Channel 253: Tacoma’s Podcast Network
- By Kelli Jo Hjalseth
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- 03 Dec, 2020
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Over the past 15 years, podcasts have given a microphone to voices that might have otherwise never found an audience. While newspapers have been either folding or drastically reducing the capacity of their coverage— at a time when the importance of rigorous journalism is needed more than ever— podcasts have created a greater outlet for news. Creating content that can be as niche as possible, podcasts provide coverage for just about every interest you can imagine, effectively democratizing entertainment in a way that’s never quite been done before.
And, so, we run into the issue of local news perhaps languishing, as well as a pathway for more information and unique voices that have found new routes to amplify themselves. It’s from this environment that Channel 253 emerges. Channel 253 is a podcast network created by three people who have hands in so many areas of Tacoma culture and politics: Erik Hanberg, Marguerite Martin, and Doug Mackey.
“I've loved podcasts for years, and I use them to follow topics I'm interested in -- politics, history, technology, writing,” says Hanberg. “But I also love Tacoma, and I realized there weren't many Tacoma-focused shows. I helped Marguerite Martin create the Move to Tacoma podcast in 2015.
“After Trump's election, she was very fired up about local political issues, and she helped get 2016 Washington State Teacher of the Year Nate Bowling hooked on podcasting,” Hanberg continues. “Then, she created Citizen Tacoma. I approached her after that and suggested that we could turn those three podcasts into the start of a hyper-local podcast network. We found our first sponsor, and we were off to the races.”
Hanberg had long been involved in the City of Tacoma, having been on the Metro Parks Board of Tacoma since 2010. Martin, meanwhile, has spent 15 years of her life being a real estate agent in Tacoma, and spending her free time espousing its virtues. Her passion led her to host Move to Tacoma, which ultimately led to Channel 253.
"We're not trying to replace KNKX or The News Tribune. In fact, we assume the listener is caught up on the news from those sources. Our goal is to be the place where discussion about the news happens."
Mackey knew Hanberg through the avenues of Tacoma culture, having staged a performance of his musical, Grit City Fab Follies, at the City Club of Tacoma, and Hanberg then helping him to transition it to the Tacoma Musical Playhouse. After Hanberg had recorded some vocals for one of his audiobooks at Mackey’s studio, it only made sense to bring him along. So, with its three co-creators established, Channel 253 grew exponentially over the couple years it’s been around.
“I wanted Channel 253 to be a place for people who wanted to connect more deeply with their community,” Hanberg says. “We're not trying to replace KNKX or The News Tribune. In fact, we assume the listener is caught up on the news from those sources. Our goal is to be the place where discussion about the news happens.”
“I’d been pretty active in the arts and music scene in town, but not so much politically,” Mackey adds. “I had always had an interest in such things, but now I have a deeper interest and understanding of how things work.”
The sheer amount of content that has been created on Channel 253 is astounding, especially considering the meager time they’ve been around. For deep dives into policy and political candidates, Nerd Farmer and Citizen Tacoma might be up your alley; for exploring race and allyship, Interchangeable White Ladies is a funny and empathetic exploration thereof; and if what you want is a street-level examination of Tacoma -- and its tacos -- then Move to Tacoma and Taco-Man are calling for you.
During the time of the pandemic, Channel 253 has had to make adjustments to just how they can get their work out there, and how that work will sound. The network’s live events clearly had to be scrapped, but they’ve continued to record shows via Zoom. Hanberg guides us through the Channel 253 shows that have been particularly indispensable during this longest of years.
“The Crossing Division podcast has had regular ‘what's happening’ podcasts during this time,” says Hanberg. “And, after the June protests, our podcasts such as What Say U?, with sisters Melannie Denise Cunningham and Audrey Cunningham, were essential listening (as was Interchangeable White Ladies). For We Art Tacoma, the podcast I host, I've delved into what's happening with our arts institutions to see how they are navigating this time.”
It’s no surprise that companies like Channel 253 would be suffering during these past few months -- even before the age of lockdown, the news media was struggling to stay afloat -- but it’s worth noting that they would greatly appreciate your help. Channel 253 is buoyed by membership support. You can choose to help them with $4 a month, or $40 a year. In addition to the warm feelings you’ll get by knowing you’re contributing to Channel 253, you’ll also receive exclusive access to Off the Record, a free form podcast hosted by the utterly delightful Doug Mackey.
Whether or not you decide to become a backer of Channel 253, we want you to know how important they are for keeping Tacoma invigorated and educated. Regardless of how shallow or thick into the weeds of governmental policy you want to go, Channel 253 has a show that will keep you entertained and informed.
Visit www.channel253.com to find out more.
