This episode is all about, well, Mayor Nancy Backus! For the past two years you've heard her interview a whole bevy of guests, from school district officials, emergency managers, homelessness service providers, Miss Auburn and more. And now, the tables are turned -- literally! She's in the hot seat, ready to answer the community's most burning questions.

Mayor Nancy Backus sits down with Anti-Homelessness Director Kent Hay, Outreach Worker Drew Conley, and community member Kyle Benson, who spent years homeless in Auburn. Kyle talks about his journey from heavy drug use to jail to now being clean and sober and in permanent housing. This is episode is also a follow-up to our very first episodes in season 1, titled "Addressing Homelessness in Auburn." There are three parts, please give them a listen!

Mayor Nancy Backus chats with Green River College's President Suzanne Johnson and Vice President for Advancement George Frasier about that gorgeous campus up on Lea Hill and the struggles it and many colleges across the country have faced since the pandemic began in 2020. The three chat about enrollment shortfalls, what's being done, and what's the plan for the future. Plus, and this is important, do they prefer Friends or the Office? Stay tuned to find out.

In this month's episode of That's so Auburn! Mayor Nancy Backus and Communications Manager Jonathan Glover catch up with Debbie Christian, the Executive Director of the Auburn Food Bank. If you haven't heard the wonderful news, last month, an anonymous donor wrote the check of a lifetime, all by paying for the entire outstanding bill as the food bank moves to a new, much bigger and better building. The story is so wonderful it's ripped straight out of a Hallmark movie. But even better -- it's all true! The trio also discusses how Debbie got into this line of work and the amazing contributions she makes each and every day to Auburn.

City of Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus sits down with Auburn Parks, Arts and Recreation Coordinator Amanda Valdez and 7-year-old Lucas Fernandez, who was selected to light the tree outside of City Hall earlier this year! It's a wonderful tradition that begins as a parade down Main Street from Auburn High School and ends at City Hall Plaza, where hundreds will gather to watch Lucas flip the switch. Lucas was one of about 30 applicants, the most in the history of this event! Hear from Lucas about his favorite holiday traditions, what it means to be a tree lighter, and why this time of year is so special.

Mayor Nancy Backus sits down with City of Auburn's special events coordinator Kristy Pachciarz and Roger Olson with the American Legion Post 78 to talk about the Auburn Veterans Parade! You know, that great big giant parade that snakes through Main Street each year??? You might be wondering how it started, how it grew so big, and what it means to the folks involved (hint: a whole heck of a lot).

Mayor Nancy Backus sat down with Parks, Arts and Recreation Director Daryl Faber and Arts Supervisor Allison Hyde to talk all things Postmark Center for the Arts! They detail the storied history of the building, the yearslong project of getting it completely renovated, and what's to come. Spoiler alert: you ain't seen nothin' yet.

City of Auburn Mayor Nancy Backus sits down with Junior Councilmembers Waylon Menzie, Khysner Ayo and Jonathan Mulenga to discuss, well, what it means to be a young person representing thousands in local government! The Auburn City Council created the Junior City Council in order to get advice and ideas from students on things like parks, recreation, entertainment, traffic, police, festivals, trails, environmental stewardship and other social issues. Students learn leadership skills, improve their chances for scholarships, learn how City government operates and see how they can influence government activities in order to make a positive difference in the community. While Khysner still has a year left of high school, both Waylon and Jonathan graduated this year and are soon off to college and beyond! Listen about how their time on council has been, and what's in store for them (politically and otherwise) down the road.

In this final episode of Season 1, Mayor Nancy Backus and Communications Manager Jonathan Glover sit down with artists Jill Drllevich and Peter Reiquam, who collectively are responsible for some of the most recognizable pieces of art in the city.

In this episode, we discuss all things winter weather preparedness -- how the city responds to snow events, which areas are plowed first and what are the limitations. We also dive into trash collection with Waste Management, and how Auburn School District makes the decision to give kids their favorite day of the year: a snow day! Guests: Erik Cottle and Andy Boswellof City of Auburn Maintenance and OperationsKarissa Smith, City of Auburn Emergency ManagerCindi Blansfield, Auburn School District Associate SuperintendentJason Shea, Waste Management District Manager

Mayor Backus was inspired recently after being interviewed by a local Scout Liem Allen about increased littering and how to combat the growing issue. Listen in on the interview and then hear from three Auburn staff members on what the City of Auburn does to keep Auburn clean and what community members can do to help. You will hear about the following resources and programs to help make Auburn shine: See, Click, Fix reporting appAuburn Adopt-a-Street programAuburn Adopt-a-Park programAuburn Graffiti Abatement programWaste Management Bulky Item pickupKing County Cleanup LIFT Discount

In this episode, we chat with Miss Auburn Carrie Everett and Miss Auburn’s Outstanding Teen Alexis Douglas. Hear how these two young women embodies Auburn's story of resilience, hope, and bright future.

In this episode, we discuss an important but sometimes uncomfortable topic—sexual assault and abuse. We dive into the history and myths around sexual abuse, signs for identifying abuse, how to handle disclosure, online safety, and resources available. Guests: Marie Pereda, Parent Educator with the King County Sexual Assault Resource CenterDetectives Francesca Nix and Doug Faini, Auburn Police Department

Mayor Nancy Backus continues her multi-part series covering homelessness and how Auburn is responding to this issue. In this episode she is joined by more people in our community that are working on bringing people inside. You will hear from the Executive Director of the Auburn Food Bank Debbie Christian, two outreach workers from We Care Daily Clinics - an organization that combines medication assisted treatment and behavioral health counseling services, and one of Auburn's recent success stories!

In part 2 of her mulitpart series on homelessness, Mayor Nancy Backus is joined again by by Kent Hay, Auburn's Homelessness Outreach Administrator, to talk about the specific challenges we have when it comes to moving people off the streets and into safer and healthier living conditions and let you know how you can be a part of reducing homelessness in Auburn.

Mayor Nancy Backus kicks off her first episode of "That's So Auburn!" with one of the most talked about issues in the city - homelessness. In this first part of a multipart series she is joined by Kent Hay, Auburn's Homelessness Outreach Administrator, to help listeners understand the challenges and the successes of Auburn's approach to the crisis.