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Call "Em Like Museum with Eric Johnson

Call "Em Like Museum is a weekly podcast exploring how museums really work, and why we love them. Host Eric Johnson talks with museum directors, curators, experts, and passionate fans about what drives them, from homegrown passion projects to world-famous institutions. Each episode digs into museum curation, exhibit design, and the visitor experience — plus the essential question: What"s actually worth buying in the gift shop? Season One spotlights museums in the San Francisco Bay Area, including

history visual arts

All Episodes

47:44

How do we actually make museums more diverse? (with...

Call "Em Like Museum with Eric Johnson ·

2026/10/06

Vote for Call 'Em Like Museum in the 2026 Signal AwardsGood museums are centers of art, culture, and education. But the richest and most famous museums are clustered in North America and Europe, and that matters more than you might realize.Sociologist and Wellesley College professor Peggy Levitt describes herself as a decenterer for just that reason. In her books "Artifacts and Allegiances" and "Move Over Mona Lisa," she has explored how art has been shaped by colonialism, globalization and

en

46:39

What's inside that fancy old house? (with Woody...

Call "Em Like Museum with Eric Johnson ·

2026/09/29

Vote for Call 'Em Like Museum in the 2026 Signal AwardsThe Haas-Lilienthal House is one of San Francisco’s most beautiful architectural landmarks, a gorgeous Queen Anne Victorian that stands out amid a modern landscape of grocery stores and car dealerships. Built in the 1880s in the Pacific Heights neighborhood, this beautifully preserved home offers a unique glimpse into the city's 19th-century history.While many historic house museums are dedicated to diplomats or the incredibly wealthy,

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46:58

The living history of radio & broadcasting (with...

Call "Em Like Museum with Eric Johnson ·

2026/09/22

When you visit a museum, do you see it as just a collection of artifacts from the past? The California Historical Radio Society (CHRS) is hoping you don't. Although their museum in Alameda, California has a great collection of preserved & restored vintage radios, their work is really about the present, the future, and building a vibrant community of audio enthusiasts.For Executive Director Rachel Lee, the real goal of the CHRS is to create a dynamic space where different generations can

en

48:45

How museums make cities stronger (with Tayana Panova)

Call "Em Like Museum with Eric Johnson ·

2026/09/15

Museums already do a lot: they educate the public, preserve important works of art and culture, and inspire people to create art of their own. But they have the potential to do even more. By adopting principles of urban design, museums can transform into essential "third places"—vibrant social spaces where communities gather, friendships are formed, and societies grow stronger."The third place is essential to being healthy and happy because you need to have a place where you can just relax,

en

43:04

Walt Disney's life wasn't always magical (with...

Call "Em Like Museum with Eric Johnson ·

2026/09/08

The Walt Disney Family Museum in San Francisco faces a unique challenge: How do you tell the story of one of history's most important storytellers? When Diane Disney Miller founded the museum, her goal was to let her father tell his own story. To achieve this, she amassed 30,000 artifacts and extensive archival media to create a deeply personal look at the man behind the magic."She really wanted to debunk these myths that he was not a family man, not committed to his friends and family,"

en

47:23

In this pinball museum, the art is meant to be...

Call "Em Like Museum with Eric Johnson ·

2026/09/01

At the Pacific Pinball Museum in Alameda, California, there are very few "don't touch" signs. In fact, this unique collection actually relies on visitors' touch to keep things running smoothly."They actually function better when they're getting played a lot," says Evan Phillippe, the museum's executive director. "They seize up and they freeze when they don't ... The more they get played, the happier they are." Today on Call 'Em Like Museum, Evan talks about the myriad challenges of

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42:23

What's the point of going to a museum? (with Susan...

Call "Em Like Museum with Eric Johnson ·

2026/08/25

Did you know the Mona Lisa only got world-famous after it was stolen from the Louvre? In 1911, Leonardo da Vinci's masterpiece was just another portrait in the Salon Carré, shoved between a bunch of other Renaissance paintings. But when a former museum worker stole it, the public flocked to the museum to stare at "nothing," the blank space on the wall.This phenomenon fascinated Susan Crane, a history professor at the University of Arizona and author of "Nothing Happened: A History." In

en

1:44

What do museums mean to you?

Call "Em Like Museum with Eric Johnson ·

2026/08/16

Call 'Em Like Museum is a weekly podcast exploring how museums really work, and why we love them. Host Eric Johnson talks with museum directors, curators, experts, and passionate fans about what drives them, from homegrown passion projects to world-famous institutions. Each episode digs into museum curation, exhibit design, and the visitor experience — plus the essential question: What's actually worth buying in the gift shop? Season One spotlights museums in the San Francisco Bay Area,

en

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