Nerd Farmer Podcast

Understanding the Conflict Between Azerbaijan and Armenia over Nagorno Karabakh — Sevinj Osmanqizi — #188

The show’s roots are local but it wanders wherever my interests happen to lead. 
Since moving to Abu Dhabi, I have had the opportunity to visit several countries I never would have considered visiting prior. For example, this fall I went to the Republic of Georgia and this past February I continued exploring the Caucasus with a trip to Baku, Azerbaijan. I documented this trip in my weekly newsletter.
I enjoyed my trip to Azerbaijan. One of the topics that came up several times while talking to Azeris was the ongoing conflict between Azerbaijan and Armenia over control of Nagorno-Karabakh. This is a disputed territory claimed by both states that has been the subject of two wars. At one point, while visiting the Presidential Museum, it became clear to me that I was being propagandized about the conflict. So I did a deep dive that night at the hotel but the more I learned about the dispute, the more questions I had. 
When I returned home, I put up the Bat Signal and listener Dr. Joanne Lisosky, from our friends at Pacific Lutheran University, connected me with an expert. Her name is Sevinj Osmanqizi. Sevinj is a journalist and author and best known for being on the other side of interviewers with political figures. She is one of the most critical journalistic voices about events in Azerbaijan and was labeled a “traitor” by the regime for opposing the 2020 Karabakh War. I invited her on to get the lowdown on this complicated conflict. 
Sevinj is knowledgeable and passionate about her homeland and events there. I really enjoyed learning from her and hope you do too.
Cast of Characters & Going Further
Sevinj – YouTube – Instagram
Takes & Typos – on Azerbaijan
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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 
Please consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

“Dopesick” by Beth Macy — Nerd Farm Reads Audio Book Club — #187

This is our long awaited conversation about Dopesick by Beth Macy. Dopesick is the story of the orign and rise of the opioid crisis and the actions of pharmaceutical companies in flooding our communities with drugs. The opioid crisis, a uniquely American problem, was manufactured by capitalism and our market-based health care system. 
In the book, Macy looks at how a black market pill crisis became a heroin crisis, and has now become an overdose crisis that claims nearly 100k lives each year.
Dopesick generated more conversation of the Channel 253 Member Slack than any topic we’ve ever discussed. The book and this episode is worth your time.
Cast of Characters & Going Further
Halley Knigge – Twitter
Trayton Otto – Twitter
Ingrid Walker – Twitter
Buy Dopesick  from Kings Books
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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 
Please consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

The Art of the Southern Noir Novel – Eli Cranor, “Don’t Know Tough” – #186

Eli Cranor is an Arkansas based writer. His debut novel, Don’t Know Tough, is about a troubled young man named Billy Lowe, who is taken under his wing by the new football coach, Trent Powers, newly arrived arrived from California. It’s a southern noir novel, so you know it’s more complicated than that.
He joined us to talk about his novel, his influences, and what it’s like to write about the people and places you grew up around.
Don’t worry, this is spoiler-free conversation of Don’t Know Tough.
Cast of Characters & Going Further
Eli Cranor – Twitter
Eil’s website (warning: cute dog photo)
Don’t Know Tough – NYT Review
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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 
Please consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

Tacoma Neo- Sentenced to Four Years in Federal Prison for Violent Hate Crime – John Murphy, Tacoma Against – #185

Tacoma Against (TAN) was founded in 2017 to warn the community about the presence of a violent neo- cell operating in the city of Tacoma. A member of that cell, Jason “Gravy” DeSimas, was recently sentenced to four years in federal prison for a violent hate crime in Edmonds, WA. While TAN’s anti-fascist protests drew the ire of local media, the arrest and conviction of Gravy for a violent assault drew near-zero local coverage. 
So we invited John Murphy, an organizer of TAN, to talk about the sentencing, what happened to Gravy’s co-minglers, and how this story fits into other events we’re seeing, in particular the federal sedition trials in Washington DC of the Oathkeepers and Proud Boys. 
It’s worth noting, Gravy was sentenced to 48 months in prison but credited with time served since his arrest, He will be back on the streets and likely back in Tacoma in two years.
Cast of Characters & Going Further
Tacoma Against – Twitter
TAN – Website & Blog
DOJ statement on Gravy’s sentencing
John’s Prior Appearance on the Show – The Seattle Sounders, MLS, and the Need for Courage Against Fascism 
Brandi Buchman – Reporter from Daily Kos covering sedition trials – Mastodon
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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 
Please consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

Sounders Club World Cup and Season Preview — Dave Clark, Sounder at Heart — #184

Last night (Gulf Time), as Auckland City and Egypt’s Al Ahly were kicking off in Morocco, we jumped on with Dave Clark, founder and writer at Sounder at Heart. Dave knows more about football in the Arab world and Sounders youth development than any writer covering the team, so he was the ideal guest for the conversation. We talked about the Sounders upcoming match against Egyptian giants Al Ahly on Saturday and the prospects for the upcoming season, which Dave thinks may be the final run for the core of the team.
Cast of Characters
Dave Clark – Full Moon Storytelling & Mastodon
Going Further
Dave’s 3 Deep Sounders Depth Chart
The history Al Ahly
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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 
Please consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

Understanding the Housing Market in Pierce County — Marguerite Martin, Move to Tacoma — #183

This week we are joined by the founder and proprietor of Move to Tacoma, Marguerite Martin, to talk about what’s happening in the housing market in Pierce County. This conversation is a continuation of the discussion we had with NY based real estate consultant, Nicole Beauchamp, in December. 
Marguerite, as ever, was fascinating and insightful and this conversion is worth your time.
Cast of Characters
Marguerite Martin – Move to Tacoma & LinkedIn
Going Further
The US Housing Market is Not Okay – Nicole Beauchamp, Engel & Volkers NYC – #180
My AI Is Sexually Harassing Me’: Replika Users Say the Chatbot Has Gotten Way Too Horny – Vice 
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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 
Please consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

LIVE: Adult Civics Happy Hour, Previewing the 2023 Legislative Session – #183

On December 22, Channel 253 hosted the first Adult Civics Happy Hour since the start of the pando. This is the second of two panels from that evening.
Cast of Characters
Rep Elect Sharlett Mena – 29th LD – Twitter
Rep Jessica Bateman – 22nd LD – Twitter
Sen Yasimn Trudeau – 27th LD – Twitter 
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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 
Please consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

LIVE: Adult Civics Happy Hour, the Troyer Trial – Kari Plog, KNKX and Jared Brown, TNT – #182

On December 22, Channel 253 hosted the first Adult Civics Happy Hour since the start of the pando. This is the first of two panels from that evening.
Cast of Characters
Kari Plog – KNKX FM
Jared Brown – TNT
Going Further
Prior podcast coverage of the Troyer case: here, here, and here.
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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 
Please consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

He Was One of Us – Pierce County Council Chair Derek Young, an Exit Interview – #181

As we did when then Mayor Strickland left her position, this week’s episode is an Exit Interview with Pierce County Council Chair, Derek Young. Young’s career in public service began in 1997, when he was elected to the Gig Harbor City Council, he will leave elected office in January for a gig TBD.
We spoke about the unfortunate Troyer verdict, the ways he feels he’s left the county better than when he entered office, his relationship with Executive Dammeier, what it was like to serve on the council with Pam Roach, and what’s next for him.
Cast of Characters
Derek M. Young – not that Derek, this one
Going Further
Derek’s first appearance on the pod – Stop Worrying About Trump and Get Active Locally
#NerdFarmReads – Dopesick – LibroFM and Kings Books
Direct Download Link
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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 
Please consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member

The US Housing Market is Not Okay – Nicole Beauchamp, Engel & Volkers NYC – #180

Housing is a topic we return to with regularity. This is largely thanks to its roots and association with the Pod Auntie’s Move to Tacoma Podcast. With rising interest rates (and inflation) shrinking folks’ buying power, I thought it was time for another check-in on the housing and real estate markets. This episode has a national focus, with the intent to do a locally focused follow-up in the coming weeks.
This week’s show guest is Nikki Beauchamp. Nikki is a real estate advisor. She is based in New York City but has a reach across the country and the globe. She was dope! This is my favorite episode we’ve had in a minute and she’s agreed to come back on the pod for a Part 2 down the road.
Mentioned in the show intro: Here’s a link to my new weekly newsletter, Takes & Typos.
Cast of Characters
Nikki – Insta and LinkedIn 
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
Direct Download Link
The Nerd Farmer Podcast is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, and Google Podcasts and is brought to you by Libro FM 
Please consider supporting the podcast by joining Channel 253 as a member