What if growing food didn’t have to destroy the planet? Ariane Lotti grew up in the U.S., trained in environmental policy at Yale, and worked on Capitol Hill. But her journey took an unexpected turn: she returned to her family’s rice farm in Tuscany to reinvent agriculture from the ground up. In this episode, we meet this regenerative farmer who's testing the limits of what’s possible—combining policy smarts with muddy boots. Ariane walks us through the lessons Italy and Europe can offer the Wes...
Jul 23, 2025•44 min•Ep. 22
What if wildfire isn’t just a natural disaster, but a test of how well we govern prevention, preparation, response, and recovery? In this episode, Greg talks with Hilary Franz, former Washington Lands Commissioner about governing through climate chaos, building unlikely coalitions, and why states like Washington can’t afford to wait for federal leadership when it comes to protecting lives, land, and the future. As big and intractable as climate issues can seem, Hilary’s story is hopeful. When th...
Jul 16, 2025•1 hr 2 min•Ep. 21
Mount Baker is the snowiest ski mountains in the world. It’s also one of the most beloved—and independent—places in the Pacific Northwest. But this episode isn’t about winter sports. It’s about leadership, stewardship, and what it means to bottle the magic that comes from building community in a wondrous landscape. Stuff to bear in mind as Congress got close to selling off vast swaths of public land. Before she was the CEO of Mt. Baker Ski Area, Gwyn Howat was shoveling snow, taping bindings, an...
Jul 09, 2025•37 min•Ep. 20
What if Rome wasn’t just ancient history—but a blueprint for how empires corrode? In this hard-hitting solo episode, Pacific Time host Greg Amrofell records from Italy, tracing chilling parallels between the fall of the Roman Republic and the unraveling of American democracy. As Trump federalizes the National Guard, threatens war with Iran, deploys ICE raids, and criminalizes dissent, Greg calls on the West Coast—and its allies—to go on constitutional offense. We revisit the original rebellion o...
Jul 02, 2025•15 min•Ep. 19
What if we let the data guide West Coast healthcare? Could we better address our mental health and addiction crisis? In this episode, data scientist Abie Flaxman breaks down the top health issues for working-age adults on the West Coast—and why our health systems keep missing the mark. You might think cancer or heart disease top the charts. But in Washington, Oregon, and California, the leading killers of working-age adults are drug overdose and suicide. In this revealing episode, Greg Amrofell ...
Jun 25, 2025•46 min•Ep. 20
Is college still the best investment we can make in our future—or a broken promise on borrowed time? In this episode of Pacific Time , Greg speaks with Dan Greenstein, former Chancellor of Pennsylvania’s state university system and a seasoned voice in U.S. higher education. From ballooning student debt to declining public trust, Greenstein unpacks the long arc of American higher ed—from its postwar heyday to its current crisis of confidence. We explore how federal disinvestment, demographic shif...
Jun 18, 2025•49 min•Ep. 17
What if protecting immigrants is the best way to protect American identity? In towns and cities up and down the West Coast, immigrants arrived in search of safety and opportunity. But what happens after they cross the border? Who helps them navigate the broken promises—and the broken systems? In this episode of Pacific Time , Greg speaks with an immigrant rights advocate who requested anonymity. This person sits with families, fills out their forms, attends their hearings, and looks after them w...
Jun 11, 2025•43 min•Ep. 16
In a time of growing polarization and civic breakdown, Aaron Hurst is betting big on connection. The founder of the U.S. Chamber of Connection joins Pacific Time to explore how loneliness and disconnection are threatening our democracy—and what the West Coast can do about it. We talk about Seattle’s “bear hug” movement, the deeper meaning of friendship at work, and why purpose without belonging turns into rage. Episode Highlights : Why purpose without connection can lead to political extremism T...
Jun 04, 2025•45 min•Ep. 15
Portland was once a darling of American urban planning. Then came the protests, the pandemic, and the pundit pile-on. Is the city really in free fall—or just between chapters? In this episode, we sit down with Nolan Lienhart, a principal at ZGF Architects and a leading voice in West Coast urban design. Based in Portland, Nolan offers a firsthand look at how perceptions of the city have been a rollercoaster ride over the last 10 years. We talk about what Portland got right, what it lost along the...
May 28, 2025•59 min•Ep. 14
What if service wasn’t just about giving back—but about moving forward? Nicole Trimble has spent decades championing national service and workforce development—from helping launch AmeriCorps in the 1990s to reshaping how companies invest in their frontline employees. In this conversation, she makes a bold case for why the West Coast needs to double down on national service—not just as a patriotic duty, but as a jobs pipeline, a civic renewal strategy, and an antidote to polarization. Key Takeawa...
May 21, 2025•43 min•Ep. 13
Is satire still effective when reality becomes a cartoon? Pulitzer-winning cartoonist Mark Fiore joins Pacific Time to talk buffoonery, burnout, and drawing the line on tyranny. Pulitzer Prize–winning cartoonist Mark Fiore joins Pacific Time to talk about the absurdity of American politics, the moral range of satire, and why cartoonists are often the first to be jailed (or fired) when democracy erodes. We cover buffoons left and right, the limits of visual journalism, and what happens when Stanf...
May 14, 2025•49 min•Ep. 12
Silicon Valley used to dream of liberation. Now some of its loudest voices are cozying up to Trump and talking like monarchists. What happened? Is oligarchy the bug in our tech-friendly society we didn't anticipate and need to stem? Once upon a time, Silicon Valley stood for idealism: personal freedom, creative rebellion, and maybe even the most fully realized form of democracy itself. But something shifted. In this episode of Pacific Time , host Greg Amrofell talks with historian Margaret O’Mar...
May 07, 2025•47 min•Ep. 11
Blue cities are struggling—and it’s not MAGA’s fault. What if Seattle, San Francisco, and LA became models of good governance? Blue cities helped shape modern America. But they’ve been having a hard time—with homelessness, affordability, public safety, and internal political warfare. In this episode, political consultant and Blue City Blues co-host Sandeep Kaushik joins Greg to unpack why. Together, they ask: What if the West Coast’s most liberal cities actually figured out how to govern effecti...
Apr 30, 2025•58 min•Ep. 10
California pays more and receives less and less from DC. Could independence—or just grown-up governance—fix this imbalance? Summary: California's relationship with the federal government is reaching a critical juncture. Esteemed political journalist Dan Walters joins Greg to discuss CalExit, the growing frustration with federal tax inequities, and the stark contrast between California’s progressive policies and Washington's increasingly (deep breath) regressive stances. But what if the biggest t...
Apr 23, 2025•47 min•Ep. 9
Can the West Coast outgrow America? Greg explores Ecotopia, sovereignty, and the future of freedom—solo. In this episode of Pacific Time , host Greg Amrofell trades guests for green tea, a dog-eared novel, and a mic, inviting listeners on a hike through political despair, ecological design, and West Coast sovereignty. The guidebook? A 1975 cult classic: Ecotopia by Ernest Callenbach . This isn’t just a book review. It’s a reframing of what independence really means. Greg weaves personal reflecti...
Apr 16, 2025•22 min•Ep. 8
In the face of chaotic US economic policy, how can the West Coast insulate itself and cultivate cooperation across borders and build global leadership? In this episode of Pacific Time , UC Berkeley political scientist and global economic expert John Zysman joins Greg Amrofell to unpack how U.S. trade and technology policy are unraveling—and what that means for the West Coast. From the decline of American dominance to the rise of China, the shift in European alliances, and the fragility of global...
Apr 07, 2025•42 min•Ep. 7
Is the U.S. Healthcare System Beyond Repair? Mike Hanlon Explains How the West Coast Could Lead a Revolution Mike Hanlon knows healthcare in America is broken. As a health economist, tech entrepreneur, and former early-stage Amazon employee, he's seen firsthand how complex systems can either hinder or help innovation. Mike joins Greg Amrofell on Pacific Time to discuss why the U.S. healthcare system, plagued by fragmentation and inefficiencies, consistently fails patients—and how the West Coast ...
Apr 02, 2025•44 min•Ep. 6
Bioregionalism envisions borders set by the natural environment and there’s a grassroots movement for it that envisions carving “Cascadia” out of the Pacific Northwest wilderness. In this episode of Pacific Time , host Greg Amrofell talks with Yogi Uriah, a passionate grassroots organizer and leader with the Cascadia Department of Bioregion. Yogi eloquently explores the concept of bioregionalism—an idea that redefines our understanding of boundaries, not as arbitrary political lines, but through...
Mar 26, 2025•36 min•Ep. 5
Is California ready for independence? The CalExit movement is making the case again and it's stronger Marcus Ruiz Evans has a bold vision for California. As the founder of CalExit, he's spent over a decade exploring and advocating for California's independence. Marcus and Greg discuss why California could—and perhaps should—be its own nation. Marcus lays out the cultural, economic, and political rationale behind the CalExit movement, debunks myths about its legality, and paints a vivid picture o...
Mar 19, 2025•38 min•Ep. 4
What if the West Coast reclaimed its federal tax dollars? National and local budget veteran Julie Dingley explores how local control could position the West Coast to address its own challenges. Julie is the former Seattle Budget Director and a veteran of the White House OMB under Presidents Obama and Trump. She joins host Greg Amrofell to explore the possibilities that open up for the West Coast if it was economically independent, and communities have the resources and autonomy to build the soci...
Mar 12, 2025•48 min•Ep. 3
Can the West Coast really go it alone or do we need help? How could the West Coast best make it on its own? In this thought-provoking episode of Pacific Time , we start to explore the radical question: What if the West Coast was independent? Guest Mickey McManus—a visionary in AI, bioengineering, and systems innovation—challenges that premise with a bigger idea: What if interdependence was the key to a thriving future for us on the West Coast (and, really, for any modern society)? When tech comp...
Mar 04, 2025•34 min•Ep. 2
The constitutional crisis we feared is here and the United States is facing an unprecedented moment of democratic erosion. What does this mean for the 50 million people who call the West Coast home? If we believe in American values, is it time to abandon the dream of a united country from sea to shining sea? In this first full episode of Pacific Time , host Greg Amrofell asks the big ‘what-if’ questions about West Coast independence. Could California, Oregon, and Washington chart their own cours...
Feb 12, 2025•22 min•Ep. 1
What if the West Coast could break free from the noise of partisan politics and take charge of its future? What if our values, innovations, and cultural identity shaped a brighter path—one uniquely our own? Coming soon, Pacific Time is a new podcast hosted by Greg Amrofell, a lifelong West Coaster with a relentless curiosity for bold ideas and untapped possibilities. Together with thought leaders, policymakers, innovators, and visionaries, Greg tackles the biggest questions facing California, Or...
Jan 19, 2025•3 min•Ep. 1
