Great history and stories about the local culture.

As a relatively new East Bayer, this podcast is essential in helping me understand the stories of my home.

Makes me proud to be a Bay Area/Berkeley native. Great interviews and very thought provoking. Keep it going with the great work, Liam!

Highly recommend. Very well written and presented and always super informative and interesting! I listen to many podcasts and thesis one of my favs:)

What I love about East Bay Yesterday is Liam’s curiosity about the subcultures that have shaped the Bay Area’s culture across time (and his love of public libraries).

But the vocal fry makes it hard to listen.

I grew up in Berkeley and have lived in Oakland and San Jose. This podcast really has some enlightening and entertaining stories about the East Bay, where it’s been and what made it what it is. Liam is not only a historian but an activist, always trying to highlight voices that have been marginalized and wanting to contribute to a better Bay Area. That knows it’s past and learns from it.

I was born at Kaiser Oakland and grew up in Oakland and Berkeley. My 97 year old mother still lives in the house I grew up in. I live in the best place in the world and Liam has so much to teach me, there’s so much I don’t know. I never would have thought a podcast about the Berkeley dump could be so interesting. Thank you!

I’m a faithful listener of Liam O’Donoghue’s outstanding podcast and Patreon supporter. The latest episode is an interview with Andrew Alden about the geological history of Oakland, and it is TERRIFIC. Both Andy and Liam are SUPERB at explaining both history and science so that a lay listener like me can easily understand it—and be FASCINATED by it. Now I want to walk all over Oakland to see for myself the things they describe.

This is the way we should learn history! Liam O’Donahue chooses the most interesting topics and thoroughly researches them to assemble interviews that bring history to life. Every single episode is entertaining, enlightening, never pedantic, always thoughtfully presented with unique perspective and completely worth one’s time. Liam is one of those masterful interviewers who just seems to ask the question just as I’m thinking of it which is just so satisfying. He is so open- minded that he puts his guests at ease discussing whatever he’s curious about. This affords the listener all sorts of inside stories that people would likely not reveal to less sensitive or prepared interviewers.

This show is always enlightening. Amazingly researched and impeccably presented. One of the best.

Absolutely fascinating stories that are very well researched and thoughtful! The histories span time and are very diverse.

Fascinating! Thank you!

Incredible podcast featuring local history-makers, and not just the usual romanticizing of the past. I hope these interviews keep going for many years to come!

It breaks my heart that a podcast combining my loves of Oakland and history is unlistenable. I just can’t take the host’s vocal fry. I discovered the pod last year and I’ve checked back occasionally to see if the delivery has become more polished but it’s worse than ever recently. Clearly some listeners are not bothered, but vocal fry is a big no-no for voice actors. I’m sort of stunned I’m the only one who has commented on it. Please, I beg you, work on your delivery.

Really enjoy this podcast. Very good writing, informative but never boring. I recommend it all the time.

East Bay Yesterday has me addicted

I swear, East Bay Yesterday, is my favorite thing to listen to during the shelter in place. I’m traveling back in time and learning some amazing history. Huge shout out to Liam for a job well done!❤️❤️❤️❤️

I just moved to East Bay recently, and I’ve found this podcast fascinating. It has helped me understand the role that this area has played in the Bay Area and the country in general. It makes driving around much more interesting, as I see landmarks mentioned in some episode. Keep up the great work!

I’ve lived here all my life and I appreciate the expansion of my Bay Area history and knowledge via this podcast! Thank you for your work

East Bay Yesterday is a trip -literally. It will transport you back to your East Bay roots, no matter where you are on the planet. I moved to Dallas in April of 2004, but, as to modify a cliché, you can take the boy out of Oakland, but you can't take the Oakland out of the boy. Liam O'Donahugh journey's through the city's history like a gondolier, guiding us into the lives of people and history of places. Interesting to anybody, but also a wormhole back to this Oakland castaway's past.

This is a well done, informative podcast.

This is my new favorite podcast! Fascinating stories that are funny, touching, and historical/educational. Oakland soul through and through. Thank you so much for creating this!

This is such an amazing podcast for any East Bay resident or historian. Hope they do an episode about El Sobrante!

As a Bay Area resident since 1995 and to be living in the East Bay for all but 2 years of that time, I feel like I can honestly say that the City has always stole the thunder from Oakland and the rest of the East Bay. As Oakland is going through some major changes, I find it refreshing and necessary for some of the stories out of the East Bay to be heard. Liam O., the host, does an amazing job finding great stories to tell which some are funny, moving, inspirational, but all are compelling. East Bay Yesterday shines light on the East Bay and it’s people a delivers it in an enjoyable and easily digestible package. I love this podcast.

I’ve lived in the North Bay, SF, and Oakland since 1956. These stories are great and a must-listen for anyone who considers themselves a local.

If you have ever lived in the San Francisco Bay Area, you need to listen to this podcast. It’s a great deep dive into the history of the east bay. Many fascinating stories you knew little to nothing about.

The territory covered by the various stories about the history of Oakland are always fascinating, educating, and entertaining. Liam researches his topics well and draws stories out of people that provide unique windows into whole other worlds. I highly recommend listening; I always crave new episodes.

Host Liam O'Donohue pulls out amazing stories and interviews, going back 10,000 years right up to the East Bay Dragons motorcycle club today. It's like wandering the galleries and the party at a good Friday Nights at OMCA event (Oakland Museum of California).

The title refers to the East Bay, and there are occasionally episodes that refer to Berkeley, but really this a podcast about Oakland. And it’s a very good podcast about Oakland. The creator tends to highlight stories concerning individuals and communities of color, quirky stories you’d never think of, a variety of more recent and older stories, lots of interviews. I’m working my way from the oldest episodes to the newest and I’m still about 20 episodes out, but I’d love to see some episodes about other parts of the East Bay! Not because I dislike the focus on Oakland, more that he does such a great job on Oakland that I’d love to hear his treatment of the whole East Bay.

Every episode I've listened to has been eye opening and enriches my perspective on living in the East Bay. Often local history gets boiled down to what white males in the 19th century were doing. Not this podcast. I really appreciate all the attention given to topics like the Great Migration and gentrification. Some reviewers have mentioned the host's vocal fry. Yeah, it's a little hard to listen to, but I think it's well worth it. (Sorry, Liam! I know it's not your fault. Maybe try speaking in a slightly higher register?) Even if you don't like the host's voice, he's not talking all the time. He has lots of great guests on - awesome voices like Eric Arnold, author of Hip Hop Atlas of The Bay. These are important stories; both Liam and his guests have good stuff to say. Give it a listen!

This podcast is great. Very well researched and well told stories of the east bay history. There is a nice variety of topics as well. I’ve lived in the Bay Area my whole life and I’ve learned so many interesting stories about this area that I never knew.

Original stories and great storytelling with political savvy.

Love this podcast and learning about the area I’ve lived in for 10 years. Only thing...I find the the narrator’s voice and cadence reallllllllllly annoying sometimes!! I’ve gotten used to it and try to push through it cause of the material, but man...that voice. Still 5 stars for capturing the history and stories of the area as it changes so quickly!

Thank you for making our history so relevant and spotlighting our local history that I have taken for granted. I discover many gems that I am able to discuss with my elder East Bay family members from each episode. Keep the episodes coming!

As a lifelong 2nd generation east bay resident (Berkeley and Oakland), this podcast has provided tremendous insight into the local history and people who make this place so special. As so many new residents flow in, I’ve been wary of losing the fabric and uniqueness of our community. This podcast frames those current events within the lens of all the waves of change the east bay has faced, for better and for worse. Keep up the amazing work! This should be required listening for all our neighbors, new and old.

History in stories. These are wonderful to listen to even if you are not a history buff. And if you love the East Bay, they are not to be missed.

Love the way this podcast brings history to life with good interviews and interesting music and sound effects. Plus, I learn loads of stuff I never knew before!

I set about searching for an Oakland podcast, not even sure if such a thing existed. Not only does one exist but it's fantastic! Liam does an excellent job bringing Eastbay history to life in a way that is both relevant and entertaining. Keep up the good work!

Excellent show covering a range of topics and demographics from right here in the East Bay. Its only fault is that it focuses on a single person in each episode leading to a somewhat narrow perspective on each topic, but that's also part of its charm. More gross horse head stories, please.

East Bay Yesterday has a great set of stories, done really well. I love Liam's of stories from the 19th century to the 1990s; he covers each deeply, so even for the stories where I know some of the details, I learn something new. Best of all, the shows are tightly edited and done with high production values; they're easy to hear, and the show keeps my attention the whole time rather than rambling off into conversation for minutes. The mix of shows is absolutely wonderful - from well-known historical figures (Dorothea Lange, Ina Coolbrith, Richard Pryor, and Bruce Lee) to folks whose stories I hadn't heard (Bobby Mardis, William Shorey) to stories I knew a bit (mudflat art, east bay punk scene.)

as a young 20-something who recently moved to Oakland from the South Bay, I can appreciate how the podcast feels directed towards new residents in the East Bay. I think the host, Liam, does an excellent job with his choice of featured voices to represent East Bay stories and communities. in particular, I loved hearing the story of Bruce Lee's self-exploration in Oakland, and the episodes on Uptown Oakland and redlining deserve a lot of attention if you spend any of your time there. I look forward to hearing more voices and narrators join in on the conversations Liam starts with these episodes, as this podcast will only become more valuable as more young twenty-somethings, like myself, join East Bay communities (and there's no sign of THAT slowing down any time soon).

This is the podcast I've been looking for. Great local stories that make you feel even more connected to your community.

I'm not usually into history, but this show gives me something interesting in every episode. It's well researched and gets into communities and individuals that are often left out of the textbooks. And I love all the local details. East Bay Yesterday brings to life scenes from generations past in ways that help explain what's going on now. Very well done!

Interesting history show, especially if you live in Oakland/ East Bay.

EBY is filing a void that our community needs. Liam does a magnificent job of picking subjects that are relevant to today's world.

E. Bay yesterday is a must-listen podcast for everybody. We need real perspective and history right now and always - this is the real deal.

Just recently found this, listened to 3 episodes so far. Fascinating local history with well-informed guests.

I know a fair amount about local history, but this really gets into things I’d never heard of. So happy to have our own, really local history podcast.

It covers some of today's 'hot topics' and injects a minimal amount of research and lots of theatrics.