California Frontier
Prof. Damian Bacich shares the history you didn't learn in school. Each episode is a deep dive into the fascinating early history of California and the West. Listen to stories and interviews with scholars, experts, and people who are passionate about a time when California was the frontier of empire and imagination.
Episodes
75 episodes
074: Pirates in California? | Michael Hardwick Part 2
In the second part of my interview with Michael Hardwick, we hear about Hippolyte Bouchard, a pirate who raided California's coast, and learn about the history of the Spanish and Mexican presidios.This episode explores sea battles, invas...
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Season 4
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Episode 8
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37:19
073: Presidios and Soldados in California Part 1 | Author Michael Hardwick
In this episode, I delve into the often overlooked history of the Spanish Presidios in California with expert Michael Hardwick, author of Spanish Arms and Armaments of the Presidios in California. Michael shar...
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Season 4
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Episode 7
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45:28
072: The Revolt of Los Angeles: Tales of Mexican California Part 3
Join me for another excerpt from Antonio Franco Coronel's memoirs, Tales of Mexican California. In this episode, we hear about the events of 1846, when the US military began its invasion and occupation of California. Corone...
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Season 4
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Episode 6
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24:12
071: Tales of Mexican California Part 2: Antonio Coronel's Memoirs
Tales of Mexican California: Antonio Coronel's Memoirs - Part 2To hear Part 1, go to Episode 065.In this episode of the California Frontier Podcast, Damian Bacich continues exploring the memoirs of Antonio Franco Coronel. C...
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Season 4
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Episode 5
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34:22
070: The Journey of the Stones | Fr. Paul Mark Schwan (Part 2)
In the second half of my interview with Father Paul Mark Swan, Abbot of the Abbey of New Clairvaux, we find out about the journey of a medieval Spanish monastery, brought to San Francisco by William Randolph Hearst, and later reas...
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Season 4
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Episode 4
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34:02
069: Medieval Heritage in the Heart of California | Abbot Paul Mark Schwan (Part 1)
Part 1 of this interview explores the rich history of the Abbey of New Clairvaux, a Roman Catholic monastery in Vina, California. The abbey is rooted in the Benedictine tradition, a monastic lifestyle that began over 1,500 years ago. Abbot Fr. ...
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Season 4
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Episode 3
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35:36
068: How the Civil War Transformed California | Author James Tejani
In Part 2 of my conversation with author James Tejani, we delve into the Civil War's role in shaping California's economic and political landscape. The discussion highlights the transformation of California from the Gold Rush period to an indus...
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Season 4
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Episode 2
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38:44
067: Remaking Southern California with author James Tejani
In Part 1, we sit down with author James Tejani to discuss his book, A Machine to Move Ocean and Earth: The Making of the Port of Los Angeles and America. The conversation delves into the historical context of the Gold Rush, demogr...
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Season 4
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Episode 1
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34:42
066: Thank You!
A quick message of thanks at the end of 2024 from the California Frontier Project.
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3:23
065: Tales of Mexican California Pt. 1
In the first episode of this series, we explore the memoirs of Antonio Franco Coronel, a significant figure in Southern California's Mexican past. Coronel takes us through his reminiscences of the struggles the controversial Híjar...
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Season 3
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Episode 48
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27:09
064: A Franciscan in Troubled Times Part 3
In this episode, we conclude the story of Fr. José María del Real. We cover the U.S. annexation and occupation of California and the tensions between new American settlers and the local population. We delve into Father Real's efforts to accommo...
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Season 3
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Episode 47
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41:11
063: A Franciscan in Troubled Times Part 2
In this episode, we delve further into the life and challenges faced by Fr. José María Suárez del Real, the last Franciscan missionary at Mission Santa Clara. The episode recounts Father Real's advocacy for the native people, his disputes...
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Season 3
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Episode 46
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25:28
062: A Franciscan in Troubled Times Part 1
In this episode, we delve into the life and legacy of Father José María Suárez del Real, a Mexican Franciscan missionary in 1840s California. Through anecdotes and historical context, we explore his role during the mission secularization period...
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Season 3
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Episode 45
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20:22
061: The Attack on Mission San Diego: Interview with Richard Carrico (Part 2)
In Part 2 of our conversation, we delve into the 1775 sacking of Mission San Diego de Alcalá, a pivotal event in California's history. Richard's detailed research challenges mainstream historical accounts and highlights the specific invo...
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Season 3
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Episode 44
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52:14
060: Reservation Archaeology with Richard Carrico (Part 1)
In Part 1 of this interview, I speak with archeologist Richard Carrico, a prominent expert on the Native peoples of California, especially those in the San Diego area. Carrico shares his intriguing journey into archaeology, beginning wit...
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Season 3
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Episode 42
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32:40
059: Strangers in a New Land: Two Foreigners Who Shaped Early California
This solo episode explores how two ambitious foreigners, one a Scotsman and the other an American, navigated life in Mexican California during the 1830s and 1840s. Though both shared a common language and elite backgrounds, their a...
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Season 3
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Episode 42
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28:04
058: California's Untold Maritime History (Part 2) with author Eric Plunkett
In Part 2 of my interview with Eric Plunkett about early explorations of California, we begin with the shipwreck of the San Agustin in 1595 at Drake's Bay, recognized as California's first shipwreck. Eric goes on to discuss Pedro ...
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Season 3
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Episode 41
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30:36
057: California's Untold Maritime History (Part 1) with author Eric Plunkett
Join host Damian Bacich and guest Eric Plunkett as they dive into the fascinating early maritime history of California. Plunkett reveals surprising details about Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo's 1542 expedition, including his connection t...
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Season 3
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Episode 40
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30:59
056: Secrets of Mission San Luis Rey Part 2 with Art Historian Helena Hazleton
In Part 2 of my interview with Helena Hazleton, Museum Director at Mission San Luis Rey de Francia, we discuss its later history and some features that make it stand out among missions.Main topics of Part 2: The mission...
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34:19
055: Secrets of Mission San Luis Rey Part 1 with Art Historian Helena Hazleton
In this episode, I interview art historian Helena Hazleton, Director of the Museum at Mission San Luis Rey de Francia in Oceanside, California. In this captivating conversation, Helena shares her expertise on one of the largest and most ...
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Season 3
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Episode 39
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31:44
054: What's Up with the California Frontier Project?
We've published 50 episodes and it is time to check in about where the California Frontier Project is going.
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Season 3
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Episode 38
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20:42
053: Beyond the Devil's Road Part 2: Dr. Jeremy Beer
In Part 2 of this interview, author Jeremy Beer discusses his new book Beyond the Devil's Road: Francisco Garcés and the Spanish Encounter with the American Southwest. Beer delves into the life and legacy of Franciscan friar Fra...
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Season 3
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Episode 37
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31:36
052: Beyond the Devil's Road Part 1: Interview with author Dr. Jeremy Beer
This is Part 1 of an interview with author Jeremy Beer about his new book Beyond the Devil's Road: Francisco Garcés and the Spanish Encounter with the American Southwest. We discuss the challenges and triumphs of Fray Francisco Garcés,...
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Season 3
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Episode 36
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33:46
051: California in 1834 Part 3: Wine and Weddings
This is the third and final installment exploring the recollections of Carlos N. Híjar, who came to Alta California from Mexico in 1834 at age eight. Key points include: Detailed description of wine and brandy production method...
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Season 3
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Episode 35
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23:40
050: Alta California in 1834 Part 2: Song and Dance
In this episode, we continue exploring the memoirs of Carlos N. Híjar, who came to Alta California as a young boy in 1834. The episode focuses on daily life in Alta California during the Spanish and Mexican eras, particularly in Santa Barbara. ...
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Season 3
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Episode 34
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25:54