Snohomish County Placemakers

Jhon Kennedy Hurtado, a Colombian-born former professional soccer player, was among the core group of players that kicked off Seattle’s success in Major League Soccer. ⚽️ Today he calls Snohomish County home and has been tapped to be the World Cup ambassador for the Seattle area.We caught up with Hurtado to talk about his story and what the big soccer tournament will look like for the PNW region.

What’s it like to represent your country on the world stage? How do you go from the ice rinks of Snohomish County to the Olympic Village at Milano Cortina, Italy?Today we talk to the only 2026 Olympic athlete from our neck of the woods – Luc Violette! It’s an inspiring talk that will have you dusting off your ice skates AND booking a trip to Snohomish County, WA.Curl ‘em if you got ‘em… and go team USA! 🇺🇸 📸 credit: USA Curling/Michael Woolheater

RV Out West is a great podcast hosted by Brooks Smothers, an Everett-based regional traveler. You should definitely listen to his show and get inspired to roam the PNW. And when you roam, come to Snohomish County!In this episode, Richard and Nick learn about the world of RVing and Brooks advises us on how to get started RVing, what the heck a “gray tank” is, and where the best places are to camp in Snohomish County.

Today we are joined by the Sports Commission’s all-star lineup, which includes:· Executive Director Tammy Dunn· Sports Events Manager Nathan Caferro· Sports Development Coordinator Landyn Olson· Marketing Content Coordinator Taras McCurdieThis mighty team punches above its weight – helping to put Snohomish County on the map with some of the best competitions and events in the region.We talk big soccer, Snohomish County athletes, and how sports and tourism go hand in hand to make Snohomish County a great place to live and visit.

Happy New Year! Enjoy this minisode is a one-off convo. 🙏Last month we held a tourism roundtable, inviting folks from around Snohomish County to share their tourism-related experiences in 2025. As part of this meeting, Nick and Richard hosted a panel with representatives from different sectors. On the panel:⚽️Anthony Sardon, Snohomish United FC🤳Marlie and Anthony Love, Traveling While Black🎨Dr. Kate MacKenzie, Snohomish County Arts Commission⛰️Dan Moore, The Adventure HubWe enjoyed hearing from these thought leaders and know you will, too! Stay tuned this year for more great tourism content.

2025 was a big year! In this year-end recap episode we break down what we loved about this year, what’s new, and what’s next in the world of Snohomish County Tourism.

Ken Coman is a man of many talents. Besides owning a froyo shop in Snohomish, he serves as the president of the Historic Downtown Snohomish Association. Also he knows a boatload (pun intended) about the sinking of the Titanic. In fact, we can guarantee that Top It Yogurt Shoppe is the only Titanic-themed yogurt shop in the world. Top that!In this episode, we cover a lot of topics and tie them together: B & O taxes, Titanic lore, and (most importantly) what it means to create a place that fosters community.Visit Top It Yogurt Shoppe at 801 1st St Ste 203, Snohomish, WA 98290More great tourism content: www.discoversnohomishcounty.comOn social: @discoversnoco

Meet the unsung heroes behind some of the most beautiful places that Snohomish County has to offer. Snohomish County Park rangers do it all — everything from trail building, to crabbing enforcement, to picking up trash and curating a welcoming environment. 🦀🏕️🚲 If you've ever shown up to a pristine park, don't take it for granted! 🦅 Today we talk to Rachel White and Taylor Mason about how they chose the park ranger life... and how the park ranger life chose them.Follow us on social @discoversnocoFollow Snohomish County Parks @snocoparks

Remember when youth sports used to be, you know... fun? Sports can feel so competitive these days. Luckily, the Snohomish Sports Dome is fostering a place that is community-centered and centered around sportsmanship. We caught up with owner Jamie Bialek to talk about Snohomish as a big-time soccer destination and what the forthcoming global soccer games in Seattle could mean for small businesses in surrounding cities.Follow us @discoversnocoFollow the dome @snohomishsportsdome

Another week in October, another farm!This week we visit reindeer, yaks, donkeys, and highland cattle at Luckie Farms. Owners Scott and Tara encourage us to follow our dreams (whatever they may be) and perhaps invest in farmland. A “moo”-ving experience, to be sure.Are you looking for more seasonal farm fun? Be sure to check out our social media feed @discoversnoco or visit discoversnohomishcounty.com

Craven Farm is not the type of place to scare yourself silly. Rather, it’s a family-friendly autumn wonderland that’s been making heartfelt memories since 1983. Kimi and Brian Chadwick lovingly curate all of the seasonal festivities on their farm at the foot of Lord Hill in Snohomish, Washington.Join us as we send out a live dis-PATCH (get it?) from down on the farm.Web: discoversnohomishcounty.comSocial: DiscoverSnoCo

Soccer—the world’s game—is exploding in the U.S., with the 2026 World Cup bringing six matches just miles from Snohomish County. Right in the middle of the action, Snohomish is home to a new pre-professional club: the Snohomish United. Fresh off its inaugural USL2 season, the team is led by Anthony Sardon, longtime coach, former Seattle U assistant, national champion, and hall of famer.Today we’re talking to Sardon about the Big Game and how Snohomish, WA is turning into a major soccer destination.Goooooaaaaallll! ⚽️Want more Snohomish County content? Visit us at seattlenorthcountry.com and give us a follow @seattlenorthcountry

We’re back from summer break! And we’re telling stories from Everett’s past. We talk about fingers getting cut off, union riots, Rosie the Riveters, and the only building in the world that can fit all of Disneyland inside (take a guess). If you like what you hear, be sure to visit our website for more Everett-related content and travel ideas – www.seattlenorthcountry.com And be sure to follow us on social @seattlenorthcountry

Remember how we said we were taking the summer off? Oops – bonus episode with our friend Nigel! You’re welcome. 🫠 There are people in life who do one thing really really well. They find their niche early, lock into their path, and flourish in their chosen lane. Other folks find that they’re good at several things. Jacks of all trades. Swiss army knives, so to speak. Nigel Lindsey is such a renaissance man. It seems like each time we talk to him he's doing something new. Whether it’s starting his own craft cocktail service company, packaging said craft cocktails for sale during Covid (smart move), getting into finance, serving as vice chair of the Snohomish County NAACP, or coordinating a campaign for mayor, Nigel seems to always be thinking a few steps ahead, thinking on a broader scope. Which makes conversations with him interesting – we feel like we always come away challenged to think about how we can be more involved in our community, more active in causes we believe in, and more aware of using our skills to their full capacities. We think you’ll be inspired, too! 🤩 Today we’ll talk with Nigel about his different endeavors and how they all work together to funnel value into our community of Snohomish County, making it an even better place to live and visit. __ Get more great content on our website seattlenorthcountry.comFollow us on social media @seattlenorthcountry

Context is everything. Once, the Washington Territory was seen as untamed wilderness—at least through the eyes of European settlers. With a pioneer mindset, they arrived ready to conquer nature and build civilization. But the land was never as wild as they believed. Indigenous tribes had long managed the forests and rivers of what we now call Washington State. The arrival of settlers brought more than homesteads. Vast old-growth forests were felled. Wildlife once hunted for survival was soon hunted for sport. Apex predators like grizzlies and wolves—viewed as threats to livestock—were wiped out regionally. Yet, ironically, those same animals became cultural icons. School mascots, barroom trophies, symbols of the untamed spirit of the Northwest—totemic, powerful, ever-present in the background of our identity. By the 1970s, a new mindset took root. The environmental movement reshaped how people saw nature—not as something to conquer, but something to protect. It was the era of puffer vests, external frame backpacks, and a growing awareness that we’re just one part of a much bigger system. Enter Conservation Northwest, founded in the late '80s. Their mission: connect landscapes, restore wildlife, and protect the region’s natural heritage. From the Washington Coast to the BC Rockies, they’re champions of wildlands and the creatures that call them home. Today, we’re talking with Kurt Hellmann, who works at the intersection of outdoor recreation and wildlife conservation. If you’ve spent time in the backcountry, you know the importance of things like stashing food properly or giving goats, elk, deer and other critters space. Kurt’s job is helping people enjoy the outdoors responsibly—so that every species, human and otherwise, can thrive. It’s a mindset we fully support—as residents, and stewards, of the incredible natural resources of Snohomish County. Today on the pod: Kurt Hellman of Conservation NW talks animal safety and conservation. Get more great Snohomish County content -- seattlenorthcountry.comFollow us on social @seattlenorthcountry

Our guest today is Rachel Gardner, a creative, entrepreneur, vinyl record collector, and Edmonds, WA arts enthusiast. Rachel owns the city’s only record shop, Musicology Co., which opened in 2024.So, what makes Rachel unique? In addition to playing bass guitar in a couple local bands and running the only woman-owned record shop in Snohomish County and only one of five in the entire state of Washington, Rachel is a fierce advocate for empowering women and underrepresented people in the vinyl industry. She has an active role as a board member of a national powerhouse nonprofit called Women in Vinyl.Musicology Co. is a reflection of Rachel’s deep connection to music and the arts. Music lovers can browse the shop’s expansive collection of new and used vinyl, CD’s, and cassettes, but the shop also doubles as a creative space that aims to amplify inclusivity and local artistry right in the heart of the Edmonds Creative District.We are excited to chat with Rachel today about music, the amazing creativity in Edmonds, and it’s like to be one of the few women working and succeeding in such a male-heavy industry. You can learn more about Rachel and Musicology Co. by checking out our recent blog featuring this one-of-a-kind record shop and its fearless owner. Enjoy!More tourism content - seattlenorthcountry.comFollow us on social @seattlenorthcountry

When you think of the word “home,” what comes to mind?Home can be a person or people, a feeling, a memory. Home is a state of mind, and it’s rooted in giving us a sense of comfort, security, and belonging.Wil Johnson, Snohomish County’s Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, has made it his mission to help people feel at home in SnoCo. As head honcho of the county’s Office of Social Justice, Wil and his team are committed to bringing equity and inclusion to the forefront of our minds by promoting access, opportunity, and belonging.DEI has been a hot topic issue in our nation as of late, and as an expert in the field who has spent his entire professional career advocating for social justice, Wil is doing his part to ensure anyone who lives, works, or plays in Snohomish County feels welcome.You might also be surprised to know that Wil his very own podcast called the At-homish Podcast, which centers on fostering inclusive spaces where everyone belongs.We are excited to chat with Wil today about DEI, podcasting, and how we can all do our part to help others feel at home in Snohomish County. ___Wil's podcast 👉🏿 At-Homish PodcastMore tourism content 👉🏿 seattlenorthcountry.com

The premise of this episode is pretty simple: what if the answer to our current and future climate crisis is 200 years old and naturally sequesters carbon?We've got that here. Let's take a field trip with John Moon from the Department of Natural Resources.

This week on the podcast, we’re diving into the sounds that shape our seaside towns—featuring none other than Ryan Crowther, aka “RC.” Around here, RC isn’t just a familiar face—he’s the connector, one degree away from nearly everyone in the county.Best known for founding the Everett Music Initiative (EMI), RC has helped turn Everett into a vibrant music hub. From iconic events like Rock the Boat and Music at the Marina to the powerhouse Fisherman’s Village Music Festival, EMI has brought acts like Digable Planets, Kevin Morby, and Built to Spill to reimagined venues all over downtown Everett and along the waterfront.And he’s not stopping there—RC’s latest project, the Edmonds Block Party, is set to make waves too. We talk with him about how Everett and Edmonds are emerging as must-visit destinations for music lovers across the region.🎧 Tune in for a conversation with the man behind the music, and get a behind-the-scenes look at how community, creativity, and connection come together to make this local scene something special.⚡Find more great content on seattlenorthcountry.com or by following us on social @seattlenorthcountry⚡Listen to our Snohomish County playlist here

First and foremost, Gregr is a person. For over 15 years, Greg Shishman has been cracking wise and spinning the top hits in alternative music for Seattle’s Alt Rock station, 107.7 The End. He's lived in Snohomish County while reaching millions of listeners through the airwaves.Gregr is a wealth of knowledge on all things music, and he spent lots of time chatting it up with some of the biggest names in the industry. Not to mention his public passion for Rubik's cubes, karate, and all things nerdy.But behind the persona is... himself. He believes in fostering meaningful human relationships through modern media and, above all, not taking ourselves too seriously. A perfect lesson for our times.__Stream his podcast Nerd Talk+ hereFind more great Snohomish County content by following us @seattlenorthcountry or on the web at seattlenorthcountry.com