At-homish

Wil closes out Season 2 with Rebecca Calder, Ph. D., a Navy veteran, Top Gun graduate, researcher, military spouse, and mom raising teenagers. Together they explore what it means to belong when you're carrying multiple identities, and when perfectionism keeps trying to convince you that you have to earn your worth. Becky shares how her view of belonging evolved from performance-based, proving you...

Wil welcomes back his first-ever repeat guest , Sarah Dylan Jensen (aka the Market Maven ), the manager of the Snohomish Farmers Market and longtime farmers market leader across the region. What starts as a fun check-in (including a quick appreciation moment for Trent and the Red Trux production magic) turns into a timely conversation about community, safety, and food access —and what it means to...

Wil sits down with Adrianne Wagner , Executive Director/CEO of Leadership Snohomish County (LSC) , executive coach, and community builder, for a real conversation about what leadership looks like when life is busy, the world feels heavy, and people are craving connection. Adrianne shares her path from Flint, Michigan to Snohomish County, her long career as a healthcare executive, and the moment sh...

Wil welcomes brothers Terry Hollimon and Torry Hollimon for a wide-ranging, funny, and deeply reflective conversation about what it means to show up , build trust, and create spaces where people belong. The brothers share their origin story (Arkansas → Canada → Texas → Washington), how constant change taught them to read the room and find common ground, and why belonging isn’t about taking over a...

Wil sits down with John Agyopang —a longtime Snohomish County resident, former Boeing employee of 25 years, and the new president of the Snohomish County NAACP —for a conversation that blends civil rights, community work, and the deeper meaning of “home.” John breaks down what the NAACP is (and what it looks like today), expanding the conversation beyond race into human rights, class, and access —...

Wil welcomes two North Everett “neighbors” to the studio: Ashley Bolden (Keller Williams Realty, Everett) and Cami Anthony (Motto Mortgage Collective). What starts as a conversation about homeownership quickly turns into a bigger, more honest discussion about belonging, community, and the values underneath the housing market . Ashley shares how her community involvement (including the Greater Ever...

In this deeply moving conversation, Wil reconnects with Renee Smith, a researcher, writer, and advocate for love-centered leadership who has dedicated the last decade to transforming workplaces from spaces of fear into environments of connection and belonging. Their relationship spans nearly 20 years, from Wil's days as ASB president at UW-Tacoma to their current collaboration in making work—and t...

In this powerful conversation, Wil sits down with Anthony Upchurch, a Navy veteran who made Washington his home after being stationed at Whidbey Island in 1992. What starts as a discussion about Southern roots and military service quickly evolves into a deep exploration of community, belonging, and what it means to show up authentically for one another. Anthony and Wil share stories from their upb...

In this special episode of At-homish, host Wil takes us on a reflective journey through Season 2's most powerful moments, so far, reminding us that belonging doesn't have to be burdensome or complex—it calls on us to be curious, present, and vulnerable. Opening with a deeply personal story from 48th Street Pub and Grill in Tacoma, Wil shares how a spontaneous moment of vulnerability—dancing and cr...

In this powerful episode of At-homish, host Wil sits down with DeLon Lewis, a program specialist, entrepreneur, and artist who's making waves in diversity and equity work across Snohomish County. DeLon shares his journey from community organizing at Portland State University to earning his Master's in IT Management, all while building his record label "All Day Originals" and clothing line "All Day...

In this deeply moving episode of At-Homish: Creating Spaces Where We Belong, host Wil Johnson sits down with two remarkable community leaders - Laurie Barbosa and Erica Knapp - for an honest conversation about finding belonging after profound challenges. Content Warning: This episode discusses heavy topics including domestic violence, suicide, and abuse. Resources are provided. Lori, a 20-year cit...

In this powerful episode of At-Homish: Creating Spaces Where We Belong, Wally Webster shares his remarkable journey from Jim Crow Alabama to founding The Access Project - a youth violence prevention program in South Snohomish County. After deaths in 2022, Wally gathered community leaders and created a three-part intervention system that reaches at-risk teens through sports, music, and art. Learn h...

What does it mean to truly belong somewhere? Host Wil sits down with Nick Shekeryk and Richard Porter, tourism marketing specialists for Snohomish County, to explore how we create spaces where everyone feels at home - from the bustling streets of Everett to the quiet charm of Darrington. This honest conversation dives deep into the real challenges of belonging: strategic avoidance, navigating spac...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Antonia Semanskee, a social media expert known for helping thought leaders build authentic online communities. But today’s conversation goes deeper than algorithms and branding—we explore the personal side of her journey, including times she felt like she didn’t belong and how those experiences shaped her mission. Together, we unpack what it means to crea...

In this powerful episode, we sit down with Catherine Dennis whose life and work are a testament to what it truly means to create spaces of belonging. From her work in early childhood education to launching initiatives that uplift her community, she has devoted her life to building inclusive, supportive environments where every person—especially the youngest—feels seen and valued. But her journey d...

In this flavorful episode, we sit down with Jeff, the owner and pitmaster behind Jeff's Texas Style BBQ , a beloved local BBQ spot that’s serving up more than just incredible brisket. We dive into his journey through the military and music to finding his calling in smoked meats and community building. But this isn’t just a story about BBQ—it’s a conversation about equity, representation, and what...

In this episode, we’re chatting with the incredible United States of America , Ms. Washington—yep, the Ms. Washington —who gets real about her journey through alcohol addiction and what recovery has looked like for her. She opens up about the highs, the lows, and everything in between, including how pushing past her comfort zone completely changed her life. If you’ve ever struggled, felt stuck, or...

LaRae, from the Parkinson’s Wellness Place , joins us to share how she has created a space where individuals with Parkinson’s can come together to slow disease progression through specialized fitness programs. We explore how exercise, plays a crucial part in combating the physical challenges of Parkinson’s and improving overall well-being. We discuss how creating a safe, supportive space is key to...

Seattle Native, Kid Sensation drops by the At-homish podcast to talk about his experience of creating spaces where we all belong. His new book " Kings: Young Men Discovering Purpose and Shaping Their Destiny " highlights the work he is doing to create spaces for young people to learn and have the leading example to change the course of young men's lives. Join the discussion on how we are all respo...

The situation you grew up in does not have to define the person you are now. Seth Newsome is the perfect example of this and shares the challenges he has faced in redefining himself from being an addict to being an advocate for labor unions. If you or someone else know you are struggling with addiction know that there is support: Washington Recovery help Line   - 866-789-1511 Cocaine Anonymous (ca...

Let's continue creating spaces where everyone belongs as we talk about expanding comfort zones, struggles of addiction, and finding community. Our guests are not ashamed of their stories and they tell them to help you feel At-homish.

Meron Bible, of the #GhettoFoodNetwork, joins the At-homish podcast to talk about how Snohomish has created a place of belonging for him and the Mental Wellness Summit on September 21st from 1-7pm in the Snohomish Carnegie. Go deep with Wil and Meron as they share how their voices have shaped who they are now.

J.Marie ( www.jmarie.associates ) joins Wil to talk about how inequities we experience everyday have a long rooted history, whether it is common sayings to the lack of opportunities presented to certain people in previous generations. These still create inequities in the world. Join the conversation on how learning and talking about difficult topics builds a foundation for belonging.  

Sarah Dylan Jensen, The Market Maven , joins Wil on the At-homish podcast and covers the difficult discussions in our lives. Whether it is how people are treated at farmers markets to how the current political environment leads to difficult decisions and discussions that need to happen for things to change.  Have you noticed any themes up to this point in the season?

John Lovick joins Wil to talk about how equity and inclusion is the heart of his service to the community. During the podcast, learn how treatment from his representatives led to John having a lasting career of service where inclusion and seeing everyone is his guiding value. The connection between giving back and feeling like everyone matters is discussed as the key to creating spaces where peopl...