Inside Olympia

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Host Austin Jenkins, is TVW's long-running weekly interview show featuring in-depth discussions with state leaders.


    • Apr 23, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekly NEW EPISODES
    • 55m AVG DURATION
    • 174 EPISODES


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    Latest episodes from Inside Olympia

    Inside Olympia--Tom Tebb retired Director of the Office of Columbia River and Caroline Mellor with Dept. of Ecology

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 23, 2025 54:51


    Water is an increasingly precious commodity. How is Washington State managing water resources in areas like the Columbia River Basin where demand outstrips supply? And as drought becomes more common, how is the state preparing for current and future dry spells? On the program, Tom Tebb, the recently retired Director of the Office of Columbia River at the Department of Ecology and Caroline Mellor, the statewide drought lead at Ecology.

    Inside Olympia--Washington State Director of Commerce Joe Nguyễn

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 15, 2025 54:52


    Austin Jenkins sits downs and discusses tariffs, agriculture and energy with Washington State's Director of Commerce Joe Nguyen.

    Inside Olympia--WA State Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra L. Stephens

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 9, 2025 54:52


    Inside Olympia, with host Austin Jenkins, sits down with State Supreme Court Chief Justice Debra Stephens.

    Inside Olympia---First-Term State Legislators

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2025 54:46


    This week on Inside Olympia....Austin Jenkins sits down with first-term State Representatives Natasha Hill of Spokane and Brian Burnett of Wenatchee.

    Inside Olympia -- Debate Over the State Budget, Reporting on Ag/Farm Issues

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2025 54:46


    We discuss the state budget with House Democratic Majority Leader Rep. Joe Fitzgibbon, and Rep. Travis Couture, the ranking Republican on the House Appropriations Committee. Plus, Capital Press journalist Don Jenkins on covering agriculture- and farming-related news. 

    Inside Olympia with Legislative Leaders Rep. Laurie Jinkins and Sen John Braun

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 54:51


    This week on Inside Olympia....we sit down with top legislative leaders.  On the program, Speaker of the House Rep. Laurie Jinkins and Senate Republican Leader John Braun.

    Inside Olympia---How to Balance the State Budget with Treasure Mackley and Paul Graves

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2025 54:52


    On this episode of Inside Olympia ... The debate over how to balance Washington's budget? Should lawmakers cut spending? Raise taxes? Or do some of both? We hear two perspectives. Treasure Mackley with Invest in Washington Now and Paul Graves with Enterprise Washington.

    Inside Olympia with Matt Powers and his new report titled, "Statehouse Journalism in Transition"

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2025 54:52


    On this week's episode Austin Jenkins sits down with Matt Powers to discuss his newly released report titled, "Statehouse Journalism in Transition."

    Inside Olympia with House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary and Rep. Kristine Reeves

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 26, 2025 54:46


    House Republican Leader Drew Stokesbary. Plus, Rep. Kristine Reeves on her proposal to ban flavored vapes.

    Inside Olympia with newly elected WA State Attorney General Nick Brown

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 55:07


    This week Austin Jenkins sits down with newly elected Washington State Attorney General Nick Brown.

    Inside Olympia--New DCYF leader and a discussion on Consumer Data Privacy and Nuclear Energy

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 13, 2025 54:51


    This week we interview the new leader of WA's Dept of Children, Youth and Families, Tana Senn. Plus, Rep. Shelley Kloba on her data privacy bill, and Rep. Stephanie Barnard on her bills to advance nuclear power.

    Inside Olympia---Public Works Board Turns 40

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 54:52


    Washington's Public Works Board is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2025. While the board is not well known to most Washingtonians, chances are it has helped pay for an infrastructure project in your community -- from roads and bridges to drinking water, stormwater and sewer systems, recycling and solid waste, and more recently, broadband.Established by the Legislature in 1985, the board's low-interest loans have funded more than 2,000 critical infrastructure projects in towns and cities across the state. In 40 years there's never been a default on a loan.This week we dig into the history, mission, and future of the Public Works Board with its Executive Director, Maria Jawad, Board Chair Kathryn Gardow, and board members Kelly Snyder, Public Works Director for Snohomish County, and Gary Rowe, who retired after a career in public works in Jefferson and Skagit Counties, plus working for the Washington State Association of Counties.

    Inside Olympia--Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer and Rep. Clyde Shavers on Artificial Intelligence Legislation

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 28, 2025 54:52


    This week on Inside Olympia....Austin Jenkins sits down with the newly sworn-in Insurance Commissioner Patty Kuderer.  Plus, we sit down with Rep. Clyde Shavers and talk Artificial Intelligence Legislation.

    Inside Olympia -- Legislators Talk Taxes, Plus State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 22, 2025 55:15


    Host Austin Jenkins talks taxes with House Finance Chair April Berg and Ranking Republican Ed Orcutt. Plus, the state's fiscal health with State Treasurer Mike Pelicciotti.

    Inside Olympia---Senate Budget Leadership and Press Panel

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 15, 2025 54:57


    We go in-depth with Senate budget leaders June Robinson and Chris Gildon. Plus, Capitol reporters look at the 2025 Legislature.

    Inside Olympia--Governor Jay Inslee

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2024 54:52


    Host Austin Jenkins sits down for an interview with the outgoing Washington State Governor Jay Inslee who is leaving office after three consecutive terms.

    Inside Olympia -- Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, DSHS Secretary Jilma Meneses

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 54:57


    An interview with newly re-elected Washington Secretary of State Steve Hobbs, and an exit interview with outgoing Department of Social and Health Services Secretary Jilma Meneses.

    Inside Olympia--Skills, Schools, and Career Readiness

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2024 54:57


    This week on Inside Olympia....Austin Jenkins discusses the 5-year-old Career Connect Program with individuals from Partnership for Learning and the Chehalis School District.

    Inside Olympia -- Dave Reich, Chief Economic Forecaster for Washington State

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 25, 2024 54:51


    Legislative budget writers watch his quarterly state revenue forecasts closely, to see how much revenue will be available to fund the state budget. Host Austin Jenkins sits down with state economic forecaster Dave Reich, who leads the Washington's Economic and Revenue Forecast Council.

    Inside Olympia -- WA Dept. of Corrections Secretary Cheryl Strange

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 20, 2024 54:53


    Host Austin Jenkins interviews outgoing Washington State Department of Corrections Secretary Cheryl Strange.

    Inside Olympia -- Democratic House Majority Leader Joe Fitzgibbon and Republican Senate Minority Leader John Braun

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2024 54:52


    This week on Inside Olympia...we breakdown the election results with Democratic State Representative Joe Fitzgibbon and Republican Senator John Braun.

    Inside Olympia--"Mr. Mainstream: Sam Reed"

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 4, 2024 54:51


    This week on Inside Olympia ... Is there any room left in politics for moderates? And what is the future of the Republican Party in Washington State? I sit down with former Secretary of State Sam Reed and Chief Historian John Hughes to discuss the new book: "Mr. Mainstream: Sam Reed's Half Century of Public Service and Ccivility.

    Inside Olympia--Health Benefit Exchange CEO Ingrid Ulrey and State Medicaid Director Charissa Fotinos

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 29, 2024 54:45


    On this episode of Inside Olympia....Austin Jenkins sits down with Health Benefit Exchange CEO Ingrid Ulrey and State Medicaid Director Charissa Fotinos.  

    Inside Olympia -- Washington Adjutant General Gent Welsh

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2024 54:51


    An in-depth interview with Adutant General Gent Welsh, who leads the Washington National Guard, Military Department and Emergency Management Division.

    Inside Olympia -- Insurance Commissioner Candidates

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 54:52


    Washington's Office of Insurance Commissioner is open for the first time in nearly a quarter of a century, as current Commissioner Mike Kreidler will not run for reelection. Vying to replace him are two state senators: Democrat Patty Kuderer and Republican Phil Fortunato. Learn about their priorities for this important but often overlooked statewide office, this week on Inside Olympia.

    Inside Olympia -- WA Liquor and Cannabis Board Director Will Lukela

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 9, 2024 54:52


    On this week's show....He came from one state that pioneered the legal use of recreational cannabis -- Colorado -- to another pioneering state, Washington. Meet Will Lukela, the director of the Washington State Liquor and Cannabis Board.

    Inside Olympia---Senators Karen Keiser and Mike Padden

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 54:57


    This week Austin Jenkins sits down with retiring legislators Karen Keiser and Mike Padden.

    Inside Olympia -- Roger Rogoff, Office of Independent Investigations

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 25, 2024 54:46


    This week on Inside Olympia...Roger Rogoff, director of the state's Office of Independent Investigations, which is set to begin examining police deadly force cases.

    Inside Olympia---Amber Leaders, Co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Behavioral Health.

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 19, 2024 54:46


    On this week's Inside Olympia ... What will it take to create a robust and comprehensive behavioral health system in Washington? Why is it taking so long to get there? And what are the barriers to success? On the program for the full hour this week, Amber Leaders, Co-Chair of the Joint Legislative Executive Committee on Behavioral Health.

    Inside Olympia - Elementary School Principal of the Year Cathy Sork

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 11, 2024 54:51


    Host Austin Jenkins sits down for an interview with Washington's 2024 Elementary School Principal of the Year, Dr. Cathy Sork of Dorothy Fox Elementary in Camas.

    Inside Olympia -- WA State Teacher of the Year Blaire Penry

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 5, 2024 54:57


    Host Austin Jenkins sits down with 2024 Washington Teacher of the Year Blaire Penry. Penry, from the Auburn School District, has been interviewed by Bill Gates, and has a lot to say about online learning, artificial intelligence in the classroom, equity and diversity in education, and more.

    Inside Olympia---Washington Fish and Wildlife Stakeholders

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 26, 2024 54:50


    Host Austin Jenkins does an in-depth interview with Dan Wilson of Backcountry Hunters & Anglers and Claire Davis of WA Wildlife First.

    Inside Olympia---Washington Fish and Wildlife Director Kelly Susewind

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 18, 2024 54:58


    On this week's episode of Inside Olympia …. We continue our in-depth look into how Washington manages its fish and wildlife populations.  On the program for the full hour is the agency head of the Department of Fish and Wildlife Department Kelly Susewind.

    Inside Olympia---Washington Fish and Wildlife Commissioners

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 12, 2024 54:57


    This week, the first interview in a three-part series on the management of fish and wildlife in Washington state. Host Austin Jenkins sits down for the full hour with Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission Chair Barbara Baker, and Commissioner Jim Anderson.

    Inside Olympia---Ecology Director Laura Watson

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 4, 2024 54:52


    On this episode of Inside Olympia...From Hanford cleanup to salmon-harming toxins to the state's carbon pollution credit program … The Department of Ecology is the regulatory agency in charge. How is ecology managing the state's most pressing environmental hazards? On the program this week is the Director of Ecology Laura Watson.

    Inside Olympia---Dept. of Veterans Affairs Director David Puente

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2024 54:45


    On this episode of Inside Olympia....Host Austin Jenkins discusses veterans' services and housing with the Director of the WA State Department of Veterans Affairs David Puente.

    Inside Olympia --- Addressing the Fentanyl Crisis and Update on the Dept. of Health

    Play Episode Listen Later May 20, 2024 54:51


    On this week's episode of Inside Olympia … How is Washington State's government working to combat the fentanyl crisis? We talk with Secretary of Health Dr. Umair Shah, and Sue Birch of the State Health Care Authority.  Also, what lessons were learned from covid? And how concerned should we be about bird flu? Dr. Shah discusses those and other priority issues for the State Department of Health.

    Inside Olympia---Representative J.T. Wilcox

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2024 54:46


    Host Austin Jenkins sits down for an in-depth interview with retiring former House Republican Leader and State Representative J.T. Wilcox, of Yelm.

    Inside Olympia -- Senator Andy Billig

    Play Episode Listen Later May 8, 2024 54:49


    Host Austin Jenkins sits down for an in-depth interview with retiring legislator Andy Billig, Senate Majority Leader from Spokane.

    Inside Olympia---State Drought Update

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 54:46


    A statewide drought emergency has been declared. How low is the snowpack? And what are the implications for fish, farms and people? We ask representatives of the Department of Ecology and Agriculture.

    Inside Olympia---Commerce Director Mike Fong

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 24, 2024 54:46


    Host Austin Jenkins sits down for an in-depth interview with State Department of Commerce Director Mike Fong.

    Inside Olympia---DSHS Secretary Jilma Meneses

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 19, 2024 54:46


    An interview with Washington Department of Social and Health Services Secretary Jilma Meneses.

    Inside Olympia -- State Representatives Jamila Taylor, Kevin Waters

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 10, 2024 54:46


    Interviews with State Representatives Jamila Taylor and Kevin Waters.

    Inside Olympia---Senator Sam Hunt, OSPI Chris Reykdal

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 1, 2024 54:46


    An exit interview with retiring State Senator Sam Hunt, plus a discussion on K-12 public schools with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Chris Reykdal.

    Inside Olympia---The Rising Costs of Health Care

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 27, 2024 54:51


    Host Austin Jenkins interviews Washington Health Care Authority Director Sue Birch about the work of the HCA's Health Care Cost Transparency Board.

    Inside Olympia---Lt. Governor Denny Heck & Office of Equity Director Megan Matthews

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2024 54:46


    On this episode of Inside Olympia...We recap the legislative session with Lt. Governor Denny Heck. Plus we meet Megan Matthews, Director of Washington's Office of Equity. 

    Inside Olympia---Mike Fancher, President of WA Coalition for Open Government

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 13, 2024 54:51


    On this week's episode of Inside Olympia....It's been more than half a century since Washington voters approved the Public Records Act. Now a new report from the Washington Coalition for Open Government warns the spirit and letter of that law are being undermined. We talk with the Mike Fancher, the nonprofit's president about recommendations for strengthening it.

    Inside Olympia---WA's Family and Children's Ombuds & WA's Long-Term Care Ombuds

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2024 54:46


    Host Austins Jenkins interviews WA's Long-Term Care Ombuds Patricia Hunter and Family and Children's Ombuds Director Patrick Dowd.

    Inside Olympia---DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 28, 2024 54:51


    On this week's episode of Inside Olympia: Austin Jenkins sits down with DCYF Secretary Ross Hunter.

    Inside Olympia---Artificial Intelligence Discussion

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 54:46


    Artificial Intelligence is the topic of discussion on Inside Olympia this week. Austin Jenkins sits down with state legislators and the Chief Technology and Chief Privacy Officers for Washington State.

    Inside Olympia---A Lookback at the Boldt Decision

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 14, 2024 54:41


    On Inside Olympia...we take a lookback at the Boldt decision and how that helped secure the fishing rights for tribes in Washington State.

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