Explore Washington State
Some outdoor moments stay with you. Morning light filtering through evergreens. The steady rhythm of boots on dirt as a trail wakes up for the day. A quiet pocket of forest after rain. These experiences often return to us long after a hike ends. For decades, Mountaineers Books has helped capture moments like these and...
Joe Giampietri worked in grocery stores for 15 years. Department lead, manager, the whole climb. Respectable career. But here’s the thing—he knew it wasn’t what he wanted. When Joe was 18, he spent a summer working at Yellowstone. One summer. That was enough. He came back to Spokane and thought, “Yeah, that. I want to...
Coffee, UFOs, and Micro-Adventures with Mark Everton Most people see SeaTac as an airport, Tukwila as a shopping stop, and Des Moines as a place to pass through. But there’s a lot more going on—if you know where to look. In this episode of the Exploring Washington State Podcast, host Scott Cowan sits down with...
The Columbia River may look calm from the shore, but beneath its surface flows a current that can shave precious minutes off an Ironman swim time. For Claude Brun, a French-American triathlete preparing for his second Tri-Cities IRONMAN, this downstream advantage is just one of many reasons why this race has become an annual pilgrimage....
What defines a place and who gets to decide? In this episode, Scott sits down with Kevin Lewis, CEO of Visit Tri-Cities, to explore how one region is reimagining its identity. From hosting a world-class IRONMAN competition to strengthening its brand through local storytelling and unified vision, the Tri-Cities is leaning into what makes it...
The Tri Cities Ironman 70.3 is no ordinary race. It is a test of endurance, grit, and mental strength — and for Jennifer Comfort, it is also home turf. As both a seasoned competitor and a dedicated coach, Jennifer has spent years helping athletes prepare for one of the Pacific Northwest’s most challenging events. In...
When Daisey James picked up a disc during COVID, she didn’t plan on becoming a leader in Bellingham’s disc golf scene. Fast forward a few years, and she’s co-owner of Far From Par Disc Golf Pro Shop, president of the Whatcom Disc Golf Club, and the driving force behind a lost disc rescue service that...
Sean Visintainer didn’t set out to build one of the Northwest’s most respected fly shops. He just loved fishing. Growing up in Spokane, Sean spent hours casting in the backyard, chasing water wherever he could find it. That quiet obsession eventually grew into something bigger: Silver Bow Fly Shop, a now-iconic storefront that serves everyone...
What do your favorite craft brewery, a family vineyard, and a city park in Spokane have in common? They might all be doing their part to protect wild salmon—and you might not even know it. In this episode of the podcast, we spend time with Brian Muegge, Farm Program Manager at Salmon Safe, a nonprofit...
Tucked away in the trees on Whidbey Island lies a place where imagination roams free and creativity is rooted in conservation. The Price Sculpture Forest isn’t a typical art gallery or nature preserve—it’s a living blend of both. Founded by Scott Price, this remarkable outdoor experience began with a simple goal: protect a beautiful section...
Washington’s state parks are more than just beautiful places to hike, camp, and explore—they’re critical habitats for some of the region’s most endangered species. From the windswept beaches of the Pacific Coast to hidden prairie remnants in Eastern Washington, these public lands quietly support vital conservation efforts that often go unnoticed. Dr. Andrea Thorpe, Natural...
Washington grows more than 10 billion pounds of potatoes each year—feeding millions, supporting thousands of jobs, and fueling a $7.4 billion industry. But how exactly does it all happen? In this episode, we go behind the scenes with Chris Voigt, Executive Director of the Washington State Potato Commission, to uncover the story of one of...
