Seattle Medium Rhythm & News Podcast

Anzhane Slaughter, founder of Young Black Homeowners, joins the Rhythm & News Podcast to discuss pathways to homeownership for first-time buyers facing financial barriers like high housing costs and limited credit or savings. The discussion highlights Leoma James-Sarr's experience purchasing a home in Seattle after years of renting, using financial planning and funding resources.

The conversation covers practical advice for prospective buyers, common challenges families encounter, and promotes two upcoming homebuyer education workshops offered through Young Black Homeowners to help people prepare for and achieve homeownership.

Interview by Chris B. Bennett.

This Rhythm & News Podcast episode introduces Walter "Wally" Washington, owner of Wally's NW Soul, a Southern comfort food restaurant in Seattle's Central District. The episode discusses his background building a catering business before opening his storefront, his family-inspired menu, and his commitment to community engagement beyond the restaurant.

The episode highlights Wally's NW Soul as the featured restaurant in Pack the House, a community initiative supporting Black-owned restaurants, presented by the Seattle Medium alongside the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Byrd Barr Place, and the Central Area Collaborative.

Interview by Chris B. Bennett.

This podcast episode introduces a voter outreach initiative by the Seattle Chapter of Jack and Jill of America ahead of the November midterm elections. The organization is hosting a community postcard-writing drive in Kent, aiming to send 5,000 handwritten messages encouraging infrequent voters in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and Texas to participate in elections.

The episode features host Christopher B. Bennett discussing the campaign with Nicole Alston-Abel, the chapter's vice president, along with teen president Vivian Cayetano and teen legislative chair Brooklyn Sims. The discussion focuses on the initiative's dual purpose: increasing voter turnout and fostering intergenerational civic engagement by involving young people in democratic participation.

This podcast episode from the Seattle Medium's Rhythm News Podcast introduces a discussion on America's affordability crisis, featuring consumer advocate and journalist Charlene Crowell. The conversation centers on her column revealing that 70% of Americans face multiple affordability challenges spanning housing, health care, food, and child care, affecting both low-income and middle-class households.

The episode explores research indicating that financial struggles extend beyond rising prices, pointing to deeper, long-building economic issues. Crowell and host Christopher B. Bennett examine why working families with steady employment are falling behind and discuss potential solutions for improving everyday affordability.

Interview by Chris B. Bennett.

This podcast episode from the Seattle Medium's Rhythm News Podcast features an interview with Erika White, owner of Fat's Chicken & Waffles, a Southern comfort food restaurant with New Orleans influences located in Seattle's Central District. White discusses her personal connection to the neighborhood and her family's hospitality traditions that shaped the restaurant's identity.

The episode highlights Fat's Chicken & Waffles as the featured establishment in the Pack the House campaign, a community initiative organized by the Seattle Medium, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Byrd Barr Place, and the Central Area Collaborative. The campaign aims to encourage patronage of local Black-owned restaurants, with the conversation covering White's journey, signature menu items, and her role in the neighborhood.

Interview by Chris B. Bennett.

This podcast episode introduces a conversation between host Christopher B. Bennett and B. Maurice Ward, a Navy veteran and community advocate, about youth gun possession. Ward's commentary, submitted to The Seattle Medium, examines risks that begin when young people decide to carry a firearm, not just consequences from its use.

The discussion connects to the upcoming Judge Charles V. Johnson Youth and Law Forum, which brings together youth and professionals in law and justice to address rights, responsibilities, and decisions that can shape young people's futures, emphasizing education over fear-driven choices.

This podcast episode from the Seattle Medium's Rhythm News Podcast features host Christopher B. Bennett interviewing Dr. Angela Griffin, CEO of Byrd Barr Place, a Seattle organization that has served the Black community for over six decades through essential services and advocacy for racial and economic justice.

The discussion centers on two upcoming October events: the Legacy in Motion Gala, themed "Unity: Rooted. Rising. Revolution.," featuring a fireside conversation with scholar Dr. Michael Eric Dyson, and the Building Bridges Candidate Forum connecting community members with county and state candidates. Griffin discusses the organization's mission and the importance of civic engagement.

This episode of the Seattle Medium's Rhythm News Podcast features host Christopher B. Bennett highlighting the Pack the House campaign, which showcases Black chefs and Black-owned restaurants in Seattle. The spotlight is on Osteria La Spiga, a Capitol Hill restaurant that has served northern Italian cuisine since 1998.

The episode introduces Sabrina Tinsley, executive chef and co-owner of Osteria La Spiga, who discusses her more than 25 years bringing northern Italian culinary traditions to Seattle. The restaurant is known for handmade pastas and regional dishes emphasizing comfort, sharing, and community around the table.

This podcast episode of the Seattle Medium's Rhythm News features host Christopher B. Bennett introducing Steve Banks, executive director of the Central Area Collaborative, an organization supporting small businesses and equitable economic development in Seattle's Central District. The discussion centers on CAC's mission and its decision to join Pack the House as the campaign's newest community partner.

The episode notes that Pack the House, now in its fourth week, has already featured three businesses—Island Soul, Emma's BBQ and Black Tan Hall—each reporting increased customer activity and visibility. The campaign, which also partners with the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle and Byrd Barr Place, encourages the public to show up, spend money, and return to support local businesses.

A Seattle Medium Rhythm News Podcast episode features Lillian Rambus and Barbara Collins, co-owners of Simply Soulful Cafe, discussing their restaurant's operations and family traditions. Simply Soulful is highlighted as the featured business in the Pack the House campaign, a 10-week initiative by The Seattle Medium and partner organizations promoting sustained support for Black-owned restaurants.

The conversation covers the daily demands of running an independent restaurant, including staffing, bookkeeping, and food preparation, as well as the personal history behind the business. The episode also explains what participation in the Pack the House campaign means for the cafe's continued success.