and cons of these boom/bust cycles and explores the history of local development through the lens of Big Business. As the Bay Area’s economy faces an uncertain future under the threat of a global trade war and a looming “AI revolution,” this wide-ranging conversation gives context to our often bewildering present. Don’t forget to follow the East Bay Yesterday Substack for updates on events, boat tours, exhibits, and other local history news: https://eastbayyesterday.substack.com/ For photos and links related to this episode, visit: https://eastbayyesterday.com/episodes/industry-makes-and-breaks-the-bay-area/ Donate to keep this show alive: www.patreon.com/eastbayyesterday
What this episode covers
From the gold rush to the tech boom, this region has been shaped by successive waves of business growth and decline. Every generation, new investments, innovations, and industries have led the way in building the Bay Area, attracting immigrants, and impacting every aspect of life here. For better or worse, the legacy of these trends is the world we live in today. In this episode, urban geographer Richard Walker, author of “Pictures of a Gone City: Tech and the Dark Side of Prosperity in the San Francisco Bay Area,” discusses the pros and cons of these boom/bust cycles and explores the history of local development through the lens of Big Business. As the Bay Area’s economy faces an uncertain future under the threat of a global trade war and a looming “AI revolution,” this wide-ranging conversation gives context to our often bewildering present. Don’t forget to follow the East Bay Yesterday Substack for updates on events, boat tours, exhibits, and other local history news: https://eastbayyesterday.substack.com/ For photos and links related to this episode, visit: https://eastbayyesterday.com/episodes/industry-makes-and-breaks-the-bay-area/ Donate to keep this show alive: www.patreon.com/eastbayyesterday
NOW PLAYING
Industry makes and breaks the Bay Area: A crash course with Richard Walker
No transcript for this episode yet
Similar Episodes
No similar episodes found.