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.

Available via Apple, SoundCloud, Spotify, or wherever you get podcasts. Don’t forget to follow the East Bay Yesterday Substack for updates on events, boat tours, exhibits, and other local history news.

This episode was recorded live on March 27, 2025 at the Backroom in downtown Berkeley. Big thanks to everyone who bought tickets to this sold-out KPFA fundraiser event: We couldn’t do it without your support . -Liam O’Donoghue

Special thanks to the Emeryville Historical Society for permission to use the photo at the top of the page, an image of Judson Iron Works circa 1920. This site is now home to Ikea.

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