Exploring Washington State

Chloe Albin is our guest for this episode of the podcast.

Chloe is a Dancer, Choreographer, Model, Teacher, and aspiring entrepreneur who sells embroidery kits, patterns, and finished work.

Chloe grew up in the Seattle area and found dance as her passion at an early age.  After high school she attended Chapman University.  Returning to Seattle Chloe has been deeply involved in the dance community.

During our conversation Chloe shares stories about her career as a dancer and performer including appearing in BenDeLaCremes's  film The Jinx & DeLa Holiday Special.  We chat about teaching children, choreographing musicals for local high schools and more.

What goes with dance? If you guessed embroidery you would be right!  HelloChloeMarie is Chloe's brand for embroidery items that she sells online and at local makers markets in the Seattle are.  We talk about how she started with embroidery and how she finds the creative process so rewarding.

Chloe is a lot of fun to listen and if you're a fan of dance and theater you will love this episode!

Make sure you check out Chloe's site here.

Thanks for tuning into this episode of the Exploring Washington State Podcast! If the information in our conversations and interviews are enjoyable and valuable to you, please head over to iTunes, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review.

Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more amazing listeners just like you!

If you want to read about some of the many amazing places to explore in Washington State, you should just pack your bags and go! Explore Washington State is the perfect place for inspiration.    Check it out today.  

Ed Beeson is back for a second episode. In this episode we talk about his company Gigs4U which is the agency that books musical acts at SeaTac Airport.

Ed was our guest on Episode 130 and we talked about his earlier career as the owner of The Backstage in Ballard and as a promoter of concerts throughout Seattle and the Puget Sound.

Thanks for tuning into this episode of the Exploring Washington State Podcast! If the information in our conversations and interviews are enjoyable and valuable to you, please head over to iTunes, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review.

Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more amazing listeners just like you!

If you want to read about some of the many amazing places to explore in Washington State, you should just pack your bags and go! Explore Washington State is the perfect place for inspiration.    Check it out today.  

Jordan Boldt of the Vancouver Farmers Market is our guest for this episode.  Jordan has been the Executive Director for the market since 2010.

The Vancouver Farmers Market is a non-profit organization with the focus of being a business incubator,  providing an open safe community space, and serving the at-need population in the Vancouver Washington area.  The market opened for business in 1990.  The market can have upwards of 120 spaces during the peak market season.

Jordan shares how a typical market day unfolds. Starting with market staff showing up at 5:30am on Saturday to begin the process of setting up the area for the vendors to arrive. Vendors begin showing up and some of the booths can take 3 to 4 hours to setup.  The market opens up to the public at 9am and closes at 3pm.  The market has security to keep an eye on the market during Saturday evening so that the vendors do not have to tear down and can reduce their setup time on Sunday.  After the market closes on Sunday the team cleans up, sweeps etc. and is done around 7pm.  Staff can put in up to 20 to 24 hours in a weekend!

We talk about a wide ranging topics related to how a farmers market is run and this episode is full of information and was quite enlightening  to me.  We talk about the vendors and what trends Jordan is seeing in the market.

Covid has changed the market and we discuss how the market has adapted and found creative ways to serve their community.

If you are a fan of farmers markets you will find this episode to be full of interesting information. Jordan was a great guest and was very generous with this knowledge and time.

Thanks for tuning into this episode of the Exploring Washington State Podcast! If the information in our conversations and interviews are enjoyable and valuable to you, please head over to iTunes, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review.

Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more amazing listeners just like you!

If you want to read about some of the many amazing places to explore in Washington State, you should just pack your bags and go! Explore Washington State is the perfect place for inspiration.    Check it out today.  

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ExploringWash)

Erika Klimecky is our guest for this episode.

Erika is a photographer, hiker, climber, writer, and much, much more.  Most importantly Erika is NOT A COG!

Erika has had an interesting career. Originally moving to the Seattle area for a job in the tech industry. Erika has fallen for the beauty of the region and is an avid hiker and climber of the many peaks in the Cascades.  This lead to her role at The Seattle Backpackers Magazine where she was the Director of Content and Editor in Chief.

Erika fell in love with Nepal during a visit with and has published two books about her journeys in Nepal.

Our conversation is wide ranging and it is obvious the Erika is passionate about Nepal, Photography,  Hiking, and helping others achieve their goals.  This is a really challenging episode to describe Erika is so full of energy and enthusiasm that I found it very easy to simply go with the flow and the conversation simply went where it needed to.

Listen now to find out more about Erika.  Visit her website FROM MY 'ART to see examples of her photography, writing, and more. 

FYI: We were first introduced to Erika by a previous guest of the podcast Chris Klimecky. Chris was our guest for episode 108. If you like creative musicians make sure you give the episode with Chris a listen.

Thanks for tuning into this episode of the Exploring Washington State Podcast! If the information in our conversations and interviews are enjoyable and valuable to you, please head over to iTunes, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review.

Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more amazing listeners just like you!

If you want to read about some of the many amazing places to explore in Washington State, you should just pack your bags and go! Explore Washington State is the perfect place for inspiration.    Check it out today.  

Bekah Zietz Flynn from Sub Pop Records is our guest for this episode.

Bekah is a Publicity and International Promotions Manager for the Sub Pop and Hardly Art music labels.

Sub Pop was founded in 1988 and is often called the label that brought us the Grunge Movement. Some of the well known names that have been published on Sub Pop include Nirvana, Soundgarden, Mudhoney and Tad. Later on The Shins, Flight of the Conchords,  Fleet Foxes, Sleater-Kinney and many, many more artists have had music released on Sub Pop.

Bekah shares stories of her years at Sub Pop and how she came to find herself employed there.  We talk about some of the bands she has worked with both is promotions and in the A&R development.

We chat about what it takes in the music business to promote an artist in the time of Covid and how the industry has adapted to the lack of live performances to help artists gain exposure and build their audiences.

Such a fun time having a conversation with someone who is so deeply involved in bringing music to all of us daily. If you are into the Seattle Scene or a fan of music you will love tuning in to this episode.

Make sure you check out Sub Pop today!

Thanks for tuning into this episode of the Exploring Washington State Podcast! If the information in our conversations and interviews are enjoyable and valuable to you, please head over to iTunes, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review.

Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more amazing listeners just like you!

If you want to read about some of the many amazing places to explore in Washington State, you should just pack your bags and go! Explore Washington State is the perfect place for inspiration.    Check it out today.  

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ExploringWash)

Mastrogiannis Distillery founder Ilias Mastrogiannis is our guest for this episode.

Family owned Mastrogiannis is a distillery and winery committed to making everything with Meraki.

Ilias shares his journey as a distiller and wine maker. Originally he started by making Ouzo and then he began creating Mastiha, Rakomelo, and Brandy.  All the spirits are produced from 100% Grapes.

Drawing from his Greek heritage Ilias tells us about how he got his start and what he has planned for the future for Mastrogiannis Distillery.   

We also talk about The Distillery Nation Podcast. Ilias is the host of the show.  He interviews others who are in the industry.  If you are interested in the spirits industry the Distillery Nation Podcast is a must listen.

Find out more by visiting Mastrogiannis Distilling here.

Thanks for tuning into this episode of the Exploring Washington State Podcast! If the information in our conversations and interviews are enjoyable and valuable to you, please head over to iTunes, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review.

Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more amazing listeners just like you!

If you want to read about some of the many amazing places to explore in Washington State, you should just pack your bags and go! Explore Washington State is the perfect place for inspiration.    Check it out today.  

Crystal Bailar  is the artist who runs Mosstangle Arts. On this episode we talk creativity, hiking, and of course Pyrography.

Crystal found Wood Burning as a creative outlet several years ago.  She shares her story and offers some insight into the techniques used in creating hand made items. 

Kula Academy approached Crystal about offering wood burning classes online as a way for people to stay connected during the pandemic.  Now Crystal is able to offer both online and in person classes.

We discuss where she gathers her inspiration from and we chat about hiking in the Cascade mountains near her home.

If you are a creative or you want to be creative you will enjoy listening to Crystal during this episode.

Thanks for tuning into this episode of the Exploring Washington State Podcast! If the information in our conversations and interviews are enjoyable and valuable to you, please head over to iTunes, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review.

Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more amazing listeners just like you!

If you want to read about some of the many amazing places to explore in Washington State, you should just pack your bags and go! Explore Washington State is the perfect place for inspiration.    Check it out today.  

Brian Naron co-author of Building an Empire: The Story of Queensrÿche is our guest for this episode.

Building An Empire: The Story of Queensrÿche examines how the five original members of the band came together in the eastern suburbs of Seattle to create some of the most influential heavy metal albums of the 1980s, including the conceptual masterpiece Operation: Mindcrime. Discover how the band weathered the loss of key members, a changing industry at the turn of the century, a bitter lawsuit and numerous obstacles to continue a career that has spanned four decades and counting.

Brian shares stories about the writing and research that went into to writing the book. We chat about events that have happened during the bands career.

Thanks for tuning into this episode of the Exploring Washington State Podcast! If the information in our conversations and interviews are enjoyable and valuable to you, please head over to iTunes, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review.

Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more amazing listeners just like you!

If you want to read about some of the many amazing places to explore in Washington State, you should just pack your bags and go! Explore Washington State is the perfect place for inspiration.    Check it out today.  

Andrew Hughes Seattle area high altitude athlete is our guest for this episode.

Growing up in Poulsbo Andrew grew up playing outside and enjoying nature. He also grew up with Mount Rainier visible to him on a regular (remember we have clouds here) basis. Life has a way of happening and it was not until Andrew was in his 30's that Mount Rainier would be a major player in Andrews life.

Climbing Mount Rainier helped open Andrew to a world of challenges and opportunities. He has now climbed the highest peaks on every single continent! In 2022 he will be going to the north pole on an expedition. Climbing, hiking, and high altitude athletic activities are now an iintegral part of Andrew's life

During our conversation Andrew shares stories about some of his climbs. How he purposed to his finance from the summit of Mount Everest! How climbing, and exploring can help raise awareness of Human Rights, Conservation, and Environmental issue. We also find out how coffee can be considered self care when climbing mountains!

If you are an outdoor enthusiast you will find Andrew to be inspirational. If you have a desire to climb mountains Andrew's journeys can help motivate, educate and inspire. Grab a cup of coffee and listen in to Andrew Hughes as he tells us how he Keeps One Foot On The Mountain and One Foot in Advocacy.

Thanks for tuning into this episode of the Exploring Washington State Podcast! If the information in our conversations and interviews are enjoyable and valuable to you, please head over to iTunes, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review.

Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more amazing listeners just like you!

If you want to read about some of the many amazing places to explore in Washington State, you should just pack your bags and go! Explore Washington State is the perfect place for inspiration.  Check it out today. 

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/ExploringWash)

Thanks for tuning into this episode of the Exploring Washington State Podcast! If the information in our conversations and interviews are enjoyable and valuable to you, please head over to iTunes, subscribe to the show, and leave us an honest review.

Your reviews and feedback will not only help us continue to deliver great, helpful content, but it will also help us reach even more amazing listeners just like you!

If you want to read about some of the many amazing places to explore in Washington State, you should just pack your bags and go! Explore Washington State is the perfect place for inspiration.    Check it out today.