Best Cascadia Movement Podcasts (2025)

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30 What if Portland is Exactly What Democracy Looks Like? With Kari Chisholm 57:19

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4d ago57:19

57:19

Trump says Portland needs “cleaning up.” What if Portland is actually a model of democracy in action—messy, loud, and making progress? If Donald Trump and his MAGA minions don’t want to be called fascists, here’s a thought: stop acting like them. Instead of threatening West Coast cities with troops, raids, and funding cuts, a real leader might look…

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29 How to Build a Firewall Against Hate? With Heidi Beirich 50:57

11d ago50:57

50:57

Political violence is rising, ICE is profiling, hate is mainstreaming. What if we on the West Coast have to fight extremism and the return of civil discourse on our own? This summer has been a chilling reminder of how fragile our democracy feels: assassinations of Minnesota lawmakers, the murder of a conservative commentator, a mass shooting at a M…

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28 A Summer of Sovereignty: From Raids to Resilience? 26:41

18d ago26:41

26:41

This summer, West Coast sovereignty wasn’t a theory—it was tested. From ICE raids in Los Angeles, and Marines on California streets, to attacks on our flagship universities, and shakedowns of tech stalwarts, Washington D.C. came hard for our region. But West Coasters fought back—with mass protests, citizen surveillance, social media jabs, ballot in…

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27 Could Pickleball Save America? With David Johnson 43:40

25d ago43:40

43:40

What if the fastest-growing sport in America could also be its most democratic? Pickleball was born on Bainbridge Island – just across the water from Seattle. It started in 1965 with a wiffle ball, a net, and a few bored kids. Sixty years later, it’s a multi-billion dollar industry, the official state sport of Washington, and the most diverse scene…

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26 Do Californians Want Autonomy? With Coyote Marin 46:29

1M ago46:29

46:29

A recent survey shows that Californians want autonomy—what does this mean? In this episode, Greg talks with Coyote Marin, co-founder and executive director of the Independent California Institute, a nonprofit think tank focused on educating Californians about their relationship with the federal government. Unlike advocacy groups, Coyote’s organizat…

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25 Can Better Ballots Beat Bad Maps? With Ashley Brown 48:56

1M ago48:56

48:56

What if the quickest fix for American democracy isn’t new maps—but better ballots? In this episode, we ask whether top-two primaries, ranked-choice voting, and a bigger U.S. House could outflank gerrymandering’s worst effects—fast. Episode summary: Redistricting wars grab headlines, but the map fight is only part of the story. Marketing veteran and…

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24 Will the Coast Take On Climate Leadership (Again)? With Molly Peterson 45:19

2M ago45:19

45:19

The EPA just gutted the backbone of federal climate regulation. Could the West Coast step in? In this episode of Pacific Time, veteran climate reporter Molly Peterson joins Greg to unpack the devastating implications of the EPA’s reversal of its greenhouse gas endangerment finding—the legal trigger that forces federal climate action. Without it, Wa…

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23 Refresh the American Brand, West Coast First? With Michael Megalli 55:31

2M ago55:31

55:31

If America is a brand, what does it stand for now? What truths still hold? And can a 250-year-old experiment in self-government be reimagined without losing the plot? Michael Megalli is a brand strategist, the author of the upcoming book Brand New World, the founder of Indie.biz, and the son of Egyptian immigrants who believed fiercely in the Ameri…

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22 Could West Coast Farming Follow the Tuscan Template? With Ariane Lotti 43:49

2M ago43:49

43:49

What if growing food didn’t have to destroy the planet? Ariane Lotti grew up in the U.S., trained in environmental policy at Yale, and worked on Capitol Hill. But her journey took an unexpected turn: she returned to her family’s rice farm in Tuscany to reinvent agriculture from the ground up. In this episode, we meet this regenerative farmer who's …

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21 What If We Could Get Wildfire Under Control? With Hilary Franz 1:02:22

2M ago1:02:22

1:02:22

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 lea…

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20 Could Duct Tape Save Our Public Lands? With Gwyn Howat 37:23

3M ago37:23

37:23

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…

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19 Could Roman Ruins Inspire West Coast Offense? (Solo) 15:04

3M ago15:04

15:04

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…

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18 What if West Coast Healthcare Got Focused? With Abie Flaxman 46:03

3M ago46:03

46:03

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 …

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17 What if Higher Ed Started Over on the West Coast? With Dan Greenstein 48:36

3M ago48:36

48:36

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 t…

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16 For Asylum, Against Ambush: Will the West Coast Be A Sanctuary for America's Soul? With Anonymous Immigration Rights Advocate 43:11

4M ago43:11

43:11

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 imm…

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15 What if Connection Was A Civic Responsibility? With Aaron Hurst 45:13

4M ago45:13

45:13

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 friend…

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14 Could Bolder Plans Re-Build Our Confidence in West Coast Cities? With Nolan Lienhart 58:49

4M ago58:49

58:49

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 lo…

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13 What if National Service Jump Started the West Coast Workforce? With Nicole Trimble 43:17

4M ago43:17

43:17

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…

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12 What if the Resistance was Funny? With Mark Fiore 49:17

5M ago49:17

49:17

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 t…

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11 What if Silicon Valley and Democracy Got Back Together? With Margaret O'Mara 46:50

5M ago46:50

46:50

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 fu…

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10 What if Blue Cities Got it Together? With Sandeep Kaushik 58:00

5M ago58:00

58:00

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…

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09 Will California Bring the Unsexy Back? With Dan Walters 47:20

5M ago47:20

47:20

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 …

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08 Leave America and Discover Ecotopia? (Solo) 21:33

5M ago21:33

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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 clas…

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07 A West Coast Wake-up Call as the US Scrambles the World Order? With John Zysman 41:32

6M ago41:32

41:32

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 tha…

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06 If American Healthcare Is Broken, What Can The West Coast Do? With Mike Hanlon 44:18

6M ago44:18

44:18

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 Pa…

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05 What If Nature Defined Our Borders in the Cascadia Bioregion? With Yogi Uriah 35:54

6M ago35:54

35:54

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 el…

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04 Is California Ready for Independence? With Marcus Ruiz Evans 38:17

6M ago38:17

38:17

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. Marcu…

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03 What if the West Coast Reclaimed its Federal Taxes? With Julie Dingley 47:37

7M ago47:37

47:37

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 t…

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02 How Can the West Coast Redesign Itself? With Mickey McManus 34:24

7M ago34:24

34:24

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…

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01 Reclaiming Democracy: The Case for West Coast Independence 21:30

8M ago21:30

21:30

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 Ti…

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00 Trailer: Pacific Time Podcast 2:53

8M ago2:53

2:53

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? Coming soon, Pacific Time is a new podcast hosted by Greg Amrofell, a lifelong West Coaster with a relentless curiosity for bold ideas and unta…