Willamette Week Podcast

In this episode of the Dive Podcast,  guests Dr. Darrell Millner and WW journalist Nigel Jaquiss join the pod to discuss the North/Northeast Neighborhood Housing Strategy, a plan aimed to entice Black residents to return to the Albina neighborhood via low cost/affordable housing. Not to be confused with reparations, some critics consider this strategy  a hamfisted olive branch that smells like a newer, glossier racial segregation.  Others, however, are singing its praises.  

Brianna also shares what she learned from WW this week, including  details of PGE's attempt to block  the Confederated tribes of Grand Ronde from fishing at Willamette Falls, how lazy voters may be keeping an inept  Clackamas County Clerk in office, and though we may be stuck in the dystopian horror timeline,  at least the Rose Festival is back.  See you on the ferris wheel!

In this episode of the Dive Podcast, journalist Sophie Peel joins host Brianna Wheeler to discuss the conditions of the popular food card pod, Hawthorne Asylum, and how, due to lax/nonexistent regulations, those conditions may be more common than we think.  But first we're joined by Rachel Saslow, whose contribution to this week's issue is a deep dive into  former WW freelancer Michael Bivins' spiral into extremism, bigotry, and eventually, a violent spree of hate crimes.

Brianna also shares what she learned from WW this week, including which local housing service might need an accountability check after using only a slim fraction of their federal funding,  what's driving the eternal lack of liquor bottle  aisles in Oregon grocery stores, and how one of  Portland's most polarizing council members is headed for a runoff election in November. 

In this episode of the Dive Podcast, host Brianna Wheeler speaks to director Kisha Jarrett about her upcoming feature Black Girl In The Woods,  the lack of black representation in outdoor media as well as how chronic illness  affected her film. Then journalist Grace Culhane joins the pod to discuss the valuable lessons she learned while writing "The Adventurer,"  her contribution this week's cover package. 

Brianna also shares what she learned from this week's edition of the Willamette Week, including which democratic primaries the richest man in crypto is bankrolling,  how employees of the Gladys McCoy building are faring in a largely lawless neighborhood, and what's so  questionable about  Carrick Flynn's use of a particularly dramatic stock image.

In this episode of the Dive Podcast, host Brianna Wheeler compares Congress hopeful Carrick Flynn to a cartoon president before she and guest Rachel Monahan discuss his candidacy for Oregon's newly drawn 6th District.  The two then unpack Flynn's controversial big-bitcoin funding, his cold shouldering of local politicos, and why his infamous owl comments were legitimate cause for alarm.

Brianna also shares what she learned from WW this week, including a how Flynn reacts to the basic question, "Are independent expenditures good for democracy?" Listeners are then offered a peek behind the editorial curtain with audio pulled from a borderline contentious interview between Flynn and WW publisher, Mark Zussman. 

In this episode of the Dive Podcast, host Brianna Wheeler talks  primary endorsements and voter vibes with WW News Editor Aaron Mesh  and pollster John Horvack.   Brianna and Aaron will discuss accountability in public servants, which candidates are flip flopping, and whether or not there is hope for a blue Oregon.  Then we'll catch up with pollster extraordinaire John Horvick as he explains what he gleaned from an expansive polling of Oregon voters. 

Brianna also shares what she learned from both this week's paper and the accompanying endorsement highlights,  including whose candidacy clapbacks were most accurate,  what advice the President gave to a controversial commissioner, and how a new OLCC rule almost upended 4/20.   

In this episode of the Dive Podcast, host Brianna Wheeler celebrates her 420 hangover with two prestigious women in weed:  longtime WW contributor and prolific cannabis journalist Lauren Yoshiko, and this week's  captivating cover model/founder of therapeutic cannabis company Oracle Wellness, Chef Megon Dee

Brianna also shares what she learned from this edition of Willamette Week,  including  how gubernatorial candidate Stan Pulliam's asserted  that Oregon is famous for our "abortion tourism," and  that city council candidate Vadim Mozyrsky's has a penchant for cold showers, self help,  and scream breathing.

In this episode of the Dive Podcast, host Brianna Wheeler applies Terry Pratchett's boot theory of socioeconomic awareness (nerd alert) to our city's current state of affairs before unpacking Portland's housing crisis with  Michael Anderson,  a senior researcher for regional sustainability think tank,  Sightline Institute.

Brianna also shares what she learned from the current edition of Willamette Week,  including a roundup of safety nets and tenant protections  for Portland renters,  the dubious fate of the Pop Blocks, and which of our gubernatorial candidates understands what systemic racism is.

In this episode of the Dive Podcast, host Brianna Wheeler unpacks a cover package all about Oregon beer and reminisces about barefoot day drinking before talking shop with recent Oregon Beer Award winner for best new brewery,  Steeplejack's Anna Buxton. Brianna then explores the newest trend in Oregon craft brewing, non-alcoholic dopplegangers,  with ultimate beer expert, Jon Abernathy. 

Brianna also shares what she learned from this week's edition of Willamette Week,  including a plot thickener for the Pamplin Pension scandal and which gubernatorial candidates are the most biologically ill informed.

In this episode of the Dive Podcast, host Brianna Wheeler examines Nigel Jaquiss' profile of democratic gubernatorial frontrunner, Tina Kotek, before discussing with Jaquiss a few of the possible reasons so many of Kotek's democratic contemporaries have chosen, despite her thrillingly progressive track record, to endorse her opponent, Tobias Read.  

Brianna also shares 5 things she learned from this week's edition of Willamette Week,  and invites everyone to join her at a happiness pop-up in the Southwest.

In this episode of the Dive Podcast, host Brianna Wheeler wonders what it takes to become one of Portland's Funniest Five comedians in conversations with cover package editor Bennett Campbell Ferguson and this year's funniest person themself, Bryan Bixby (aka Brian Bigsby).  Everyone laments the lack of women on the list and hopes to do better next year. 

Brianna also shares 5 things she learned from this week's edition of Willamette Week, including news that mozzarella shot glasses exist.