Seattle Growth Podcast returns for a special episode with West Seattle's Ben Weagraff. Ben and Jeff discuss the crisis of addiction facing Seattle. Then the tables turn as Jeff answers the questions sharing why he directed a new film: What It Takes. What It Takes is a documentary about recovery, redemption, and people finding the will to change. Ben and Jeff discuss what the audience can learn from Chesterfield County Jail's HARP recovery program in Virginia that is featured in What It Takes. What It Takes is playing at the Admiral Theatre in West Seattle on May 6th. Tickets at www.whatittakesmovie.com

King County Executive Dow Constantine discusses navigating the pandemic and the future of King County. Julia Nagele, Principal and Director of Design for the architecture studio at Hewitt, discusses the urbanization of Seattle and how the pandemic economy has affected her business.

Brian Robinson and Dale Kutzera close out this season. Robinson is on the Seattle Center Advisory Commission and well know for his efforts to have NBA basketball in Seattle. Dale Kutzera is the author of The Death of Seattle: How A Great Town Became a Lousy City.

Today’s episode features Mari Horita, Seattle Kraken’s VP of Community Engagement and Social Impact, who discusses how the pandemic has impacted her community work. Her interview gives insight into adapting the evolving needs. The episode also features Ben Petter, President of Avara Construction. His interview gives insight into the construction business and what we can expect for the future of Seattle.

NBA champion and former GM & CEO of the Seattle Supersonics, Wally Walker. Walker gives an update on his quest to bring an NBA franchise to a SODO arena and shares his perspective on whether the pandemic makes it more or less likely that Seattle gets an NBA franchise. You will also hear from longtime Seattle Growth Podcast listener and Seattle Supersonics super fan, Josh Shea. Shea shares the changes he is seeing in his South Lake Union neighborhood and has a plea for the listeners.

Stories from two industries hit hard by the pandemic: retail and restaurants. Interviews with Lisa Bridge, the president and CEO of Ben Bridge Jeweler, and restaurateur Bernie Garcia, the president of Moctezuma’s Restaurants. The interviews give lessons of resilience and offer distinct perspectives on the changes in Seattle

UW Foster professor Jeff Shulman interviews the entrepreneur Dhruv Agarwal and former Lt. Governor candidate Ann Davison. The interviews give insight into different ways the people and businesses of Seattle are adapting to the pandemic.

UW Foster professor Jeff Shulman interviews the executive director of the SODO Business Improvement Area, Erin Goodman. SODO is home to Starbucks headquarters, many industrial companies, and an active port. The episode also features an interview with musician Marco Antonio de Carvalho. The interviews give insight into different ways the people and businesses of Seattle are adapting to the pandemic.

UW Foster professor Jeff Shulman interviews UW Husky Football Hall of Fame Running Back Greg Lewis who is the executive director of the Meredith Mathews East Madison YMCA. The episode also features an interview with musician Tekla Waterfield. The interviews give insight into how non-profits and musicians are navigating the pandemic.

UW Foster School of Business professor Jeff Shulman interviews the president/CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association, Jon Scholes, and a long-time Central District entrepreneur and advocate Jesdarnel “Squirt” Henton. Scholes and Henton share how they are navigating the changes in Seattle and their outlook for the future of the city.