Nerd Farmer Podcast

Jordan Harper is an award winning writer, born and raised in the Ozarks, now based in Los Angeles. 

Most widely known for award-winning novel She Rides Shotgun and his other crime fiction, he previously worked as a music and film critic. His works explore the LA underworld, its associated violence, and are populated with complex, nuanced characters.  

Other Works

• The Last King of California (2022) 
• Everybody Knows (2023) 
• A Short Story Collection: Love and Other Wounds (2015) 

Cast of Characters: Jordan Harper – Bluesky

Going Further & Related Episodes: 

• She Rides Shotgun – Trailer 
• Writing a Multigenerational Crime Masterpiece — Brian Panowich, author of “Bull Mountain,” “Like Lions,” and “Hard Cash Valley” — #202
• The Art of the Southern Noir Novel – Eli Cranor, “Don’t Know Tough” – #186

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Consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

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Senator Jessica Bateman represents the 22nd District in the Washington State Legislature. She is the chamber’s most outspoken housing advocate.

She joined us for a conversation about the wins, losses, and unfinished work on housing in the 2025 legislative session.

She is a champion for new housing (of all types) and was the lead sponsor of this year’s rent stabilization legislation. Senator Bateman’s prior appearances on the podcast are linked below.

Cast of Characters: Senator Bateman – Legislative Website

Going Further: 

• Why We Need Regional Housing Solutions – Rep. Jessica Bateman, Washington State Legislature, 22nd District – #154
• LIVE: Adult Civics Happy Hour, Previewing the 2023 Legislative Session – #183

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Consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

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Bill Fitzgerald is a privacy activist and vociferous critic of the data protection practices of Big Tech.

In this week’s episode Bill came on to talk about the data privacy implications of putting AI in everything (and putting everything, as in your data, into AI), and the wider societal implications.

Bill also did an episode of Off-the-Record about data privacy precautions to take when transiting through customs and immigration. Channel 253 Members can check the member only podcast feed and Member Slack for that conversation.

Cast of Characters: Bill – Mastodon

Going Further: Protecting Your Online Privacy — Bill Fitzgerald, Privacy Activist — #161

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After seventeen emails, dating back to December, we finally have the conversation I’ve been chasing with Diana Kuprych.

Diana is a Ukrainian student doing her graduate studies at the London School of Economics. Her thesis focuses on security guarantees between states, with an obvious emphasis on events in and around Kyiv. This is a conversation about the war, but also about the past, present, and future rebuilding of Ukraine.

She joined us on the recommendation of three time past show guest Jeff Hawn.

Cast of Characters: Diana – email

Going Further:

• Operation Spiderweb
• Kyiv Independent – On drone warfare in Ukraine

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Consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

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Melissa Santos is a reporter for Axios covering Seattle and the State Legislature. We’ve been podding with Melissa since 2017. She is a regular on the show and one of our most requested and re-requested guests by listeners.  

She joined us to talk about the recently concluded Washington State Legislative session, the punt on the wealth tax, and the leadership of Governor Ferguson in his first term as governor.

Cast of Characters: Melissa – Bluesky

Going Further:

• Axios Seattle

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Consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

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Tori is an anti-racist educator and writer. She grew up in a deeply conservative evangelical family and is now an out-spoken critic of racism and misogyny that lurks within in some Christian communities.  

She joined us to talk about the influence of 90s far right religious ideology, now at the center of the current administration’s policies.

She also joined us in 2022 for a very prescient conversation about Black Conservatism and the Democratic Party.

Cast of Characters: Tori – Website

Going Further:

• Tori’s Anti-racist publications
• Tori on Bluesky

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Consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

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This is a conversation about tariffs—with an economist who is an expert in making it plain. We’re starting with the basics: Tariffs are taxes on imports, and they’re usually passed on to consumers. So, in plain terms, a tariff on China is really a tariff on you.

By the end of this episode, you’ll understand what tariffs are, how they affect trade, and why the current tariff policies in the US are shaping up to be a drag on both the American and global economies.

Our guest today is Abdullah Al Bahrani—better known as Dr. A. He’s a full professor of economics and associate dean at the Haile College of Business, where he leads graduate programs, research, and outreach initiatives. His own research focuses on household finance and how people make financial decisions.

He previously joined us in April 2021 to talk about personal finance education in schools.

Cast of Characters: Dr. A – Website

Going Further:

• Substack
• Econ with Dr. A on Instagram

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The Nerd Farmer Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts and is brought to you by Libro FM 

Consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

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Marguerite Martin is a co-founder of Channel 253 and creator of Move to Tacoma. This is an update to her and my ongoing conversation about housing policy and real estate. You can find my previous conversations with her and many of our other conversations about housing below.

Join the #NerdFarmRead book club! We’re reading How to Stand Up to a Dictator by Maria Ressa. Members, also check the Slack Channel #Books for details of our upcoming discussion on Parable of the Sower.

Nerd Farmer Housing & Real Estate Conversations

• The Housing Market and the Ethics of Real Estate – Jasmyn Jefferson – #107
• A Protest Movement to End Homelessness – Rebecca Parson, Tacoma Housing Now – #113
• How Homeowners in Rising Housing Markets Can Fight Displacement – Marguerite Martin – #117
• The Missing Middle in Housing – Joseph Tovar, American Planning Association – #153
• Why We Need Regional Housing Solutions – Rep. Jessica Bateman – #154
• The US Housing Market is Not Okay – Nicole Beauchamp, Engel & Volkers NYC – #180
• Understanding the Housing Market in Pierce County — Marguerite Martin, Move to Tacoma — #183

Subscribe to my newsletter, Takes & Typos!

The Nerd Farmer Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts and is brought to you by Libro FM 

Consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

Amanda Willams is a former teacher in Seattle Public Schools and is the creator of the Seattle Green Book, an online listing of Black Owned Businesses in the Seattle Area. She joined us to talk about creating the Green Book and her work with Denkyem Finance, a Seattle Based community development financial institution.

Join the #NerdFarmRead book club! We’re reading How to Stand Up to a Dictator by Maria Ressa. Members, also check the Slack Channel #Books for details of our upcoming discussion on Parable of the Sower.

Going Further:

• Seattle Green Book
• KIRO coverage of the Seattle Green Book 

Subscribe to my newsletter, Takes & Typos!

The Nerd Farmer Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts and is brought to you by Libro FM 

Consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS

This week’s episode is a change of pace for the show. 

Film critic Chase Hutchinson joined us for a conversation about the upcoming 97th Academy Awards. We talked through who we think will win each of the major categories and who we think should win. 

You’ll hear a breakdown of the Oscar frontrunners and why the rise of Anora seems to be breaking Nate’s brain.

Join the #NerdFarmRead book club! We’re reading How to Stand Up to a Dictator by Maria Ressa. Members, also check the Slack Channel #Books for details of our upcoming discussion on Parable of the Sower.

Cast of Characters: Chase and Andrew (only for a little bit tho)

Going Further:

• Chase’s appearance this summer on the films of 2024 – show audio and YouTube

Subscribe to my newsletter, Takes & Typos!

The Nerd Farmer Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts and is brought to you by Libro FM 

Consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

Subscribe: Apple Podcasts | RSS