The Sunset Connection - Perspectives from SF's Sunset Neighborhood
The Sunset District isn’t just fog and quiet streets. It's one of San Francisco’s most dynamic west side communities, shaped by decades of migration, culture, and change. If you’re into Sunset real estate, San Francisco local history, or simply love discovering the stories behind the neighborhoods you pass every day, this podcast is for you.
I’m Jessica Ho: local realtor, community connector, and proud Sunset resident. Each episode, I sit down with the people who built this corner of the west side: small business owners, longtime families, civic leaders, educators, artists, and neighborhood legends whose stories rarely get told.
On The Sunset Connection, we explore:
- The people who shaped the Sunset District;
- The history behind the homes and institutions of west side San Francisco;
- Small business spotlights, community updates, and neighborhood culture;
- Human-centered insights into Sunset real estate;
- Conversations with Sunset legends and emerging voices; and
- The surprising layers of San Francisco local history hiding in plain sight.
Whether you grew up here, live here today, or are simply Sunset-curious, this show connects you to the people, stories, and spirit of a neighborhood that’s constantly evolving, but never losing its heart.
And if you’re curious about the market or just want to continue the conversation off the podcast, don’t hesitate to reach out
Keep in touch!
Insta: https://www.instagram.com/jessica_j_ho
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thesunsetconnection
Website: www.jessicajho.com
Email: jessica.jasmine.ho@gmail.com
Phone: 415-373-6440
Episodes
21 episodes
Part II: Pat Maguire on Love, Loss, and a Life Beyond
In this episode, Pat Maguire opens up about the moments that shaped his new book, All Things Beautiful. He talks about the night that changed everything for his family, what grief taught him, and the unexpected place where he rediscove...
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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22:00
The Fights That Bound Us: Pat Maguire on Growing Up Irish Catholic in the Sunset
In this episode of The Sunset Connection, I talk with Pat Maguire, who opened and runs Java Beach Café with his wife, Buffy Maguire. Both Pat and Buffy are San Francisco natives with deep ties i...
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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27:32
Assessing How SF’s Assessor-Recorder, Joaquin Torres, Works For You
In this conversation, Joaquin shares how his upbringing inspired his work in public service and what the new SMART Property System<...
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26:00
SarangHello, Sunset!
There’s a K-Pop store in the Sunset District. Yeah, you read that right. In a neighborhood better known for dimsum than fandom, SarangHello has become a magnet for teens, stans, and anyone chasing joy. Jessica t...
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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21:44
The Return of the Sunset Night Market and Holiday Updates With Angie Petitt
What happened to the Sunset Night Market? What is Sunset Mercantile? And how did the Outer Sunset Farmers Market and Mercantile get started? Is there anything happening for the holidays in the Sunset?Tune in to The Sunset Co...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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19:47
October Means Movies in McCoppin Park - It's a Tradition!
A foggy square, a rolling library cart, and a neighborhood ready to gather, this is how a small idea became a 15‑year tradition that now brings 700 people together every Friday in October. We sit down with Albert to tell the full story of Movie...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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19:57
Education as the Great Equalizer: A Conversation with Parag Gupta
In this episode of The Sunset Connection, Jessica Ho sits down with Parag Gupta — SF Board of Education commissioner, affordable housing leader, and proud SFUSD parent. Education is often called the “great equalizer,” but in San...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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33:45
House Hunters: Sunset Edition
Yes, Redfin and Zillow are great for browsing listings, but will they tell you about the home that hasn’t hit the market yet, the seller quietly desperate to move, or the problems hiding behind perfect staging?In this episode of The ...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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33:03
Sunset Commons: A New Kind of Third Space for the Sunset
In this episode, Jessica sits down with Carmen and Steven Lee, the creators of Sunset Commons, a brand-new arts and crafts café in San Francisco’s Inner Sunset. The two high school sweethearts turned small business owners talk about what it tak...
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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27:57
Where Do We Go Now? Processing the BBB as Chinese Americans
What does it mean to be Chinese American in 2025, when a sweeping new federal law - HR 1, also known as the “Big Beautiful Bill”—fundamentally changes immigration, enforcement, and who feels like they belong?NEW! 📝...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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41:07
Behind the Numbers: Han Li on SFUSD’s Budget
If you live in San Francisco, chances are you either went to public school, have a child in public school, or know someone who does. But even if you don’t, the health of our schools reflects the health of our neighborhoods, our tax dollars, and...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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20:32
When They Come for Us: Dr. Russell Jeung on Being Asian in America Today
Dr. Russell Jeung is a sociologist, Christian, and co-founder of Stop AAPI Hate. In this powerful conversation, Russell joins Jessica Ho to talk about what it means to be Asian American in a time of rising...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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26:21
Inside the SFUSD Lottery: A Parent’s Guide to Surviving the System
What happens when your kid’s school assignment isn’t tied to your address, but to a citywide lottery? In this episode of The Sunset Connection, host Jessica Ho sits down with four Sunset District parents to unpack the complexities of S...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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43:29
The Brisket Bao That Changed Everything
The aroma hits you first: smoky, rich, unmistakably Texan. But this isn’t Houston. You’re in San Francisco’s Sunset District, where Daniel Ramirez and his wife, Lareina, have built something special at Smoking D’s BBQ.Danie...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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19:12
More Than Chinatown: Lily Wong on Uplifting Chinese American Stories in the Sunset
What does it mean to grow up Chinese American? And how do the stories of Chinese families in the Sunset District resonate with communities everywhere?In this episode, Jessica sits down with Lily Wong, Director of Community Engagem...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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26:14
Can We Fix Healthcare Without Breaking Ourselves?
Hi Folks! This week’s episode has a different format, released in response to recent national changes that could reshape healthcare access for millions of Americans. With funding cuts, layoffs, and political uncertainty at the federal level, I ...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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23:39
Let’s Talk About Affordability in San Francisco — with Dyanna & Dane Volek
What does it really take to afford a life in San Francisco—and what happens when plans change?In this episode, I sit down with Dyanna and Dane Volek to talk about their journey through homeownership, affordable housing pr...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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30:38
Senior Sharp & Sunset Smart: Margaret Graf on Real Estate, Aging, and Community
In today's episode of The Sunset Connection, host Jessica Ho introduces two exciting new segments: The Realty Rundown and Community Announcements!We start by exploring the latest real estate trends impacting San Francisco's Sunset Distri...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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26:33
Revitalizing the Sunset: Katy Tang on Leadership, Small Business, & Legacy
🍀 Happy Early St. Patrick's Day! 🍀In this third episode of The Sunset Connection, we sit down with Katy Tang, former San Francisco District 4 Supervisor and current Executive Director of the Office of Small Business. As a lifelo...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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28:55
Safety in the Sunset: A Community Conversation
Dive into the heart of the Sunset District with SFPD Taraval Police Captain Brien Hoo as he explores the intricacies of community safety and policing. Growing up in the area, Captain Hu shares his vibrant memories and insights into how the neig...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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30:51
Sunset Stories: From Past to Present
In the inaugural episode of "The Sunset Connection," host Jessica Ho, a Sunset resident, sits down with Albert Chow, esteemed community leader and owner of the historic Great Wall Hardware store in San Francisco's Sunset District. Together, the...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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35:17