Pacific Time: West Coast What-Ifs

What if wildfire isn’t just a natural disaster, but a test of how well we govern prevention, preparation, response, and recovery? In this episode, Greg talks with Hilary Franz, former Washington Lands Commissioner about governing through climate chaos, building unlikely coalitions, and why states like Washington can’t afford to wait for federal leadership when it comes to protecting lives, land, a...

Mount Baker is the snowiest ski mountains in the world. It’s also one of the most beloved—and independent—places in the Pacific Northwest. But this episode isn’t about winter sports. It’s about leadership, stewardship, and what it means to bottle the magic that comes from building community in a wondrous landscape. Stuff to bear in mind as Congress got close to selling off vast swaths of public la...

What if Rome wasn’t just ancient history—but a blueprint for how empires corrode? In this hard-hitting solo episode, Pacific Time host Greg Amrofell records from Italy, tracing chilling parallels between the fall of the Roman Republic and the unraveling of American democracy. As Trump federalizes the National Guard, threatens war with Iran, deploys ICE raids, and criminalizes dissent, Greg calls o...

What if we let the data guide West Coast healthcare? Could we better address our mental health and addiction crisis? In this episode, data scientist Abie Flaxman breaks down the top health issues for working-age adults on the West Coast—and why our health systems keep missing the mark. You might think cancer or heart disease top the charts. But in Washington, Oregon, and California, the leading ki...

Is college still the best investment we can make in our future—or a broken promise on borrowed time? In this episode of Pacific Time , Greg speaks with Dan Greenstein, former Chancellor of Pennsylvania’s state university system and a seasoned voice in U.S. higher education. From ballooning student debt to declining public trust, Greenstein unpacks the long arc of American higher ed—from its postwa...

What if protecting immigrants is the best way to protect American identity? In towns and cities up and down the West Coast, immigrants arrived in search of safety and opportunity. But what happens after they cross the border? Who helps them navigate the broken promises—and the broken systems? In this episode of Pacific Time , Greg speaks with an immigrant rights advocate who requested anonymity. T...

In a time of growing polarization and civic breakdown, Aaron Hurst is betting big on connection. The founder of the U.S. Chamber of Connection joins Pacific Time to explore how loneliness and disconnection are threatening our democracy—and what the West Coast can do about it. We talk about Seattle’s “bear hug” movement, the deeper meaning of friendship at work, and why purpose without belonging tu...

Portland was once a darling of American urban planning. Then came the protests, the pandemic, and the pundit pile-on. Is the city really in free fall—or just between chapters? In this episode, we sit down with Nolan Lienhart, a principal at ZGF Architects and a leading voice in West Coast urban design. Based in Portland, Nolan offers a firsthand look at how perceptions of the city have been a roll...

What if service wasn’t just about giving back—but about moving forward? Nicole Trimble has spent decades championing national service and workforce development—from helping launch AmeriCorps in the 1990s to reshaping how companies invest in their frontline employees. In this conversation, she makes a bold case for why the West Coast needs to double down on national service—not just as a patriotic...

Is satire still effective when reality becomes a cartoon? Pulitzer-winning cartoonist Mark Fiore joins Pacific Time to talk buffoonery, burnout, and drawing the line on tyranny. Pulitzer Prize–winning cartoonist Mark Fiore joins Pacific Time to talk about the absurdity of American politics, the moral range of satire, and why cartoonists are often the first to be jailed (or fired) when democracy er...

Silicon Valley used to dream of liberation. Now some of its loudest voices are cozying up to Trump and talking like monarchists. What happened? Is oligarchy the bug in our tech-friendly society we didn't anticipate and need to stem? Once upon a time, Silicon Valley stood for idealism: personal freedom, creative rebellion, and maybe even the most fully realized form of democracy itself. But somethi...

 Blue cities are struggling—and it’s not MAGA’s fault.  What if Seattle, San Francisco, and LA became models of good governance? Blue cities helped shape modern America. But they’ve been having a hard time—with homelessness, affordability, public safety, and internal political warfare. In this episode, political consultant and Blue City Blues co-host Sandeep Kaushik joins Greg to unpack why. Toget...

California pays more and receives less and less from DC. Could independence—or just grown-up governance—fix this imbalance? Summary: California's relationship with the federal government is reaching a critical juncture. Esteemed political journalist Dan Walters joins Greg to discuss CalExit, the growing frustration with federal tax inequities, and the stark contrast between California’s progressiv...

Can the West Coast outgrow America? Greg explores Ecotopia, sovereignty, and the future of freedom—solo. In this episode of Pacific Time , host Greg Amrofell trades guests for green tea, a dog-eared novel, and a mic, inviting listeners on a hike through political despair, ecological design, and West Coast sovereignty. The guidebook? A 1975 cult classic: Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach . This isn’t j...

In the face of chaotic US economic policy, how can the West Coast insulate itself and cultivate cooperation across borders and build global leadership? In this episode of Pacific Time , UC Berkeley political scientist and global economic expert John Zysman joins Greg Amrofell to unpack how U.S. trade and technology policy are unraveling—and what that means for the West Coast. From the decline of A...

Is the U.S. Healthcare System Beyond Repair? Mike Hanlon Explains How the West Coast Could Lead a Revolution Mike Hanlon knows healthcare in America is broken. As a health economist, tech entrepreneur, and former early-stage Amazon employee, he's seen firsthand how complex systems can either hinder or help innovation. Mike joins Greg Amrofell on Pacific Time to discuss why the U.S. healthcare syst...

Bioregionalism envisions borders set by the natural environment and there’s a grassroots movement for it that envisions carving “Cascadia” out of the Pacific Northwest wilderness. In this episode of Pacific Time , host Greg Amrofell talks with Yogi Uriah, a passionate grassroots organizer and leader with the Cascadia Department of Bioregion. Yogi eloquently explores the concept of bioregionalism—a...

Is California ready for independence? The CalExit movement is making the case again and it's stronger Marcus Ruiz Evans has a bold vision for California. As the founder of CalExit, he's spent over a decade exploring and advocating for California's independence. Marcus and Greg discuss why California could—and perhaps should—be its own nation. Marcus lays out the cultural, economic, and political r...

What if the West Coast reclaimed its federal tax dollars? National and local budget veteran Julie Dingley explores how local control could position the West Coast to address its own challenges. Julie is the former Seattle Budget Director and a veteran of the White House OMB under Presidents Obama and Trump. She joins host Greg Amrofell to explore the possibilities that open up for the West Coast i...

Can the West Coast really go it alone or do we need help? How could the West Coast best make it on its own? In this thought-provoking episode of Pacific Time , we start to explore the radical question: What if the West Coast was independent? Guest Mickey McManus—a visionary in AI, bioengineering, and systems innovation—challenges that premise with a bigger idea: What if interdependence was the key...

The constitutional crisis we feared is here and the United States is facing an unprecedented moment of democratic erosion. What does this mean for the 50 million people who call the West Coast home? If we believe in American values, is it time to abandon the dream of a united country from sea to shining sea? In this first full episode of Pacific Time , host Greg Amrofell asks the big ‘what-if’ que...

What if the West Coast could break free from the noise of partisan politics and take charge of its future? What if our values, innovations, and cultural identity shaped a brighter path—one uniquely our own? Pacific Time is a podcast hosted by Greg Amrofell, a lifelong West Coast resident, with a relentless curiosity for bold ideas and untapped possibilities. Together with thought leaders, policyma...