Spokast!

In this episode of In The Den, Alexis and Brennon sit down with Anna Marie Martin, the grant writer and nonprofit consultant behind SpokeAnna, for a candid look at how grant funding really works and what it takes to build something that lasts. Anna shares her winding path from the "years of terrible temping" to AmeriCorps, content marketing, and eventually grant writing, including helping dozens of Spokane organizations land relief funding during the pandemic. She breaks down the biggest myths she hears (no, grants are not free money, and you don't have to be a nonprofit to get one), why you need real revenue streams behind you, how to build relationships with funders instead of throwing spaghetti at the wall, and the hard realities nonprofits are facing as federal funding gets clawed back. Whether you run a nonprofit, a small business, or you just want to understand how good work gets funded in Spokane, this conversation is full of honest, practical wisdom. Learn more about Anna at spokeanna.com, and about SIMBA at spokaneindependent.org.

On this special episode of Spokast, Brennon sits down with his good friend Jinx Universe, a hip-hop artist and cultural navigator at the Carl Maxey Center, to talk about one of his favorite nights of the year: Poetry for the Vibes. Jinx shares how Poetry for the Vibes came to be, a space for youth and adults to share poetry, songwriting, and creative writing exactly as they are, no shrinking, no censoring. He and Brennon get into why rap, poetry, and songwriting are all part of the same family, why getting up to share your words is terrifying for just about everyone, and why you should do it anyway. Brennon also reflects on the last event and how a room full of strangers became one of the most special spaces he has ever been in. Poetry for the Vibes returns Tuesday, October 6, from 5 to 7 PM at the Carl Maxey Center. Sign up and RSVP here: carlmaxeycenter.org/youth-outreach/poetry-for-the-vibes Whether you are a seasoned poet or have never read a word out loud, you are welcome. And stick around to the end, where Mr. Amos of the Carl Maxey Center reads the Langston Hughes poem "Let America Be America Again." Chapters 00:00 Welcome Back to Spokast, with Jinx Universe 05:30 The Origin of Poetry for the Vibes 09:00 Rap, Poetry, and Songwriting Are All the Same Family 13:30 Come to Perform or Just to Listen 16:00 Getting Out of Your Comfort Zone 17:30 Mr. Amos Reads "Let America Be America Again"

Jeremy Urann and Sherri Bylenga are a brother-and-sister filmmaking duo from Spokane, and together they run Fat Gratitude Productions. Jeremy is a SAG-AFTRA actor, dancer, and model whose recent work includes Netflix's "Forever" and national campaigns for Nike and Columbia. Sherri is an award-winning director and cinematographer with more than 15 years of documentary film experience. Their short film HOTSHOTS is a rebellious queer comedy set in the world of Spokane bikini baristas, following June, a barista with until sunset to buy the coffee stand out from under her jerk boss before her dreams go up in flames. It's hyper local, hyper femme, hyper queer, and shooting right here in Spokane with a cast and crew of local LGBTQIA+ talent. This is a special vault edition of Spokast. We open with a brand new catch-up on where HOTSHOTS is today, then roll the full conversation from December 2024, where we dig into how a bikini stand outside their grandpa's funeral sparked the idea, Jeremy's road from BTS janitor to network TV, Sherri's path from backcountry documentaries to narrative film, and why they're determined to make this movie in Spokane, with Spokane people. Here's the important part: the HOTSHOTS Seed & Spark campaign ends August 20th, and every dollar pledged is being matched and doubled by a mystery donor until then. They have to hit 80% of their goal or they don't receive a dime. If you can't give, following the campaign is free and earns them festival fee waivers, and sharing costs you nothing. Pledge before the match ends August 20th: seedandspark.com/fund/hotshots Learn more about HOTSHOTS: hotshotsthemovie.com Follow on Instagram: @hotshotsthemovie Show Flow 00:00:00 — What Is HOTSHOTS? 00:00:32 — Intro: Out of the Vault, Why Now? 00:03:45 — 2026 Catch-Up with Jeremy & Sherri Begins 00:06:01 — Jeremy on Dancing with the Stars: The Next Pro 00:07:37 — Sherri's Update: Terrain Documentary & Counseling 00:08:59 — What Is HOTSHOTS? The Pitch 00:11:57 — The Pivot: $500K Feature to 17-Minute Short 00:19:50 — How to Help: Seed & Spark, the Fires & the Final Push 00:22:29 — The Mystery Donor Match & Mark Duplass Backs the Film 00:28:41 — One More Time: Where to Go Before August 20th 00:31:19 — The Full December 2024 Interview Begins 00:33:21 — Jeremy's BTS "Permission to Dance" Janitor Story 00:35:44 — Fat Gratitude Origins: Bay Window Plays & Backcountry Docs 00:43:20 — The Spokane Arts Grant & Pitching HOTSHOTS 00:44:05 — A Bikini Stand at Grandpa's Funeral: The Origin Story 00:46:13 — Why Film It in Spokane & the Washington Filmworks Path 00:54:04 — Five Applications, One Grant: Queer Joy Wins 00:59:23 — Working as Siblings & the Future of Fat Gratitude 01:06:00 — Advice for Aspiring Filmmakers & Why Spokane

After about eight months away from the mic, the Spokane fires brought me back. This week I built spokast.com/spokane-wildfire-relief, one page that gathers every Spokane wildfire resource into a single place, both for people who need help and people looking for ways to help. In this episode I talk about why I made it, what's on it, and the one thing that matters most: this only works if people share it. What's on the page: If you need help: shelters, food and free meals, housing, help for families and pets, small business recovery, mental health support, and a live fire map If you want to help: vetted relief funds, supply drop-offs, volunteering and pet fostering, and local businesses giving back No ads. No money collected. Every link goes to a real organization or an official source, with credit given. If this could help you or someone you love, please share it. And if you know a resource I'm missing, there's a form right on the page, send it my way and I'll add it. 🔗 spokast.com/spokane-wildfire-relief Take care of each other out there, Spokane. Timestamps 0:00 — Intro & why I'm back on the mic 1:36 — The problem: help is everywhere, but scattered 3:01 — What's on the portal: help you need, and ways to help 4:31 — Built for the long haul, and what Lahaina taught me 6:05 — The one thing that matters most: share it

In this episode of In The Den, we sit down with Andrew Bryan from the Washington State Department of Labor & Industries Small Business Office to break down one of the most misunderstood resources available to entrepreneurs and small business owners. Whether you’re just starting your business or have been operating for years, chances are you’ve had questions about workers’ compensation, hiring employees, independent contractors, workplace safety, interns, or labor laws. Andrew helps clear up some of the biggest misconceptions surrounding L&I and explains how their Small Business Office is there to educate and support business owners before problems arise. We also talk about common compliance mistakes, scams that target new business owners, the difference between employees and independent contractors, and why asking questions early can save you time, money, and frustration down the road. Plus, we discuss SIMBA’s partnership with L&I and how organizations like SIMBA help make these resources more accessible to Eastern Washington’s small business community. If you own a business, plan to hire employees, or simply want to better understand your responsibilities as an employer, this is an episode you won’t want to miss. Learn more about Washington State Labor & Industries at lni.wa.gov Become a SIMBA member at spokaneindependent.org/membership