“I felt burning in my throat”: Preparing for nuclear war in Livermore

“No casual experiments”: Inside a legendary psychedelics lab

In a small, bunker-like laboratory in the East Bay hills, Alexander “Sasha” Shulgin created some of the world’s most powerful psychedelic drugs. Astonishingly, he didn’t try to hide his activities. On the contrary, Sasha published instruction manuals on how to make his mind-expanding compounds, and his farm in Lafayette became a mecca for scientists, therapists, artists, and others who were drawn into his world of pharmacological experimentation. Along with his wife, Ann, Sasha was a pioneer who helped lay the groundwork for the therapeutic use and decriminalization of psychoactive drugs that is unfolding today. Although Sasha and Ann both passed away, their legacy is being carried on at the Shulgin Farm, which continues to be a space for psychedelic research, educational gatherings, and other activities. On May 2, the Shulgin Foundation will be launching “MDMA: From Molecule to Movement” at the Berkeley Alembic, an exhibit tracing the history of Shulgin’s influence in synthesizing and spreading the drug now known widely as “molly.” This episode features interviews with Wendy Tucker, chair of the Shulgin Foundation, Paul Daley, co-founder of the Alexander Shulgin Research Institute, and Shulgin Foundation director Megan Bowers. Get comfortable, because we’re going deep with this one! To see photos and links related to this episode, visit: https://eastbayyesterday.com/episodes/no-casual-experiments/ 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/ Donate to keep this show alive: www.patreon.com/c/eastbayyesterday

Covering the counterculture: How a rebellious era shaped journalism

During the 1960s, America’s Cold War era monoculture was shattered by the arrival of birth control pills, civil rights protests, anti-war riots, LSD, rock & roll, and an unprecedented upsurge in youthful rebellion. As the Bay Area emerged as ground zero for this constellation of revolutionary movements, Rolling Stone magazine was created to document stories that the mainstream media was either ignoring or not taking seriously. Rolling Stones’ contributors were immersed in the scenes they covered and helped translate what happened here for the rest of the country, and for future generations. Peter Richardson's new book “Brand New Beat: The Wild Rise of Rolling Stone Magazine” (UC Press) explores this still-controversial time period and seeks to understand the true legacy of “the long sixties.” Listen now to hear our conversation about the political potential of music, the rise and fall of the hippies, and much more. To see photos and links related to this episode, visit: https://eastbayyesterday.com/episodes/covering-the-counterculture/ 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/ Donate to keep this show alive: www.patreon.com/c/eastbayyesterday

“I felt burning in my throat”: Preparing for nuclear war in Livermore

In February, America’s nuclear arms treaty with Russia expired, ushering in “a global rush for new weapons,” according to New York Times. Much of the next generation of the US nuclear arsenal will be developed at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, which has been designing and testing nuclear weapons since the early 1950s. The Lab’s history of hiding hazardous health impacts, security failures, and other troubling behavior should raise concerns not only in eastern Alameda County, but across the entire region. This episode features interviews with Marylia Kelley and Scott Yundt of Tri-Valley CARES, a watchdog group that’s been monitoring the Livermore Lab and advocating for community safety since 1983. Additionally, Sherry Pratt, a retired Lab employee and cancer survivor, joins the program to share her story. Listen now to hear about the stunning history of Lawrence Livermore National Lab, the origins of the nuclear weapons complex, and why transparency around the Lab’s operations is shrinking while its budget is booming. To see photos and links related to this episode, visit: https://eastbayyesterday.com/episodes/i-felt-burning-in-my-throat/ Don’t forget to follow the East Bay Yesterday Substack for updates on events, boat tours, exhibits, and other local history news: https://substack.com/@eastbayyesterday Donate to keep this show alive: https://www.patreon.com/c/eastbayyesterday To learn more about Tri-Valley CARES, visit: https://trivalleycares.org/

Welcome to "the floating city": How the Hornet dodged destruction

The USS Hornet fought in some of the biggest naval battles in world history, picked up astronauts returning from the first moon landing, and is allegedly one of the most haunted places in America. Three decades ago, this aircraft carrier was sold to a scrap dealer and seemingly destined for destruction until a group of preservationists saved the Hornet and turned it into a floating museum. Since the 1990s, the Hornet has been docked at the former site of Alameda Naval Air Station, but now the museum’s management are exploring a move across the Bay to San Francisco.  This episode features interviews with Russell Moore, the museum’s Chief Experience Officer and author of the official book on the USS Hornet; and Bruce Douglas, a Navy veteran who served aboard the Hornet half a century ago and currently volunteers as a museum docent. Listen now to hear about USS Hornet history, how the Hornet was saved, and why it might be relocating. To see photos and links related to this episode, visit: https://eastbayyesterday.com/episodes/welcome-to-the-floating-city/ Don’t forget to follow the East Bay Yesterday Substack for updates on events, boat tours, exhibits, and other local history news: https://substack.com/@eastbayyesterday Donate to keep this show alive: https://www.patreon.com/c/eastbayyesterday

“That’s where my power came from”: Betty Reid Soskin's century of chaos and hope

On December 21st, 2025, the Bay Area lost one of its oldest and most distinguished residents: The legendary Betty Reid Soskin passed away at the age of 104. To pay tribute to her extraordinary life and to celebrate her legacy, I’m re-releasing this interview that was originally published back in 2019. Even though she’s gone, her story is just as powerful, and inspirational as ever. In this episode, Soskin shares stories of growing up in Oakland during the 1920s “when the hills used to burn every year.” She traces her journey from working in a segregated union hall during World War II to co-founding one of the East Bay’s first Black record stores to becoming “America’s oldest National Park ranger” at the age of 85. And she explains how living for roughly a century has allowed her to see patterns in history that give her hope for the future. To see photos and links related to this episode, visit: https://eastbayyesterday.com/episodes/eby-qa-5/ Don’t forget to follow the East Bay Yesterday Substack for updates on events, boat tours, exhibits, and other local history news: https://substack.com/@eastbayyesterday Donate to keep this show alive: https://www.patreon.com/c/eastbayyesterday