Move to Tacoma Podcast

Marguerite hosts Sean Leacy from Tacoma Dads, a supportive group aimed at fostering connections among fathers in Tacoma. Sean talks about how the group evolved from its beginnings as a small, private Facebook group in 2016 to its current form with hundreds of members. The group organizes regular events like adventure days, game nights, and cold water plunges, providing dads with opportunities to connect with their peers, share their experiences, and receive support.

Sean explains the importance of providing a space where dads can meet regularly and discuss their challenges. This includes parenting challenges and beyond. Tacoma Dad’s Group encourages dads to embrace their roles and find joy in their journeys while also understanding that fatherhood can be challenging and isolating. Their events range from adventure days at local parks to monthly dad’s nights out. Tacoma Dad’s offers different activities to suit a variety of interests.

The community strives to be inclusive, supporting all types of families and advocating for acceptance and diversity. Sean also shares personal insights into how building this community has been therapeutic for him.

Sean emphasizes that while the group initially leaned heavily on social media for organization, it has now found success on Discord, where members can chat and coordinate events. Despite the challenges of balancing parenting and socializing, he encourages fathers to push past their reservations and engage with the group, stressing how important it is to make new friends and find support networks.

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When it comes to private schools in Tacoma, what are your options? On the Move to Tacoma podcast Marguerite Martin interviewed Cheryl Schenk, an expert on Tacoma’s private schools. This interview digs into what makes these the different private schools in Tacoma unique and how parents can find the best fit for their children.

Cheryl talks about the types of private schools available in Tacoma. They discuss why parents might choose private schools as an option for their Tacoma student and some history on the schools in the area.

Marguerite annd Cheryl discuss practical steps parent should take as they select a school for their student, such as:

The diverse array of private schools in Tacoma represents not just different educational philosophies but communities ready to embrace and nurture students in a variety of unique ways. As families moving to Tacoma navigate these choices, this episode with Cheryl offers a valuable roadmap for considering what each Tacoma school can offer beyond academics.

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The latest episode of the Move to Tacoma Podcast features an interview with Anzhane Slaughter of YBH (Young Black Homeowners). Anzhane shares about moving to Tacoma from Seattle to buy her first house in South Tacoma and what owning a home has meant to her.

Since 1990 Black Homeownership has been declining in Tacoma. In partnership with the City of Tacoma Anzhane and YBH will be bringing culturally relevant and trauma-informed homeownership classes to Tacomans to help turn that stat around. Classes will run throughout the summer and into fall and cover credit, budgeting, and government assistance programs from both the city of Tacoma and the state of Washington using a 2M fund to offer down payment assistance to Black families.

In this podcast Marguerite and Anzhane talk about Tacoma’s racist history when it comes to housing. That racism has excluded Black Tacomans from homeownership. To learn more about Tacoma’s history of steering, redlining, and excluding Black Tacomans from homeownership check out Kate Martin’s article, “How Racism Kept Black Tacomans from Buying Houses for Decades.”

Anzhane shares about what solutions people inside government, non profit, and the real estate community have come up with to help Black Tacomans own their homes.

Thanks to TAPCO Credit Union for sponsoring our first ever video podcast on such an important topic. And special thanks to Pacific Nomad Media, Producer Doug, and Yu and the whole crew at Indo Asian Street Eatery for giving us a place to record on short notice!

You can stream the full episode on iTunes, Spotify, and MovetoTacoma.com. You can watch the video on YouTube.

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This podcast interview from “Move to Tacoma,” hosted by Tacoma Real Estate Agent Marguerite Martin, features Tanisha Jumper, the Chief Communications Officer for Tacoma Public Schools. The conversation delves into the nuances of public school funding, the vibrancy and diversity of Tacoma Public Schools, and a focus on the transformative work being undertaken within Tacoma Public Schools.

Marguerite and Tanisha start off talking about how Tanisha grew up in Steilacoom, attending Steilacoom Schools. After living and working in Ohio she returned to live in the house she grew up in with her kids, who are attending the same schools she did- even with some of the same teachers. She shares what she loves about living in Steilacoom and the Pacific Northwest.

Are Tacoma Public Schools Good Schools? Tanisha says emphatically YES. She explains the importance of bond measures to fund school infrastructure projects, given that state funding primarily covers educational activities, not facilities maintenance or improvements. Tacoma just passed their bond, which means there’s funding for new schools and to improve schools across the district. The passing of the bond shows the community support for Tacoma Schools. This funding is essential for maintaining and improving school environments for kids.

The conversation covers a lot of ground about Tacoma schools including:

Tacoma Public Schools’ (TPS) approach to LGBTQ+ students and teaching America’s full history highlights the district’s commitment to inclusivity and comprehensive education. Here’s a summary of the key points:

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Tacoma is a union town. Stephen Rue and Carrie Morton from Tacoma Art Museum Workers United share about forming a union at the Tacoma Art Museum. They share about the conditions at the museum that led them to decide to form a union, their long journey to being recognized, and what’s involved as they go to the bargaining table to negotiate their first contract.

In this episode of the Move to Tacoma podcast, part of Channel 253, the focus shifts to the unique dynamics and challenges faced by workers at cultural institutions, specifically the Tacoma Art Museum, and their journey toward forming a union. We hear from Stephen Ru and Carrie Morton, two museum workers at the forefront of the unionization effort.

The episode focusses on the unionization process at the Tacoma Art Museum. Both Steven and Carrie share their backgrounds, including their initial motivations to move to Tacoma and their respective roles at the museum. Steven serves as the Lead Preparator, involved in the hands-on aspects of art installation and exhibition design, while Carrie, initially part of the visitor services team, is now the store manager, curating art from local artists for the museum shop.

The conversation delves into the broader issue of worker rights and conditions in the arts sector, highlighting the often overlooked fact that passionate involvement in cultural work—such as in museums—doesn’t always equate to fair compensation or working conditions. This segment of the discussion sheds light on the misconception that the prestige of working in cultural institutions can substitute for adequate pay, leading to the realization among the museum staff that forming a union was a necessary step toward advocating for their rights and improving their workplace.

Stephen and Carrie talk about how Tacoma is a Union Town with a history of strong unions. They share what they’ve learned about forming a union in Tacoma. Especially the importance of solidarity, the power of collective action, and the impact of community support in their unionization journey. The union’s efforts were not only about addressing immediate concerns like wages and working conditions but also about broader aspirations for equity and justice within the museum and the cultural sector at large.

The podcast captures the emotional and logistical complexities of the unionization process, including the engagement with the museum’s administration and board, the role of external union organizations in providing support and guidance, and the pivotal moments that galvanized the museum workers to persist in their efforts despite obstacles.

The successful formation of the union at TAM stands as a testament to the power of collective action and the possibility of positive change in the workplace in Tacoma and in museums across the country.

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Pretty Gritty Tours is not JUST the most popular tour company in Tacoma, Washington. Pretty Gritty Tours (and its creator Chris Staudinger) are one of the most entertaining accounts about Tacoma on social media. From Tiktok, to YouTube, to Instagram and Facebook- Chris finds stories from Tacoma’s past and shares them with us in a way that is entertaining and enlightening.

Pretty Gritty Tours offers the best education, experiences, and tours in Tacoma, Washington. Pretty Gritty Tours was founded in 2016 by Chris Staudinger and Tawny Clark. They lead Ghost Tours of Downtown Tacoma every weekend, and have tons of other tours they offer to individuals and groups that are curious to learn more about Tacoma and it’s lost stories.

In this episode of the Move to Tacoma Podcast Chris shares with host Marguerite Martin how the pandemic catapulted Pretty Gritty Tours from a small local tour company into a full on social media sensation. He also talks about Moving to Tacoma to attend PLU, traveling the world with his wife as a travel journalist, and returning to Tacoma to live in the College Park Neighborhood of the North End (AKA UPS Neighborhood).

Chris shares about how he finds the stories and historic information that he features in his tours and on his social media channels. He shares one of his favorite Tacoma stories, about the Andelana, a merchant vessel that sank in Commencement Bay in the late 1800’s and all the spooky stories surrounding it.

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Chris Miller from The Red Hot joins us to share about 17 years of running one of Tacoma’s most popular bars. He talks about starting bar in Tacoma, all the lessons he’s learned along the way, and advice he has for other people with a dream of opening a bar in Tacoma. He shares about working all over the Puget Sound as a Union Carpenter before deciding to get in the bar business.

After an injury forced Chris Miller to reconsider his career path, he decided to take a big risk and start a hot dog bar in Tacoma. His brother owned a bar in another town, so he took the leap and decided to open a bar in Tacoma. He talked about driving around Tacoma and just calling signs in windows until he found his 6th Avenue location for the bar. “I started looking around at spaces and it was 997 square feet, that includes the bathroom.” he says, “In those days… smaller bars did not exist in this town. It didn’t seem small to me. But everyone who came in was like, ‘What are you doing!?'”

He shares about how starting out it was just him and his parents working in the bar. He didn’t have a business loan or cash, so he took a risk and put everything on his credit card to open. “I thought I don’t have any money, but I can build it,” Chris said. “I had some friends from the industry who would come help. My folks were there right next to me.”

“People always ask me how I decided on beer and hot dogs,” says Chris. “I just like beer and hot dogs!”

The success of The Red Hot surprised him. “I thought we’d sell like a couple dozen a week.” He worked a double 5 days a week and did admin stuff on his days off. He emphasises that he was working at the bar constantly and brought home very little in the beginning. “My wife carried our family,” he says. “I think for the first year it was like that. Putting in the work and some miserable times.”

It started working out after a year, and they hired their first staff member. He didn’t realize how busy it would be once it took off, so staffing up was the next challenge. Over time The Red Hot went from being a small family owned business to a very successful bar- winning Best Hot Dog in Washington State. From hiring baristas instead of servers to having a tiny bar, Chris talked about how the things that made them different set them apart.

Chris talks about how much more expensive leases are in Tacoma. It makes things much more challenging for regular people wanting to open their own bar. He had help from other bar owners in Tacoma, especially the folks from The Parkway and Doyles. “There was a lot of luck involved,” he says. “If I’d known how hard it was going to be I wouldn’t have done it.”

From signing commercial leases and learning what triple nets are to dealing with the permit department at The City of Tacoma, Chris shares about all the lessons he has learned in the past 17 years. He worries that it’s only become harder for someone like him to open a bar in Tacoma, and that is not good for the fabric of Tacoma. “Spaceworks should be a way bigger thing than it is,” he says. “We need to make it accessible for goofballs like me!”

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Tacoma Pro Bono Community Lawyers is a legal aid organization in Tacoma, Washington. In this episode of the Move to Tacoma Podcast Marguerite interviews Laurie Davenport and Ash Meer. We cover the formation and the growth of Tacoma Pro Bono. How it expanded from a small team to 42 staff members, including 22 attorneys. The focus of Tacoma Pro Bono is on providing free legal services to Tacomans in need, primarily in civil matters. In addition to free legal representation they offer clinics in areas such as family law, bankruptcy, guardianship, and domestic violence.

Marguerite asks Laurie and Ash about the process of seeking assistance from Tacoma Pro Bono. They explain how it works, emphasizing the accessibility of services through walk-in hours and online applications. The conversation covers everything from intake to legal representation in court hearings. The organization’s proactive approach to addressing legal issues is highlighted, aiming to prevent crises and empower individuals with legal knowledge and support.

Further discussion revolves around the challenges faced by homeowners, with resources available primarily focusing on tenants due to recent legal changes. However, resources and referrals for homeowners are still provided through Tacoma Pro Bono’s housing justice project and external platforms like Washington Law Help.

Lastly, the conversation touches on Tacoma’s progressive tenant protections. The passage of Tacoma’s progressive Initiative 1 Tenant Protections laws  might have the impact of influencing statewide reforms. Overall, the podcast covers the vital role of Tacoma Pro Bono in providing accessible legal aid, empowering individuals in Tacoma facing legal challenges, and advocating for systemic change in the legal landscape.

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Tacoma Lawn Bowling Club members Laura Moscatello and Mike Catsi moved to Tacoma from Alaska and now they’re the president and treasurer of the Tacoma Lawn Bowling Club. In this episode of the Move to Tacoma Podcast we dig into what lawn bowling is, why it’s so fun, and how to get involved. If you’ve ever walked past the lawn bowling green in Wright Park and wondered what that was about, you’ll love this interview!

Laura (Tacoma Lawn Bowling Club President) and Mike (Treasurer) moved to Central Tacoma from Alaska a few years ago. They were walking past the lawn bowling green in Wright Park and couldn’t believe what they saw. Mike is originally from Australia and familiar with Lawn Bowling as a sport. Laura did some research and found out it WAS a lawn bowling green and they decided to join up. They think it’s a great way to make friends in Tacoma!

The Tacoma Lawn Bowling Club has been in Tacoma on the green in Wright Park since 1929. The club was first started in 1929 by Scottish immigrant Alexander ‘Sandy’ Drummond.  TLBC is now run by a new generation of bowlers. Players from Tacoma compete in regional competitions in the Northwest and in the US Nationals.

The 2024 Lawn Bowling Season starts in April! Looking to join? Check out the “Learn to Bowl” Lawn Bowling Class at Metro Parks Tacoma. It costs $60 and once you complete the class you can join the club. It’s $120 for the April to October season. They have days with open plays on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:30pm and days where you can join a league and compete more seriously. You don’t need equipment to get involved, they have equipment to share. Just show up in comfortable flat soled shoes.

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Originally located in Downtown Tacoma on Commerce, Mad Hat Tea is now at its new location in Tacoma’s Dome District (where Downtown Tacoma meets the Eastside).  His shop serves tea in a laid back setting for locals, even crafting custom teas for people at their request. In addition, Mad Hat runs a thriving online business where customers order tea from across the country.

Tobin shares the story about how a voice in his head told him to start Mad Hat Tea, and what he did to start the shop and it a success without borrowing money. From a serendipitous encounter at a Pampered Chef party that led him to his first international tea importer to losing everything and working at El Gaucho to make a go of it. “I worked at Tacoma El Gaucho for almost two years,” Tobin recalls.  “I would open the shop at 11. And then I’d close at 3:30pm. Then I’d put on my El Gaucho suit and work till midnight. Get up and do it all over again.”

If you’ve ever thought about starting a business in Tacoma, you’ll get a lot of useful (and unconventional) ideas from Tobin! From finding landlords to simple marketing that works better than instagram.

Mad Hat Tea is located at 301 A Puyallup Ave, Tacoma, WA 98421 and they’re open Wednesday – Sunday.

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