Rational in Portland

Latest Episodes:

Jill Souede Apr 27, 2025

Show notes

Jill Souede was the Deputy Chief of Staff for Portland City Councilor Dan Ryan. She has a Master’s in Strategic Communications from the University of Oregon and did her undergraduate work at Portland State University. In this episode, she reveals her experience with the inner workings of Portland City Hall. She also talks about the evolution of Portland that she’s witnessed since childhood, how Portland can be better, civic engagement, and more.

Juma Blaq Apr 11, 2025

Show notes

Loudaquinn Whatley, known as Juma Blaq, is a rapper, community and civic leader, music producer, videographer, song writer, DJ, sound engineer, husband, and dad of 5. Juma did media and videography for Portland City Council candidate Terrence Hayes. Juma currently serves on Portland’s Focused Intervention Community Oversight Group (FITCOG), which works with the mayor and Portland Police Bureau to reduce gun violence in Portland. He also works with the City of Tigard on facilitating community events focused on diversity.

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCKOXk1SeZy/?igsh=MWZwOWIwem85cHRqbg==

https://www.instagram.com/jumablaq?igsh=MTJpcWcza3kwMGVlbw==

https://youtu.be/QJLghX7psfg?si=lEkc4DB7kd3e00xo

https://youtube.com/@jumablaq?si=KCP9pAFzrMsFE1gP

Portland Hip Hop Week Freestyle at KGW | kgw.com

https://www.tigard-or.gov/explore-tigard/community-events/el-tigre-fest

https://www.instagram.com/p/DFti_qhS6qm/?igsh=bGFoeGxncmVseGJz

Juneteenth Celebration | City of Tigard

Portland's new James Beard Public Market Executive Director, Jessica Elkan Mar 07, 2025

Show notes

Jessica Elkan is the Executive Director of Portland's new ambitious project, the James Beard Public Market. Jessica talks about the status of the market, the history of James Beard, when Portland can expect the market to open, the concept behind it, and why this is such an important project for Oregon and for downtown Portland.

https://www.jamesbeardpublicmarket.com

Damian Bunting: Working private security in Portland, Oregon Jan 28, 2025

Show notes

Damian Bunting is a black private security guard in Portland, Oregon. Damian talks about learning jujitsu; how he was able to go to college; the mental illness and addiction crises on the streets of Portland; gun rights; his childhood; his parents’ advocacy for Bill Clinton, and more. Thanks to Andy Chandler from the podcast NW Fresh for co-hosting.

Hasaan Thomas, star of "Hasaan Hates Portland" Jan 18, 2025

Show notes

Hasaan Thomas is the star of the satirical web series, "Hasaan Hates Portland," which was created by his friend, Mischa Webley. Hasaan is also a professional marketing and branding expert. We talk about what it was like to create and film the show; how he comes up with creative branding ideas; what it's like to live as a black man in Portland, Oregon (the whitest big city in America); growing up with a father and a stepfather who were pro athletes; surviving an attempt at suicide; getting recognized in public; and so much more.

Laura Curry: Portland stadium neighborhood in crisis Jan 15, 2025

Show notes

Laura Curry describes herself as an itinerant artist and consultant. Laura has lived in various large cities throughout the world. She purchased a condominium in the Stadium neighborhood of Portland, Oregon, years ago when she was searching the United States for a pied-à-terre. She identifies as queer and has a daughter who is a person of color. Laura talks about the addiction and mental illness crises she regularly witnesses in her neighborhood and what she and her neighbors are trying to do about it. She also talks about why she believes that Multnomah County, where Portland is situated, is responsible for these crises.

Karen Chirre: Portland stadium neighborhood in crisis Jan 13, 2025

Show notes

Karen Chirre owns the Stadium Superette convenience store with her husband in the Stadiumhood neighborhood off of West Burnside in Portland. Karen says that her husband is a first generation immigrant who lived in his car in order to save money to realize his dream of owning a convenience store. According to Karen, over 500 people have committed crimes against the Superette in the past four years. Karen says that she may have to be killed before Portland’s public safety problems get better.

Mike Thelin: A vision for Portland Jan 06, 2025

Show notes

Michael (Mike) Thelin is the founder of Bolted Consulting, which, among other things, helps clients with communication, strategy, and design. He co-created Hot Luck, Austin's culinary and music festival. He also co-founded Feast Portland, which was the largest food festival in the Pacific Northwest. Mike has been a local Portland food writer, and he has appeared on numerous TV shows, including 42 episodes of "Unique Eats" on the Cooking Channel, Check out his Substack, "Food Cities," where he writes about things like politics, civic engagement, food, and travel. We talked about the unique challenges Portland faces and what happened to Feast; Mike's vision for Portland and how it can harness what makes it special; food (of course); music (he's a songwriter, singer and musician!); and more.

Autumn Sharp and Max Steele: Couch Park in NW Portland in crisis Dec 25, 2024

Show notes

Artist and graphic designer Autumn Sharp and personal trainer Max Steele are two of the founders of Friends of Couch Park, an organization in Northwest Portland to try to make Couch Park more livable. They talk about drugs, crime, mental illness, and street homelessness in their neighborhood and what they are trying to do about it. Andy Chandler from the Spotify and YouTube show NW Fresh co-hosts.

Pete Colt: Portland stadium neighborhood in crisis Dec 11, 2024

Show notes

Pete Colt is a retired marketing professional who lives in the northwest Portland neighborhood known as Stadiumhood. Stadiumhood is located in the southeast corner of the Alphabet District, the northeast corner of Goose Hollow, and it shares a border with the Pearl District and downtown Portland. Pete talks about how Stadiumhood has been plagued by drugs and crime and how he and his neighbors have banded together to try to make Stadiumhood more safe and livable.

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