The Grit City Podcast - podcast cover

The Grit City Podcast

The Grit City Podcast is a weekly audio experience like no other! Hosted from the vibrant city of Tacoma, Washington - also known as "Grit City," our show has been entertaining and informing listeners since 2014. And what a ride it's been! Every week, we release a new episode that introduces you to the dynamic and inspiring individuals who call the Pacific Northwest home. From local business owners and entrepreneurs to authors, artists, and unique characters, our guests embody the hard-working, blue-collar spirit that Grit City is known for. And let's not forget the occasional drug-fueled weirdo we may have met at a comedy club the night before! The Grit City Podcast first launched back in the summer of 2014 and quickly built a loyal fanbase of listeners who appreciated the show's unique perspective on the Seattle/Tacoma area. After a brief hiatus in 2017, the podcast was rebooted in 2018, with even more friends and family members involved. It quickly regained its "must listen to" status and went on to deliver an impressive 275 episodes and counting, delivering over 280 hours of audio content to our fans since. With no signs of slowing down soon! Our mission at The Grit City Podcast is simple: to bring the hard-working spirit of the Pacific Northwest to the world and have a good time doing it! We aim to create a community of listeners who understand and appreciate the concept of "grit". With a focus on local business owners, entrepreneurs, and unique characters, sprinkled with a good dose of humor, The Grit City Podcast is a one-of-a-kind audio experience that you won't want to miss. So, if you're looking for a weekly dose of inspiration, laughter, and a celebration of the human spirit, look no further than The Grit City Podcast! Subscribe now and join us for the ride! We would love to hear how you found us. Get in touch here (/contact/) or: info@gritcitypodcast.com Looking for a way to support the show? Stop by the Store (/store) and pick up some Merch or Check out our Patreon page (https://www.patreon.com/GritCityPodcast): https://www.patreon.com/GritCityPodcast

Episodes

GCP: Urban Wildlife with Suzanne Akerman

Friend of the podcast, Suzanne Akerman, is in the house, giving us the scoop on her wild adventures and spreading the word about the upcoming Proctor Polar Bear Crawl! Suzanne spends most of her days sharing her passion for animals with visitors at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium where she works as a staff biologist for the Wild Wonders Outdoor Theater. When she is not performing in shows or scooping poop, Suzanne is chair of Drinking for Conservation, a committee dedicated to conserving wildlife ...

Feb 21, 20241 hr 8 minEp. 323

GCP: Saturday Night Grit

This week the crew gets together to discuss getting fit, urban exploring, Narrows Bridge adventures, Tacoma news, and Scott Topics! 00:28 – Justin's kicking things off by welcoming Cnote to the live listening party, Scott talks about what he did earlier in the day, and they discuss the amazing re-opening of Howdy Bagels. Justin's dropping knowledge bombs about GCP's new health Grit Fit Discord Channel, free CPR training around Tacoma, and Jeff shares how he integrated his VR with his exercise bi...

Feb 14, 20241 hr 3 minEp. 322

GCP: Friday Night Hangout - Tools and Adult Coloring Books

This time Brogan joins the conversation, they chat about Tacoma Tool Library, business openings and closures post-COVID, Jeff’s Capades, Scott Topics, the happs at Cosmic Bottles, and a ton more! 00:10 – Jeff starts the episode discussing toasting his apple fritter, Derek gives a shout-out to Patreons Kaysha and Al who are hanging out with them live, and Justin talks about the amazing Tacoma Tool Library. Derek talks about the ease of doing online tool reservations, Justin talks about the librar...

Feb 07, 20241 hr 8 minEp. 320

GCP: Sunday Sermon - Local Happenings, Food, and Drama

This time the crew talks Tacoma businesses, social media drama, Putt Stuff, Tacompton Files Podcast, animal antics, and much, much, more! 00:07 – Justin opens up this episode with a tip on how to paint your walls, Derek talks about what caused his hangover, and Scott shares his discovery of the newfound pickle shot. Justin talks about the mistakes night in Spokane, Odd Otter's latest, and community biz shifts. Scott talks about the great Odd Otter vibe, Justin expresses his love of the area it’s...

Jan 31, 20241 hr 3 minEp. 319

GCP: Saturday Night Grit - Hamburger Wars and Conventions

This time the guys share the sad news of Skateworld Tacoma's closure, Crypticon, burger battles, concerts, and much more! 00:00 – Justin kicks off this episode discussing the closure of Skateworld Tacoma, how people can get involved with the podcast on Discord, and special episodes Patriots can catch. Justin talks about their plans to hang out at Crypticon, hopes to connect officially with GCP bestie Ken Carlson, and they talk about why they love the smaller conventions like Crypticon. 18:15 – J...

Jan 24, 20241 hr 13 minEp. 317

GCP: Saturday Night Grit - VR Fitness, Palm Springs, and Prison Pen Pals

Brogan joins this Saturday Night Grit conversation, they discuss Love After Lockup, virtual fitness, the crew's plan to visit Palm Springs, GCP over the years and the recent sad loss of the community. 00:08 – The show kicks off discussing Love after Lockup, reflecting on their Missed Connections conversation on the last episode, and Brogan talks about how he stumbled onto the Caged Inmates website. Justin tells the story about his prison pen-pal, what led to the man going to prison, and Jeff tal...

Jan 17, 20241 hr 19 minEp. 316

GCP: Sunday Sermon - Otters, Sports, and Missed Connections

On this episode, the guys talk about the Tacoma business closures and new ones opening, the rocking New Year's Eve party, Erik chats about sports, and they close out discussing Missed Connections. 00:14 – Justin enters the fun house version of this Willy Wonka episode, talks about going through technical difficulties, and Derek talks about getting back into podcast editing. Justin talks about the GCP fan art from Suzanne Akerman, Jeff shares his feelings about otters, and Justin talks about the ...

Jan 10, 20241 hr 7 minEp. 314

GCP: New Years Eve 2023

This off-the-cuff episode celebrates the beginning of the New Year, reflecting on 2023, and plans for 2024. You'll also catch hints of karaoke performances. 00:00 – Justin rocks out the beginning of the episode, Scott shares what he appreciated about 2023 related to the podcast, and what big podcast goal he has for 2024. Derek gives his review of 2023, his resolution for 2024, and they discuss doing a charity event in the upcoming year. Jeff talks about his 2023, Rusty shares how his 2023 went, ...

Jan 03, 202457 minEp. 313

GCP: Galactic Druid Treats

Roy from Galactic Druid Treats joins the guys for this episode. Galactic Druid Treats takes some of the most popular candies & desserts around and freeze-dries them, turning them into incredibly light, crunchy, melt-in-your-mouth treats. Check out their website for the candies and treats they currently have for sale or reach out to them to find out what farmers market or event they’ll be at next. 00:06 – The crew celebrates starting the conversation right on time, Roy talks about meeting up with...

Dec 27, 202343 minEp. 312

GCP: House Of Cannabis

Kevin Heiderich, co-owner and co-founder of House of Cannabis, sits down with the guys to talk all things cannabis. House of Cannabis has three locations around the state, Tacoma, Twisp, and Tonasket. Follow them on their socials below and stay tuned, there are plans for a fourth shop to open in the near future! 01:31 – Justin talks about recording live at the Union Club, welcomes Kevin, and Brogan and Scott reflect on hanging out with Black Jesus back in the day. Kevin talks about opening up sh...

Dec 20, 20231 hr 19 minEp. 311

GCP: Slightly Furry

Spork and Martini, owners of Slightly Furry, sit down with the guys to talk about the business and the delicious ciders they make. They have a drive to support and lift the furry, queer, and underrepresented communities that need a louder voice. You can find where their products are sold under Tap Map on their website listed in the links below. They just opened membership opportunities, are launching Kickstarter on Jan 2nd, and have their grand opening in Seattle scheduled to happen on Feb 16th,...

Dec 13, 20231 hr 8 minEp. 310

GCP: Saturday Night Grit - Lights, Sports, and Shout Outs

This time the crew chats about soccer, a correction to a local restaurant, frustration with Kia Boys, upcoming guests, and gives a tribute to Clownvis Presley. 00:00 – The episode kicks off debating the significance of mentioning when they experience echoes while recording, Justin shares how people can listen to them live, and talks about The Tacoma Light Trail. He shares the different events that happen during the festival, Erik joins them live from the Tacoma Double Header Soccer game, and Jus...

Dec 06, 20231 hr 11 minEp. 308

GCP: Hangout - Black Friday

On this episode the crew discusses Black Friday, Is It Tacoma, AI Wild West, OpenAI, and Chucky Cheese getting rid of their animatronics. 01:50 – Erik pops in on this episode, the guys talk about Black Friday shopping, and Justin explains what Small Business Saturday is. Jeff shares what his wife will have for sale during the event, Justin shares the new cat tree he bought during the Black Friday sale, and each share what they enjoyed for Thanksgiving dinner. Justin talks about doing a pickle br...

Nov 29, 20232 hr 30 minEp. 307

GCP: Grit City Comic Show - Part 2

This episode is a continuation of their visit to the Grit City Comic Convention. They get a chance to talk to the guys from SOS Wrestling, Ken Carlson, friend of the podcast and creator of Hellbound Slant 6, and they go deep in the nerd talk with another friend of the podcast Rusty the Comedian. 01:38 – Justin shares where listeners can get the haps of local sports in Discord, talks about Brogans Drunksgiving celebration, and Scott talks about his recent attendance at the Tacoma Stars soccer mat...

Nov 22, 20232 hr 48 minEp. 306

GCP: Grit City Comic Show

On this special episode, the guys discuss their time at the Grit City Comic Show, recap interviews they were able to catch at the convention that included local author C.M. Kane, local artist Justin Hunt, and Keith from Die Cut Stickers. 01:04 - Justin welcomes listeners to the episode, Scott expresses the great time they had at the convention, and how much the event grew from last year. They talk about their newfound love of freeze-dried candy, how they ended up connecting with the owner, and t...

Nov 15, 20231 hr 20 minEp. 305

GCP: Sunday Sermon - Duels, Burgers, and Pinball

This time, the guys talk about Tacoma making national news, Derek’s anniversary, their excitement for the Grit City Comic Show, and close out by revealing the bonus question. 01:34 – Justin shares where people can listen to them live, talks about the bonus Patreon episode, and the recent mass shooting in Tacoma that made national news. They talk about bringing duals back, encouraging people to go to Street Beefs instead of using guns, and Scott recommends people leave their weapons at home befor...

Nov 08, 20231 hr 5 minEp. 303

GCP: Sunday Sermon

On this episode, the crew chats about the upcoming Grit City Comic Show, Oculus and gaming, Chicago-style pizza, hot Tacoma news, and new bonus material. 01:06 – Justin wishes Derek and his wife a happy anniversary, shares upcoming New Years plans, and discusses the reboot of the group Oculus get-together. Justin announces the new bonus Patreon podcast, confirms plans for the Grit City Comic Show after party at the Camp Bar, and the Saturday Night shenanigans. 15:51 – Justin shares what song his...

Nov 01, 20231 hr 3 minEp. 301

GCP: Saturday Night Grit - Happening Things

This time, the crew talks about upcoming plans, Justin and Derek’s visit to the Dark Heart Barber Collection, Is It Tacoma, bad driver stickers, and all things gaming. 00:00 – Scott announces he adopted a stray cat, Justin gives a shout-out to their guest from the last episode, and plans to do karaoke at The Camp Bar post-comic show. They talk about the new merch they’ll have at the Grit City Comic Show, Scott and Jeff plan what song they’ll be singing, and Derek talks about his haircut experien...

Oct 25, 20231 hr 19 minEp. 299

GCP: Bright Eyes Photography - Jody Ellen Akerman

On this episode, Jody Ellen Akerman, owner of Bright Eye’s Photography sits down with the crew. Bright Eye’s Photography is located in Puyallup at 116 S Meridian #A. Their mission is to take absolutely captivating portraits of their customers that even they didn't know could be possible! Find them online and make your appointment today for a photo shoot consultation! 00:10 – Randy Newman welcomes listeners to this episode, Justin introduces Jody, and talks about the circles they’ve run together ...

Oct 18, 20231 hr 1 minEp. 298

GCP: Dark Heart Barber Collective

Shane and Tito, owners of the recently opened barber shop in Tacoma, Dark Heart Barber Collective, sit down with the GCP crew on this episode. Shane is an artist when it comes to crafting effortlessly stylish hairstyles and Tito's diverse clientele is a testament to his versatility and inclusive approach. Check them out on their website and Instagram. 00:09 – Justin reveals that they’ll be doing a Boudoir photo shoot post-recording, Shane talks about how long the shop’s been open, and how he and...

Oct 11, 20231 hr 4 minEp. 297

GCP: Hangout - The Grit City Mascot?

This time the guys hangout at the Union Club and talk public transportation, the Grit City Comic Show, and Tacoma’s new unofficial mascot. 00:05 – Jeff starts off this episode searching for the sweet spot, they share that each of them has had a strange week, and Scotts talks about Seattle still allowing To Go Drinks. He questions the difference between Iced Tea and Red Bull and Vodka, Justin talks about going to the Seahawk's first game of the season, and taking the train into the game. 11:54 – ...

Oct 04, 202347 minEp. 296

GCP: Sunday Sermon - Onalaska, Sports, and Missed Connections

This time, the crew chats about Justin's Dungeons and Dragons adventures, Jeff’s anniversary, Roller Derby season, other sports around Tacoma, GCP live events, and Tacoma Missed Connections. 01:57 – Justin gives an update on what Brogan has been up to, talks about his DND weekend, and the grit vibe in the town of Ethel. He talks about what he enjoyed at the All In bar, they jump into Jeff’s Capades, and Jeff shares the three things he has troubles with. He talks about the layout of The Cliff Hou...

Sep 27, 20231 hr 3 minEp. 295

GCP: Sunday Sermon - Fair Food & Sushi

On this episode, the guys chat about Grit City Grub, Washington Fair, Vegas, the sad news of ALMA’s final show at the end of October, and the upcoming Grit City Comic Show. 00:18 – Scott and Jeff explain what the drink Lean is made of, Justin gives a shout-out to the listeners who are tuning in live, and chats about window shopping food at the Washington State Fair. Scott expresses that the best place to eat a turkey leg is while enjoying the Tournament of the Kings show in Vegas, Jeff talks abo...

Sep 20, 20231 hr 13 minEp. 294

GCP: Saturday Night Grit - Tacoma Aroma

This week the guys discuss the aromas of Tacoma, upcoming events for the podcast, and take a positive spin on Is It Tacoma. 00:00 – Jeff welcomes Erik to this episode, Justin promises that this episode won’t be a bummer one, and Derek gives props to new listeners tuning in live. Justin talks about this week's spin on Is It Tacoma, the closure of the paper mill, and the guys guess what they think the cause of the aroma is. 17:49 – Derek talks about hitting up the biggest gaming convention in the ...

Sep 13, 20231 hr 13 minEp. 293

GCP: Airing Of Grievances

On this episode, the guys express their grievances that have happened over the past couple weeks but bringing the tone up at the end closing it out on a positive note! 00:00 – The show opener highlights the use of profanity in public, Justin discusses what brought him to cover this episode’s topic, and Derek reveals the first grievance of the show. He talks about the cost of getting his car towed, Scott talks about the beauty of driving a beater car, and Justin talks about the odd way he gets hi...

Sep 06, 20231 hr 21 minEp. 292

GCP: Brad with Tacoma WTF Trees

Brad, a local Tacoma resident who runs TacomaWTFTrees on Instagram, joins the guys on this episode. TacomaWTFTrees is the place to view some of the worst tree-pruning jobs in the Tacoma area. People are encouraged to submit their own sightings, see the links below to check them out! 00:04 - They start this episode sharing their love of the bacon cheeseburger pizza that was enjoyed while recording, Justin introduces Brad, and Brad talks about what got him started posting on Instagram. He talks ab...

Aug 30, 20231 hr 14 minEp. 291

GCP: Duchess Of Downtown - Bringing Back The Weekly Volcano

Angela Jossy, the Duchess of Downtown Tacoma, and her friend Voxxy join the guys on this episode. Angela is the new owner of the local Tacoma newspaper Weekly Volcano. They plan to release the first paper this coming October. 00:16 – Justin reflects on the recent golfing trip, Angela talks about her return to organizing Art on the Ave this year, and how special this year was for the event. Scott shares his love of watching bar comedy, Justin talks about GCP being the guy's garage band, and Angel...

Aug 23, 20231 hrEp. 290

GCP: Isaac Pennoyer - SENCo

In this episode, the crew talks to Isaac Pennoyer, council member number eight, from SENCo. SENCo, (South End Neighborhood Council) is an all-volunteer organization dedicated to advocating for the South End by connecting the community to City services & each other. People are invited to join SENCo meetings happening Mondays at 7 PM. 00:04 – Justin and Jeff kick off the episode by giving thanks to Scott for the amazing energy he brings to the team, Isaac gives his opinion on if he considers a hig...

Aug 16, 20231 hr 14 minEp. 289

GCP: Best Of - Talking UFOs with Dan Nims, MUFON Investigator.

This time, GCP does a throwback episode of show 152 with Dan Nims, the chief investigator for the Washington chapter of MUFON. Dan is retired from the US Air Force (thank you for your service) where he started his career as a fighter pilot and test pilot, followed by advancing to Director of Test for the F-22 program and finally Director of Test Resources. He spent his initial retirement years as a small businessman in Walla Walla and is now re-retired. He has been a member of MUFON since 2017 a...

Aug 09, 20232 hr 38 minEp. 288

GCP: Sixth Ave Events and Aliens!

On this episode, the guys discuss Porchfest, Art on the Ave, reflect on Putt Stuff, review Cajun seafood at Captain Crab, and a Scott Topic. 00:04 – This episode kicks off discussing Rob Zombie’s song about UFOs, Justin talks about checking out Art On The Ave, and Derek throws a suggestion out to organizers of the event to make it easier for people planning to go. They talk about Porchfest happening the upcoming weekend, Justin talks about the re-opening of Dirty Oscar’s Annex, and they discuss ...

Aug 02, 20231 hr 17 minEp. 287