City Cast Seattle
by City Cast
Join Jane C. Hu and the City Cast Seattle team every weekday morning as we explore the most interesting stories about our city. It’s an informative daily podcast for all Seattleites, whether you're a local or new to town. We’ll keep you company while you’re walking the dog around Green Lake, riding the bus through SLU, or stuck in traffic on the West Seattle Bridge. City Cast is like eavesdropping on an illuminating conversation at your neighborhood coffee shop. But there’s no Seattle Freeze here; everyone’s welcome to join in. Learn more and subscribe to our daily newsletter at seattle.citycast.fm.
Episodes
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Rapid Ride or Route 7, Why Ballard Light Rail Feels Doomed, and Remembering Tom Skerritt
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....
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Could a Labor Organizer Replace a 20-Year Incumbent State Senator?
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…
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Who Is Brian Heywood? Plus, a Philosopher’s Approach to AI Limits
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...
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Candidates Kelabe Tewolde and Jaelynn Scott on Representing Seattle’s Most Diverse District
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…
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Why Housing Stability Is the Foundation of a Fair Economy
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...
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We’re Still Searching for Our Next Podcast Host
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…
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Seattle Surveillance Explained, Funding Survivor Support Systems, and Rob Saka's Public Restroom 180
Today on the podcast, interim host Liam Billingham is joined by the Urbanist’s Amy Sundberg and activist Maria Abando of Whose Streets? Our Streets! to help Seattle understand the difference between CCTV, ALPR, SDOT, and private cameras like Ring. They also get into why Seattle residents should…
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Washington’s Aging Ferry Fleet, How the Millionaires Tax Fight Is Spilling Into Legislative Races, and Ranking PNW Horror Movies
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...
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VRAP Controversy, Unsettling Grocery Store Experiences, and Jimothy at Costco
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....
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Real Power, Real Dignity: Closing Out a Fair Economy
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…
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Kenji López-Alt Goes Casual in Seattle and American Girl Goes Grunge
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...
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Seattle’s Weird Flyers, Blood Testing Sample Concerns, and Jane Says Goodbye
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...
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Are Small Businesses and Affordable Housing at Odds? Plus, a New Vaccine That Prevents Overdose, and Zoe Kahn’s Sandwich Fest
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,...
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What Does a Seattle Monopoly Edition Look Like? Plus, Walking 48 Miles to End Immigrant Detention
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...
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The Ave’s Car-Free Pilot, Ferry Engineers Call In Sick for Better Pay, and Paid Parking Expands
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...
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Your E-Scooter Hot Takes, Best PSLs in Seattle, and Liam's First Seattle-versary
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…
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Surveillance in Seattle, Budget Drama, Plus Policies For Pop-ups
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,...
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Could More Art Activations Make the City Safer? Plus, Seattle Real Estate Trends and Karaoke Recs
Is it really a buyer’s market in Seattle? Host Jane C. Hu talks with real estate broker Posey Gruener and Daryl Fairweather, Redfin’s chief economist, about the state of the city’s real estate market, neighborhood trends, and what’s behind the changes in home prices. Then, artist and activist…
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Your Guide to October 2026 in Seattle
Fall is here, with Halloween right around the corner, and we’ve got Seattle-specific costume ideas for you (Jimothy is just the beginning)! In this episode, you’ll hear the best places to go leaf peeping, how to celebrate National Book Month, and our favorite autumn traditions. And if you love...
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Is Seattle’s Coffee Scene Missing Anything? Plus, a New Indie Rock Podcast and the Valley of the Gnomes
2004 was the year indie rock exploded on the music scene — at least, that’s according to a new podcast that launched last week. Host Jane C. Hu and Creative Producer Liam Billingham talk with Melissa Locker, executive producer of “2004: The Year Indie Rock Broke” and founder of Nevermind Media,...
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Our Global Fashion Influence, What Bees Teach Us About Social Isolation, and the Original Gayborhood
The Washington Department of Corrections has used solitary confinement for decades, often in violation of UN rules. Could a neuroscience researcher studying bumblebees change that? Host Jane C. Hu talks with journalist Carolyn Bick about UW neuroscience researcher Micaela Romero's findings and…
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Mayor Wilson’s Budget Explained, Seattle’s Neon Sign Past and Present, and Boeing’s Grunge Influence
Today on the podcast, Jane is joined by two first-timers to City Cast Seattle, Amy Sundberg, reporter at The Urbanist, and Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton, business reporter at The Seattle Times. First, Amy, Megan, and Jane break down what’s in Katie Wilson’s budget for 2027, including questions about…
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U District's Movie Theater Revival, Elvis at the Space Needle, and a Popsicle Party
Host Jane C. Hu talks with Shane Wahlund and Michael Anderson, co-hosts of Collide-O-Scope, about how Seattle’s image on film has shifted over time and what they’ve learned from years of sorting through vintage video, found footage, and decades of film. The duo discuss their show “Once Upon a…
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Twihards Help Quileute Tribe, Archie McPhee Owner Changes Course, and AI Enters Civics
Today on the podcast, Jane is joined by contributor Brett Hamil and creative producer Liam Billingham, both non-robots. Jane runs down the Archie McPhee saga, and then Liam, Brett, and Jane discuss owner Mark Pahlow’s apology, as well as discuss what responsibility consumers have in knowing what...
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Seattle Expands Civil Rights, a Dynamic Pricing Ban Has Safeway Making Threats, and Amtrak Trains Get a Glow-Up
City Council and Mayor Wilson have been busy: a landmark ordinance protecting polyamorous people and diverse family structures just passed unanimously, a new city budget drops today, and grocery stores are threatening to cancel loyalty programs over a potential dynamic pricing ban. Host Jane C.…
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Why Starting a Publishing House is Punk. Plus, E-Scooter Safety and Listener Mailbag
Today on the podcast, it’s all about books! Jane is joined by Diana Le, writer and publisher at Girl Noise Press, and Katie Lee Ellison, author and founder of Nonfiction for No Reason, to talk about starting your own local publishing house, the realities of the book industry right now, and what...
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Is Seattle Overly Reliant on Big Tech Money? Plus, a Novel You’ll Finish in a Day
With all the headlines in the last few weeks, it’s hard to parse what is happening with AI – the bot swarms, the threats to humanity (?!) and the new report saying the city is overly dependent on tech money. Host Jane C. Hu talks with Todd Bishop, GeekWire's editor and co-founder, and Alex...
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What’s Your Absurd Seattle Documentary Idea? Plus, Local Sightings at NWFF
Today on the podcast, Jane is joined by Camille Hermida-Fuentes, co-director of the Local Sightings Film Festival at Northwest Film Forum, which starts this weekend and features local films made by local filmmakers. Camille and regular contributor Chase Hutchinson (who else, really?) discuss what...
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What It Takes to Raise a Kid in King County Right Now
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. In this episode of Weaving Our Future: Stories for a Fair Economy, Jane speaks with Tristen Hall, co-lead of...
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Recess Shrinking, Macklemore Dropped, and WA's Trees Are Under Attack. Plus, Mayor Wilson's Gun Violence Plan
A beautiful but deadly beetle has arrived in Washington for the first time, and host Jane C. Hu talks with Daria Gosztyla, an urban and community forestry planner with the Washington Department of Natural Resources, about what the emerald ash borer could mean for Seattle's trees, salmon habitat,...
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Can We Eat Lettuce Again? Plus, Where To Get a Pumpkin Spice Latte
Jane’s back from vacation! And she needs to know what’s going on, so contributors Lex Vaughn and Hannah Krieg join to update her on all she missed: Civil rights protections for polyamorous people, grocery pricing protections, Seattle Public School and AI, and more! Next, they cover some national...
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What Does Public Safety Really Mean? Plus, Community Garden Origin Stories and Goodbye to Spot Saver
For Brett Hamil’s last day as fill-in host, contributor Guy Oron and producer Sam J Leeds join to dig into the real numbers behind Seattle's public safety conversation and why traffic fatalities might deserve as much alarm as gun violence. Then, Sam unearths the surprisingly sweet origin story of...
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SPS Budget Realities and Students Using AI. Plus, Do Bite of Seattle Texts Vindicate Mayor Wilson?
With school (almost not) back in session, Brett is joined by Seattle Times Reporter Claire Bryan to discuss the school year that almost wasn’t, whether or not SPS is really broke, and with other cities severely limiting AI or outright restricting AI, what is Seattle Public Schools’ plan? Joining...
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Dr. Doom Crashes City Council, Cybercabs Start Test Driving, and the UW Parking Garage Skaters Love
Brett Hamil is back as guest host to explain why a supervillain showed up to give public comment at a Seattle City Council meeting and other recent political theater in the city. He’s joined by contributors Hannah Krieg and Ryan Packer to break down Dr. Doom’s surveillance camera stunt, why the...
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Bumbershoot Success, Belltown Shootings, and Public Safety in Seattle. Plus, Late Night Eats
Today on the podcast, Brett Hamil (and his soothing NPR voice) joins as guest host to discuss all the news from over the long weekend. First off, they discuss the good news that Bumbershoot went off without a hitch, but Belltown faced 3 shootings in just 24 hours. What does that say about public...
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Could the Fremont Troll Get Built Today? Plus, the Argument for More Light at Green Lake
Today on the podcast, we’re revisiting a conversation from earlier this year about one of Seattle’s most iconic works of art: the Fremont Troll. Steve Badanes, who designed and built the troll, gives Jane and Sam the whole story on how it came to be. He also talks about the state of public art in...
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Bumbershoot's Stacked Lineup, Massage Ordinances Explained, and the Punk Band That Literally Lit the Stage on Fire
Today on the podcast, Bumbershoot is back! Executive Producer Ashley Smith – who is filling in for Jane – and producer Sam J. Leeds are joined by music journalist Martin Douglas to dig into the festival's history, its wildest moments (a literal flaming pond, Method Man's weed compliments), and…
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How Can Washington Protect Its Forests, Water, and Citizens?
Have you heard of the Roadless Rule? Today on the podcast, Jane speaks with UW Professor Julian Olden about the news that the Trump administration has formally proposed its removal, and why it could lead to more fires and affect our drinking water (and beer!). Then we revisit two conversations...
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District 5’s Top Issues According to Both Candidates
Come November, Seattleites living in District 5 will vote on a new city council member who will fill the seat vacated by Cathy Moore last year and temporarily filled by Debora Juarez. In the August primary, candidates Nilu Jenks and Julie Kang advanced to the general with 54% and 33% of the vote,...
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Your Guide to September 2026 in Seattle
Today on the show, host Jane C. Hu is joined by Executive Producer Ashley Smith and Creative Producer Liam Billingham to discuss the homestretch of Summer, and what they’re looking forward to most in September. Jane and Liam are looking forward to more cooking during apple season, while Ashley...
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Rick Steves on Buying the Edmonds Theater and Giving Away His Fortune. Plus, Fire Survivor Advice for Seattle
According to Rick Steves: “ There's no better way to start getting, putting your money to good use than right now. Shrouds have no pockets.” He tells host Jane C. Hu in today’s episode why he bought the historic Edmonds Theater in his hometown, challenges millionaires to give away more of their...
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Will the Meta Settlement Actually Change Anything? Plus, SPD's Restrictions on CARE
Seattle's CARE team was supposed to be the city's answer to unarmed crisis response — but a new Inspector General report reveals it's still being strangled by police union restrictions. Host Jane C. Hu digs into the findings with contributors Guy Oron and Brett Hamil. Then they discuss Meta's...
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Boeing Field's Deportation Surge, Unemployment Hoops for Striking Workers, and Mourning Dolly Parton
King County recently announced it had hired a flight monitoring and outreach coordinator after advocacy groups had been calling for the county to better monitor ICE’s deportation flights. Today on the show, host Jane C. Hu is joined by guest Josefina Mora-Cheung, director of organizing with La...
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Is Downtown Seattle Really Bouncing Back?
In July, downtown Seattle saw the most visitors it's had in years. Does that mean downtown is finally bouncing back? Today, Host Jane C. Hu is joined by Jon Scholes of the Downtown Seattle Association to talk about what’s going on downtown: Pike Place’s pedestrianization, the CCTV camera pilot…
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Mayor Wilson Gives Vision Zero a Deadline. Plus, Will the Millionaires Tax Get Repealed?
Contributors Ryan Packer from The Urbanist and Hannah Krieg of The Burner join Jane C. Hu to discuss Mayor Wilson’s executive order directing Seattle’s Department of Transportation to speed up its work towards Vision Zero: eliminating traffic-related deaths. Despite the Washington legislature...
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How To Help Unsheltered Families, What Patients Actually Want From Abortion Care, and How the Local News Sausage Gets Made
Dominique Alex, CEO of Mary’s Place, joins Jane C. Hu to discuss the King County Regional Homelessness Authority’s 2026 Point-in-Time Count, which showed not only an increase in unsheltered homelessness in our region but, in particular, an increase in unsheltered families and children. Then...
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What’s Really Going On at the ICE Detention Center? Plus, Fighting for Police Accountability in Federal Way
The push for greater police accountability is ramping up after two incidents involving Federal Way police that resulted in the death of one Black man and the serious injury of another. Sonia Joseph, board chair of the Washington Coalition for Police Accountability, joins Jane C. Hu and…
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Who’s Really Behind Candlelight Concerts, a New Boeing Whistleblower Documentary, and the Mariners Worst Loss… Ever?!
Today on the podcast, host Jane C. Hu is joined by contributor Chase Hutchinson and the Seattle Times magazine’s arts and culture writer Gemma Wilson to discuss those ads you might have been served for a variety of “candlelight” concerts around Seattle and who is actually behind them. Gemma went...
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Seattle Has Good Bagels, Actually. Here’s Where To Get Them
Seattle is continuing to prove it’s a good bagel town. Case in point: our bagel correspondent Sean Keeley announced in his newsletter, It's a Shanda, that Seattle’s very own Hey Bagel, winner of Best Bagel at Bagel Fest West back in April, will be heading to Bagel Fest in New York City this...
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Hiring a New Police Chief, a New Permit System for RVs, and the Return of Jane C. Hu
Today on the podcast, host Jane C. Hu is back with the team, and producers Liam Billingham and Sam J. Leeds catch her up on the headlines she missed while she was away, including the latest in the Spokane arson arrest, the calls for Mayor Wilson to resign, and orcas in the Ballard locks! Then…
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About this show
Join Jane C. Hu and the City Cast Seattle team every weekday morning as we explore the most interesting stories about our city. It’s an informative daily podcast for all Seattleites, whether you're a local or new to town. We’ll keep you company while you’re walking the dog around Green Lake, riding the bus through SLU, or stuck in traffic on the West Seattle Bridge. City Cast is like eavesdropping on an illuminating conversation at your neighborhood coffee shop. But there’s no Seattle Freeze here; everyone’s welcome to join in. Learn more and subscribe to our daily newsletter at seattle.citycast.fm.
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