Seattle City Makers: Recent Episodes
Downtown Seattle Association
A diverse range of people are shaping Seattle's business, arts, cultural and public sectors and driving the city’s renewal and reemergence from the global pandemic. Join Downtown Seattle Association President & CEO Jon Scholes for conversations with leaders across multiple sectors who are influencing the Seattle of today and tomorrow.
Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes, one of Seattle Magazine’s Most Influential People of 2021, will feature the people behind transformative projects, organizations and initiatives in Seattle, and sometimes in other cities as well. Jon and his guests discuss lessons learned from successes and challenges, approaches to leadership and views on issues affecting urban areas here and elsewhere.
The matches and watch parties now in the rearview, the World Cup-induced energy is still reverberating throughout downtown Seattle. In this second part of our World Cup Conversation episodes, Jon is joined by Peter Tomozawa, the CEO of the Seattle World Cup Local Organizing Committee. Peter joined the show right after the largest sporting event in the world concluded to give us a debrief on how the Emerald City fared on the global stage. Jon and Peter talk about the many ways this event impacted the community; incoming messages from all over the world about Seattle; what set our city apart as a great host location; how to keep the momentum going on and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Peter Tomozawa.
The matches now in the rearview, the World Cup-induced energy is still reverberating throughout downtown Seattle. In the first part of our World Cup Conversation episodes, Jon is joined by Seattle Sports Commission President & CEO Beth Knox and Seattle Reign Chief Business Officer Maya Mendoza-Exstrom. The two co-chairs of the bid to bring the FIFA Men’s World Cup to Seattle will take us behind the scenes of securing the bid; they’ll reflect on the recently completed Seattle matches; the impact of bringing the biggest sporting event in the world to downtown Seattle; what the soccer world had to say about our city & fans; how to harness the energy and vibes this event created; what’s next for big sporting events in Seattle and much, much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guests Beth Knox and Maya Mendoza-Exstrom.
Urban Visions Founder & CEO Greg Smith’s Seattle roots run deep in this city. The fifth-generation Seattleite has developed some of downtown’s signature properties, and real estate runs in his family. There are many tales to tell. Jon and Greg talk about bringing Weyerhaeuser to Pioneer Square; the transformation of the Grand Central Building; his views on downtown and the city; the importance of a growing residential base downtown and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Greg Smith.
The largest Goodwill store in the world (yes, the world) is just south of downtown Seattle. So, it’s fitting that Libby Johnson McKee is the President & CEO of Evergreen Goodwill, since she spent more than a decade as the director of worldwide returns at Amazon. Jon and Libby talk about Evergreen Goodwill handling 119 million pounds of products each year; how her career in tech has impacted Evergreen Goodwill’s operations; the education and job training opportunities at Goodwill; lives impacted by their programs and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Libby Johnson McKee.
Seattle’s public library system rivals any other in the nation, and even stands tall internationally, according to the system’s Executive Director and Chief Librarian, Tom Fay. Jon and Tom talk about how Seattle’s libraries compare to other markets; the technological evolution of what we experience via libraries; the upcoming Seattle library levy; the central library as an architectural gem; Tom’s favorite books and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Seattle’s Chief Librarian, Tom Fay.
Angela Dunleavy’s career in the Seattle food and hospitality sector has been marked by leadership with some really big local brands: Ethan Stowell Restaurants, FareStart and Gournando, to name a few. Her latest venture, Rally, is a creation of her own making building upon that deep food and beverage history. Jon and Angela talk about the founding of Rally; the importance of doing things in-person; the opening of her new restaurant Doris Social; bringing a 250-foot barge to Elliott Bay for the World Cup and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Angela Dunleavy.
Learn more about the Seattle soccer barge: https://www.soundersfc.com/seattle-soccer-celebration/
Read about Doris Social: https://hoodline.com/2026/03/goodbye-salumi-hello-doris-social-in-pioneer-square-shakeup/
Seattle sports fans likely know Simply Seattle as the go-to spot for shirts, jerseys, hats and some of the city’s most iconic apparel. But owner Jamie Munson’s story is also one of entrepreneurship, brand building and betting on Seattle’s sports culture. Jon and Jamie talk about Jamie’s path from general manager to owner of Simply Seattle; the growth of the business since purchasing it in 2015; the impact of the Mariners and Seahawks post-season runs; the lasting passion for the Sonics and what renewed NBA expansion buzz means for Seattle; and Jamie’s newest venture, Out West Trading Company, with locations across the Northwest and another opening soon in Suncadia. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Jamie Munson.
Kevin Martinez grew up in a baseball-loving family in New Jersey, and the love of the game propelled him to a career in the big leagues. An opportunity with the Seattle Mariners sent him across the country in his early 20s, and after a brief stint back east, a love of Seattle and its MLB franchise lured him back. After spending decades directing marketing with the Mariners, he became president of business operations in 2025. Jon and Kevin talk about how going to a Yankees game led him to Seattle; his experiences with Ken Griffey Jr., Ichiro and others; the excitement for the 2026 season after last year’s post-season run; how technology is changing the game; the Mariners position in the community; how the team handled the Ichiro statue reveal and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Kevin Martinez.
This episode is sponsored by MCNW Advisory Partners and DSA members Matt Van Beek and Chris Jay. Join them as they host their inaugural Seattle Summer Soirée on June 4. Request access here: https://partiful.com/e/C7TNvm4KLOL4w0HnllFi
The odds are extremely slim that we will ever have a guest on Seattle City Makers with the same first job as Suzana Sakay. The president & CEO of the Washington Athletic Club, Suzana grew up in a Bosnian town across the Sava River from Croatia and her first job was born out of a brutal conflict. Jon and Suzana talk about her role as a NATO translator; her path from the Balkans to Seattle and the WAC; some interesting historical notes about the nearly 100-year-old club; the evolution of the WAC and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Suzana Sakay.
Katrina Egner began her career in behavioral health as an intern at Sound Behavioral Health in 1997. Today, she’s the president & CEO and leads a team of more than 700 clinicians and staff members. Jon and Katrina talk about the status of behavioral health in Seattle and King County today; how the sector has been playing catch-up for 40 years; a positive development that emerged from a global pandemic; involuntary treatment; social media and the impact on children and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Katrina Egner.
When thinking of senior living facilities, for many the mind wanders to the suburbs. Senior living in Seattle is a little different, with more housing options in and around downtown and Horizon House is a shining example. And they’ve broken ground on a 33-story tower that is already beyond 70% leased. Jon and Erica talk about the roots of her career in Detroit; Seattle as a bit of an outlier with urban senior communities; the importance of middle market senior living; downtown as an amenity for the community and the increase in demand for downtown senior housing. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Erica Thrash-Sall.
Town Hall Seattle is a venue synonymous with conversations and performances that span a wide spectrum: lively and entertaining to deep, important and thought-provoking. Leading this historic venue is Kate Nagle-Caraluzzo. Jon and Kate discuss how a subscription started her on a path to leadership; how Town Hall secures talent; some of her favorite events and guests; Seattle’s Historic Theater District: her first job and her perfect Saturday in Seattle. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Kate Nagle-Caraluzzo.
We’re digging into downtown development on this Seattle City Makers episode. Skanska Executive Vice President & Regional Manager Charlie Foushee sits down with Jon to talk about the ecosystem that is urban development. Jon and Charlie discuss downtown’s residential boom and the need for family housing; the importance of the ground-floor space; return to the office; trends in Seattle and Bellevue and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Charlie Foushee.
It’s a return to the show for Seattle City Councilmember Bob Kettle. The District 7 (which includes downtown) councilmember is the chair of the Public Safety Committee, and public safety in Seattle takes up a lot of this conversation. Jon and Bob discuss the current downward trend for violent crime in downtown; Seattle’s public drug use ordinance; Community Court and King Country Drug Court; the Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion program and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Bob Kettle.
If you live or work downtown, there’s a really good chance you benefit from infrastructure that is more than 100 years old under your feet. We’re talking steam as we kick off the fifth season of the Seattle City Makers podcast. Jon is joined by CenTrio Energy Vice President Ian Goepferd. Jon and Ian wind their way through a steam heating utility that features 20 miles of piping under downtown Seattle, providing heat to around 150 buildings in the heart of Seattle. They discuss the evolution of this utility; Elliott Bay as a heat source; its future and the state of energy in Washington state; Ian’s perfect Saturday in Seattle and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Ian Goepferd.
It’s a milestone episode for the Seattle City Makers podcast – we've hit the century mark! While all our guests are special to us, for show number 100 we have a guest who is known well beyond our city as we welcome actor, host and comedian Joel McHale to the program. Jon and Joel talk about the actor’s start on the stage at Unexpected Productions; the springboard from the KING 5 show Almost Live!; the waterfront and Joel’s thoughts on the old viaduct; Joel’s incredibly dark character on The Bear; Jon wearing a lot of layers in the office and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Joel McHale.
Now that the dust has settled on the November election, it’s time to dig into the analysis, the issues facing our newly elected leaders, the what-does-it-all-mean conversation Seattleites are surely having right now. Political and public affairs consultant Sandeep Kaushik helps us unpack everything. Jon and Sandeep discuss the Trump effect on our local elections; the idea of issue paralysis; the affordability agenda and contributing factors to a pricey Seattle; Mayor-elect Katie Wilson as an ‘outsider mayor’; a possible narrowing of the gap between far-left and center-left and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Sandeep Kaushik.
We’re raising the curtain at one of Seattle’s greatest venues on this episode of Seattle City Makers. Bill Berry, the executive & artistic director of the venerable 5th Avenue Theatre joins us to dig into arts & culture in downtown Seattle. Jon and Bill discuss the state of the theatre; upcoming performances, including a production Jesus Christ Superstar that will feature a Seattle music icon; how the 5th compares to venues and production houses across the country; the alliance with the Seattle Theater Group and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Bill Berry.
Seattle City Maker listeners, you now have the option to watch these conversations on our YouTube channel: youtube.com/downtownseattle. Kicking off this platform enhancement is Chief Amy Barden, leader of Seattle’s CARE public safety department. This alternative response team was piloted in downtown two years ago, now they’ve expanded citywide. Jon and Amy talk about the CARE team expansion; the progress that’s been made and the challenges that remain with public safety in Seattle; the rhetoric around unarmed response; the essential attributes for CARE responders; the latest on the fentanyl pandemic; re-entry from incarceration and the capacity for people to change; the podcast she co-hosts with her husband and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Amy Barden.
If you’re looking for a brick-and-mortar retail success story, head to Marios on Sixth Avenue in downtown Seattle. This men’s and women’s specialty store has been a fixture for high-end fashion in Seattle since 1982. Now operating under the Mitchell Stores umbrella, Marios has sibling retail shops in New England, Portland, the Bay Area and Dallas. Scott Mitchell runs Marios in Seattle and has been at the helm for a little over a year now. With fresh eyes on our market, Jon and Scott talk about the retail sector in Seattle and how Marios is performing; the importance of having great operators near Marios; navigating the twists and turns of family-run operations; his thoughts on retail nationally and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Scott Mitchell.
Since 2021, Amazon has invested more than $3.5 billion in affordable housing production and preservation. Leading that charge is Alice Shobe. As Amazon’s outgoing Director of Community Impact, Shobe has taken the tech and logistics giant to new heights regarding direct impact in the communities where its presence is large: Seattle, Arlington, Va., and Nashville. In the Seattle area alone, Amazon has produced 10,000 affordable units. Jon and Alice talk about her path from city planning in Kent to leadership at Amazon; the speed and volume of Amazon’s affordable housing production; the five priorities for Amazon’s community impact team; how an email about a headline in The Seattle Times led to a pilot program and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Alice Shobe.
As summer comes to a close in Seattle, we’re joined by one of the lead architects of our city’s signature September festival, Bumbershoot. New Rising Sun CEO Joe Paganelli has had a busy and extremely productive year that has significantly impacted downtown’s arts & cultural scene. In addition to producing their third iteration of the music, art, culture and fashion event that is Bumbershoot, New Rising Sun opened the doors to Cannonball Arts, downtown’s largest creative arts center spanning 66,000 square feet. Jon and Joe talk about the evolution of Bumbershoot; the origin story of and vision for Cannonball Arts; Joe’s days at The Fillmore in San Francisco with a Prince story; and you absolutely do not want to miss Joe’s story about his first job. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Joe Paganelli.
The Moriguchi family has deep, impactful roots in the Puget Sound region. Fujimatsu and Sadako opened up their first store in Tacoma in 1928, after selling fishcakes and other items out of a truck to loggers, fisherman and local farmers. Think of it as a forefather of the food truck. After World War II, the Moriguchis opened Uwajimaya in Seattle’s Chinatown-International District neighborhood. Fujimatsu and Sadako’s granddaughter, Denise, is the third generation CEO of Uwajimaya, which is now one of the largest Asian grocery retailers in the Pacific Northwest. Jon and Denise talk about Uwajimaya’s origin story; her path to leadership of the family-run operation; the state of the grocery sector; the Chinatown-International District neighborhood; her ideal Saturday in Seattle and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Denise Moriguchi.
The return of PCC to Rainier Square is enormous for downtown residents, workers and visitors. Leading this impactful move (and relocation of office space to Rainier Square) is PCC President & CEO Krishnan Srinivasan. At the helm of PCC since 2022, Krishnan joined the member-owned certified organic retailer grocer in 2018 after holding business and finance leadership positions in some of the biggest names in tech: Amazon, Microsoft, Remitly and Lyft to name a few. Jon and Krishnan discuss PCC’s return to downtown and how the new Corner Market is performing; the retail grocery landscape; how PCC made its way to Late Night with Stephen Colbert; the power of food and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Krishnan Srinivasan.
Seafair is synonymous with summer in Seattle. This year’s festivities were filled with time-honored traditions and new elements under the direction of first-year President & CEO Emily Cantrell. Emily and Jon sat down a few days after wrapping up the 76th iteration of Seafair, and there was plenty to unpack about this enormous summer celebration. The two discuss her career path which started in broadcast news and led to organizations focused on this place; taking the Torchlight Parade to the new waterfront; her favorite Seafair moments and those that caused a little bit of stress; getting Nascar racer Jimmie Johnson into a hydroplane cockpit; the itinerary for her perfect Saturday in Seattle and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Emily Cantrell.
Many cities across the country have built their convention centers outside of their city center – Seattle avoided that mistake and the community is reaping the rewards of that decision. Conventions, business events and “bleisure travel” (more on that in a moment) are playing big roles in Seattle’s economic symphony and Seattle Convention Center President & CEO Jennifer LeMaster is the conductor of those contributors. Jon and Jennifer discuss her path to leadership through college athletics; the importance of the Convention Center to Seattle’s economy; the concept of blending business and leisure travel (bleisure); Seattle’s competitive positioning in the convention space and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Jennifer LeMaster.
Fair to say there are not many people with resumes that include work at the Department of Commerce, Microsoft and founding two art spaces in Seattle. A unique career path seems appropriate when you witness the one-of-a-kind experiences Nick Ferderer curates at Base Camp Studios and Base Camp Studios 2. Jon and Nick discuss the origins of his dynamic art galleries; discoveries he’s made at vacant buildings; what’s to come at Base Camp 2; the beautification work along the Spark Block on Third Avenue and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Nick Ferderer.
Summers in Seattle are sublime. For the Port of Seattle, the summer months are slammed with activity. One of the 10 busiest ports in the nation, the Port of Seattle has been led by Executive Director Steve Metruck since 2018. Jon and Steve discuss Seattle’s growing cruise industry; trends in domestic and business travel; the enormous scope of business for the Port of Seattle; his career path from the Coast Guard to the Port and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Steve Metruck.
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.
EMC Research Senior Principal Andrew Thibault has been conducting public opinion research in Seattle since the mid-90s – he has his finger squarely on the pulse of our city’s electorate. DSA commissioned Andrew and his team to survey likely Seattle voters in May ahead of an extremely crowded City Council primary election with seven of nine seats on the ballot and more than 40 candidates in the field Andrew and Jon discuss EMC’s recent findings, how Seattle voters feel about downtown, the importance people place on the health of downtown to the rest of the city, Seattle’s political landscape relative to peer cities and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Andrew Thibault.
Prior to running for Seattle City Attorney, Ann Davison called the position the “impact seat” – a role that can have a cascading effect on public safety in Seattle. From launching the High Utilizer Initiative to helping craft proposed legislation on public drug use, she’s had a busy first year in the impact seat. Ann and Jon discuss her path to the role of Seattle’s top prosecutor, the fentanyl crisis, her time spent working for the Seattle Supersonics and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Ann Davison.
He’s responsible for perhaps the greatest urban park renovation in the nation and he’s once again lending his considerable insights to downtown Seattle. The founder of the Bryant Park Corporation, Dan Biederman and his team transformed Manhattan’s Bryant Park from a drug-infested area to be avoided into what is now considered the gold standard of active, vibrant urban public spaces. Time Magazine called the renovation a “small miracle.” DSA took many of Dan’s best practices and applied them to the management of Westlake Park and Occidental Square, and will be working with him on additional downtown spaces. Jon and Dan discuss his impressions of Seattle’s urban parks, bringing people back to downtowns, his favorite cities and projects and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Dan Biederman.
Dominique Davis changes lives. Drawing upon personal background and community relationships, Davis founded Community Passageways in 2017 with the goal of zero youth incarceration. Working on felony diversion and prevention has led to additional community-focused work, including a new effort to deliver safety, intervention and services to people in need along Third Avenue. Jon and Dominique dig into how his past has shaped his approach, the idea of defunding the police, what his team is seeing on Third Avenue and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Dominique Davis.
In a city with a worldwide reputation for great coffee, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better spot for espresso than the small but mighty Monorail Espresso. Aimee Peck started working at Monorail as a barista in 2008 and she took over the operation just a few years later. Aimee and Jon discussed Monorail Espresso’s origin story, the state of the industry, expansion plans and a truly perfect Sunday. What’s more, Aimee reveals a superpower – knowing someone’s preferred drink by seeing their picture. She nailed it. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Aimee Peck.
Pike Place Market is home to 220 stores with doors, 160 crafters, 85 farmers, 450 residents and five social service organizations. How is America’s oldest continuously running farmers market like “a cross between the mafia and a socialist government?” And why is it the most efficient shopping experience in Seattle? In Episode 31 of Seattle City Makers, Pike Place Market PDA Executive Director Mary Bacarella joins Jon for an entertaining conversation about this one-of-a-kind destination in the heart of downtown.
One of the foremost authorities on cities sat down with us for an engaging look at the future of urban areas in this episode of Seattle City Makers. Award-winning Harvard professor, author and economist Ed Glaeser was recently in town for DSA’s annual State of Downtown event. He and Jon discussed Ed’s planned keynote remarks, the resiliency of cities, how to bring vibrancy back to our urban cores, making downtowns more equitable and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Ed Glaeser.
A trip to Europe sparked inspiration for Rachel Marshall, and that led to what’s become THE standard by which all ginger beers are measured in Seattle. Her eponymous Rachel’s Ginger Beer began as a stand at a farmers market and 10 years later has four storefront operations. Jon and Rachel mix together Rachel’s origin story, her perspective on running a small business in Seattle, their favorite cocktails and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Rachel Marshall.
There’s no shortage of topics to discuss with this episode’s guest. A fifth-generation Seattleite, City Council member Andrew Lewis represents District 7 at City Hall, which includes downtown Seattle. Jon and Andrew dig into the tensions of the local political landscape, key issues impacting the heart of the city, what he’s hearing from voters and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Andrew Lewis.
Southern California’s loss has certainly been Seattle’s gain in Eric Tanaka. Academia had him penciled in to design bike trails in the Golden State, but his real passion directed him to a culinary career that has served downtown Seattle since the early 90s. The managing partner at Tom Douglas restaurants, Eric and Jon discussed the state of the industry post-pandemic, his outlook on the city and recovery, a couple of recipe tips and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Eric Tanaka.
Our second episode of the year welcomes GeekWire co-founder John Cook to the podcast. A veteran journalist and media outlet co-creator, Cook and his team have grown GeekWire to a go-to national technology news website based in Seattle. Jon and John talk about GeekWire’s evolution, the growth and current status of the tech sector in Seattle, the importance of the office and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest John Cook.
Our first episode of 2023 focuses on public safety in downtown Seattle with a true authority on the subject – Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz. From a patrol officer in the late 90s to the top brass, Adrian Diaz has 26 years of experience in the department. Jon and Adrian talk about his rise to leadership, current challenges facing the department and the city, what he sees at areas like Third and Pine and 12th and Jackson and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Chief Adrian Diaz.
Our final episode of the year digs into one of the most complex issues facing Seattle and other cities across the nation – homelessness – with Pallet Founder and CEO Amy King. From its headquarters in Everett, Washington, Pallet has grown into a national leader in rapid-response housing with villages in more than 100 cities. Jon and Amy discuss how Seattle and King County are faring in the fight against homelessness, what she has learned from other cities, why she believes housing is not the cure-all for this crisis and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Amy King.
As SDOT’s new director, Greg Spotts believes he needs to understand every neighborhood in Seattle. If you follow him on social media, you’ll see he’s certainly making the rounds. Jon and Greg talk about his boots-on-the-ground management style, Greg’s background in the music industry, his vision for connecting the Seattle Streetcar line, mobility in a post-pandemic Seattle and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Greg Spotts.
Bob Donegan has been called the unofficial mayor of Seattle’s central waterfront. This conversation with Ivar's president proves that to be an appropriate moniker. Jon and Bob talk about the economic health of the neighborhood, the impact of the waterfront redevelopment, his advice for our city’s elected leaders, favorite Ivar’s menu items and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Bob Donegan..
It may seem like a cliche, but it’s true: picking up golf can be beneficial for one’s career. But for far too long this powerful networking tool has been wielded predominantly by men in the business world. As Dana Kimble started to love the game, she saw an opportunity to level out the gender imbalance and the Skanska Senior Director of Business Development founded The Pro Shop. Jon and Dana discuss her competitive roots and the motivation behind starting The Pro Shop, golf as a networking tool, her views on the future of work/office space and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Dana Kimble..
It’s election season! As you prepare to dig into your ballot, we thought the time was right talk politics with local political and public affairs consultant Sandeep Kaushik. A former journalist, Sandeep has worked on numerous campaigns and ballot measures in the Northwest. Jon and Sandeep dig into local and national races, Seattle’s political landscape, the pivotal 2023 City Council races and more. If a lively conversation and political analysis are for you, you’ve come to the right place. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Sandeep Kaushik.
If you’ve spent any appreciable time in downtown Seattle over the past 17 years then you’ve likely seen Harold Danley. A longtime member of the DSA/Metropolitan Improvement District’s Clean Team, the last few years have seen Harold behind the wheel of the ATLV, the All-Terrain Litter Vacuum. For nearly two decades Harold has made quick work of keeping the heart of downtown clean. He’s retiring at the end of the year and all of downtown will miss his consistent presence, attention to detail and his laugh. Harold and Jon sit down and reminisce over his many years of keeping downtown clean, the work of the Clean Team and you’ll learn a little more about Harold. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Harold Danley.
Jon Scholes takes a seat in the guest spot for episode 18 of the Seattle City Makers podcast. Producer James Sido and Jon discuss a business trip to D.C. focused on urban recovery, common issues facing cities across the country, DSA’s vision for Third Avenue and positioning downtown Seattle as a Central Connection District and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest host James Sido.
We’re 17 episodes in and we have our first former candidate for Mayor of Seattle. As you’ll hear from this conversation, Colleen Echohawk has a much deeper and diverse background than her candidacy. The CEO of Eighth Generation, Echohawk has long been an influential voice in the community and previously led the Chief Seattle Club, a Native-led housing and human services agency. Jon and Colleen talk about her perspective on housing and homelessness, the work of Eighth Generation, what she learned from running for mayor and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Colleen Echohawk.
Who and what do you trust? It seems like a straightforward question, but as we’ve seen time and again, events and circumstances can shift confidence and beliefs. Each year, Edelman produces the Trust Barometer, a detailed trust and credibility survey about confidence in a few different groups: business, government, media and nonprofits. Jon and Edelman Pacific Northwest General Manager Ryan Cudney discuss the 2022 Trust Barometer’s findings, its implications for Seattle and Ryan’s perspective on the Emerald City. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Ryan Cudney.
The word “transformational” is perhaps overused when it comes to public and private development projects. But there are few undertakings in Seattle’s history as transformative as the Waterfront Park redevelopment. As construction kicks into gear on the Overlook Walk and other signature elements of this major makeover, we sit down with the City of Seattle’s Office of the Waterfront and Civic Projects Director Marshall Foster. The City’s former Planning Director, Foster has led the Office of the Waterfront since 2014. He’s had a front row seat to Seattle’s biggest project for more than a decade and takes us behind the scenes on a project that is redefining how downtown, and the city, connect with the waterfront to produce what should be an unrivaled urban experience. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Marshall Foster.
GardnerGlobal, Inc. founder and CEO Jaebadiah Gardner is in the business of building wealth, with a focus on those who have been traditionally excluded. A developer, fund manager, author and speaker, Gardner’s start in building began with coordinating the installation of a sculpture at the University of Washington. Blocked Out, the first monument to diversity on the campus, was completed in 2005 and a career of creating with a purpose was born. Earlier this year, Gardner received a grant from Amazon’s Housing Equity Fund that will help produce a seven-story mixed use apartment building in the Central District. Gardner takes us on a journey of perseverance and passion. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Jaebadiah Gardner.
The beautiful game runs deep in Maya Mendoza-Exstrom’s family. The Seattle Sounders FC’s Chief Operating Officer was an All-American player in college, coached at the college level and her father helped pitch Seattle’s bid for the 1994 FIFA World Cup. It was a natural fit for Maya to help lead our city’s 2026 FIFA World Cup bid. She takes us through that process, details soccer’s growth in Seattle and paints the picture for what we’ll experience when the world’s game comes to downtown Seattle in 2026. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Maya Mendoza-Exstrom.
There are few people who have had a more direct impact on the built environment in downtown Seattle than Matt Griffin. The managing partner of Pine Street Group LLC, Matt has led the development of some of downtown’s biggest office, retail, residential and convention spaces, and he’s done so during difficult economic times over the last 40 years. Jon and Matt take a chronological journey through some of Matt’s notable downtown projects, talk about the deals behind the deals, downtown’s recovery, the future of Pacific Place and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Matt Griffin.
Our latest podcast episode should fill every Seattleite with at least a little nostalgia. Whether it’s a quick lunch or a late night craving, Dick’s Drive-In has been a Seattle staple for nearly 70 years. A family-run business, Dick’s is now led by Jasmine Donovan, the president and CFO. Granddaughter of founder Dick Spady, Jasmine is leading Dick’s during a time of evolution and expansion. Jon and Jasmine discussed the history of this iconic Seattle restaurant, balancing tradition with innovation, the business principles handed down from her grandfather that guide Jasmine to this day and Jon enjoys what can easily be called one of the best chocolate milkshakes in the city. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Jasmine Donovan.
Seattle and King County are now seven years into a declared state of emergency on homelessnes. The King County Regional Homelessness Authority was formed in December of 2019 through an interlocal agreement between King County and the city of Seattle. Marc Dones helped create the framework that will lead this approach in our community and has led the KCRHA as CEO since April 2021. Jon and Marc discussed the KCRHA’s focus on chronic homelessness in downtown, the ways in which the pandemic has impacted homeless outreach, the efforts to bring people off the streets in Seattle and King County. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Marc Dones.
Name a huge celebratory event in Seattle over the past decade and there’s a decent chance Beth Knox has had something to do with it. From multiple stints with Seafair and work with One Reel (former producers of Bumbershoot) to organizing multiple parades and leading the 2018 Special Olympics, Beth has been a community leader. Beth now directs the Seattle Sports Commission, positioning our city to host major sporting events on the national and global stage. Jon and Beth embark on a timely talk about the local sports landscape, its impact on the city and the potential for big moves on the horizon (NBA, anyone?). Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Beth Knox.
Tom Mara might have the best job in the Seattle metro area. A love affair with music guided Tom to a student volunteer position at KCMU in 1987, and led to him running the coolest radio station (KEXP) on the planet for 30 years. Tom has guided KEXP from a station with a 12-mile radius to a music powerhouse reaching nearly 2 million people around the world every week. The station’s evolution has expanded beyond technical advancement and produced a more culturally diverse platform as well. Jon and Tom discuss that ongoing work, his deep history in building KEXP into what it is today, how the engineering team kept the live music going during the pandemic, Paul Allen’s impact on the region’s music scene and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Tom Mara.
As chief financial officer of Woodland Park Zoo, Michele Smith is responsible for all new and ongoing revenue at this 123-year-old institution that welcomes more than one million guests each year. What does it take to keep 1,000 endangered species safe during a global pandemic? Did the animals miss humans as much as we missed them? How long does it take to plan the wildly popular Wild Lanterns light exhibition, and what are the big names playing at this year’s ZooTunes concert series? Jon and Michele explore these questions and more (including Michele’s “can’t miss” downtown experience) in Episode 7 of Seattle City Makers.
The Selig name is associated with a number of notable properties in downtown Seattle, including the development of the Columbia Center. In the sixth episode of the Seattle City Makers podcast, Jordan Selig sits down with Jon to discuss her optimism in the economic health of Seattle, expanding her involvement in local politics, developing the most sustainable building of its size in the nation (400 Westlake), the future of the office and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Jordan Selig.
You’ll recognize our fifth guest from numerous appearances on NBC News, MSNBC, local news coverage and many other platforms. Since the outset of the covid pandemic, Dr. Vin Gupta has provided medical insights through the media, and also assistance in the field as a trained pulmonologist and a Major with the Air Force Reserve Medical Corps. He’s had a front-row seat to the interplay between politics, trust, media and public health. And he’s well positioned to tell us what the immediate future might look like as we emerge from the pandemic. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Dr. Vin Gupta.
The fourth episode of Seattle City Makers features one of the biggest names in Seattle’s food scene, chef and restaurateur Ethan Stowell. Restaurants have had to weather a number of restrictions during the pandemic, and Ethan offers ingredients that have been critical to success. He also dishes on how the pandemic will permanently change the industry, why he decided to invest in downtown again and provides Jon (and you, the listener) with terrific tips for the right ragu and the perfect salmon. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Ethan Stowell.
Our third episode features someone who just might be the personification of a “city maker.” Liz Dunn, principal of Dunn & Hobbes, LLC, is one of the standard bearers of Seattle mixed-use neighborhood developers. Jon joined Liz in the Overcast Room of Cloud Studios, which is in the basement of the award-winning Chophouse Row project. They talk about navigating the landlord-tenant relationship during an economic downturn, an exciting new project and partnership in the Central District, the effort to lid I-5 and reinvention of Bumbershoot. As Liz says, “Seattle is the city that likes to remake itself.” Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Liz Dunn.
We raise the curtain on our second episode with The 5th Avenue Theatre’s Managing Director Bernie Griffin who joins Jon for a wide-ranging conversation. Performance venues have had a uniquely challenging time during the pandemic. Jon and Bernie talk about how the theatre pivoted, renovated and positioned itself to bounce back, the need to center diverse voices, the economic impact of the sector, the arts as the soul of Seattle and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Bernie Griffin. In addition, be sure to visit DSA member ArtsFund’s website for its latest covid cultural impact study at artsfund.org.
Jon sits down with Seattle's former Chief of Police, Carmen Best. The first Black female to lead the department, Best is now an author and a law enforcement analyst for NBC and MSNBC. Jon and Carmen discuss her new book, the balance of police reform and public safety, the circumstances that drove her to retirement, advice for Seattle’s new leaders on public safety, and more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Carmen Best.