Seattle City Makers

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...

Stepping into Le Caviste on Seventh Avenue in downtown feels as if you’ve been transported to a wine bar in Paris. And that’s exactly the vision David Butler had when he opened the doors in 2013. Jon and David talk about the origin story of this delightful downtown destination; the unique way he was able to reopen in May 2021; how this wine bar is secondarily about wine; where David likes to dine...

Fans of Seattle’s music scene are in for a treat on this episode of the podcast. Bumbershoot co-president (and co-owner of Neumo’s, Barboza and Life on Mars), Steven Severin joins us with a ton of industry stories and perspectives. Producer/fill-in host James Sido and Steven talk about Bumbershoot’s triumphant return; a Grammy-winning artist with a nervous Seattle stop; Steven’s work in helping se...

We hit the road this week on Seattle City Makers, taking our show to the Windy City. At the International Downtown Association’s 69th annual conference in Chicago, Jon sat down with IDA President & CEO David Downey. Jon and David discuss the commonality of issues facing downtowns throughout the world, the return to office and housing conversion in different markets and how IDA is advocating fo...

This episode of Seattle City Makers takes us on location to Seattle’s central waterfront to speak with Friends of Waterfront Seattle President & CEO Joy Shigaki. A fourth-generation Seattleite, Joy is overseeing the fundraising and programming for what will be a 20-acre jewel on Elliott Bay – downtown’s new Waterfront Park. Jon and Joy discuss the status of this transformative project, the Ell...

The Labor Day weekend marks the unofficial end of summer in Seattle, and it’s been sizzling season in downtown. This episode of Seattle City Makers brings you highlights of our summer guests. Jon and KOMO 4 Senior Reporter Chris Daniels discuss the nexus of sports, business and politics in Seattle. Plymouth Housing CEO Karen Lee and Jon talk about the fentanyl crisis and Plymouth’s newest building...

Summers in downtown Seattle are spectacular, attracting visitors from all over the world. As recent data indicates, the tourism sector is humming in downtown with record-breaking revenues and soaring visitor counts. Bringing people to our city (and building repeat visitors) is Visit Seattle President & CEO Tammy Canavan’s top priority. Jon and Tammy discuss the state of tourism in Seattle, our...

Dani Cone got into the coffee business more than 30 years ago, “barista-ing” her way through high school and college. Three decades and three successful businesses later, Dani’s Cone & Steiner general store is doing brisk business in multiple locations, including Pioneer Square. On each leg of her journey, Dani has been guided by her grandma Molly’s advice: be good and do well. In this episode...

What began as five beds at Fifth and Marion in downtown Seattle more than 100 years ago is now one of the nation’s leading children’s hospitals. At the helm of Seattle Children’s Hospital and the Seattle Children’s Research Institute is Dr. Jeff Sperring. Jon and Jeff discuss SCRI’s areas of focus, the mental and physical health of children coming out of the pandemic, the impact of artificial inte...