PODCAST · society
Outside Lands San Francisco
by Western Neighborhoods Project
Nicole Meldahl and a rotating cast of hosts from the Western Neighborhoods Project (outsidelands.org / OpenSFHistory.org) share San Francisco west side neighborhood history with humor, footnoted facts, and occasional guests.
Episodes
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508R: Beeps Burgers (1051 Ocean Avenue) [Repodcast]
Nicole & Arnold strolled down Ocean Avenue for a Beep's Burger and to discover the history of 1051 Ocean Avenue, in this classic episode of Outside Lands that originally aired in 2023.
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614 - Baron and Baroness von Ridelstein
Drew and Nicole share the wild international love story of Herbert and Maria von Ridelstein, who ran the Art and Style Studio from her home on 26th Avenue in the 1950s. Learn more about this pair who did so much to bring art to the masses, and how they fit into our larger project researching the...
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613: Sandcastles at Ocean Beach
Since 1983, LEAP has hosted the Sandcastle Classic at Ocean Beach. Nicole chats with Jackie and Rafaella of Youth Arts Exchange who organize this annual epic event, and shares the story of James J. Taylor, sand sculpture artist, who dazzled beachgoers with his work in 1909.
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612: Mark Twain and the Cliff House
Phil Faroudja regales us with the 1864 journey of Mark Twain from downtown to the Cliff House and back. Spoiler alert: he did not find it very pleasant!
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611: Dr Matilda Burns and the Oceanside Pharmacy
Nicole and Drew share the remarkable life of pioneering Outer Sunset physician and pharmacist, Dr. Matilda Burns, through the connected histories of of Java Beach Cafe and Ruby's SF on Judah Street.
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610: Short Stack No. 34
Nicole is joined by special guest Stephanie Brown! This week they're catching listeners up on some exciting recent news, discuss the Outside Lands magazine, and some potential changes and updates coming to WNP programming in the future - in Nicoles first episode back since sabbatical.
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609: Legacy Businesses in the Outside Lands with Woody LaBounty
Woody LaBounty joins Randall Ann Homan and Al Barna from SF Neon to highlight some of their favorite Legacy Businesses in the Outside Lands, discuss the history of the Legacy Business Program and how businesses can achieve legacy status!
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493: 41-47 West Portal Avenue (Repodcast)
41-47 West Portal Avenue had bakeries, delis, hairdressers, toy shops, candy shops, and realtors over the years. Nicole & Arnold took a look at the building's history in this repodcast which originally aired in 2023.
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476R: Pan American Unity (Repodcast)
We previously told the story of the GGIE's Art in Action, and in this classic episode of Outside Lands, Nicole and Arnold dug a little deeper into Diego Rivera's masterpiece, Pan American Unity.
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608: Short Stack No. 33
Rebekah discusses the contraction of San Francisco museums and how that has effected her, and Nicole shares an early sabbatical discovery related to UCSF, Florence Nightingale, and...Country Joe MacDonald? Plus, we're teleporting back in time to read articles from the news 25, 50, 75 and 100…
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393R: Rousseau Brothers Realty (Repodcast)
You can't miss spotting a Rousseau-built "Storybook" home in the Sunset. Special guest Michael Lange joined the pod back in 2020 to tell the story of the Rousseau brothers and how they developed their distinctive homes across the West Side of San Francisco in this classic episode rerun of Outside...
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430R: Jesse B. Cook (Repodcast)
The Jesse B. Cook collection at the Bancroft Library is an amazing assortment of photos and ephemera spanning early 20th century San Francisco. Jesse Cook himself also has a fascinating, but complicated history. Learn how he compiled this cherished collection as one of San Francisco's earliest…
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607: Meet Joe and Lindsey
Nicole sits down for a conversation with two more board members - Joe Angiulo and Lindsey Hanson - as they share what they do in the history field and how they got involved with the WNP board.
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606: Short Stack No. 32
Peter Hartlaub joins Rebekah and Drew for one final Short Stack as a guest host- this time covering the long and chaotic history of Golden Gate Park's bison herd (escapes included). Then it's back to Rebekah and Drew digging up some interesting articles from the archives 25, 50, 75 and 100 years...
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605: Meet Alex Spoto
Nicole sits down with WNP's newest board member, Alex Spoto, to chat about dynamic approaches to history, his work at the Tenderloin Museum, and what makes the west side special.
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604: Short Stack No. 31
Rebekah is joined once again by special guest Peter Hartlaub! The two dig into the history of Golden Gate Park's former menagerie of animals, then look back at articles published 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago on the day of publication.
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482R: San Francisco National Cemetery (Repodcast)
Nicole and Arnold explore the long history of San Francisco National Cemetery in this classic episode of Outside Lands, which originally aired in 2022. Located in the Presidio, it is one of only two final resting places still active on the west side.
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603: Short Stack No. 30
Rebekah Kim and Peter Hartlaub are back in the host seat, sharing how they each found their way to WNP, taking a deep dive into the final days of Playland-at-the-Beach and going on some small theme park tangents, before the two take a look back at news headlines from 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago…
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518R: Michael Durand (Repodcast)
Nicole talks with the person who kept newspapers alive in the Outside Lands, Michael Durand, former owner and editor of the Richmond Review and Sunset Beacon, in this classic episode of Outside Lands San Francisco.
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602: Short Stack No. 29
Rebekah and special guest Peter Hartlaub go over the history of Bay to Breakers and how it became the beloved, chaotic race we know today - then look back at what was in the news 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago!
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601: Neighborhood Theaters with CinemaSFBay's Adam Bergeron and Robert Mailer Anderson
SF Neon's Randall Ann Homan and Al Barna are in the host seat this week, chatting with CinemaSFBay's Adam Bergeron and Robert Mailer Anderson, operators of the 4 Star, Balboa, and Vogue theaters. They get into why neighborhood theaters matter, the unique programming they offer, and the memories...
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431R: Lake Merced (Repodcast)
Lake Merced has been an important area of San Francisco before there even was a San Francisco. This week, we chronicle the pre-European history, Spanish settlement, and the emergence of Lake Merced as an important San Francisco resource in this classic episode of Outside Lands San Francisco.
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506R: Burning Man
Did you known that a huge cultural event got its start right here on the West side at Baker Beach? Nicole and Arnold investigate the origins of Burning Man, in this classic episode of Outside Lands San Francisco.
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524R: Dante Benedetti
How does one become a San Francisco baseball legend without winning championships? Nicole & Arnold tell the remarkable tale of Dante Benedetti, in this classic episode of Outside Lands.
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600: Monarch the Bear
Rebekah shares the sad story of Monarch the Bear, who spent much of his life in Golden Gate Park and his entire afterlife at the Academy of Sciences. You won't want to miss this episode that dispels stubborn myths, and reveals that the park once had a designated huntsman (that may or may not have...
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599: Short Stack No. 28
Nicole explains what she and WNP will be doing while on her sabbatical, and Rebekah talks about the community she's experienced in the neighborhoods recently. Plus, we're teleporting back in time to read articles from the news 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago the day this episode airs.
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598: Protecting West Portal History
Nicole is joined by historian Richard Brandi and Melanie Bishop of the SF Survey team at San Francisco Planning to talk about preservation priorities in West Portal and beyond, and what we can do to protect the places we love with so much change on the horizon for the cultural landscape in San...
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402R: Mt. Davidson Manor
Mt. Davidson Manor includes a who's who list of San Francisco residential developers. The home building story starts with Fernando Nelson and development continues into the 1930s.
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597: Mary Kelly and Unsung Heroines
Inspired by Rae Alexandra's recently released book, Unsung Heroines, Drew and Nicole share the harrowing story of Mary Kelly, aka Lucretia Henkel. This relatively unknown powerhouse was an advocate for refugee rights after the 1906 earthquake and fire, and dedicated a grove in Golden Gate Park to...
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596: Short Stack No. 27
Nicole and Drew discuss the Big Art Loop - the reason you may have seen some new public art around Golden Gate Park and the waterfront - and how the way it is backed may affect other installations moving forward. And to round it out we jump back in time to read articles from the news 25, 50, 75…
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595: Marta Lindsey, Discovering Golden Gate Park
Nicole and author Marta Lindsey discuss her new guide to Golden Gate Park, and spill the tea on rival recreation groups, her history boyfriend John McLaren, and their mutual love for this magical place that is bigger than Central Park. Plus, they enjoy authentic Golden Gate fortune cookies with...
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594: Short Stack No. 26
Nicole and Rebekah look back on the recent Spirits of San Francisco event at Slake Bottle Shop, and discuss what WNP book club is into right now, before we hop back in time to read some news from 25, 50, 75 and 100 years ago on the day this episode airs.
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447R: Bernice Rodgers
In this classic episode of Outside Lands, Nicole welcomes Nancy Botkin - who tells us about the remarkable Bernice Rodgers. Bernice was a ground-breaking Rec and Park employee whose was later honored with street named after her in Golden Gate Park.
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593: Short Stack No 25
Nicole, Rebekah and Drew talk through recent efforts by the AASLH and others to resist censorship in historical scholarship and exhibitions, and what it means for WNP. Plus, jello shots come up again! And we breeze through news from 25, 50, 70 and 100 years ago on the day this episode airs.
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592: Phils Electric Company
Nicole and Drew take you to the northeast corner of the western neighborhoods to explore the long history of businesses at 2701 Lombard Street at Baker, which has been home to Phil's Electric Co. since the 1980s just outside the Presidio.
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591: Short Stack No 24
Nicole shares an exciting event coming up, and Rebekah talks about her recent work trip to Sweden, before the two jump into articles from this day 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago.
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590: Miss Eve Fairfax
Nicole and Drew introduce you to the women behind Auguste Rodin's sculpture of Miss Eve Fairfax on display at the Legion of Honor, from its mysterious subject to the inimitable women who gave her a home in San Francisco.
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589: Short Stack No. 23
Rebekah reflects on her takeaways from Claude the Alligator’s recent funeral, and Nicole shares her excitement about a potential step into publishing. Together, they round out the episode by exploring local “On This Day” articles from 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago.
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588: Empire Theater
Nicole and Drew explore the important history of West Portal’s Empire Theater, reflecting on the role it played in the neighborhood and the generations it touched before closing its doors.
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587: Short Stack No. 22
Nicole and Rebekah return for the first Short Stack of 2026! They catch up on their recent breaks, discuss the closure of California College for the Arts (CCA), and explore “On This Day” articles from 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago.
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438R: Miniatures Mansions Makers (Repodcast)
Elizabeth Larke Blodgett, mother and passionate supporter of returning Great War soldiers, took her doll house making hobby to incredible levels. One masterpiece miniature house has been featured at the Emporium downtown and at the Cliff House, Nicole and Michael are joined by a very special…
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586: The Partingtons
To close out 2025, Nicole and Drew explore the history of the Partingtons, a family with a huge impact on San Francisco’s art scene.
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443R: Santa Claus Association
Unlike today's SantaCon, Mabel Hawkin's Santa Claus Association does not involve scores of drunken Kris Kringles. Instead, the Association was a charity group that distributed thousands of gifts to San Francisco's children. This week, we’re rerunning this classic episode where Nicole and Michael...
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585: Short Stack No. 21
Nicole and Rebekah are back with another Short Stack, live at Tennessee Grill! Tune in as they chat about what brought them to this beloved neighborhood spot—and why they love it—before diving into “On This Day” stories from 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago.
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584: Alice Eastwood
Nicole and Rebekah explore the remarkable life of botanist Alice Eastwood and the lasting impact she left on the California Academy of Sciences and San Francisco.
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583: Short Stack No. 20
Nicole and Rebekah return for another Short Stack to break down the big news about the Cliff House donation and revisit some moments from the recent WNP Family Dinner at Celia’s by the Beach.
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582: Short Stack No. 19
Nicole and Rebekah return for another Short Stack! Nicole shares her thoughts and hopes for the preservation of the historic Mother’s Building — formerly part of Fleishhacker Pool — before the pair dive into “On This Day” articles from 25, 50, 75, and 100 years ago.
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581: The Path of Gold Streetlamps
Nicole and Drew explore how a few of Market Street’s iconic “Path of Gold” lamps found their way to Lands End, and uncover the fascinating history behind these glittering symbols of San Francisco’s past.
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448R: Presidential Visits to the Outside Lands
Attention was always lavished on US Presidents when they visited Downtown SF. But it was even more notable when they traveled to the West Side. Former WNP Board President, Arnold Woods, shared his research for an article he penned on presidential visits to the Outside Lands in this classic…
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580: Short Stack No. 18
Nicole and Rebekah return with another Short Stack, as Nicole shares takeaways from her recent trip to Los Angeles and how it has shaped her opinion on the future of development in San Francisco. They also discuss their current reading picks — The Last Madame and Who Killed Jane Stanford — before...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
Nicole Meldahl and a rotating cast of hosts from the Western Neighborhoods Project (outsidelands.org / OpenSFHistory.org) share San Francisco west side neighborhood history with humor, footnoted facts, and occasional guests.
HOSTED BY
Western Neighborhoods Project
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Outside Lands San Francisco have?
Outside Lands San Francisco currently has 661 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Outside Lands San Francisco about?
Nicole Meldahl and a rotating cast of hosts from the Western Neighborhoods Project (outsidelands.org / OpenSFHistory.org) share San Francisco west side neighborhood history with humor, footnoted facts, and occasional guests.
How often does Outside Lands San Francisco release new episodes?
Outside Lands San Francisco releases new episodes frequently with a large back catalog of 661 episodes. Check the episode list for recent publication dates.
Where can I listen to Outside Lands San Francisco?
You can listen to Outside Lands San Francisco on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Outside Lands San Francisco?
Outside Lands San Francisco is created and hosted by Western Neighborhoods Project.
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