City Cast Seattle

Happy Election Day, Seattle! Today we’re joined by contributor Hannah Krieg and Seattle Times business reporter Alex Halverson to discuss our election predictions, the initiatives and candidates we’re closely watching, and Hannah’s piece on Democratic candidates funded by the controversial Sabey Corporation. Then, we break down what’s happening in tech — from AI and job security to Amazon’s bold claims to bring in $1 trillion in revenue in the next five to ten years. Plus, why are businesses “seriously considering” leaving Seattle? Will any follow through, or are they more like your hometown friend who always threatens to move to a new city but never takes action?

Learn more about the sponsors of this November 3rd episode:

Communities of Opportunity

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

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Today on the show, interim host Liam Billingham speaks with Angelina Godoy from the UW Center for Human Rights and Guillermo Rivera from East Side For All about the ongoing pathways through which driver and vehicle data held by the state Department of Motor Vehicles is accessed by federal immigration enforcement agencies. Then Liam is joined by contributor Adam Willems from CHUM News and producer Sam J. Leeds to talk about the formation of the Art & Cultural Workers Alliance, which, according to Adam’s reporting, is “an umbrella group aiming to bolster coordination efforts among existing unions, assist with nascent organizing work, connect to other social movements, and more.” And finally, Sam, Adam, and Liam discuss two messages we received from listeners about a worker’s perspective on grocery store robots and the Washington State Ferries salary survey in response to the ferry engineers’ sick out.

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle.

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Welcome to November…almost! We’re sending you off into Halloween weekend with your newest Seattle monthly guide, featuring Contributor and Editor of PubliCola Erica C. Barnett, Creative Producer Sam J. Leeds, Executive Producer Ashley Smith, and Interim Host Liam Billingham. This month we’re looking forward to watching great movies, cooking soup, eating at new restaurants, avoiding awkward conversations with our loved ones, and of course, voting! Be sure to check out our ballot guide and turn in your ballot at a drop box near you before 8 p.m. on November 3rd.

Grab your tickets to The Parallax View on November 12 with City Cast Seattle and Northwest Film Forum, and use the discount code C1tyC4s7NWFF.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 30th episode:

Seattle Restaurant Weekhttps://srweek.org/

Grand Central Bakery

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

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King County Metro wants to replace Route 7 with a Rapid Ride called the R Line. This change has created a lot of controversy because it would eliminate up to 36 bus stops. Contributor Ryan Packer from The Urbanist and Jacquelyn Jimenez Romero from the South Seattle Emerald join Liam to discuss. Then, where does the optimism for Ballard Light Rail come from? That’s what Executive Producer Ashley Smith wants to know. New-ish Ballardian, Contributor Chase Hutchinson also weighs in. Finally, all the details about Laika’s new film Wildwood, and Tom Skerritt’s best performances.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 29th episode:

Seattle Restaurant Week

Grand Central Bakery

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle.

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The most progressive district in Washington could get an extra nudge to the left if Hannah Sabio-Howell replaces a 20-year incumbent in the State Senate. In today’s interview, we discuss what makes District 43 unique, the story behind Sabio-Howell’s “on your left” campaign slogan, and how her team hopes to “move the center of gravity of the Democratic Party” in Washington and beyond. Then, we’re joined by City Cast Seattle contributors Guy Oron and Brett Hamil for a Midweek Medley and our brand-new Only in Seattle segment. Together, we unpack the Vehicle Resident Assistance Program and Seafor, followed by our favorite Seattle inventions and hopes for the future.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 28th episode:

Seattle Restaurant Week

Grand Central Bakery

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

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Today on the podcast, interim host Liam Billingham is joined by guests Anna Griffin, Pacific Northwest bureau chief for The New York Times, and Joe Mizrahi, D4 School Board Member-At-Large, to dig into the three initiatives on the Washington ballot this election season and the Redmond-based millionaire bankrolling them. The three discuss Anna’s profile of millionaire Brian Heywood to better understand his strategy with these initiatives, why he’s spent $11 million on 20 conservative policy proposals since 2022, and what it means for our state if these initiatives pass. Then, Liam is joined by philosopher and ethicist Rob Trumbull to discuss his piece for GeekWire on the philosopher’s approach to setting AI limits.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 27th episode:

Seattle Restaurant Week

Grand Central Bakery

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle.

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Today on the podcast, interim host Liam Billingham is joined by Kelabe Tewolde and Jaelynn Scott, candidates for House Position 1 and 2 in Seattle’s 37th District, to discuss the uniqueness of the 37th, why they want to represent it, and what are the biggest issues facing the area. They discuss how education can be a way to reduce crime, bringing down the cost of childcare and housing, how to protect their residents from ICE, and why they decided not to run against each other for the same seat.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 26th episode:

Town Hall Seattle

Grand Central Bakery

Seattle Restaurant Week

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

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City Cast Partner Studios presents Weaving Our Future: Stories for a Fair Economy, a five-part series on what a fair economy looks like in King County, told through the people building it. Celeste Levy, Communications Coordinator at the Statewide Poverty Action Network, and Danielle Palmer Friedman, Communications Lead at the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness, join Jane C. Hu on this episode of Weaving Our Future: Stories for a Fair Economy to talk about why housing stability and a basic income floor are the foundation everything else is built on. They dig into what the Poverty Action Network is hearing directly from people across the state right now, how the Coalition’s Health Through Housing program is actually getting people stably housed, and where their two different corners of this work — economic security and homelessness policy — actually overlap. To get involved, head to http://homelessinfo.org/.

Happy Monday! We’re jumping on the feed real quick to let you know we’re taking this week off from the podcast to plan our next steps as we look for a new host. But don’t worry: you can still read the newsletter, check us out on Instagram or TikTok, and even listen to some bonus segments (if you’re a neighbor, that is). We’ll see you again with a brand new episode a week from today, October 26. Have a great week, Seattle!

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle.

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Today on the podcast, interim host Liam Billingham is joined by the Urbanist’s Amy Sundberg and activist Maria Abando to help Seattle understand the difference between CCTV, ALPR, SDOT, and private cameras like Ring. They also get into why Seattle residents should be concerned about the scope of surveillance in the city. Then Liam is joined by regular contributors Erica C. Barnett of PubliCola and Lex Vaughn of the Needling to talk about District 8’s Seattle Stands With Survivors, Every Step campaign, how it hopes to get funded, and what we need to see change here in the city, especially as UW is being sued by a student who was sexually assaulted. Finally, the pair talk about Wednesday’s budget meetings, Erica’s hilarious skeets related to it, and somehow end up talking about pizza. Maybe it’s because Seattle’s A.K. Pizza just got some national recognition. But, also, who doesn’t love pizza?

This episode mentions sexual assault, so please take care when listening.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 16th episode:

Seattle Restaurant Week

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

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Between an aging fleet and the recent sickout drawing attention to pay disparities, the Washington State Ferry system runs on a razor's edge. Fill-in host Liam Billingham asks contributors Hannah Krieg and Chase Hutchinson what’s happened since 119 ferry workers requested sick leave on the same day, and if the state is taking our ferry system seriously enough. Then, Hannah breaks down her reporting on the big business money flooding into a tight 48th District legislative race, and Chase shares his recommendations for this weekend’s Seattle Trans Underground Film Festival. Plus, just in time for Halloween, Liam and Chase are joined by guest Brian Keiper to rank the scariest movies set in the Pacific Northwest.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 15th episode:

Seattle Restaurant Week

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

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Next week, City Council will vote on a proposed $5 million assistance program for vehicle residents. Why is this legislation drawing criticism from groups like the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness? We sat down with Dee Williams, a former vehicle resident, to understand the pushback. Then, contributor Brett Hamil joins Liam and Ashley to discuss a right-wing influencer’s attempts to “expose” EBT customers at a local seafood store, Fred Meyer’s inventory robot, and updates on some of our favorite critters. Will you let your dog play with the newly-released Jimothy chew toy from Costco, or will you keep him for yourself?

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 14th episode:

Seattle Restaurant Week

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle.

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Ana Gaeta, Communications Manager at the Workforce Development Council of Seattle-King County, and Deric Gruen, Lab Leader at People's Economy Lab, join City Cast Seattle Host Jane C. Hu on this final episode of Weaving Our Future: Stories for a Fair Economy to talk about what real dignity and real power look like for workers in King County. They dig into what happens when the Workforce Development Council hands people cash with no strings attached, how a group of renters in Brighton bought their own apartment building instead of getting pushed out, and the agency — the ability to choose your work, have a say in it, and share in what it produces — that ties both of their work together.

To get involved, head tohttps://peopleseconomylab.org/ orhttps://seakingwdc.org/.

City Cast Partner Studios presents Weaving Our Future: Stories for a Fair Economy, a five-part series on what a fair economy looks like in King County, told through the people building it.

Today on the podcast, we revisit a conversation Jane had earlier this year with celebrity chef, author, and Seattleite Kenji López-Alt. They talk about Seattle’s food scene, Kenji’s version of a girl dinner, what to feed picky kids, and lots more. Then Jane, creative producer Sam, and executive producer Ashley review two so-called “historic” American Girl dolls who hail from Seattle… in 1999. If you enjoy the last segment, there are lots more like it: sign up to get weekly bonus segments for City Cast Seattle neighbors (and ad-free listening).

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 13th episode:

Seattle Restaurant Week

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle.

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Today, Jane C. Hu hosts her last episode of City Cast Seattle (unless we can drag her back). She speaks with Madison Jones of Seattle Gay News about the concerning news that the Seattle LGBTQ+ Center has been ordered to send HIV/STI blood samples to a facility in Texas as part of a cost-saving measure,according to the Washington Department of Health. Madison explains why giving data to a state like Texas is concerning for transgender and queer people in general.

Next, Jane is joined by Liam and Sam to talk about Seattle’s weird, analog flyers. This leads into a final segment where Sam and Liam interview Jane on what she’s discovered about Seattle doing this podcast, what she plans to do next, and what she hopes for the future of the show. If you’re a neighbor, you then get to hear about Sam, Jane, and Liam’s perfect days in the city. Join now to listen.

Thanks Jane. 🙂

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 9th episode:

Grand Central Bakery

SIFF Film

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle.

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A team of UW researchers is developing vaccines that could prevent opioid overdoses by blocking the drug from reaching the brain. Host Jane C. Hu sits down with researcher Marco Pravetoni to discuss a future where anyone at risk of being exposed to opioids could simply take a yearly shot. Then, Jane is joined by Kika Westoff, co-owner of new local deli Friends of Carmela, and local sandwich queen Zoe Kahn to dig into what it actually takes to keep a small business alive in Seattle right now. They break down the cost of labor, ingredients, and rent and discuss the tensions between building new affordable housing and meeting the needs of neighborhood small businesses.

To apply as a vendor at Zoe’s sandwich festival, click here.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 8th episode:

Grand Central Bakery

SIFF Film

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle.

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Today on the podcast, Jane is joined by Stan Shikuma, co-chair of Tsuru for Solidarity’s leadership council, organizer, and a descendant of Poston and Tule Lake Concentration Camps, to discuss their upcoming Free Families Pilgrimage, a 48-mile walk across Puget Sound calling for an end to family and child detention. Then, Jane is joined (for the last time 😞) by contributors Brett Hamil and Chase Hutchinson to discuss the recent AI protests across Washington state, the upcoming Oscar-qualifying festival at The Tasveer Film Center (and what exactly Oscar-qualifying means), and what the Paramount Warner Brothers Discovery means for Seattle. Speaking of capitalism, Seattle is getting its very own edition of Seattle. What spots should be on the board? Also, do we even want this? Brett, Chase, and Jan discuss.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 7th episode:

Grand Central Bakery

Town Hall Seattle

SIFF Film

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle.

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After the Pike Place Market pilot, a new car-free experiment will be taking place on University Ave. Host Jane C. Hu talks to urbanist organizer L. Harrison Jerome about what they hope to accomplish by shutting down the street to cars. Then, Jane is joined by contributors Hannah Krieg and Ryan Packer to discuss the Washington State Ferry engineers' ask for better pay by coordinating a mass call out sick. Hannah and Ryan also discuss UW employees and students pushing back on proposed changes to the Student Code of Conduct, asking for protections for trans workers and limits on AI use. Finally, they get into the opening of the new Pinehurst light rail station along with some political intrigue, andthe potential expansion of paid parking in Upper Queen Anne and West Seattle’s Alaska Junction.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 6th episode:

Grand Central Bakery

Town Hall Seattle

SIFF Film

Water Lantern Festival

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle.

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Where can you find the best pumpkin spice lattes in Seattle? Heather Phan Nguyen went all-in on a PSL rankings project, so we brought her on the podcast to talk with host Jane C. Hu and Executive Producer Ashley Smith about what inspired this undertaking, what really makes a good PSL, and favorite local spots. Then, Creative Producers Liam Billingham and Sam J. Leeds hop on the mic to celebrate Liam's first Seattle-versary and test him on his local knowledge. Finally, we dig into the mailbag and share listener feedback on e-scooters, Seattle karaoke, and more. We also mention our last mailbag episode, and this episode with Brett Hamil about public safety.

Learn more about the sponsors of this October 5th episode:

Grand Central Bakery

Town Hall Seattle

SIFF Film

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle.

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Today on the podcast, Jane gets an insider perspective on how difficult it is to navigate the city’s regulatory system for local businesses from Vince Vu, founder of Anh Oi, a Vietnamese bakeshop. Then Erica C Barnett, founder of PubliCola and host of the Seattle Nice podcast, and Sam J Leeds, creative producer, join Jane to unpack a series of reports on Seattle’s surveillance systems and get the lowdown on how the budget has been going over with City Council. (Hint: poorly!) Plus, if you are a City Cast Seattle neighbor, Jane, Sam, and Executive Producer Ashley Smith have some opinions on controversial new pizzas coming to the Emerald City.

Want to get in touch? Follow us @CityCastSeattle on Instagram, or email us at seattle@citycast.fm. You can also call or text us at 206-880-3931.

For more Seattle news, make sure to sign up for our morning newsletter, City Cast Seattle.

Support City Cast Seattle by becoming a member: https://membership.citycast.fm/seattle

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