Pothole Problem Podcast

This week’s guest is Liz Darby, a former government researcher, policymaker, and lobbyist working in the field of healthcare. Liz discusses how her own view of politics changed from her conservative upbringing to her embrace of liberalism in the 1970s, what her professional life was like, and the ways national politics seemed to change during her time in Washington, DC, from the late-1970s to the...

This week’s guest is Amy Rathfelder, policy advisor to Portland Mayor Ted Wheeler and campaign manager for his 2020 re-election campaign. Amy examines her youthful outrage at the idea of compromising on her principles and shares what she’s learned about compromise from working in politics for nearly a decade. She discusses the importance of listening to people you disagree with, the difficulties o...

This week’s episode features a talk that Jack gave at the Lake Oswego Public Library as part of the Lake Oswego Reads program, an annual month-long event with speakers discussing the issues connected to a single piece of writing. This year’s book was Rising: Dispatches from the New American Shore by Elizabeth Rush , a work about the impact of climate change on coastal communities and habitats. Jac...

This week’s guest is John Horvich, a pollster at DHM Research and a former president of the City Club of Portland . After discussing his own journey through political outrage, John takes us behind the scenes to provide an insider’s perspective on polling – how the data he gathers is used, why it’s gathered in the first place, and why the public doesn’t usually see what the public opinion research...

This week’s guest is Candalynn Johnson, Campaign Coordinator for the League of Women Voters of Oregon and Deputy Campaign Manager for People Not Politicians , a campaign to bring an independent redistricting commission to Oregon. Candalynn discusses how her outrage over identity politics led her to confront her biases and engage in a process of deepening self-awareness. She confronts the issue of...

To commemorate President’s Day, this week’s guest is Tom Hughes, former President of the Metro Council (2011-2019). Tom discusses his forty-plus years of experience in public office, from the virtually powerless but high-visibility position of Mayor of Hillsboro, Oregon (2001-2009) to the almost-unknown MORE…

In this episode, Zane interviews Jack about the reasons why so many people don't vote, what that means for our democratic system, and how we ought to view the people who don’t vote. See turnout rates from 1789 through 2018: http://www.electproject.org/national-1789-present . This episode features, The Patio,” an original song by Ruby Calling.

To mark the beginning of the 2020 Democratic nominating contest, Jack explains how a caucus works and examines the ways it's both very democratic and very undemocratic at the same time. Watch a short video of Jack explaining the caucus with chalkboard drawings (1m34s). Subscribe to this Instagram feed and/or this YouTube channel to follow "The Voting Minute," a series of short videos about electio...

This week's guest is Jack Hoffman, former mayor of Lake Oswego, OR (2009-2013). Jack discusses his tumultuous experience working in local government, and with the perspective afforded by years of reflection and hindsight, he examines the sources of conflict and the reasons for the rising levels of animosity among the citizens and elected officials of Lake Oswego that pervaded his time in office. H...

This week's guest is Multnomah County Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson (D-District 3). She discusses the concerns that got her to enter politics in the first place and the ones that continue to keep her energized, how she's learned to deal with the frustrations of the political process, and how she manages to achieve a life-work balance that's key to sustaining a career in public life. This epis...

This week's guest is Oregon State Representative Shelly Boshart Davis (R-District 15), a freshman member of the Oregon House of Representatives serving in her first elected position. Rep. Boshart Davis discusses how she manages her expectations and seeks to have an impact beyond her single vote on bills in the legislature. She also examines what it's like to be a woman in the still male-dominated...

This week's guest is Oregon State Senator Lew Frederick (D-District 22). The senator discusses how he's come to terms with the frustratingly slow pace of change, the changes in America he's seen and is yet to see, and why he remains cautiously optimistic about future progress. He also discusses the obstacles presented by an adversarial media and the possibilities for moving beyond that style of po...

In this wrap-up to the Fall season, Zane interviews Jack and asks him to recount his favorite guests and most memorable moments and ideas. Jack has a chance to reflect on the first season of the podcast and discuss the ways it impacted his own thinking about outrage. Zane also asked him to talk about his hopes and plans for the future of the show. Anyone who wants to help Zane realize his wish for...

Our guest for this episode is Pat McCormick, co-founder, along with his daughter Allison, of AM:PM PR (ampmpr.com), a Portland public affairs and strategic communications firm. Pat has over 40 years of experience in Oregon politics and public affairs, working for an Oregon legislator and 18-year member of Congress from Oregon Les AuCoin, working as chief of staff to Oregon House Speaker Hardy Myer...

Our guest for this episode is Mischa Webley, Communications Manager for the Northeast Coalition of Neighborhoods (necoalition.org). Mischa talks about some relatively unknown things that are going on in what we might consider "hyper-local" government, discusses how he views the big things that once outraged him about the world, and makes a case for the benefits and impact of engagement at the loca...

Our guest for this episode is Anita Ramachandran , Executive Director of MicroMentor at Mercy Corps . Anita discusses her on-going journey away from what she describes as self-righteous disdain. Books mentioned by Anita: Reboot by Jerry Colonna , When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chondron , Grit by Angela Duckworth , Becoming by Michelle Obama , and Born a Crime by Trevor Noah . This episode features...

Our guest for this episode is Amanda Manjarrez, Director of Advocacy for the Latino Network and Vice Chair of the City Club of Portland committee tasked with rethinking the city's commission system ( learn about the committee here and read its report here ). Amanda discusses the evolution of her view on the policymaking process (aka "the sausage factory"), the shortcomings she still finds in the p...

Jack examines outrage over the length of the presidential campaign and provides a perspective on why a lengthy presidential campaign might be considered a good thing despite the fatigue and annoyance it often produces in the American public. This episode features music by the Madison HS marching band, the organ player at the Oaks Park roller rink, and an original song by The Stolen Sweets, "The Se...

Our guest for this episode is Darren Golden, (find him on Instagram and Twitter ), a 26 year-old with political ambitions and a concrete plan for his future. He examines his experiences as a young black man that have galvanized his political commitment and helped him channel his outrage rather than let it control him. He also discusses how he thinks people can utilize their outrage more effectivel...

Our guest for this episode, Rebecca Tweed , is the President of Tweed Strategies, Executive Director of Grow Oregon, and serves on the City Club of Portland Board of Governors. Rebecca gives her perspective on politics from fourteen years inside political campaigns all over the state. She examines the development of politics during her time at the table and discusses ways that people can find comm...

Our guest for this episode is Tyler Wilkins, co-founder and co-director of Participatory Budgeting Oregon ( pboregon.org ), an organization promoting the adoption of participatory budgeting in Portland and throughout Oregon. Tyler explains what participatory budgeting is and how it can promote civic engagement more broadly. He examines the evolution of his own political perspective and explains ho...

Our guest for this episode is Jillian Schoene, Executive Director of Emerge Oregon (emergeor.org), an organization that recruits, trains, and supports female Democrats seeking elected office at all levels. Jillian discusses her relationship to political outrage and the obstacles in the way of achieving greater diversity among political candidates and elected officials. This episode features "The E...

In the pilot episode, the host explains the concept of the pothole problem and the intention of the podcast, and his teenage son interviews him about the evolution of his own political outrage. This episode features "Stickin' It to the Man,” an original song by Greg Weinger.