Seattle City Makers

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 Ov...

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 amazin...

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 ma...

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 authori...

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 microphon...

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...

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 S...

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...

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...

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 A...

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 c...

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 co...

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...

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 S...

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 open...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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 Stad...

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 kit...

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 imp...

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 down...

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 Se...

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...