Marguerite hosts Sean Lacey from Tacoma Dads, a supportive group aimed at fostering connections among fathers in Tacoma. Sean talks about how the group evolved from its beginnings as a small, private Facebook group in 2016 to its current form with hundreds of members. The group organizes regular events like adventure days, game nights, and cold wat…

When it comes to private schools in Tacoma, what are your options? On the Move to Tacoma podcast Marguerite Martin interviewed Cheryl Schenk, an expert on Tacoma’s private schools. This interview digs into what makes these the different private schools in Tacoma unique and how parents can find the best fit for their children. Cheryl talks about the…

The latest episode of the Move to Tacoma Podcast features an interview with Anzhane Slaughter of YBH (Young Black Homeowners). Anzhane shares about moving to Tacoma from Seattle to buy her first house in South Tacoma and what owning a home has meant to her. Since 1990 Black Homeownership has been declining in Tacoma. In partnership with the City of…

Does Tacoma have good schools? This podcast interview from “Move to Tacoma,” hosted by Tacoma Real Estate Agent Marguerite Martin, features Tanisha Jumper, the Chief Communications Officer for Tacoma Public Schools. The conversation delves into the nuances of public school funding, the vibrancy and diversity of Tacoma Public Schools, and a focus on…

Tacoma is a union town. Stephen Rue and Carrie Morton from Tacoma Art Museum Workers United share about forming a union at the Tacoma Art Museum. They share about the conditions at the museum that led them to decide to form a union, their long journey to being recognized, and what’s involved as they go to the bargaining table to negotiate their fir…

Pretty Gritty Tours is not JUST the most popular tour company in Tacoma, Washington. Pretty Gritty Tours (and its creator Chris Staudinger) are one of the most entertaining accounts about Tacoma on social media. From Tiktok, to YouTube, to Instagram and Facebook- Chris finds stories from Tacoma’s past and shares them with us in a way that is entert…

Chris Miller from The Red Hot joins us to share about 17 years of running one of Tacoma’s most popular bars. He talks about starting bar in Tacoma, all the lessons he’s learned along the way, and advice he has for other people with a dream of opening a bar in Tacoma. He shares about working all over the Puget Sound as a Union Carpenter before decid…

What is Tacoma Pro Bono? Tacoma Pro Bono Community Lawyers is a legal aid organization in Tacoma, Washington. In this episode of the Move to Tacoma Podcast Marguerite interviews Laurie Davenport and Ash Meer. We cover the formation and the growth of Tacoma Pro Bono. How it expanded from a small team to 42 staff members, including 22 attorneys. The …

Moving to Tacoma and finding Lawn Bowling Tacoma Lawn Bowling Club members Laura Moscatello and Mike Catsi moved to Tacoma from Alaska and now they’re the president and treasurer of the Tacoma Lawn Bowling Club. In this episode of the Move to Tacoma Podcast we dig into what lawn bowling is, why it’s so fun, and how to get involved. If you’ve ever w…

Originally located in Downtown Tacoma on Commerce, Mad Hat Tea is now at its new location in Tacoma’s Dome District (where Downtown Tacoma meets the Eastside). His shop serves tea in a laid back setting for locals, even crafting custom teas for people at their request. In addition, Mad Hat runs a thriving online business where customers order tea f…

Turn of the Centuries Kirsten Sparenborg Kirsten Sparenborg is a Tacoma artist who creates Architectural Map Drawings. When Kirsten’s husband PCSed to JBLM they found themselves in Tacoma’s Stadium District. After a brief move to New York Kirsten has returned to live and make art here in Tacoma. We talk about how she became a full time artist, crea…

Marguerite interviews Paul Kunitsa from the Waterfront Market at Point Ruston. The Kunitsa Family immigrated to the US and to Tacoma when he was a child, first settling on the Eastside then to University Place. Paul now lives on Tacoma’s West Slope. Paul shares his story of running a construction company and through “a series of events” ended up ow…

In this episode of the Move to Tacoma Podcast we interviewed Matthew Wilson and Quincy Tyson. Matthew is the Executive Director of the Oasis Youth Center. Oasis is Pierce County’s only LGBTQ+ youth center. Founded in 1985, Oasis is a drop-in, resource, and support center. Oasis is a safe space for Queer youth to learn, connect, and thrive. Oasis en…

Check out this interview where Nerd Farmer Host Nate Bowling interviews Zev Cook and David Galazin from Tacoma4All. They’re working to improve tenant protections for tenants in Tacoma by introducing a Tenants Bill of Rights. Tacoma is one of the most challenging places in the country to rent a home, and it’s getting tougher. Their first step is org…

Looking for things to do in Tacoma, Washington? We interviewed local Author Peggy Cleveland on the MovetoTacoma.com podcast! Peggy’s new book “100 Things to Do in Tacoma Before You Die” is here to get you started finding interesting things to do in and around Tacoma. This book is great for tourists visiting Tacoma, people who’ve just moved here, an…

An Interview with the Reporters Behind “The Walk Home” Podcast on KNKX 88.5 FM This week on the MoveToTacoma Podcast we interview reporters Mayowa Aina & Kari Plog from KNKX 88.5 FM NPR. They talk their podcast “The Walk Home” which investigates the killing of Manny Ellis by Tacoma Police. Both reporters grew up in Pierce County and describe what d…

Where are the best places to get your news in Tacoma if you want to be fully informed? We sat down with former Metro Parks Commissioner, Author, Channel 253 Founder, and KNKX Public Radio Director of Audience Engagement Erik Hanberg to talk about what our options are for news in Tacoma. Here were his recommendations. Newspapers: The News Tribune – …

Buying a house in Tacoma has never been more challenging for buyers, especially buyers buying under $650,000. Marguerite invited Sharon Chambers Gordon onto the podcast to talk about what buyers can do to increase their chances of finding and winning a good house. Sharon moved to Tacoma over 16 years ago. She’s lived in Gig Harbor, University Place…

Rob Huff is almost finished running every street in Tacoma. Yes, even the really steep ones. What has he learned about the City of Destiny on his runs? Rob shares what he’s learned about streets, sidewalks, and folks living on the street. Rob is the Director of Advocacy and Communications for the Metropolitan Development Council. He brings unique i…

In this episode of the Move to Tacoma podcast, Marguerite Martin interviews Local History Librarian Anna Trammell. Anne is a librarian at the Tacoma Public Library’s Northwest Room. The Northwest Room features archives of Tacoma’s local history, genealogy, and special collections, and this treasure trove of information is constantly evolving. Margu…

In this episode of the Move to Tacoma podcast, Marguerite and Jasmyn share a vulnerable conversation about their ever-evolving friendship, and how race and real estate have played a role in that. Jasmyn and Marguerite touch on topics like: – Having uncomfortable conversations in their friendship (it’s because of this that their friendship has stren…

“It’s hard to overstate how much coworking was affected due to the pandemic, especially early on in March—I mean, it pretty much decimated our industry,” shares Chris of Pioneer Collective. In this episode of the Move to Tacoma podcast, Marguerite interviews Chris and Sheila of Pioneer Collective, a co-working space with locations in Seattle and Do…

What is it like to open a small business in Tacoma during a pandemic? Natalie Bowman from Oh Happy Day Party Shop and her husband moved to Tacoma a few years back. Just before the pandemic hit they went into the party shop business. How Oh Happy Day Party Shop Came to Tacoma Oh Happy Day Party Shop was originally located in San Francisco, and after…

CROSSOVER EPISODE on Tacoma’s Housing Crisis. Description From Nate Bowling of Nerd Farmer Podcast: Although I have been talking about housing issues, literally for years, I am really just now getting my head around the extent to which existing homeowners and their advocacy are the cause and cure of what ails us. In a rising housing market, increas…

Depression and anxiety were already high among senior citizens in our community before the Covid-19 Pandemic reached Tacoma. Today we spoke with Elliot Stockstad and David Duea from Lutheran Community Services Northwest- an organization that has been serving seniors for years- about how we can support seniors in our community. David recommends reac…

MovetoTacoma.com creator Marguerite asked her financial coach, Chris to convert their monthly call to a podcast to get his advice. Chris has been helping Marguerite track her spending and get out of debt for over five years. Marguerite is worried since she is self employed, but ready to face the uncertainty and create an emergency budget in the fac…

Small nonprofits in Tacoma are facing huge challenges in the coming weeks as Tacomans grapple with the Covid-19 pandemic. What can each of us as individuals do to support our local nonprofits and the important work they do in our community? David Strong from AHAT Home Care and Melissa Mallott from Citizens for a Healthy Bay joined us for this conve…

What can Tacomans do to support small businesses, artists, and very small businesses in Tacoma during the Covid-19 pandemic? Spaceworks Director Michael Liang joins us to talk about the specific challenges facing small business owners right now and how everyday Tacomans can support their business owning neighbors. Michael moved to Tacoma in 2018 to…

The MoveToTacoma.com podcast has been on hiatus while MoveToTacoma.com founder Marguerite takes a sabbatical out of state. Channel253 Founder Erik Hanberg hops on the podcast to interview Marguerite and catch up on what’s new with MoveToTacoma, what’s new in the City of Tacoma, and what the future holds for both. We talk about the future of the Mov…

Dune Peninsula opens today at Point Defiance, a new 12-acre park right on the water. Today Metro Parks also opened Wilson Way, a new pedestrian and bike promenade that finally connects Ruston Way with Point Defiance. Guest host Jasmyn Jefferson is joined by Metro Parks Commissioner, and regular here on MovetoTacoma, to talk about what you can expec…

Tacoma Against Nazis is a group for people in Tacoma who are against nazis. “We tried to give it a straightforward title,” says Halley. “No bones about it. You’re either for or against Nazis. And we’re against.” This came about in June 2018 after a handful of Tacoma residents became fed up with how nationally and locally white supremacist groups ar…

On the podcast Melannie shares about her life in Tacoma, her work promoting racial reconciliation, her daily encounters with racism, and her ideas about how white people in Tacoma can do to educate themselves about racism and work to dismantle white supremacy. Melannie will be heading to Norway for the Nobel Peace Prize with her Peace Queen Talks T…

Saul Farber is one of the founders of PeopleGIS, a local tech company. He is also a lifelong member of Tacoma’s Jewish Community. When Marguerite asked how Tacomans of different faiths could show support for our Jewish neighbors, Saul shared these ideas: Invite Jewish leaders in to speak to your organizations and involve them in community conversat…

Maureen Sorensen, Pierce County Director at Amara Foster Care, comes on the podcast to talk about the link between the affordable housing issues and the opiod crisis and how it has caused a foster care crisis in Tacoma and Pierce County. Kids come into foster care in Pierce County at twice the rate that they do in King County. The post Maureen Sore…

Michael Haeflinger, Executive Director of Write 253, and Forest Beutel, a one man-band and member of many local bands, join the show to talk about the upcoming music series Tacoma AF: four music shows in awesome Tacoma venues from June to September. Tacoma’s music scene ranges from punk, gospel, folk, rock, hip-hop and a lot more and this will feat…

Nate Bowling hosts a panel on the rise of Neo-Nazism and white supremacists in the Pacific Northwest and Tacoma. Guests include Craig Sailor from the News Tribune and Miri Cypers from the Anti-Defamation League. This event occurred on April 16, 2018. The post ACHH: Who are the Nazis in your neighborhood? appeared first on Move to Tacoma.…

Richardson speaks candidly throughout the interview. She now resides in Hilltop where she plays witness to what she calls “street theater”, which in her words is both a blessing and a curse, and a combination of peace and battle that provide her a plethora of parently tools and advice. Marguerite inquires, how does one become the poet laureate and …

Nate Bowling hosts a panel of two City of Tacoma employees, a developer, and a Metro Parks commissioner to dive deep into rising housing costs in Tacoma. We look at the causes of the rent and property value increases as well as the consequences. You can also check out the live stream on Facebook! This event occurred on February 23, 2018. The post A…

The Space: Alma Mater Tacoma at 1322 South Fawcett, is a live music venue, artist co-working space, café and lounge all wrapped into one. The grand opening of Alma Mater takes place the weekend of April 19, with festivities occurring each day through Saturday the 21. Festivities include an all ages dance party with DJ Eddie Bermuda and Sassy Black …

While history hounds are in the know, many may wonder what’s the difference between the Tacoma Historical Society and the Washington State Historical Society. Mary Mikel Stump clarifies that the WSHS is a parent agency and was founded in the late 1800’s. She reveals that the epic looking brick building in the Stadium District that plays as home bas…

Dean Burke comes on the podcast to talk about how all Tacoma’s can have a closer connection to the sea. Dean is the Executive Director of the Tacoma South Sound Sports Commission. He left the Texas Gulf Coast for Tacoma’s North End 23 years ago. Marguerite spent some time on the water with Burke for TryTacoma.tv and sings it’s praises as a transfor…

Punk Rock, Punches & Puget Sound: Before moving to Tacoma 10 years ago, Forest was a drummer for various punk rock bands and was deep into the rock n roll scene in Rhode Island. Somewhere in there he spent some time as a competitive boxer, which as he put it, “was the first step in improving his life.” After applying to universities in the Pacific …

Adult Civics Happy Hour lures community members into an approachable way to be civically engaged and informed. The event provides a jargon free zone using happy hour language to discuss issues that impact our community and neighbors. This Adult Civics Happy Hour tackled the topic “The Rent is Too Damn High,” and opened a dialogue exploring how rent…

What is Tacoma’s dating scene really like, these days? Marguerite is new to the dating scene and is looking for some pro-tips which led to her inviting a panel of singles to talk about hooking up in the City of Destiny. Disclaimer: Please remove children from the room- there might be swear words and sexiness. If you’re anything like Marguerite, get…

The Move to Tacoma podcast has had a big year, loads of cool guests and insightful topics of discussion made their way into the studio in 2017. Special Guest Host, Erik Hanberg sat down and talked with Marguerite Martin about 2017 and what’s coming our way in 2018. Marguerite changed her last name in 2017! It’s a new, much easier to spell last name…

This week, Marguerite Martin and Erik Hanberg revisit their annual tradition with a Move to Tacoma Year in Review. Take a tour through the year, the ups and the downs, the growth, the arguments, and the politics that was Tacoma’s 2017. The post 2017 Year in Review! with special guest Erik Hanberg appeared first on Move to Tacoma.…

Najah moved from the country in Florida to the City of Tacoma in high school in the mid-nineties. She’s lived in the North End (and went to Wilson High School!) and Downtown. Del moved to Tacoma from San Diego in 2003 and they’re now roommates on the Hilltop. “I figured if I moved to a different environment then maybe a different outcome would tran…

Jenny Jacobs, host of the Citizen Tacoma podcast, joins Marguerite to talk about her experience with the podcast this year. Starting as a regular citizen of Tacoma, what was it like to meet and interview 14+ candidates for office. Did she come away more inspired or more cynical by the political process? Check it out, and hear what Jenny might be th…

Photo by GritCityPhoto Marc’s Move to Tacoma Story Marc grew up in the Quad Cities, but after a vacation brought him to the area he knew he wanted to move to the Pacific Northwest. A Zookeeper, he found a job as the Zoological Curator with Northwest Trek Wildlife Park in East Pierce County. Moving to Tacoma Marc used the MoveToTacoma.com website to…

Jackie’s Move To Tacoma Story: Jackie grew up in Fife and moved to South Tacoma after high school. She now lives in Proctor with her husband Chris and their kids. Creative Colloquy: Formed as a way for writers to connect with each other and read their stories for an audience, Creative Colloquy is open to writers 21+. They meet at Black Kettle Bites…