The Um, Sir Podcast

Emily and her guest Sam Minter go almost live for primary election night, breaking down Michigan’s tight Democratic Senate race (El-Sayed vs. Stevens), Washington’s local battles from state Legislative Districts on the west and east side of the state, to Supreme Court contests, and the tension between voting your conscience or strategizing—plus real-time reactions to turnout, levy wins, and why independent candida...

On this episode, we dig into childcare, because here’s the thing: it’s not just a parent problem, it’s an everyone problem. Debbie Carlsen, founder of Washington Families Thrive and general community superhero, joined us to break down why childcare crisis is tanking our workforce, and what the hell we can do about it.

The shit news? 40% of families are cutting hours, 30% are turning down jobs, and 20% are quitting ...

In this episode of the Um Sir Podcast, Emily's sits down with Keith Macaulay to unpack FIFA’s wild ride. From its "humble" 1904, Old Boys Club beginnings as a small European club to the multi-billion-dollar powerhouse it is today. They dive into the corruption, the backroom deals, and the larger-than-life characters like João Havelange and Sepp Blatter who turned development funds into political currency and World Cup bids in...

While Samie and Emily break for their mental health, they're dropping a very special episode from The Future of Our Former Democracy—yes, the Signal Award-winning podcast that’s basically Snohomish’s coolest export besides, like, Colin Cole (hi, Colin!). It’s made by this Seattle-based racial justice org, More Equitable Democracy, which, same, icon behavior.

This season they are drawing parallels between Nazi...

Guest: Randy Bolerjack, Everett Charter Review Committee Member

The Gist:
Emily in Everett sits down with Randy Bolerjack, another self-proclaimed "civic nerd" and Everett’s Charter Review Committee member, to unpack the wildly underrated world of city charters. Spoiler: It’s the rulebook for how your city (or county) runs, and most of us have no idea what’s in it, let alone, what it is!

Why It Matters:

• Your c...

This week on Um, Sir, we take a deep dive into Rep. Marie Gluesenkamp Perez. The vibes, the votes, the “I’m not like other Democrats” energy, and ask the question: who exactly is this for? From SAVE Act support to ICE funding to car analogies that never quite land, we unpack the rural vs. Seattle narrative, Blue Dog politics, and what it actually means to represent working people without throwing your own base und...

Congress is investigating the Super Bowl halftime show (because priorities), the Epstein files are still a mess, and somehow Dr. Oz wants us to trust him again. Cool, cool.

This week, Emily, Samie, and special guest Cindy Goble (elections queen, law degree holder, civic enthusiast) break down the Grammys fashion chaos, Bad Bunny’s culture-shifting halftime show, Jake Paul’s colonizer nonsense, and why Republicans are mad...

Um, Sir: Part Two picks up an unfiltered, wide-ranging conversation with Ryan Johnson that dives headfirst into immigration, ICE, labor exploitation, and who actually benefits from the system as it exists. From a blue-collar truck driver’s perspective, the hosts unpack why employer accountability (not worker punishment) is the missing piece in the immigration debate, drawing clear lines between labor trafficking, modern-day e...

Um, Sir… why is everything terrible, radioactive, and somehow still about bathrooms?

Emily and Samie are joined by Ryan Johnson, a veteran truck driver and Teamster, to unpack how trucking, labor rights, and basic human dignity collide. Ryan breaks down how trucking is structured to reward long hours, unpaid waiting time, and “pay by the mile” systems that leave workers absorbing all the risk — including...

This week on Um, Sir, Emily and Samie are joined by veteran educator Steve Cross for a wide-ranging conversation that connects everyday chaos to the very real stakes of public education. From teaching middle school and surviving ninth graders to Caribbean travel detours and student protests, they manage to discuss it all. 

Listen as they attempt to break down school levies and bonds, share how property taxes actually fund schoo...

Emily walks Ashley (and all of us) through how a bill actually becomes law in Washington. Spoiler: it’s messy, slow, and absolutely designed to kill your idea. Using the fictional Rhythm Reduction Act (RIP dancing), they break down committees, sponsors, lobbyists, hearings, caucuses, companion bills, and why a 60-day session turns everyone feral. Along the way: dinosaurs, pickleball, Bic pens, why the minority party controls ...

In this messy New Year’s edition of Um, Sir Podcast, Emily holds down the mic solo and rings in the new year with Everett real estate powerhouse Ashley Bolden for a raw, wide-ranging conversation that spirals exactly where it needs to. From Costco sticker shock and the true cost of living, to housing affordability, civil liberties, nihilism vs. hope, and whether West Virginia is a secret real-estate opportunity or an absolute...

Keith Macaulay joins Emily in Everett for a wide-ranging, slightly unhinged (in a good way) conversation about sports, money, vibes, and why fan culture actually matters. From soccer chants and Mariners loyalty to NIL chaos, stadium politics, FIFA corruption, and the economics behind who wins (and who tanks), this episode connects the dots between sports, power, and civic life with strong opinions, petty moments, and plenty of sir ...

Emily is joined by Washington State Rep. Julio Cortes for an Um, Civics crash course on the 2026 FIFA World Cup, what it means for Everett and Washington State, and how government actually prepares for global events. They also dig into banning masked law enforcement interactions, protecting immigrant families, fixing Washington’s upside-down tax code, and what to expect from a tough legislative session ahead. Civics, but make...

This week on Um, Sir, we’re joined by Matt Hansen, EOS implementer, mountain enthusiast, inventor with nine patents, and a genuinely thoughtful guide to how systems actually work. We talk Cascades hikes, Patagonia’s values vs. capitalism tension, Washington’s upcoming tax fights, and what it really takes to build something with intention. Matt helps us connect business frameworks to civic life, while we ask the et...

This week on Um, Sir, the world is still on fire, and Trump, tariffs, tire factories, and meat mail all made the same episode. Samie and Emily kick things off with Trump spending Thanksgiving tossing around the R-word like a stale dinner roll, while simultaneously dismantling the Department of Education like it’s a Black Friday doorbuster.  

Meanwhile, Boy Scouts and immigrant truckers are suddenly on the GOP’s hit ...

Emily returns from Arizona with a suitcase full of political chaos and sunscreen residue, and Samie settles in to hear all about it. From right-to-work headaches to a legislature held together by vibes, Emily breaks down Arizona’s wild policy landscape, including their billion-dollar school voucher fiasco (yes, someone bought lingerie with public education money).

They also reintroduce themselves to new listeners, one recoveri...

RELEASE THE FILES! Wait… WHAT?!

Emily and Samie break down a wild week in politics and life. From MTG’s surprise resignation to the newly released Epstein emails implicating major political players. They roast Trump’s fantasy “$2,000 tariff checks,” dive into hidden million-dollar payouts for GOP senators, and react to a federal move letting foster parents misgender kids. Between political chaos, cadav...

Democrats crushed Election Night, and Emily and the Sams break down the biggest wins, from Mamdani’s historic New York victory to major flips in Virginia, New Jersey, and beyond. They delve into why margins were so large, how national politics influenced local races, and what the data nerds were tracking in real-time.

The crew also tackles the controversial “Deciding to Win” memo, debating whether Democrats should ...