Seattle City Makers

As we put a cap on the NBA Finals, and look ahead to an NBA Board of Governors meeting with expansion on the agenda, we have a timely conversation Brian Robinson. For nearly 20 years now, Brian has led a number of groups dedicated to Sonics fandom and bringing the NBA back to Seattle. His latest effort is Seattle NBA Fans, which he founded with a mission of uniting the region and preparing for the return of the NBA. And that's not even his day job. Jon and Brian talk about the origins of his love for the Sonics; Seattle's positioning for expansion; the rough timeline for a return; the goal of Seattle NBA fans and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Brian Robinson.

You don't make the Forbes 30 Under 30 list without serious talent and execution – both strong suits of Yifan Zhang. The Harvard grad and entrepreneur founded two companies, one in San Francisco and another in Seattle. She's now the managing director of AI2 Incubator and the founder of AI House, a place for community, collaboration and creating the next era of AI in Seattle. Jon and Yifan talk about her earlier ventures and path to AI House; the importance of collaborating in-person; her advice for founders; the AI sector in Seattle; the growing ranks of female founders in the city and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Yifan Zhang.

Who doesn't love a freshly baked cookie? Warm cookies are a mood changer, and in the case of Tiffany Lewis, a career changer. Lewis left a corporate job in banking and went headfirst into baking. But she did not follow a standard recipe. Graduation from Le Cordon Bleu, working with celebrity chefs like Curtis Stone and Giada De Laurentiis and eventually landing at Sur La Table. The pandemic led to a pivot, pop-ups and the founding of Cookies with Tiffany – and downtown Seattle is certainly sweeter for it.  Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Tiffany Lewis.

Seattle's Chief of Police Shon Barnes has an encyclopedic knowledge of public safety data – but he also knows data doesn't tell the whole story. Chief Barnes arrived in Seattle after spending four years at the helm of the Madison, Wisconsin police department. Shon and Jon talk about his first few months on the job in Seattle; the power of perception in public safety; his perspective on crime in downtown; the latest on police staffing levels; the work of the CARE department and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Shon Barnes.

Pacific Northwest Ballet is a powerhouse – and the same could be said for its Executive Director, Seattle native Ellen Walker. The fifth-largest ballet company in the nation, PNB has been thrilling audiences for more than 50 years. Ellen and Jon talk about her path to leadership at PNB; the health of Seattle's arts & culture sector; the importance of diversity in talent and audience; how PNB tries to build the patron base and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Ellen Walker.

Seattle's music scene is well known and overflowing with talent across a wide range of genres. But there's one local record label with a worldwide reputation that produced the sound of the city – Sub Pop Records. CEO Megan Jasper sat down with Jon to talk about the evolution of Seattle's music industry; how she came to lead this legendary label; Sub Pop's “no a-holes” policy; her favorite venues; new albums on the horizon and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Megan Jasper. 

Author and Brown University fellow Marc Dunkelman believes America is stuck – unable to move the needle on big things that need fixing. In his latest book, “Why Nothing Works: Who Killed Progress – And How to Bring it Back,” Dunkelman examines what progressives must do to correct this and restore confidence in democratically elected government. Marc was in Seattle recently as DSA's State of Downtown keynote speaker and joined Jon to talk about how the work of Robert Moses and a trip to Penn Station sparked the idea of this book; the tension in the progressive movement over the role of government; the cultural aversion to power and more. He's been featured in The Washington Post, The Atlantic, The New York Times, on MSNBC, CNN and other outlets. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Marc Dunkelman.

Loneliness and disconnection reached epidemic levels the last few years, according to former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. What if a potential cure was growing in our community? Enter the US Chamber of Connections, headquartered right here in Seattle. Jon and Chamber of Connection founder and CEO Aaron Hurst talk about what led to the launch of this organization; the Seattle Freeze; the foundational elements of a strong social life; the Chamber's Seattle Welcome Days; six types of connection and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Aaron Hurst.

A low-rider show on the stately grounds of the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa and a cat video festival in Minneapolis that went viral – two examples of the creative mind of Scott Stulen. And as the Seattle Art Museum's new director and CEO, what innovative exhibits are up his sleeve for the Emerald City? Jon and Scott talk about his journey to leadership in the arts; the creative ways he's stretching the definitions of art and what's expected in a museum; the expansive Ai Weiwei exhibit coming to Seattle and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Scott Stulen.

The world's largest shared electric vehicle company is high on Seattle. Lime Director of Government Relations Hayden Harvey joins us on the podcast to discuss mobility and cities. Hayden and Jon talk about how Seattle is a growth market for Lime; the new vehicles and technology hitting our streets; the strangest place Hayden's seen a scooter parked; his passion for micromobility and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Hayden Harvey.

Some of Seattle's most interesting commercial spaces – Melrose Market, Deep Dive and Chophouse Row to name a few – all have one thing in common: the design and aesthetic of Graham Baba Architects. Graham Baba Founder & Principal Jim Graham joins Jon to talk about his favorite projects; his path to architecture and design; the complicated nature of some signature developments; the importance of cities and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Jim Graham.

She's essentially the mayor of a small city within the city, and Rachel Ligtenberg says it's the role of a lifetime. The new Pike Place Market PDA Executive Director joins us to kickoff the fourth season of the Seattle City Makers Podcast. Jon and Rachel talk about her career path leading to Pike Place Market; the impact of the Overlook Walk; the Market as an incubator and the extremely popular topic of vehicle access along the Market's main road. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Rachel Ligtenberg.

Our final episode of 2024 looks back on a year of entertaining, enlightening and insightful conversations. We spoke to so many fascinating guests who embody the premise of this podcast: there are amazing people doing incredible things in Seattle and they're shaping how we experience the city. Thank you to all of our guests and of course the listeners who helped make 2024 an award-winning year for the Seattle City Makers podcast. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes.

Seattle's music scene is legendary and we have arguably one of its brightest current stars on this episode – singer, songwriter, drummer, guitarist and producer Sera Cahoone. Jon and Sera talk about how snowboarding drew her to Seattle; her journey from open mic nights to playing with Band of Horses, her favorite Seattle venues; Sera's perfect Saturday in Seattle and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Sera Cahoone.

At Pasta Casalinga in Pike Place Market, the lunch rush extends well into the afternoon – and with good reason. Owner Michela Tartaglia is serving up some of the best pasta in the city. Recorded at the restaurant, Jon and Michela talk in this episode about her arrival in Seattle with professorial dreams; what led her to opening a restaurant; the secret to a great pasta sauce; her perfect Saturday in Seattle and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Michela Tartaglia.

As a healthcare professional and a leader, you'd be hard-pressed to find someone with the breadth of experience and expertise as Swedish Health Services President & CEO Dr. Elizabeth Wako. Recorded on location at Swedish First Hill campus, Jon and Dr. Wako talk in this episode about the enormous expansion project on First Hill; her journey to healthcare after immigrating with her family from Ethiopia; experience running the operating rooms of the regional trauma center at Harborview; her perfect Saturday in Seattle and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Dr. Elizabeth Wako.

Seattle Aquarium President & CEO Bob Davidson's career is dotted with big moves and impactful projects that have shaped how we experience Seattle. And now that Bob is retiring, it's time to look back at a career that will have a lasting impression on this community. Recorded on location at the new Ocean Pavilion, Jon and Bob talk about the Aquarium's incredible new facility tucked under the Overlook Walk; his leadership during a huge renovation at the Woodland Park Zoo; his time in politics; Bob's perfect Saturday in Seattle and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Bob Davidson.

We should all thank Joe Fugere for opening the first certified Neapolitan pizzeria in Seattle. The founder & CEO of Tutta Bella began his career at Starbucks. Twenty-one years ago he needed a change and that revelation eventually led to five pizzerias and a growing retail business. Jon and Joe talk about the Tutta Bella origin story; his new multifaceted concept in downtown Seattle; the amazing story of delivering pizza to Air Force One; Joe's perfect Saturday in Seattle and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Joe Fugere.

Jamila Conley wants to open up access and awareness to diverse winemakers and she's planting that flag in downtown Seattle. After a career in tech, the WeRise Wines founder and CEO is setting up shop on Second Avenue in the heart of downtown. Jon and Jamila talk about the origin story and mission of WeRise; the role of small businesses in downtown's continued revitalization; how the city helped make her dream a reality; her perfect Saturday in Seattle and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Jamila Conley.

Urban leaders from 10 countries and 46 U.S. states gathered in downtown Seattle earlier this month for the International Downtown Association annual conference, discussing a wide range of economic and place-based issues. With a number of experts in town, we invited MJB Consulting founder and President Michael Berne to talk shop on the podcast. Michael is one of the nation's foremost retail authorities and the perfect guest to dig into this critical sector. Jon and Michael talk about the opportunities and challenges for downtown Seattle's retail core; the national trends he's seeing in the industry; the return of PCC Community Market to downtown; the move toward “retail-tainment” and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Michael Berne.

Holy catfish! The 2024 football season has kicked off and what better guest to talk pigskin than the voice of the Seattle Seahawks, Steve Raible? He's been with the organization since its inception in 1976 (drafted 59th overall), spent nearly 40 years at KIRO 7 following his playing days and has been the play-by-play voice of the Hawks since 2004. Jon and Steve talk about his path to the microphone; the new coaching staff and identity of this year's team; the origin of his “Holy catfish!” catchphrase; big local stories during his news career and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Steve Raible.

We took the show on the road to record at one of the most iconic locations in the country — The Space Needle. CEO Ron Sevart took the reins of the Needle in 2008 and steered this attraction through the Great Recession, opening Chihuly Garden and Glass in 2012 and then leading both through a global pandemic. Jon and Ron talk about the Needle's $100 million renovation; the origin story of The Space Needle's rotating glass floor; the booming attendance of Chihuly Garden and Glass; the values that guide both locations; the enormous upcoming elevator renovation and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Ron Sevart.

Seattle Met described Marcus Lalario as Seattle's Kevin Bacon – you can connect him to a ton of ventures and a lot of people. Whether it's the Seattle music scene, nightlife, fashion or restaurants, Marcus Lalario has had a major impact in how we experience this city. Jon and Marcus talk about his fairly unusual start in the nighttime economy; his HOMETEAM and Darkalino's enterprise; the Pioneer Square neighborhood; how fatherhood has changed him and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Marcus Lalario.

What began as a web hosting operation based in a one-bedroom apartment has become a cloud computing company with a global presence. Wowrack CEO Ed Osckar has a story of growth and perspective on what's ahead for tech in Seattle. Jon and Ed talk about how Shawn Kemp played a role in Ed coming to Seattle; our city's positioning in the AI and cloud ecosystem; future infrastructure considerations for AI; Ed's perfect Saturday in Seattle and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Ed Osckar.

Thinking about design and how we use spaces are key ingredients when considering the vibrancy and activity levels of our cities. HKS Seattle Principal and Office Director Doug Demers has spent decades working on the intersection of design and use. Jon and Doug dig into the economics of converting office space to housing in Seattle; how a district approach to neighborhoods can impact revitalization; the future of the office and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Doug Demers.

Ohio native Alesha Washington has lived in Seattle for two years. For the CEO of the Seattle Foundation, that's already long enough to make the city feel like home and provide her with ample proof that the Seattle Freeze is more myth than reality. And that's a great thing when your organization's role is to create greater equity and opportunity in all areas of a vibrant and healthy city. Jon and Alesha discuss the changing role of community foundations; her vision and priorities for the Seattle Foundation; the importance of joy in her approach to leadership and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Alesha Washington.

Ian Courtnage helped grow MOD Pizza from 100 stores to 500 locations across the country. Then an opportunity arose to take the reins as CEO of Seattle-based Evergreens. Courtnage takes us behind the scenes of this healthy, fast-casual eatery that is now a local brand synonymous with salads, wraps and bowls. Jon and Ian discuss the Seattle retail market's love for all things local; how Evergreens comes up with catchy names for menu items; doing business in Seattle; the status of downtown and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Ian Courtnage.

When you walk into a Renee Erickson restaurant you're in for an exceptional experience. The James Beard award-winning chef's Sea Creatures restaurant group is known for high culinary standards and a renowned aesthetic. Sea Creatures co-founder and co-owner Jeremy Price's design work has been featured in GQ, Esquire and Architectural Digest, to name a few publications. Jon and Jeremy discuss the company's new restaurants coming to downtown; the changing nature of the industry; how Jeremy and Renee develop concepts for new restaurants; where Jeremy dines in Seattle and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Jeremy Price.

In a first for the Seattle City Makers Podcast, we have a returning guest. Michele Smith joined us in season one but since then her role has changed dramatically. Now the CEO of MoPOP, she's leading Seattle's premier pop culture institution. Jon and Michele discuss her vision for MoPOP; who and what defines pop culture; bridging the gap with area youth through film, fashion and music; Seattleites misconceptions of MoPOP and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Michele Smith.

The makeup of the Seattle City Council is much different than it was a year ago. Six of the nine council members are new to the legislative body, including downtown's representative Bob Kettle. Jon and Bob discuss what motivated him to run for office; public safety and Seattle Police recruitment; the fentanyl crisis; his first 100 days in office and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Bob Kettle.

Mary's Place began 25 years ago as a day center for women experiencing homelessness. Since then, this crucial nonprofit has helped thousands of women and families find stable housing. In this episode, Jon sits down with CEO Dominique Alex to talk about the real story of homelessness in our community, how to move “upstream” and tackle root causes, and the surprising reaction she received while opening a shelter in Bellevue. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Dominique Alex.

Billions of people will be watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and downtown Seattle will have a spot on the global stage. Seattle World Cup 2026 CEO Peter Tomozawa joins us to talk about the impact of the planet's largest sporting event hosting six matches in Seattle. Jon and Peter talk about how Seattle was selected as a World Cup host city; the planning and coordination required leading up to the matches; the importance of downtown Seattle getting a U.S. men's team game; the legacy this group hopes to leave behind and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Peter Tomozawa.

This episode of Seattle City Makers digs into some of the city's most pressing issues. We're joined by Purpose. Dignity. Action. (PDA) Co-director Lisa Daugaard. An outspoken leader on police and criminal justice reform, Daugaard started the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program in the Belltown neighborhood in 2011. LEAD has since expanded throughout Seattle, King County and even other cities across the country. Jon and Lisa talk about LEAD; public safety in downtown; the fentanyl crisis; homelessness and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Lisa Daugaard.

In a first for the Seattle City Makers podcast, we're joined by someone who has actually built a town. Casey Roloff and his wife had an idea that might have sounded crazy – building the coastal town of Seabrook, Washington from scratch. Some 20 years later, it's a thriving community attracting visitors from all over the world. Jon and Casey talk about the origin story of Seabrook; the foundational elements of making an interesting town and how those principles apply to city-making on a larger scale; the future of this Washington beach town and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Casey Roloff.

When it comes to arts and culture, Seattle's offerings stand above those of similarly sized cities. ArtsFund President & CEO Michael Greer is well attuned to this sector. Having started his career in dance, Greer now oversees an organization that has distributed more than $100 million to arts organizations since its founding. Jon and Michael discuss the work of ArtsFund during a critical time for the arts; the status of the arts and culture sector in downtown Seattle; how this city compares to its peers; how the arts have shaped his life experience and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Michael Greer.

When it comes to sports in Seattle, very few people have had an overall impact that compares to Tod Leiweke. Jon and Tod dropped the metaphorical puck at the Kraken Community Iceplex to talk about Seattle's NHL team; how Tod's upbringing shaped his approach to leadership; Tod's favorite sports memories; his connection with Pete Carroll; the return of the NBA to Seattle; the plans for Memorial Stadium and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Tod Leiweke.

The often-asked question of “What's for dinner?” sparked inspiration for Seattle native Stephanie King. The founder and CEO of Kitchen & Market takes us through the origin story of the flagship store in Pike Place Market; the interconnected nature of the small business community in downtown; the challenges of opening a store during the pandemic; the compulsion she and Jon share for orderly kitchen cabinets and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Stephanie King.

The third season of our Seattle City Makers Podcast begins with a conversation about one of Seattle's many shining assets – its parks and public spaces. Who better to talk about Seattle parks with than the superintendent of Seattle Parks & Recreation, AP Diaz? Jon and AP talk about what drew him to this city; how his upbringing shaped his views on parks; the new Waterfront Park's impending impact; his favorite parks to visit and more.

This episode delves into a topic at the forefront of public safety conversations in cities across the nation – standing up a third public safety department. Seattle's approach is CARE, which stands for Community Assisted Response and Engagement and it was just launched in October. The acting chief of this department, Amy Smith, sits down with Jon to talk about how CARE works; its focus on the downtown area; how Amy will measure success,lessons learned from other cities and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Amy Smith.

In Seattle, the name Molly Moon is synonymous with ice cream – really good ice cream. The founder, owner and operator of the eponymous frozen treat destination joins us on the podcast to talk about the upcoming scoop shop on Seattle's central waterfront; the Molly Moon's origin story; her earlier career in local politics; thoughts on the Seattle City Council election; and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Molly Moon Neitzel.

The RailSpur project in Pioneer Square is a remarkable transformation of nearly an entire block. Urban Villages President Jon Buerge joins the podcast to explain how RailSpur is elevating the concept of mixed-use properties; how his approach to development is guided by the firm's name; his views on the future of the office; the new tenants at RailSpur and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Jon Buerge.

Stepping into Le Caviste on Seventh Avenue in downtown feels as if you've been transported to a wine bar in Paris. And that's exactly the vision David Butler had when he opened the doors in 2013. Jon and David talk about the origin story of this delightful downtown destination; the unique way he was able to reopen in May 2021; how this wine bar is secondarily about wine; where David likes to dine in the rare instance he's away from Le Caviste and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest David Butler.

Fans of Seattle's music scene are in for a treat on this episode of the podcast. Bumbershoot co-president (and co-owner of Neumo's, Barboza and Life on Mars), Steven Severin joins us with a ton of industry stories and perspectives. Producer/fill-in host James Sido and Steven talk about Bumbershoot's triumphant return; a Grammy-winning artist with a nervous Seattle stop; Steven's work in helping secure the largest arts bill in U.S. Congressional history; the health of local music venues and much more.Join us for Seattle City Makers with James Sido and guest Steven Severin.

We hit the road this week on Seattle City Makers, taking our show to the Windy City. At the International Downtown Association's 69th annual conference in Chicago, Jon sat down with IDA President & CEO David Downey. Jon and David discuss the commonality of issues facing downtowns throughout the world, the return to office and housing conversion in different markets and how IDA is advocating for urban recovery at the federal level. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest David Downey.

This episode of Seattle City Makers takes us on location to Seattle's central waterfront to speak with Friends of Waterfront Seattle President & CEO Joy Shigaki. A fourth-generation Seattleite, Joy is overseeing the fundraising and programming for what will be a 20-acre jewel on Elliott Bay – downtown's new Waterfront Park. Jon and Joy discuss the status of this transformative project, the Elliott Bay Connections public-private partnership, her previous jobs in New York and San Francisco and a lot more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Joy Shigaki.

The Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer in Seattle, and it's been sizzling season in downtown. This episode of Seattle City Makers brings you highlights of our summer guests. Jon and KOMO 4 Senior Reporter Chris Daniels discuss the nexus of sports, business and politics in Seattle. Plymouth Housing CEO Karen Lee and Jon talk about the fentanyl crisis and Plymouth's newest building. Dr. Jeff Sperring details the growth of Seattle Children's Research Institute and some of the exciting advancements being made at Building Cure, Retailer Dani Cone dishes on the Taylor Swift effect we experienced in downtown. And Visit Seattle President & CEO Tammy Canavan puts our summer tourism jolt into perspective. Join us for a special summer highlights edition of the Seattle City Makers Podcast.

Summers in downtown Seattle are spectacular, attracting visitors from all over the world. As recent data indicates, the tourism sector is humming in downtown with record-breaking revenues and soaring visitor counts. Bringing people to our city (and building repeat visitors) is Visit Seattle President & CEO Tammy Canavan's top priority. Jon and Tammy discuss the state of tourism in Seattle, our city's position among its peers in a competitive environment, the future of business travel, Seattle's new convention center and a lot more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Tammy Canavan.

Dani Cone got into the coffee business more than 30 years ago, “barista-ing” her way through high school and college. Three decades and three successful businesses later, Dani's Cone & Steiner general store is doing brisk business in multiple locations, including Pioneer Square. On each leg of her journey, Dani has been guided by her grandma Molly's advice: be good and do well. In this episode of Seattle City Makers, Jon and Dani dig into the challenges of steering her business through the pandemic, her current endeavors, advice for entrepreneurs and the impact of Taylor Swift's record-breaking crowds.

What began as five beds at Fifth and Marion in downtown Seattle more than 100 years ago is now one of the nation's leading children's hospitals. At the helm of Seattle Children's Hospital and the Seattle Children's Research Institute is Dr. Jeff Sperring. Jon and Jeff discuss SCRI's areas of focus, the mental and physical health of children coming out of the pandemic, the impact of artificial intelligence and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Dr. Jeff Sperring.

Getting people off the streets and into housing is one of our city's most pressing issues. Karen Lee took the reins at Plymouth Housing – one of the region's largest providers of permanent supportive housing – a little more than a year ago. Jon and Karen discuss the crisis of homelessness, how fentanyl has impacted the community, her time at the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Karen Lee.

There are few, if any, reporters in Seattle who have operated at the nexus of sports, politics and business quite like Chris Daniels. After cutting his teeth in smaller markets, KOMO 4's senior reporter, Daniels spent nearly two decades at the local NBC affiliate (KING 5). Jon and Chris discuss his career in broadcast journalism; changes in the industry; the saga of the Seattle Supersonics and the odds of their return; the upcoming City Council elections; and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Chris Daniels.