Seattle Growth Podcast

King County Executive Dow Constantine discusses navigating the pandemic and the future of King County. Julia Nagele, Principal and Director of Design for the architecture studio at Hewitt, discusses the urbanization of Seattle and how the pandemic economy has affected her business.

Brian Robinson and Dale Kutzera close out this season. Robinson is on the Seattle Center Advisory Commission and well know for his efforts to have NBA basketball in Seattle. Dale Kutzera is the author of The Death of Seattle: How A Great Town Became a Lousy City.

Today’s episode features Mari Horita, Seattle Kraken’s VP of Community Engagement and Social Impact, who discusses how the pandemic has impacted her community work. Her interview gives insight into adapting the evolving needs. The episode also features Ben Petter, President of Avara Construction. His interview gives insight into the construction business and what we can expect for the future of Seattle.

NBA champion and former GM & CEO of the Seattle Supersonics, Wally Walker. Walker gives an update on his quest to bring an NBA franchise to a SODO arena and shares his perspective on whether the pandemic makes it more or less likely that Seattle gets an NBA franchise. You will also hear from longtime Seattle Growth Podcast listener and Seattle Supersonics super fan, Josh Shea. Shea shares the changes he is seeing in his South Lake Union neighborhood and has a plea for the listeners.

Stories from two industries hit hard by the pandemic: retail and restaurants. Interviews with Lisa Bridge, the president and CEO of Ben Bridge Jeweler, and restaurateur Bernie Garcia, the president of Moctezuma’s Restaurants. The interviews give lessons of resilience and offer distinct perspectives on the changes in Seattle

UW Foster professor Jeff Shulman interviews the entrepreneur Dhruv Agarwal and former Lt. Governor candidate Ann Davison. The interviews give insight into different ways the people and businesses of Seattle are adapting to the pandemic.

UW Foster professor Jeff Shulman interviews the executive director of the SODO Business Improvement Area, Erin Goodman. SODO is home to Starbucks headquarters, many industrial companies, and an active port. The episode also features an interview with musician Marco Antonio de Carvalho. The interviews give insight into different ways the people and businesses of Seattle are adapting to the pandemic.

UW Foster professor Jeff Shulman interviews UW Husky Football Hall of Fame Running Back Greg Lewis who is the executive director of the Meredith Mathews East Madison YMCA. The episode also features an interview with musician Tekla Waterfield. The interviews give insight into how non-profits and musicians are navigating the pandemic.

UW Foster School of Business professor Jeff Shulman interviews the president/CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association, Jon Scholes, and a long-time Central District entrepreneur and advocate Jesdarnel “Squirt” Henton. Scholes and Henton share how they are navigating the changes in Seattle and their outlook for the future of the city.

UW Foster School of Business professor Jeff Shulman interviews Pete Nordstrom and noted musician Robbie Hill to learn how they are navigating the changes in Seattle and their outlook for the future of the city.

UW Foster School of Business professor Jeff Shulman interviews the managing partner at Din Tai Fung Restaurants and the co-founder of the Weaver Byrne Group to learn how they are navigating the changes in Seattle and their outlook for the future of the city.

On today's episode: Zan Fiskum, a Seattle singer-songwriter who burst onto the national music scene as a finalist on the recent season of The Voice. Alec Shaw, an emerging artist in Seattle's music community. Both talk about Seattle's music scene, adapting to COVID-19, and their upcoming performance in the St. Jude Songwriters Showcase.

Today’s extra episode of Seattle Growth Podcast features an interview with a small business owner, an artist, and someone who wants to see a positive shared future for the people of Seattle as the city transforms. The episode tells a story of a community-led effort to make the Rainier Farmer Market a desirable place to visit and buy fresh produce. Gavin Amos, associate strategic coordinator for the Central Area Collaborative, shares how he connected Kevin Nguyen, owner of the Rainier Farmer Market, with artist Henry Luke to utilize the power of art to engender a sense of belonging for South End restaurants. Together, they have raised thousands of dollars and come together as a community to demonstrate an appreciation of the shared space. The interviews share perspectives on what changes in Seattle are most striking. The story also highlights challenges small businesses face and how the community can come together to address them.

Today’s extra episode of Seattle Growth Podcast features an interview with Husky Basketball legend Donald Watts. Watts, owner and player development specialist at Watts Basketball, contributes to this season’s theme of finding community in a dynamic city. Watts shares the work being done to foster a community of children and parents who are interested in basketball as a means to build life skills. Watts also offers valuable lessons from building the Watts Basketball community that can be applied in a variety of contexts.

Vivian Hua, Executive Director of the Northwest Film Forum, shares the work she is doing to build community in the dynamic city of Seattle. She shares insights for other arts & culture leaders and previous some exciting events available to filmmakers and film lovers alike.

Jeff Shulman continues his look at finding community in a dynamic city. In today’s episode, UW football Hall of Famer Greg Lewis shares his community work at the Meredith Mathews YMCA, where he serves as executive director. Lewis was the first Doak Walker Award winner for the nation’s top running back in college football and was an important piece of the Rose Bowl winning Husky team. Lewis shares why he has chosen to lead a non-profit and the initiatives he hopes will foster a sense of community in the Central District. In the interview, Lewis connects how the experience of stepping onto the field at the Rose Bowl compares to the work he is doing with the YMCA. Today’s episode also features author Cecile Andrews who talks about her circle of simplicity and the work she is doing to bring small groups together for conversation. Andrews has lived in Seattle for decades and is working to build a sense of community in the Phinneywood area. The interviews offer some interesting tidbits of history and give perspectives on where Seattle has been and where it is going. Both guests offer perspectives from different neighborhoods about growth, change, and community.

Seattle has an abundance of professional opportunities. Today’s episode shares stories from communities being formed to facilitate connections among professionals who are willing to support and help one another. With an increasing number of innovative products being developed in Seattle, there are opportunities for Foster graduates and others to lead the development of products as product managers. Lewis Lin, author of Be the Greatest Product Manager Ever, describes the community he has built to help people prepare for product management interviews. He shares valuable lessons about how he built the 9,000 member community that can be applied to other people or organizations hoping to bring people together for a common purpose. As people are moving to Seattle from around the country, there is an opportunity to guide newcomers to social and professional events. In today’s episode, Ahmad Corner shares why he founded Young Professionals of Seattle based on the principle that people are at the heart of what makes businesses and communities work well. He and Jamie Shindler describe lessons they learned in bringing over 13,000 young professionals together in Seattle. If you are looking for a community that’s right for you, you just might find it in today’s episode of Seattle Growth Podcast. If you are looking to build your own community, you will hear lessons of how to start and nurture a group that can be applied to a variety of contexts.

State Representative Eric Pettigrew and Orlando Morales of 5th Avenue Theatre discuss their efforts to nurture community, empower youth, and empower underserved communities to play a role in building a shared future. The interviews give insight that businesses and non-profits can utilize as they seek to give back and cultivate relationships with previously underserved communities.

Laura Elfline shares how a community of home builders is coming together to share information about sustainable building practices. Elfline, co-owner of Mighty House Construction and Mighty Energy Solutions, discusses her work with the NW EcoBuilding Guild. The interview some lessons about how to bring together a community and the benefits of doing so. Elfline also offers some interesting facts about the environmental impact of materials in building homes. Wool as insulation and cork for flooring? Find out more in this episode. The episode also features an interview with Gabrielle Gerhard. Gerhard shares her motivation for volunteering in her community and highlights some exciting events happening at SPACE, Sand Point Arts and Cultural Exchange. The interview highlights how you can find and get involved in the community that is right for you.

Today’s episode may be the first Seattle Growth Podcast episode that can save your life. Cindi Barker talks about the Seattle Emergency Hubs. She’s not only bringing Seattleites together, she is preparing them for when disaster strikes. In this interview, you will learn the surprising amount of time you should be prepared to survive in case of an emergency and how you can find the people who can help you through such an event. The episode then gives an inside look at Seattle’s dance community through an interview with Connie Villines. Villines is the managing director of the Seattle International Dance Festival, the artistic director of Converge Dance Festival, and assistant producer of the Full Tilt Dance Festival. She shares what makes Seattle unique in the dance world and offers lessons for what Seattle residents can learn from the local dance community.

Today’s episode features an interview with a nationally touring comedian who has appeared on Late Night TV many times and had his own special on Comedy Central. Shane Mauss was in town for his Stand Up Science show and sat down for an interview in which he offers an outsider’s impressions of Seattle. He shares his views on how the business of comedy has changed over the years and offers advice on how someone can find a sense of community in a city that is changing so rapidly. The episode also features Seattle author Thomas Kohnstamm, whose novel Lake City takes place in Seattle at the turn of the 21st century. Kohnstamm shares perspective on how the community has changed over the decades he has lived here and what he hopes the future holds for our growing city. Whether you have lived here your whole life or are just joining this city, these interviews give insight about Seattle, how it was, how it is changing, and where Seattle is going.

Today’s episode features John Barr, founder of NHLtoSeattle. Barr shares the story of how his love of hockey evolved from a hobby newsletter to an expansive online community on Facebook and Twitter, to a rich Seattle community that brings people together to watch hockey and advocate for Seattle to join the ranks of NHL cities. Barr discusses what motivates him to pour his effort into the community and how he felt seeing Seattle realize his dream of being awarded an NHL franchise. Today’s episode also features Alex Grindeland, owner of CSZ Seattle. Grindeland describes how he was able to build and maintain a community of improve comedians. He shares how passion for improv comedy has evolved into a business that plays home to ComedySportz, a fast-paced comedy show pitting two teams of comedians against each other. To show just how important practice and skill are, he and host, Jeff Shulman, engage in the least funny improv of all time. If you are looking for a community that’s right for you, you just might find it in today’s episode of Seattle Growth Podcast. If you are looking to build your own community, you will hear lessons of how to start and nurture a group.

Season 6 of Seattle Growth Podcast focuses on finding community in a dynamic city. Each episode spotlights some of the interesting people in Seattle who are building community and bringing people together. You will hear from leaders in tech, comedy, music, art, dance, and emergency preparation. Today’s episode features Nathan Vass, an artist, filmmaker, photographer, and author by day, and a Metro bus driver by night, where his community-building work has been showcased on NPR, The Seattle Times, KING5 and landed him a spot on Seattle Magazine’s 2018 list of the 35 Most Influential People in Seattle. Vass shares stories from his popular blog, The View from Nathan’s Bus, and how it led to his successful book The Lines That Make Us. The interview offers a unique perspective on finding community in a city that is changing rapidly. Today’s episode also features Maisha Barnett, a public space developer with over a decade of experience shaping community gathering spaces. She talks about her work with the Jimi Hendrix Park development and the redevelopment of Powell Barnett Park, named after the musician, baseball player, and community leader who was her grandfather. Whether you have lived here your whole life or are just joining this city, these interviews give insight about Seattle, how it was, how it is changing, and where Seattle is going.

Continue the exploration of finding community in a dynamic city. Today’s episode features Farah Abdallah, a lead product manager at eBay who co-founded Seattle’s chapter of Women in Product. Abdallah shares how she collaborated with Claire Fang of Facebook to bring together hundreds of women in Seattle who are building products for some of the world’s most innovative companies. The episode also features Kevin Sur, founder of Artist Home. Sur discusses why and how he created a collaborative community for artists and launched highly popular music festivals such as Timber! Outdoor Music Festival, which is bringing together emerging artists for the seventh year in a row in July. Sur shares how his desire to help people and build community evolved into a successful business. If you are looking for a community that’s right for you, you just might find it in today’s episode of Seattle Growth Podcast. If you are looking to build your own community, you will hear lessons of how to start and nurture a group.

How do you find community in a dynamic city? Season 6 of Seattle Growth podcast brings different perspectives together. Whether you are looking for a community that is right for you or hoping to build one, you will learn from the voices of this season. Today's episode includes Red Russak and Brett Greene whose New Tech Seattle was the fastest growing meetup group in history. The episode also features Jane Richlovsky, a talented artist and accidental real estate developer who is finding creative ways to keep artists in Seattle.

Hear the voices of season 5 describe how they became homeless and how it feels to be homeless. Elected officials, business leaders, academics, and unsheltered residents describe the challenges in addressing homelessness and share opinions on solutions. Casey Trupin of the Raikes Foundation shares how Pearl Jam got involved in the crisis and how the successful Home Shows came together.

Today’s episode and connects the topic of the previous season, which focused on the past, present and future of Seattle music, with the topic of this season, which is focused on homelessness. The episode features an interview with Anthony Briscoe whose Seattle-based band, Down North, is on the cusp of a breakout. Brisco opens up about his struggle with poverty and his experience being homeless in our region.  The episode also features an interview with noted author and UW professor Scott Allard. He dispels some myths associated with poverty, describes which programs are effective and which programs build a poverty trap, and offers actions you can take to help improve your community.  The song Heartbreaker, by Down North, is played in this episode. Down North consists of Lead Vocalist/Dancer Anthony “Renegade” Briscoe, whose North Carolina breeding makes fans swoon and has no equal in the Pacific NW. Raised on Michael Jackson and Sam Cooke, Anthony combines a style and emotional impact reminiscent of Prince in his vocal expressions, proudly stealing the spotlight with his ballet-trained dancing. Scott W. Allard joined the Evans School of Public Policy and Governance at the University of Washington as a professor of public policy and governance in 2014. Allard is a nonresident senior fellow at the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program and co-primary investigator of the Family Self-Sufficiency Data Center at the University of Chicago. He is author of Out of Reach: Place, Poverty, and the New American Welfare State (2009, Yale University Press), which examines the contemporary social service safety net through survey interviews with almost 1,500 government, for-profit, and nonprofit social service organizations. In 2017, he published a book entitled Places in Need: The Changing Geography of Poverty, which focuses upon the rise in poverty in America’s suburban areas and the stubborn persistence of poverty in urban areas.

As every one of us faces challenges of varying degrees of scale, today’s episode features an inspiring story about how one man can make a world of difference. Dale Hoff offers lessons not only for those seeking improvement in the homelessness crisis, but those seeking to influence change at any level. Today also features an in-depth interview with a person who has had a significant impact on the economic growth of this city, Craig Kinzer. In today’s episode, Kinzer previews a big idea that he thinks can fundamentally transform how housing gets built for average workers in Seattle. The extended conversation with Mr. Kinzer also touches upon the controversial public subsidy for the ballpark that is home to Seattle’s Major League Baseball team. The interview gives you insight into important decisions facing regional government. Combined, these two interviews represent two of the many examples of Seattle residents who think creatively about how to tackle challenges. They also offer insight into the process of finding where your unique skill set can be applied to make a difference.

Today’s episode focuses on the business response to a crisis affecting everyone in Seattle: homelessness. The episode features Jon Scholes, President and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association, and Mike Slade, former CEO of Starwave and founding partner at Second Avenue Partners.

Today’s episode of Seattle Growth Podcast looks at question that has affected many throughout Seattle: how should the city deal with tents and encampments in public spaces? This question is important to our community’s homeless residents hanging on to their last few possessions and to the business leaders and residents who encounter unsanctioned encampments on their commutes, near their homes, and in their parks. Today’s episode features Dae Shik Kim Hawkins Jr., an activist and organizer of Nikita Oliver’s 2017 Mayoral campaign. Hawkins Jr. explains why he advocates for homeless individuals and gives insight into “Stop the Sweeps” efforts. You will also hear from Ian Gordon, business manager of the Local 1239 union representing Seattle Parks and Recreation employees. He shares the challenges Parks employees have in maintaining spaces for use by the public.

Today’s episode of Seattle Growth Podcast features one of the most candid interviews about life on the streets. Timothy opens up about how he found himself homeless, why he chooses to live in Seattle and what life is like on the streets. He gives a surprising answer to how society is failing the homeless and makes a simple request of listeners. Seattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien also appears in the episode. He shares where he believes the city can improve in how it deals with its vehicular residents. Councilmember O’Brien also discusses what it was like to be at the center of the infamous Ballard Town Hall, which was reported as turning “into an angry shoutfest.”

Today’s episode of Seattle brings you behind the scenes of City Hall in an interview with Seattle City Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda. Councilmember Mosqueda shares her thinking about the controversial “head tax” and what she learned from how the process of enacting then repealing the tax unfolded. She also shares her vision for how the city could improve its response to the homelessness crisis. The episode also features an interview with a UW professor who experienced homelessness herself before becoming an academic expert on the topic.

Today’s episode of Seattle Growth Podcast continues with a focus on one of Seattle’s most pressing issues, homelessness. Each episode in the season brings voices from a variety of perspectives. Combined the episodes will help listeners understand homelessness from multiple angles, become better informed citizens, and feel empowered to take even small steps toward addressing the challenge. The episode features an interview with former Washington State Attorney General and 2012 Republican Gubernatorial nominee Rob McKenna. McKenna shares his perspective on how the city and the business community should address homelessness. The episode also features an interview with a tent-city resident Walter Hudson. Hudson gives insight into what life is like in these communities.

Today’s episode of Seattle Growth Podcast continues with a focus on one of Seattle’s most pressing issues, homelessness. Each episode in the season brings voices from a variety of perspectives. Combined the episodes will help listeners understand homelessness from multiple angles, become better informed citizens, and feel empowered to take even small steps toward addressing the challenge. In this episode, Jeff Shulman sat down with a father of two children who was given a new lease on life by the help of Mary’s Place family shelter. Tyrus Gilbertson describes his experience being homeless with his son and daughter. Gilbertson shares what has kept him going as he works to provide for his family. Rick Hooper, co-president of the Uptown Alliance, shares what his community organization is doing to build pathways out of homelessness for their fellow community members. Hooper offers perspective on challenges and opportunities individuals can face as they work to strengthen their community.

Season 5 focuses on a topic that affects everyone in Seattle: Homelessness. King County Executive Dow Constantine discusses regional approach to addressing homelessness and the reasoning behind his efforts. Northwest MLS director Robert Wasser of Prospera Real Estate gives an update on rents and housing prices. The episode also features Ty who was interviewed while living on streets outside City Hall.

In this season finale, voices from the music industry share why music is embedded in Seattle’s DNA, give insight into the soul of the not just the music scene but the city as a whole, and offer perspectives on what needs to be done to hold on to the rich cultural resource. For this season, Seattle Growth Podcast host Jeff Shulman set across the city interviewing established and emerging musicians, music lovers, and music industry leaders to learn more about the past, present, and future of Seattle music. The episode features the voices of: David Armstrong who served Executive Producer and Artistic Director of 5th Ave Theatre for 18 years. Dave B who performed in front of a sold out Key Arena and with Macklemore on The Tonight Show. Andre Brown who is a recent graduate of the University of Washington’s School of Drama. Matt Bishop who founded the popular indie folk and chamber pop band Hey Marseilles. Marco Collins who is the subject of the documentary The Glamour and the Squalor because of his rich contributions to the national music scene through his work as a Seattle radio personality. Draze who is a hip-hop emcee and musician born in Seattle. Jason Finn who is the drummer for the platinum-selling, Grammy-nominated band Presidents of the United States of America. Kate Voss and Jason Goessl who perform as the duo Sundae and Mr. Goessl. DeVon Manier who is the founder of Sportn’ Life Music Group and was an inaugural member of the Seattle Music Commission. Celene Ramadan who is a Seattle musician who has performed as Leeni, Prom Queen and Snax the Bunny. Lydia Ramsey who is an Americana folk singer-songwriter and a talent buyer at the Triple Door. Curtis Romjue who founded First Aid Arts Austin Santiago who is the General Manager of Do206 Steven Severin who is the co-owner of Neumos and Wake Up Presents Brent Stiefl who is CEO of Votiv Inc. and co-founder of Onto Entertainment, which manages the platinum-selling band The Lumineers. Dustin Vance who fronts the band Fond Farewell. Naomi Wachira who is an Afro-Folk singer-songwriter. Levi and Stephanie Ware who founded the Melodic Caring Project. Tekla Waterfield who received a “Listen Up! Women in Music” grant for songwriting from the Allied Arts Foundation. Hollis Wong-Wear who is a Grammy-nominated artist who collaborated with Macklemore and performs with the group Flavr Blue. Visit www.seattlegrowthpodcast.com/s4ep12 for more information on the voices appearing in this episode.

Today’s episode of Seattle Growth Podcast continues the focus on music and the future of Seattle. You will hear from Hollis Wong Wear, a Grammy-nominated artist who shares what Seattle can learn from her recent move to Los Angeles. She’s co-written songs that have been heard by millions of people around the world. In today’s interview, she also speaks more broadly to the power of music to influence the future of our city. You will also hear from Chris Early, founding member of Band of Horses who played bass on their debut studio album. The album’s debut single The Funeral was named one of the top 100 songs of its decade by Pitchfork media. Early shares what he hopes Seattle will do to ensure future musicians can thrive in the city. The episode gives insight into what residents can ask for in order to carry forward Seattle’s rich musical legacy. The episode also previews the song “Cuz I Wanna” by Hollis’s The Flavr Blue.

Today’s episode focuses on the future of the places where musicians and music lovers come together: Seattle’s famed music venues. There is a venue that has come up time and time again in this podcast: Neumos. You’ll hear from Neumos co-owner Steven Severin. He shares what makes the venue so successful and what challenges the future holds for the Seattle music scene. You’ll also hear from David Meinert, who has had an illustrious career in Seattle’s music scene owning clubs, organizing music events and whose Onto Entertainment manages the platinum selling band The Lumineers. He describes what he sees as an important missing piece in Seattle’s music scene. The episode gives insight into what we can expect for the future of Seattle’s music venues. The episode also gives perspective on the political clout the music community carries as our city is in the midst of a transformation.

“Music is incredibly powerful.” Accomplished songwriter Levi Ware is one of several Seattle musicians hoping to harness that power to build a better future for the community. He and his wife Stephanie founded the Melodic Caring Project to bring love and encouragement to hospitalized children through music. What is happening in Seattle that is cultivating arts-based non-profits such as the Melodic Caring Project? Today’s episode of Seattle Growth Podcast examines how Seattle’s community of artists, innovators, and social enterprises are intersecting to shape lives in the community. The episode also features Curtis Romjue who founded First Aid Arts after finding success with JUBILEE, a non-profit rock band. First Aid Arts helps trauma survivors recover through arts-based care. The episode gives further perspective on Seattle’s music scene while sharing inspiring stories of how Seattle musicians channeled their talents to improve the lives of those around them. Featuring the song Into the Waves from JUBILEE and their EP "Trusting to Rest" With intro performed by Naomi Wachira, Tekla Waterfield, Matt Bishop, Draze, Porscha Shaw, and Andre Brown.

Did you you that nine of the seventeen new musicals produced in Executive Producer David Armstrong’s tenure at Seattle’s 5th Avenue Theatre went from this Seattle stage to Broadway and that two of them won the Tony award for Best Musical? As the fourth season of Seattle Growth Podcast examines the past, present, and future of the Seattle music scene, the city’s vibrant musical theater scene merits attention. David Armstrong, who has served as the Executive Producer and Artistic Director for 5th Avenue Theatre for almost two decades describes how the city is getting national recognition for musical theater. Armstrong shares how the city is both producing and drawing in top flight musical theater talent. Armstrong also gives unique insight into how the city’s growth is affecting the business of the storied theater. Two of the talented actors who were drawn to be a part of Seattle’s musical theater community open up about their transition to the city. Porscha Shaw, who was named by KUOW as one of the Seattle artists you should know about, tells the story of how she has begun her ride to prominence. Andre Brown shares what is happening in Seattle that facilitates the creation of art across various mediums. Both give further insight into the soul of the Seattle music scene. This episode gives an inside look at a musical theater community that serves as a key aspect of Seattle’s vibrant art and culture.

Believe it or not, there are musicians among the staggering number of people moving to Seattle during the boom time. Though last week’s episode profiled some of the musicians lost in the boom, there are people around the country eager to take their place within the community. This episode gives insight from three singer-songwriters who were drawn by Seattle’s legendary music scene in hopes of advancing their careers. You will hear from Tekla Waterfield. She moved to Seattle in 2010 and is soon launching her second album, which is produced by noted Seattle guitarist Jeff Fielder. She describes what drew her to the city and how she has found a way to make a living as a full-time musician. You will also hear from Dustin Vance, who recently moved here from a small town in Indiana and whose band Fond Farewell has an upcoming gig at the High Dive on May 16th. He describes the emotions of starting anew in Seattle and attempting to integrate into the music scene. You will also hear from Jeremiah Mothersell, who was drawn by both Seattle’s music scene and it’s tech scene. He gives insight into the options that are available to newcomers to this thriving economy. The episode gives further perspective on the health of the Seattle music scene through the experiences of those drawn to be a part of it.

Today’s episode gives rare insight into the economics and emotional journey associated with becoming a professional musician in Seattle. With money and people moving into the city, this episode focuses on some of the musicians the city stands to lose as the economics of a recording artist change. You will hear the voice of a musician who has moved away from the city, two musicians who anticipate moving soon, and a musician whose successful band has gone on hiatus. The episode gives further perspective on the soul of Seattle’s music scene and how the community is evolving as the city transforms. In this episode are: Naomi Wachira, who was once named Seattle’s best folk singer by Seattle Weekly. Matt Bishop, who explains why his popular band Hey Marseilles recently went on hiatus. Kate Voss who was named Best Jazz Act of 2017 by Seattle Weekly and NW Jazz Vocalist of the Year by Earshot. Jason Goessl who performs in several bands including Sundae and Mr. Goessl with his wife Kate Voss. The episode also features the songs Makes My Heart Sway by Sundae and Mr. Goessl and Beautifully Human by Naomi Wachira. In this episode, you will learn how these artists attracted their followings, how they made a living, and how the booming economy affects the paychecks of local performing artists.

Is there a cultural transformation underway in Seattle? Has the music scene that grabbed the nation’s attention during the 1990s grunge era maintained its identity? Three voices in today’s Seattle music scene share their perspective on the culture of Seattle music and how it is changing in recent years. The episode features: Austin Santiago, owner of BuildStrong Music Group, which has been curating concerts and music culture in Cascadia since 2005 and Vice President at Do206, a website dedicated to highlighting live events in the area. Lydia Ramsey, an Americana singer-songwriter and talent buyer at the Seattle music venue Triple Door. Celene Ramadan, a Seattle musician who has performed as Leeni, Prom Queen, and Snax the Bunny. The voices give insight into the current identity and trajectory of Seattle’s music scene. For comparison, the episode also includes quotes from previous guests including legendary Seattle radio personality Marco Collins, former Grammy executive Ben London, and platinum selling band member Jason Finn. This episode gives unique insight into the process of becoming a musician in Seattle. It provides a window into the evolving culture of the city that spans beyond music and it gives you a chance to meet some of the talented artists in Seattle. Featuring the song Show Me The Stars by Lydia Ramsey and the song Vengeance (Will Be Mine) by Prom Queen.

Draze, who has opened for Snoop Dogg and had his music appear on hit shows such as Empire, shares how Seattle’s transformation has affected his music and him personally. You will also hear from Dave B, who collaborated with Macklemore on the hit song Corner Store, performed in front of a sold-out Key Arena, was seen on national tv performing on Jimmy Fallon's Tonight Show, and headlined his own sold-out show at Seattle’s Neptune Theater. Today’s episode gives you a rare inside look at the journey a Seattle hip-hop artist takes in the ride to prominence. The two guests also put to words the range of emotions many people are feeling as the city of Seattle undergoes a rapid transformation. Featuring the songs "The Hood Ain't the Same" by Draze and "Sweetest Thing" by Dave B.

This episode continues the season's brief look at Seattle’s rich musical history. Janie Hendrix (CEO of Experience Hendrix) shares how the city’s growth has affected her efforts to honor the legacy of Seattle-born rock and roll legend Jimi Hendrix. You will learn more about the continued impact Jimi Hendrix has on Seattle today. The episode also features an interview with inaugural Seattle Music Commissioner DeVon Manier. Manier is cofounder of Sportn’ Life Music Group and works with Seattle artists such as the Black Tones and Future Shock . He shares stories from his time developing hip-hop artists at the turn of the century and what drove him to participate in the Seattle Music Commission. The interviews listeners a glimpse into Seattle’s musical past and provides insight into what the future holds for our growing city. With appearances by Marco Collins, Jason Finn, Ben London, Draze, and Dave B. Also contains the song Woman in Black by The Blacktones.

The fourth season of Seattle Growth Podcast brings together diverse perspectives from established and emerging artists, music lovers and music industry leaders to paint a picture of the past, present, and future of Seattle’s iconic music scene. This second episode of the season continues last week’s focus on Seattle’s music community during the 1990s. Whereas Seattle had produced many notable musical artists in prior years, the sounds from the 1990s were distinctly recognized across the globe as emanating from this city. The episode features singer-songwriter Ben London who began his Seattle music career while the Seattle sound, grunge, was exploding nationally. London went on to serve on the development team for the Experience Music Project (now known as MoPOP), to serve as an executive at the Grammys, and to serve as the inaugural chair of the Seattle Music Commission. You will hear what it was like to be “a footnote of flannel” during the Seattle grunge era and to do “all the things that other bands did, except...not sell millions of records.” The episode also features Marco Collins, an influential radio DJ during the early 1990s who record executives from around the world turned to for insight into who would be the next big thing in music.The subject of his own documentary “The Glamour and the Squalor” opens up about what it was like to rub shoulders with Seattle’s rock stars, to help catapult bands to national prominence, and to have the whole world watching what was coming out of Seattle. These two voices help paint a picture of a unique time in Seattle’s music history and provide insight into the city’s future.

Seattle Growth Podcast brings its spotlight to the music community in our growing city. The story begins in this first episode of season 4 with a look at the 1990s, an almost universally recognized era of Seattle sound. Today’s episode features two-time Grammy nominee, the drummer for the Presidents of the United States of America, Jason Finn. What was it like to be a Seattle musician in this era where one could be catapulted from playing Seattle’s Romper Room to selling millions of records? What was happening in Seattle that enabled local bands to take the national leap? You’ll hear Jason Finn’s perspective on these questions and more. You’ll also hear the fan perspective from Daryl Ducharme, a music lover who worked at Guitar Center during the decade. The interviews will paint a vivid picture of a unique moment in Seattle’s history that will also give insight into our future. With musical intros performed by Draze, Naomi Wachira, and Porscha Shaw.

A preview of Season 4 with an interview with emerging Seattle hip-hop artist Dave B. Professor Jeff Shulman has been interviewing a set of established and emerging artists, music lovers, and music industry leaders and will soon share their stories with you. The episode also includes brief clips from the talented voices of Lydia Ramsey (http://www.lydiaramseymusic.com/), Prom Queen (http://promqueenmusic.com), and Kate Voss (http://www.katevoss.com/).

The arena wars are not over as two groups vie to reshape Seattle’s music scene, Seattle Center, and the future of winter professional sports in Seattle. In this special episode, find out why 33 members of Seattle’s music community weighed in on the arena debate to support one of the two proposals. You will hear from Jason Finn, drummer for the platinum-selling, grammy-nominated band Presidents of the United States. You will hear from David Meinert, whose Onto Entertainment manages the platinum selling musicians, The Lumineers. Today’s episode gives you a better understanding about how Seattle’s music scene can be shaped by the arena proposals.

The arena wars are not over as two groups vie to reshape Seattle’s music scene, Seattle Center, and the future of winter professional sports. In this special episode, get an update on the process and hear from Wally Walker and Pete Nordstrom how their group’s efforts to bring an NBA franchise to an arena in Sodo can also have an impact on music lovers and musicians in the city. With an appearance by Ben London and featuring the music of Stag.

In this third season of Seattle Growth Podcast, UW Foster professor Jeff Shulman set out to better understand the physical transformation of Seattle. Shulman set across Seattle to learn from real estate developers, residents, and activists about the changes under way. What he found may surprise you. The season began as an exploration how much the physical landscape of Seattle is changing, who is driving these changes, how people are affected by these changes, and what people are doing to shape the future of Seattle. Along the way, the voices of Seattle expressed a significant challenge facing the community In this season finale, hear Seattle residents share a common concern about how Seattle is transforming and offer their ideas for action steps that can build progress toward addressing the challenge. Featuring the voices of Damon Bomar, Tim Thomas, Cole Austin, Martin Henry Kaplan, Queen Pearl Richard, Ethan Phelps Goodman, Alisha Cross, Carl Livingston, Joe Ferguson, and Rev. Dr. Phyllis Beaumonte.