Stay connected to your community with "What’s Happening Salem," your go-to podcast for all things Salem, Oregon. Every Friday morning, we bring you the latest news, events, and stories from the past week, keeping you informed and engaged with what's happening in your city. Whether it's local government updates, community events, or neighborhood highlights, "What’s Happening Salem" ensures you never miss a beat. Tune in weekly to stay in the know and be part of the vibrant Salem community.
What's Happening Salem
Claim This Podcastby Jacob Espinoza
4.7(15 reviews)
84 episodes
Updated Daily
Accepts GuestsHas SponsorsLocation 🇺🇸
47
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality74
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement51
Podcast Overview
Stay connected to your community with "What’s Happening Salem," your go-to podcast for all things Salem, Oregon. Every Friday morning, we bring you the latest news, events, and stories from the past week, keeping you informed and engaged with what's happening in your city. Whether it's local government updates, community events, or neighborhood highlights, "What’s Happening Salem" ensures you never miss a beat. Tune in weekly to stay in the know and be part of the vibrant Salem community.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
8/23/2024
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47
Podcast Authority
BetaFairBased on show quality, social media presence, reviews, charts, and more
Quality74
Social0
YouTube0
Engagement51
7
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12
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excellent
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Recent Episodes
June 18, 2026
Superheroes for Foster Kids: Susie Rice on CASA Marion County's Big Run
<p><strong>Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem!</strong></p><p>In this episode, Jacob Espinoza sits down with Susie Rice, Development Director at CASA Marion County, to discuss:</p><p>The upcoming Superhero Run and how it brings the community together to support kids in foster care.</p><p> What CASA does and the critical role court-appointed volunteer advocates play in a child's life.</p><p> Real stories of trust, comfort, and the long road to success in foster care cases.</p><p> And much more!</p><p><strong>Timestamps:</strong></p><p> 00:23 - Introducing Susie Rice and CASA Marion County</p><p> 00:25 - The Superhero Run: bringing capes to Riverfront Park</p><p> 01:38 - More than fundraising: the "friend-raiser" and advocacy mission</p><p> 02:33 - What is CASA? The history and mission behind the organization</p><p> 04:18 - Walking through a child's journey with a CASA volunteer</p><p> 05:40 - The power of a simple backpack and a treasured toy</p><p> 07:26 - Defining success in the hardest situations</p><p> 10:20 - CASA's role with the courts and the volunteers behind the scenes</p><p> 13:28 - What Susie wishes every Salem resident understood about foster kids</p><p> 14:44 - How to get involved and take the first step</p><p> 16:00 - Closing thoughts on CASA's heart and community impact</p>
April 23, 2026
From Myspace to Metronome: Inside Salem Oregon's Live Music Culture
<p><strong>Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem!</strong></p><p>In this episode, your hosts sit down at Metronome for a wide-ranging conversation about Salem's live music scene — past, present, and future. From flyering telephone poles in the Myspace era to navigating today's social media landscape, the conversation covers what it really takes to keep local music alive and thriving.</p><p><strong>In this episode, we discuss:</strong></p><ul><li>Salem's live music history and the creative venues that made it happen</li><li>How promotion has shifted from handbills and posters to digital — and why both still matter</li><li>The state of Salem's music scene today, and why it's better than people give it credit for</li><li>The challenge of building lasting, consistent music venues in Salem</li><li>Big upcoming shows at the Salem Riverfront Amphitheater (Ice Cube & Slightly Stoopid!)</li><li>A first-time return to the stage after a decade away — and performing Oregon Homeboy live with a full band</li><li>Salem's collaborative vs. competitive music culture, then and now</li><li>Being pro-Salem, pro-development, and what it means to champion your local community</li><li>This week's sponsor: Discover Newport — a perfect 90-minute getaway for a date night on the Oregon Coast</li></ul><br/><p><strong>Timestamps:</strong></p><p>00:00 – Teasing the April 24th show at The Grand</p><p>04:03 – Getting into Salem's music scene</p><p>04:38 – Flyering, handbills, and old-school show promotion</p><p>05:43 – Legendary Salem venues: The HyperX, The Wasteland, Triangle, and more</p><p>08:54 – The challenge of all-ages shows in Salem</p><p>11:43 – How Salem's music scene compares to Portland and Eugene</p><p>19:13 – Collaboration vs. competition in local music</p><p>20:32 – Why Salem's scene gets dogged harder than it deserves</p><p>21:53 – What Salem is missing: consistent, long-standing venues</p><p>25:10 – Shoutout to Bennett Ave and local music listings</p><p>28:27 – Favorite shows performed and attended in Salem</p><p>29:06 – Opening for Blue Scholars at Willamette University</p><p>31:20 – The Grand taking risks on emerging artists</p><p>33:13 – Big acts coming to the Riverfront Amphitheater</p><p>34:37 – Sponsor break: Discover Newport</p><p>35:53 – 75 Hard update and home workout hacks</p><p>37:52 – Returning to the stage and performing with a live band</p><p>40:22 – The origin story of Oregon Homeboy going viral on Myspace</p><p>42:13 – Writing about Salem's mayoral race and navigating community opinions</p><p>43:12 – Being unapologetically pro-Salem and pro-development</p><p>44:42 – Cutting through political tribalism and focusing on your local community</p><p>46:41 – Wrap-up and sign-off from Metronome</p>
April 5, 2026
Boots on the Ground: How Salem Reporter Keeps It Real
<p><strong>Welcome to this week's episode of What's Happening Salem!</strong></p><p>In this episode, Jacob Espinoza sits down with Rachel from Salem Reporter to discuss:</p><ul><li>The future of local journalism and what sets community-rooted reporters apart in the age of AI.</li><li>Salem's downtown development saga — the State and Commercial site's $5 million history, environmental hurdles, and what's next.</li><li>Local elections and how Salem Reporter is approaching candidate coverage and civic engagement.</li><li>The challenge of moderating online discourse and why moving comments off Facebook has been a win.</li><li>Building community trust through in-person events, Reddit engagement, and showing up as real people.</li><li>And much more!</li></ul><br/><p><strong>Timestamps:</strong></p><p>00:00 – Morning routines, circadian rhythms, and the art of doing things your own way</p><p>05:12 – The easy button approach to podcasting and why low barriers matter</p><p>06:00 – Being recognized in Salem and why people are nicer in person than online</p><p>09:15 – Moving comments from Facebook to Salem Reporter's own site</p><p>11:00 – Deep engagement vs. 22-second videos: where local journalism fits</p><p>21:00 – The State and Commercial development site: $5 million spent, environmental contamination, and financing struggles</p><p>27:00 – Urban renewal debates and community reactions to the story</p><p>29:30 – Salem Reporter's "Whatever Happened To" feature and doubling back on old stories</p><p>29:45 – Local elections, candidate coverage, and getting people engaged in city politics</p><p>43:45 – Leadership books, storytelling, and sharpening journalism skills</p><p>45:30 – Why in-person community building is the future of local media</p><p>48:00 – What AI can't replicate: local context, relationships, and caring about Salem</p><p>51:00 – Building trust through years of consistent, community-centered reporting</p><p>54:30 – Wrapping up at Metronome Studios + April 24th show at the Grand Theater</p>
84 total episodes available
Recent guests on What's Happening Salem
Guests from recent episodes — sign up to see every guest that has ever appeared on this show.
Tiffany Bulgin
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David Gerboth
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Karlee Flores
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Brandon Eastman
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Mickey Walker
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Chad Johnson
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Alyssa Lockwood
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Albert Ramon (DJ Inferno)
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is What's Happening Salem?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
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This podcast is available on 9 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
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Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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