Best Barfly Podcasts (2025)

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The Ref (1994) Review 42:43

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22h ago42:43

42:43

Denis Leary stars as a down-on-his-luck cat burglar who’s ditched by his partner during a robbery and ends up holding a bickering Connecticut couple (Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis) hostage. What seems like a simple escape quickly spirals out of control when their manipulative son and unbearable in-laws get involved. Soon, the thief finds himself over…

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Season Six: 2025 Year End Round up with Leanne Battelle and Daedalus Howell 35:22

8d ago35:22

35:22

Send us a text Leanne Battelle (Marin IJ food writer and editor at The Real Deal Marin) and Daedalus Howell (editor of the Pacific Sun/Bohemian and host of The Drive on Wine Country Radio 95.5 FM) join us to talk about the state of the restaurant business in Marin at the end of 2025.By Jeff Burkhart Kevin Blum Daedalus Howell Leanne Battelle

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La Cosa Nostra Gang War 1928-32 Bonus Episode Trailer 7:16

1d ago7:16

7:16

We pick up alongside Episode Nine on Bones Remmer, zooming out to look at what was happening in San Francisco in 1928 as the La Cosa Nostra gang war intensified in North Beach. Along the way, we pause on the culture of the moment: the movies people packed theaters to see, the arrival of Mickey Mouse in Steamboat Willie, and the everyday stories tha…

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Ep. 11—A Very Frisco Christmas Special 28:20

2d ago28:20

28:20

This special holiday episode of Frisco — The Secret History explores how Christmas was celebrated in San Francisco from the Gold Rush through the 1940s. The episode opens with a reflection on Emperor Norton, the city’s most beloved eccentric and an early, outspoken champion of civil rights, whose proclamations stood in stark contrast to the exclusi…

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Tár (2022) Review 49:19

3d ago49:19

49:19

Tom and Gage discuss Todd Field's Tár from 2022. Set against the rarefied and highly competitive international sphere of Western classical music, the film follows the formidable Lydia Tár—a world‑renowned composer-conductor celebrated for her technical brilliance, artistic daring, and commanding presence. At the height of her career, she has shatte…

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Call It Frisco Part 3: Emperor Norton and Herb Caen Myths Debunked! 24:08

6d ago24:08

24:08

In this episode of The Secret History of Frisco, Knox Bronson returns—hopefully for the last time—to San Francisco’s most emotionally charged semantic battlefield: the word “Frisco.” Building on the earlier episodes Call It Frisco and Call It Frisco #2 — Sally Stanford Weighs In On The Eternal Conflict, Knox dismantles two of the most commonly cite…

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FATMAN (2020) Review 24:45

8d ago24:45

24:45

Tom and Gage discuss the Nelms' Brothers FATMAN from 2020. A rowdy, unorthodox Santa Claus is fighting to save his declining business. Meanwhile, Billy, a neglected and precocious 12-year-old, hires a hit man to kill Santa after receiving a lump of coal in his stocking.By Thomas Backman

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Sorry To Bother You (2018) Review 43:47

13d ago43:47

43:47

Tom, Gage and special guest Mary discuss Boots Riley's Sorry To Bother You from 2018. In a dystopian near future, Cassius “Cash” Green lives in the garage of his uncle Sergio with his artist girlfriend, Detroit. Desperate for money, Cash takes a job as a telemarketer at RegalView, where he initially fails until an older co-worker, Langston, teaches…

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Go Mad (Nov) 3:08

12d ago3:08

3:08

Go Mad (Nov) by A Bev with StevBy A Bev with Stev

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The Ice Harvest (2005) Review 26:47

15d ago26:47

26:47

Tom and Gage discuss Harold Ramis' The Ice Harvest from 2005. The Ice Harvest is a 2005 American neo-noir black comedy film directed by Harold Ramis, written by Richard Russo and Robert Benton, based on the 2000 novel of the same name by Scott Phillips. It stars John Cusack, Billy Bob Thornton, and Connie Nielsen, with Randy Quaid and Oliver Platt …

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Modern Romance (1981) Review 33:00

18d ago33:00

33:00

Tom and Gage discuss Albert Brooks' Modern Romance from 1981. Robert was madly in love with Mary. Mary was madly in love with him. Under the circumstances they did the only thing they could do... they broke up. If it's not love, what is it? He thought dating would be easy ...By Thomas Backman

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The Killing of Two Lovers (2020) Review 42:05

27d ago42:05

42:05

Tom and Gage discuss Robert Machoian's The Killing of Two Lovers from 2020.By Thomas Backman

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Crossroads (1986) Review 41:29

1M ago41:29

41:29

Tom and Gage discuss Walter Hill's Crossroads from 1986.By Thomas Backman

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Sucker Punch (2011) Review 45:23

1M ago45:23

45:23

Tom, Gage and Simone discuss Zack Snyder's Sucker Punch from 2011.By Thomas Backman

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Ep. 9 Bones Remmer Pt. 1—Tenderloin Gambling King, Jack Ruby, & A Short History of Frisco's La Cosa Nostra 29:03

1M ago29:03

29:03

In this episode, we step back into San Francisco at the end of the roaring twenties, when bootleggers, blackhanders, and quiet Mafia bosses carved out invisible empires in North Beach. It was a time when the city’s underworld tried to keep its violence out of sight — but the headlines told another story. It’s also the backdrop for the rise of Elmer…

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Sorcerer (1977) Review 35:34

2M ago35:34

35:34

Tom and Gage discuss William Friedkin's would be masterpiece, SORCERER. Love Ya'll.By Thomas Backman

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Season Six: Lou Lesko, author/director/photographer and writing partner in Tale of a Barfly 20:11

1M ago20:11

20:11

Send us a text We welcome Lou Lesko, the man behind the scenes at "Tale of a Barfly," our dramatic collaboration at the Marin Civic Center's Showcase Theater on Nov. 20By Jeff Burkhart Kevin Blum Lou Lesko

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Life Is Sweet (1990) Review 44:07

2M ago44:07

44:07

Tom and Gage head across the pond for some bubbly British melodrama in Mike Leigh's Life Is Sweet.By Thomas Backman

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Splitsville (2025) Review 44:59

2M ago44:59

44:59

Tom and Gage discuss Splitsville (2025).By Thomas Backman

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"The Front" (With Melanie Anagnos) 50:59

2M ago50:59

50:59

This time out, we're discussing The Front, written by Walter Bernstein and directed by Martin Ritt, about an unambitious man asked to work as a "front" for several blacklisted writers in the 1950s. The film stars Woody Allen, Zero Mostel, Michael Murphy, Herschel Bernardi, and Andrea Marcovicci. Our guest this episode is Melanie Anagnos, author of …

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Ep. 8—Rachel Walther Discusses "The Lady from Shanghai" Orson Welles’ Fractured Dreamscape of San Francisco Noir 44:20

2M ago44:20

44:20

This installment is all about the wild 1947 film noir The Lady From Shanghai, and guest Rachel Walther, a film historian with a book coming out soon called Born To Lose, The Misfits Who Made Dog Day Afternoon, breaks down the chaotic story behind it. The Lady From Shanghai film was a last-ditch effort by Orson Welles to get back in Hollywood’s good…

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Ep. 7—"WOMEN IN SALOONS—The Shame of My Sex" (1944) Part Two 32:51

3M ago32:51

32:51

Welcome back, Frisco fans! You're tuning into Part Two and the conclusion of our deep dive into the San Francisco Examiner's 1944 sensation: "WOMEN IN SALOONS—The Shame of My Sex," by the legendary, if controversial, author Gertrude Atherton. If you missed the start, you definitely want to go back and listen to Part One! This episode picks up where…

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Season Six: Larry Mindel and Steve Reinertsen, authors of Mindel's new memoir "Lorenzo" 21:09

3M ago21:09

21:09

By Jeff Burkhart Kevin Blum Larry Mindel Steve Reinertsen

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Ep. 7—The Examiner's 1944 Moral Crusade Against Barfly Women—"WOMEN IN SALOONS—The Shame of My Sex" Part 1 50:12

3M ago50:12

50:12

In this episode of The Secret History of Frisco, we're diving into the San Francisco Examiner's sensational 1944 moral crusade against Barfly Women and the threat they posed to the social fabric of San Francisco. The paper hired the renowned 86-year-old author and novelist, Gertrude Atherton, a San Francisco native, to mount an investigation into t…

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#73 - Oasis with Mark 42:41

3M ago42:41

42:41

Episode 73 of a ABWS! Live from Sir Richard Steele pub.. a stones throw from ‘Supernova Heights’ this is the ‘Oasis Episode’ Mark Wilkins is a musician, marketeer, creative and Oasis fan from London. Having been at all of the celebrated oasis shows in history.. Mark has a unique and insightful perspective on the band and the music. We tackle such q…

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Season Six: Rob Lightner of East Brother Beer Co. and Tam Tavern 22:18

3M ago22:18

22:18

Send us a text Rob Lightner, one of the co-founders of East Brother Beer Co., joins us to talk beer, and their two brand new locations: Tam Tavern in Mill Valley and a taproom at the Metreon in SF.By Jeff Burkhart Kevin Blum Rob Lightner

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Ep. 6—Jimmie Tarantino Pt. 2: D.A. Thomas Lynch Spells Out Jimmie's Scams in Post-WWII Frisco 28:16

4M ago28:16

28:16

California State Attorney General Thomas C. Lynch was the Assistant D.A. in San Francisco in the late 1940s, the years Jimmie Tarantino, blackmailer and extortionist magazine publisher, was plying his trade in San Francisco at the behest of Frisco gambling czar Bones Remmer. This episode comes from the Oral History Department of the Bancroft Librar…

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Season Six: Nikki Wood and Mimi Towle of Marin Magazine 27:43

4M ago27:43

27:43

Send us a text Nikki Wood and Mimi Towle of Marin Magazine join us to talk Best of Marin, parties and publishingBy Jeff Burkhart Kevin Blum Mimi Towle Nikki Wood

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Ep. 5—Jimmie Tarantino Part 1: When Frank Sinatra and Mickey Cohen Invested in His Hollywood Nite Life Magazine 32:26

4M ago32:26

32:26

This episode of "The Secret History of Frisco" podcast introduces listeners to Jimmie Tarantino, a man described as a "louse, a blowhard, a barely literate, anti-Communist shake-down artist." The episode delves into Tarantino's early life in East Orange, New Jersey, and his eventual move to Hollywood where he became a peripheral member of Frank Sin…

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Bonus Ep. 5—Call It FRISCO Part Two—Sally Stanford Weighs In On The Eternal Conflict 26:04

5M ago26:04

26:04

In "Call It FRISCO, Part 2," host Knox Bronson defends his podcast's name, "The Secret History of Frisco," against objections from hither and thither, including the Reddit San Francisco group. Historical figures like Emperor Norton and madam Sally Stanford each make an appearance, showcasing their differing views on the term "Frisco." "Colorful cha…

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Bonus Ep. 4—FRISCO NOIR With Rachel Walther—The Maltese Falcon No.1 (1931) & No.2 (1941) and Dark Passage (1947) 47:38

5M ago47:38

47:38

In this episode, the first of a series, Knox Bronson, host of "The Secret History of Frisco" podcast, welcomes Rachel Walther, a film noir expert and author, to discuss the genre's connection to San Francisco. Walther, who writes for the Film Noir Foundation's "Noir City" magazine and has a forthcoming book on "Dog Day Afternoon," highlights San Fr…

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Ep. 4—The Story of Johnny Ochsner, The Rich Kid Romeo, and the Lovesick Stowaways 45:47

5M ago45:47

45:47

The episode chronicles the romantic life of Johnny Ochsner, a young Oakland oil heir whose escapades in the 1940s became international news. Marguerite Faye Human and Teresa Briston, separately stowawayed across the Pacific in pursuit of Johnny, driven by dreams of marriage. The story involves underage sex, a high-seas burglary, and the interventio…

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#72 - Music Teaching with Marcus & Antonio 34:09

5M ago34:09

34:09

Welcome to Episode 72! Join me at a Central London curry house with pals Marcus & Antonio.. for an educational chat on music teaching. Learn about the highs and lows of the profession, how they got into it, the future of it, the challenges, the songs they teach, why music is important, along with some funny experiences. Also some essential topics c…

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Season Six: Chris McCarthy, the "Mac" in Mac's 19 Broadway 16:14

6M ago16:14

16:14

Send us a text We welcome longtime bartender, Chris McCarthy to the show. 43 years in the industry and now the re-owner of 19 Broadway in Fairfax.By Jeff Burkhart Kevin Blum Chris McCarthy

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Bonus Episode 3—When Sally Stanford Kicked Humphrey Bogart Out Of Her Flagship Pleasure Palace At 1144 Pine Street In 1941 43:29

6M ago43:29

43:29

This bonus episode of "The Secret History of Frisco" podcast delves into the scandalous lives intertwined with San Francisco's notorious madam, Sally Stanford. Born Mabel Busby in 1903, Stanford's early life of poverty and a wrongful imprisonment for cashing stolen checks fueled her determination to achieve financial independence. By 21, she opened…

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"Harriet the Spy" (with Kerri Sullivan) 44:58

6M ago44:58

44:58

On the latest episode of Framed and Bound, host Tobias Carroll and guest Kerri Sullivan revisit the 1996 film Harriet the Spy. Subjects discussed in this episode: how to tell when a movie set in NYC was not shot in NYC; a Kids in the Hall connection; the number of Tony Award winners involved with this film; Diane Duane's novels about wizards; the c…

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Ep. 3—The Secret Life of Bob Patterson, The Charming Ex-Con Who Terrrorized High Society With His Column, "Freddie Francisco Observes" In The 1940s 43:28

6M ago43:28

43:28

The Secret Life of Freddie Francisco: A Rogue's Rise and Fall This episode of "The Secret History of Frisco" delves into the captivating, often scandalous, life of Bob Patterson, a writer of prodigious talent and even more prodigious roguishness. Under the pen name Freddie Francisco, Patterson became Northern California's most powerful newspaper co…

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Bonus Episode No. 2—Interview with Paul Drexler, Author of "Notorious San Francisco: True Tales of Crime, Passion, and Murder" 52:39

6M ago52:39

52:39

In this episode, I talk to author and historian Paul Drexler about the crime and vice rooted in the very birth of San Francisco and their evolution and influence in the city for the next hundred years. People and groups discussed in the episode include the Sydney Ducks, the Hounds, the San Francisco Police Department, Donna Fine, Sally Stanford, Bo…

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Season Six: Brendan Moylan, award winning brewer, award winning distiller 23:51

7M ago23:51

23:51

Send us a text Legendary restaurateur, Brendan Moylan (Marin Brew Co., Noonan's, Moylan's Brewery and Restaurant) joins us to talk about transitioning from brewing to distillingBy Jeff Burkhart Kevin Blum Brendan Moylan

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Ep. 2 ~ The Hawaiian Princess Who Wanted To Sing 37:13

7M ago37:13

37:13

I have a wonderful episode for you today, the story of the Hawaiian princess who came to San Francisco to open a nightclub where she could sing. We will again encounter lawyer Jake Ehrlich, of course. The McDonough Brothers, who controlled all the vice in the city, Chief of Police William Quinn and his corrupt Captain Fred Lemon at Central Station,…

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Bonus Episode No. 1—Call It Frisco! 26:14

8M ago26:14

26:14

This episode explores the long and often contentious history of the nickname "Frisco" for San Francisco. Despite the strong disapproval of many, including Chronicle columnist Herb Caen, the term has deep roots stretching back to the Gold Rush era. We delve into the earliest documented uses of "Frisco" in the mid-19th century, finding it in letters …

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#71 - Neil Young on the Phone & Improv with Olga 29:30

8M ago29:30

29:30

Hello to you and hello to May 2025.. this is A Bev with Stev!This episode starts with a phone call between myself and Neil Young. We discuss the bootleg nature of the new Steve Mahoney & The Mill Island Band album 'The Biddle Bros Bootleg'.. Neil is initially unhappy that this live album is being released.. Also join me and Olga a fellow improv com…

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Episode 1: Vice Defined San Francisco's DNA At Its Inception 45:00

8M ago45:00

45:00

Welcome to The Secret History of Frisco, a podcast peeling back the layers of San Francisco's vibrant and often illicit past during its last wide-open era, 1934 to 1953. Join host Knox Bronson as we journey through the city's smoky backrooms, bustling waterfronts, and glittering nightlife, where fortunes were made and lost, and a unique live-and-le…

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Barfly Podcast: Sean Saylor of Sausalito's Saylor's Landing and Saylor's Restaurant and Bar 16:23

8M ago16:23

16:23

Send us a text We welcome Sean Saylor, former owner of Saylor's Restaurant and Bar in Sausalito to discuss why a quarter century of owning his own restaurant was enough for him.By Jeff Burkhart Kevin Blum Sean Saylor

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"Ask the Dust" (with Constance Squires) 48:01

8M ago48:01

48:01

After an unexpected break, Framed and Bound returns with a new episode focusing on writer-director Robert Towne's 2006 adaptation of John Fante's novel Ask the Dust! Joining host Tobias Carroll for this episode is Constance Squires, author of Low April Sun, available wherever books are sold. Discussed this episode: the ideal director to adapt John …

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#70 - Events Ladies 21:08

8M ago21:08

21:08

Hey there.. it’s been a while! In terms of the absence.. all is revealed within! For now A Bev with Stev is back.. first episode recorded last summer with the ‘Events Ladies’.. in just getting back in gear.. lookout for new episodes from the world of improv, social media & reality TVBy A Bev with Stev

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Barfly Podcast: Erin Hines, Bitter Girl Bitters, Mijo and Guesthouse 19:49

9M ago19:49

19:49

Send us a text We catch up with multitasker extraordinaire, Erin Hines, Beverage Director at both Guesthouse and Mijo in Marin, and the proprietor of Bitter Girl BittersBy Jeff Burkhart Kevin Blum Erin Hines

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When Gamblers and Newspapermen Ruled The Cool Grey City of Love 10:14

9M ago10:14

10:14

Ever wondered who really pulled the strings in San Francisco during its post-war golden age? It wasn't the mayor or the board of supervisors. When the war ended in 1946, San Francisco experienced an unprecedented boom. Servicemen who'd fallen in love with the city returned to stay, nightlife flourished, and business thrived in what appeared to be a…

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Mairos @ NG TRAX RADIO SHOW - PURE IBIZA RADIO - 2025.01.10 59:02

11M ago59:02

59:02

Recording from Ibiza Pure Radio studio. NG Trax Radio Show hosted by Nima Gorji.By MAIROS

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"Misery" (with Lee Matthew Goldberg) 55:22

11M ago55:22

55:22

In this episode of Framed & Bound, host Tobias Carroll and guest Lee Matthew Goldberg discuss the 1990 film Misery, an adaptation of Stephen King's novel of the same name. It's also the third King adaptation to be covered on this podcast. One of these days, we'll get to Secret Window. Discussed in this episode: the greatness of Kathy Bates, Rob Rei…