Building Bellingham

Meet Kelly Evert and Paul Hanson. 2/3 of the trio that own and operate Village Books and Paper Dreams. All three former employees and leadership team that eventually took on the reins of the business from the founders Dee and Chuck Robinson. In this episode, Kelly and Paul talk about their journey in the world of books, what it's like to co-own and operate between three different business owners and all the hows and whys behind choosing what books to stock. Plus, we get into the ways that Village Books and Paper Dreams has connected with the community, the neurological magic of picking up and reading a physical book, and all the reasons why it's vital for us all to never lose the art of reading for yourself. Enjoy the episode! Learn more about Village Books & Paper Dreams: 🌐 Website: https://www.villagebooks.com/ 🌐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/village_books 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VillageBooks/ - Building Bellingham is a community podcast produced by the Bellingham Real Estate Co. Our Crew: Producer & Audio Editor | Taylor Beal Video Production | Cooper Hansley Host | Leo Cohen Follow the show: 🌐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/building.bellingham 🌐 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buildingbellingham

Meet Susie Purves. What started as a career in arts and film in the greater Seattle area eventually led Susie to the Executive Director role at the Pickford here in Bellingham. Throughout this episode, Susie shares with us how the Pickford navigates showing a balance of independent small films while also hosting the big blockbusters, a little bit of history of where the Pickford started, and what they hope to provide amongst an era of streaming outside of the theater. Plus, we get to talking about directors, movies, and all things film distribution. Enjoy the episode! Learn more about or catch a film at The Pickford: 🌐 Website: https://www.pickfordfilmcenter.org/home 🌐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pickfordfilm/ 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pickfordfilm - Building Bellingham is a community podcast produced by the Bellingham Real Estate Co. Our Crew: Producer & Audio Editor | Taylor Beal Video Production | Cooper Hansley Host | Leo Cohen Follow the show: 🌐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/building.bellingham 🌐 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buildingbellingham

Meet Bradley Lockhart. Whatcom County local, creator of the Bellingham Flag and the brains behind many local business' branding and logos. In this episode, Brad talks to us about his journey to digital media, animation and curating an icon of Bellingham iconography with our official city flag. We get into what it's like finding that balance between a client's vision and needs and where you as a creative toe the line with your own ideas. Plus, we get into more talk of flags with Brad's rendition for a Washington State and Seattle flag, his love for pinball machines, being part of a local punk band, and getting to work with an organization like Children of the Setting Sun. Enjoy the episode! Learn more about Brad's work and get yourself some Bellingham merch: 🌐 Lariat Creative | Website: https://lariatcreative.com/ 🌐 Lariat Creative | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lariatcreative/ 🌐 NW Corner Goods | Shop: https://www.nwcornergoods.com/ 🌐 NW Corner Goods | Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nw_corner/ - Building Bellingham is a community podcast produced by the Bellingham Real Estate Co. Our Crew: Producer & Audio Editor | Taylor Beal Video Production | Cooper Hansley Host | Leo Cohen Follow the show: 🌐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/building.bellingham 🌐 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buildingbellingham

Meet Stephanie Morrell, President and General Manager of the Bellingham Bells. Stephanie came to Bellingham at 18 years old to attend Western, and after working for the Bellingham Herald post-graduation, she joined the Bells in 2013 as their Marketing Director. Not too long after, she moved into the General Manager role in 2016 before additionally taking on her role as President in 2024, making this year her 13th with the Bells. In this episode, Stephanie talks to us about the importance of keeping it local at Joe Martin stadium, what the economic ins and outs of running a collegiate-based team look like, as well as what the experience of hitting a moving target that is running a sports organization in an arts-focused community. Plus, we hear a little insight into how they curate an electric experience for everyone who comes to the ballpark and not just die hard sports fans, and Leo takes a swing at seeing how he can be Dinger for a game. Enjoy the episode! Learn more about the Bellingham Bells & watch a game this season: 🌐 Website: https://bellinghambells.com/ 🌐 Instagram: https://instagram.com/bhambells 🌐 Facebook: https://facebook.com/BellsBaseball - Building Bellingham is a community podcast produced by the Bellingham Real Estate Co. Our Crew: Producer & Audio Editor | Taylor Beal Video Production | Cooper Hansley Host | Leo Cohen Follow the show: 🌐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/building.bellingham 🌐 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buildingbellingham

Meet Jake Gobeille & Brad Sakali. Jake is a co-owner and co-founder of Beach Cat while Brad is master of all things Marketing. In this episode, Jake talks about what Beach Cat's journey to opening a brewery in Birch Bay, WA amidst a pandemic shutdown looked like, the hockey stick of an experience their business went through that has led to a second location in Bellingham, his hopes he has for our local beer scene and why Beach Cat is dedicated to making craft brewing more accessible to our community. We also hear from Brad on the how Beach Cat authentically connects with customers via social media, the importance of accessible community events, and how knowing your regulars makes an impact on their decision to participate in your third space. It's an hour full of laughter, life lessons and candid conversation about how Beach Cat is curating community at their breweries. Enjoy the episode! Learn more about Beach Cat Brewing: 🌐 Website: https://www.beachcatbrewing.com/ 🌐 Instagram (North Paw, Birch Bay): https://www.instagram.com/beachcatbrewing.bbay/?g=5 🌐 Instagram (South Paw, Bellingham): https://www.instagram.com/beachcatbrewing.bham/?g=5 🌐 Facebook (North Paw, Birch Bay): https://www.facebook.com/BeachCatBrewing.bbay 🌐 Facebook (South Paw, Bellingham): https://www.facebook.com/BeachCatBrewing.bham - Building Bellingham is a community podcast produced by the Bellingham Real Estate Co. Our Crew: Producer & Audio Editor | Taylor Beal Video Production | Cooper Hansley Host | Leo Cohen Follow the show: 🌐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/building.bellingham 🌐 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buildingbellingham

Meet Kolby LaBree. Tour Guide and Co-Owner of the Good Time Girls Bellinghistory Tours crew here in town. In this episode, Kolby talks about what it's like to lead a small team, how the tours come together, and the wide range of local history that the Good Time Girls cover. She talks about how truth in history is always-evolving and how much she loves the spooky cryptid tales alongside the real-life lore that exists in Bellingham. Plus, she tells with us what some of her favorite historic buildings in town are, as well as shares some of her own personal Bellinghistory. Enjoy the episode! Learn more about Good Time Girls & Kolby: 🌐 Bellinghistory With the Good Time Girls Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/0nJyNpDwfWumnBavP4YOVF?si=cc257417ea7b44e3 🌐 Website: https://bellinghistory.com/ 🌐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/goodtimegirlstours/ 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/goodtimegirlsbellingham/ - Building Bellingham is a community podcast produced by the Bellingham Real Estate Co. Our Crew: Producer & Audio Editor | Taylor Beal Video Production | Cooper Hansley Host | Leo Cohen Follow the show: 🌐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/building.bellingham 🌐 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buildingbellingham

Meet Matt Shaver. Founder and President of Foundation Restoration. In this episode, Matt covers everything from his experience playing college basketball to his transition to Bellingham, his journey with Foundation Restoration and how experiences with previous professions gave him insight on why he runs his company differently. He talks about the importance of integrity, being of service to others, about the importance of investing in one's community and showing up no matter what. And, we get to hear a little bit more about how he dipped into the music scene with band management, and even hear a little bit of his Mongolian Throat Singing too! Enjoy the episode! Learn more about Foundation Restoration & Matt: 🌐 Website: https://www.foundationrestoration.com/ 🌐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/unclemattshaver/ - Building Bellingham is a community podcast produced by the Bellingham Real Estate Co. Our Crew: Producer & Audio Editor | Taylor Beal Video Production | Cooper Hansley Host | Leo Cohen Follow the show: 🌐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/building.bellingham 🌐 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buildingbellingham

Meet Wyatt Uhrig. General Manager and 4th-generation member of one of Bellingham's oldest and most infamous family-run retail locations in town; Yeager's Sporting Goods. In this episode, Wyatt talks about the impact of having a team that's excited about the product they're selling, how they maintain such a wide spectrum of inventory, and how they're adapting their marketing to connect more people with their shop. Plus, we get into a little bit of the family history of the people in the Yeager Family who made the business what it was over the last 100+ years, and how Yeager's navigates a revolving door of evolution across all fronts of running an in-person retail space in 2025. Enjoy the episode! Learn more about Yeager's: 🌐 Website: https://yeagerssportinggoods.com/ 🌐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yeagerssportinggoods/ 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/yeagerssportinggoods - Building Bellingham is a community podcast produced by the Bellingham Real Estate Co. Our Crew: Producer & Audio Editor | Taylor Beal Video Production | Cooper Hansley Host | Leo Cohen Follow the show: 🌐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/building.bellingham 🌐 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buildingbellingham

Meet Jenn Mason. Former DVSAS Sexual Assault Victim Advocate, current School Board member and owner and educator of Bellingham's very own not creepy sex-shop in the heart of Downtown Bellingham, WinkWink Boutique. In this episode, Leo and Jenn cover the challenges of navigating inventory in an ever changing retail world, how WinkWink is redefining the taboo nature of sex in our conversations, how to help parents navigate "the talk" with their kids, and how Jenn has remained true to her business and their mission in the face of intense adversity on a local and national level. They get into the importance of holding others in a compassionate space even if those people don't do the same for you, and of course, we find out which neighborhood in Bellingham are WinkWink's biggest fans. Enjoy the episode! Learn more about WinkWink: 🌐 Website: https://winkwinkboutique.com/ 🌐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/winkwinkboutique/ 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/winkwinkboutique - Building Bellingham is a community podcast produced by the Bellingham Real Estate Co. Our Crew: Producer & Audio Editor | Taylor Beal Video Production | Cooper Hansley Host | Leo Cohen Follow the show: 🌐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/building.bellingham 🌐 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@buildingbellingham

Meet Taylor Beal. Our podcast producer, audio editor, and nerd of all things Bellingham and community. In this behind the scenes special episode, Taylor talks about the transition our crew made in moving the producer role from Tiffany to Taylor, how the podcast happens, and the importance of the community content on our platforms and how it impacts our audience and business. Enjoy episode! - Building Bellingham is a community podcast produced by the Bellingham Real Estate Co. Our Crew: Co-Producers & Audio Editors | Tiffany Holden & Taylor Beal Video Production | Cooper Hansley Host | Leo Cohen Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/

Meet Janet Lightner. She's the General Manager/Co-Owner of Bellingham's first ever microbrewery that sparked the local craft beer scene, Boundary Bay Brewery & Bistro. In this episode, Leo and Janet travel through 30 years of Boundary Bay history. Janet tells us about how Ed Lightner got the brewery started in 1995 and how they've gotten to watch not only downtown, but the local brewery scene grow around them. They also talk about the importance of community, having the right people on your team to further your growth, and how sometimes taking risks is the way to go. We're incredibly honored to have gotten to sit down with Janet and hear the story of Boundary Bay before they close the doors to their Railroad Ave brewery and bistro this fall. Save the date; the Boundary Bay 30th Anniversary & Community Block Party is all day long on Saturday, September 20th at Boundary. Enjoy the episode! Learn more about Boundary Bay: 🌐 Website: https://www.bbaybrewery.com/ 🌐 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bbaybrewery/ 🌐 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/bbaybrewery - Building Bellingham is a community podcast produced by the Bellingham Real Estate Co. Our Crew: Co-Producers & Audio Editors | Tiffany Holden & Taylor Beal Video Production | Cooper Hansley Host | Leo Cohen Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ A huge thank you to our friends at Doc Swinson's for being this season's community partner.

Meet Adam Nelson and Dayna Penney; two business owners who saw an opportunity to bring a local business to the primarily residential-filled Silver Beach Neighborhood. In this episode, Adam and Dayna talk about what the journey of their new business has been like in the first year, the importance of hands-on teaching and working alongside their staff and their mindset on sustainable growth with events and menu offerings. Plus, they share a little about the history of the Silver Beach Neighborhood and how that inspired their branding and story as a business. Learn more about Lakeline: https://www.lakelinebellingham.com/ - Building Bellingham is a community podcast produced by the Bellingham Real Estate Co. Our Crew: Co-Producers & Audio Editors | Tiffany Holden & Taylor Beal Video Production | Cooper Hansley Host | Leo Cohen Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ A huge thank you to our friends at Doc Swinson's for being this season's community partner.

Meet Katie Hinton. What started off as 5 pounds of pasta made a day in 2007 has slowly but sustainably grown into a much larger, 2,500 pounds of pasta made daily-kind of company here and now in 2025. Throughout this episode, Katie talks about the process behind creating Bellingham Pasta Company's delicious fresh pasta, the importance of branding for businesses, and having a strong connection to your distributer and the businesses you sell to. Plus, we learn how much she not only loves working with people, but how she additionally loves to bring a high quality food product to the dinner tables of families in Whatcom County and beyond. Learn more about Bellingham Pasta Company: https://bellinghampasta.com/ - Building Bellingham is a community podcast produced by the Bellingham Real Estate Co. Our Crew: Co-Producers & Audio Editors | Tiffany Holden & Taylor Beal Video Production | Cooper Hansley Host | Leo Cohen Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ A huge thank you to our friends at Doc Swinson's for being this season's community partner.

Meet Guy Occhiogrosso. A professional with almost 20 years of Whatcom County Chamber experience who lives and breathes community. Having been with the Bellingham Chamber since 2014, and in the Chamber world itself since 2006, Guy has navigated a volley of changes of what business looks like through technological evolutions and the looming effects of business in a post-pandemic world. In this episode, we talk about what it looks like to advocate for the business community to local government, Guy's hopes for abundant housing in Whatcom County, and the importance of in-person connections amongst members of the community. Enjoy! - Building Bellingham is a community podcast produced by the Bellingham Real Estate Co. Our Crew: Co-Producers & Audio Editors | Tiffany Holden & Taylor Beal Video Production | Cooper Hansley Host | Leo Cohen Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ A huge thank you to our friends at Doc Swinson's for being this season's community partner.

Meet Mike Hammes. A titan in the construction space who believes in the power of connecting with those in your company and those in your community. With a background in both firefighting and construction, Mike founded RAM back in 1995, starting out with smaller construction jobs like digging out garages that eventually led to the company it is today that works on civil projects like the Padden Creek Fish Barrier Removal and building projects like Alderwood Elementary. In this episode, Mike talks about the importance of giving back to your staff, the balance of family and work when intertwined, and what social good means in the world of RAM Construction. - Building Bellingham is a community podcast produced by the Bellingham Real Estate Co. Our Crew: Co-Producers & Audio Editors | Tiffany Holden & Taylor Beal Video Production | Cooper Hansley Host | Leo Cohen Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/ A huge thank you to our friends at Doc Swinson's for being this season's community partner.

Meet Logan McQuaig. He's a down-to-earth, humble kind of guy who calls himself the "maintenance boy" around Redlight Kitchen & Bar, his popular establishment on Grand Ave. Logan grew up in hospitality, from delivering pizza all around Bellingham to serving up pints at Uisce. Today, he's the owner of one of Bellingham's hotspots, known for its extensive drink menu, Asian-fusion dishes, and a warm atmosphere. In this episode, he talks all things restaurant management, the importance of key leaders, and the future of their old space on State Street. Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/

Meet Andrea Evans. She's an avid knitter, a knows-her-numbers business woman, and has one of those warm souls that make you feel welcome the moment you meet her. Andrea developed her yarn sales and subscription box business through interpersonal connection at their storefront, nonprofit support projects, and online educational and community-building livestreams. Apple Yarns is a staunch supporter of several nonprofit organizations, including Knitted Knockers, which ships thousands of free handmade breast prosthetics nationally each month. Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/

Meet Brad Barron. Fourth generation Barron and current CEO, he's a community-minded leader dedicated to the development of trades in Whatcom County. In this episode, he talks about generational leadership and imposter syndrome, why to document systems in a growing company, and the importance of taking care of coworkers first and foremost. Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/

Join Leo (host) and Tiffany (producer) in the studio as we reflect on five seasons and 40 episodes of the Building Bellingham Podcast. We talk growth, failure, balancing our entrepreneurial and administrative energies, and our goals for this local business podcast. Thanks to all who've joined in along the way, and we'll see you all in Season 6! Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/

Meet Chas Kubis. Serial entrepreneur and iconic Bellingham restaurateur, he's the driving force behind Black Sheep's fried chicken tacos and the guy that bar staff call on when an oven breaks at 7:30 on a Friday night. In this episode, he talks hard conversations, the incubation space of multiple restaurant concepts, the early days of breweries & food trucks in Bellingham, and the vibe of Restaurant Row on Holly St. Follow the show: https://www.instagram.com/building.bellingham/