Willamette Week Podcast

On this week's episode of the Dive, host Brianna Wheeler welcomes Kick Ass Oregon History's Doug Kenck-Crispin to discuss his contribution to this week's Weird Summer Tales cover package, Cave of Wonders, an examination of a centuries old shipwreck whose beeswax has been washing up on Oregon shores for generations, and whose most recent discovery may finally uncover it's true origins. 

Brianna also highlights a few stories from this week's paper, including the launch of the Black Resilience Fund, an update on the Taft Home, and where poetry aficionados can get Picture Me Thriving, an anthology from the Word is Bond poetry workshop serving both young black men and law enforcement 

On this weeks episode the Dive, host Brianna Wheeler welcomes back Sophie Peel to discuss her cover story,  an examination of the structural failures that led to the closing of the high risk, low income, senior assisted-living facility, the Taft Home. 

News highlights this week include a potential diesel free Portland, Mayor Wheeler’s gun control initiative versus already burnt-out dispensaries, and flowers for WW’s newest round of media awards. 

For this week's episode of the Dive, Host Brianna Wheeler chats with staff photographer Brian Burk about his cover story, Native Soil,  a photo essay that followed the staff of the Youth Conservation Crew as they managed the native plants garden at Northeast Portland's Cully Park. 

Check out a "soundwalk"  about the historical significance of Cully Park here: thirdangle.org

Brianna also highlights a few of WW's headlines, including  how charges against Patriot Prayer founder Joey Gibson have been dismissed by a Multnomah County Circuit Judge,  why Metro finally quit hosting gun shows at the Expo Center, and which weed is the best for workdays (spoiler, it's not a blunt).

For this week's episode of the Dive, host Brianna Wheeler chats with Elyse Lopez, the host of the True Crime Cat Lawyer Podcast, whose pod was featured in the WW's BOP issue.  WW's own art director, Mick Hangland-Skill also drops in for a quick guest spot to explain how he conceived and executed this weeks iconic cover, a breathtaking  aerial image of Portland's last Big Float event. 

Brianna also shares her takeaways from this week's paper, including PPD's hapless attempts to  curb discriminatory traffic stops, how an alleged hate crime perpetrator was allowed to walk free after arrest, and, in good news, how listeners can check out WW's Best New Bands showcase this week at Mississippi Studios.

 On today's episode, Host Brianna Wheeler and WW reporter Sophie Peel discuss Sophie's cover piece Ripped City, an examination of  Portland's proposed reforms to our city government, including drastically limiting both the power and the responsibilities of our Mayor, expanding the city council to 12 members,  and completely restructuring how we vote. Sophie will break down what all these changes mean to the average voter as well as our elected officials. 

News of the day includes gubernatorial candidate Betsy Johnson using legislative powers to dodge responsibilities after a car crash,  the shuttering of the Center for Autism and related Disorders in Oregon, and a quick start guide on the newest pothead holiday, Oil Day.

On today's episode of the Dive, host Brianna Wheeler chats with one of five Vietnamese-American democratic nominees for Oregon legislature,  Dr Thuy Tran. Dr Tran will break down her humble beginnings, the role of Mother Bears in politics, and her commitment to her adopted nation, all while in on a humanitarian mission as the Chief of Optometry for the 142nd Division of the Air National Guard.   Then guest Helen Huiskes describes what she learned while profiling the candidates.

On the news side,  Portland Fire and Rescue is faced with their accountability issue,   Oregon's  AAPI community is legitimately large and in charge, and according to a constitutional scholar, the  Supreme Court's recent overturning of  Roe vs Wade has opened the door for a massive loss of individual rights, signaling a dark future for anyone other than wealthy conservatives. 

On this episode of the Dive and after a particularly rough newsday, Brianna presses pause on the feed in favor of an all-Portland mixtape.  Because despite our dystopian reality, art is what brings us together, lifts us up and reminds us of our shared humanity.  So maybe close out your news feed,  put your feet up for a few minutes, and let's listen to ten local musicians who are changing Portland's musical landscape.

We'll also chat with Kingsley, our songstress cover model, about the inspiration behind her recent album, Crying on Holidays, as we listen to a few of her all time favorite tracks. 

Check out each of our featured artists on Soudcloud:
Sean Battles https://soundcloud.com/sean-battles/over-it
Glitterfox https://soundcloud.com/glitterfox/factory
Kingsley https://soundcloud.com/user-434080660/sets/crying-on-holidays
The Macks https://soundcloud.com/the-macks/sets/rabbit
Night Heron https://soundcloud.com/nightheronmusic
Pool Boys  https://soundcloud.com/user-202957978-568831888/millennial-morse-code-1?fbclid=IwAR1nuNIspYPvRf8du9R8uIDRRszr6rcVWPaobHGyFZkRCMAMQlaJX2Hz1Sg
Amulets  https://soundcloud.com/amulets/feigning-night
M A N E https://soundcloud.com/maneismusic/sets/leo-lib-bull-ep
Lo Steele https://soundcloud.com/losteele/trust-my-love
Dim Wit https://soundcloud.com/dimwitband/sets/pop-cla666

In this week's episode of the Dive, Brianna and guest, Nigel Jaquiss discuss the film Leave No Trace (now streaming on Hulu) , produced by and featuring Jaquiss himself.  Leave No Trace examines the monstrous legacy of abuse that was allowed to fester within the leadership of the Boy Scouts of America, leading to their eventual bankruptcy amidst thousands of sexual abuse allegations.  We'll examine the critical link between the BSA  and Oregon that made it possible for generations of survivors to come forward as well as the highs and lows of producing a film about trauma. 

Brianna also shares what she learned from this week's issue of the Willamette Week, including Portland's aggressive new plans for sweeping homeless camps citywide, some startling gun violence statistics that cast a different light on our gun violence narrative, and how dystopic teens and their gel guns are fuel for disassociating with dumplings.

In this episode of the Dive Podcast,  WW journalist Anthony Effinger and host Brianna Wheeler discuss Built for Zero, an initiative that all but guarantees a solution for our growing  homeless crisis.  Can a new and improved dataset suddenly make safe, affordable housing a priority for our most vulnerable community members?  Effinger will break down what he learned while reporting this story, including the success stories from other cities and a dirty little secret or two. 

Brianna also shares what she learned from WW this week, including  which iconic North Interstate neon may soon adorn a new cluster of un-affordable housing units, where potential council members stand on camp-deterring planter placement, and where to go if your physical activity of choice is low-intensity stoned twerking.

Happy Pride y'all!

Is this week's episode of the Dive, host Brianna Wheeler considers the personal meaning of Pride with her guest, legendary cabaret performer, Jayla Rose Sullivan, whose star-making turn on the reality dance competition "Watch Out For The Big Girls" has made her a trans icon nationwide.

Brianna also breaks down what she learned from this week's edition of the paper, including how mental health services for the state of Oregon just got even more scarce, as well as how Betsy Johnson's surprise TedX appearance went down,  why it might have been illegal and  how her position on gun control may be evolving in the wake of her boo-heavy, on-stage reality check.