Host Spotlight: Brian Callanan
A respected voice in Seattle’s journalism community, Brian Callanan brings his expertise and in-depth of coverage of Seattle legislative issues to Converge Media through his show Seattle News, Views, and Brews every Wednesday night. The engaging and knowledgable host began his journey to the Converge airwaves with former co-host Kevin Schofield, a move which Callanan says has helped boost both the show and the quality of coverage. Now in it’s fifth year and with new co-host David Kroman, the show continues to be a mainstay in the Seattle political scene.
For Callanan, it’s a natural outlet to the work he does on a day-to-day basis with the Seattle Channel. His primary duties consist of connecting civic leaders through storytelling and working to share the stories of those working in Seattle’s City Hall.
“SNVB has a firm foundation on the work I'm actually doing in City Hall to connect with Councilmembers, the Mayor, and other lawmakers to tell the story of local government,” Callanan said. “In between my work in City Hall, and my co-host David’s work covering transportation specifically, we've got a lot of bases covered journalistically that I don't think you're seeing from other podcasts.”
It’s that breadth of coverage and insider knowledge that makes SNVB a must-listen for anyone interested in the inner-workings of Seattle’s decision-making process.
Callanan has also begun a members-only portion of the podcast where he speaks directly with local politicians. Through Patreon, he’s delivering hard-hitting and important conversations with those at the highest levels of city government, providing insight into the inner-workings of Seattle. This dedication to his content is what has continued to launch SNVB to greater heights.
“It isn't tough to start a podcast, but you need a different muscle to keep up the energy to sustain it. If you're ready to commit to a long-term relationship with your topic, and commit to adjusting your original vision constantly to keep the project going, you're in for a rewarding experience,” Callanan said.
Callanan also works with the Northwest Chapter of the National Association of Television Arts and Sciences, who host the Emmy Awards every year. He had the honor of presenting Converge Media with the Governors Award at the NATAS NW Awards Ceremony in 2021, and has been an advocate for the importance of Black media for years.
“It was incredible to see the standing ovation that happened when I handed Omari Salisbury that award. The best part is, Converge continues to live up to that award every year,” Callanan said.
Callanan says he’s excited to continuee to grow the podcast and it’s reach with it’s guests. He hopes to continue to bring in more high-profile political guests, and give his listeners the information they desire.
You can learn more about Seattle News, Views, and Brews and listen to past episodes here, and make sure to tune in on all Converge Media platforms every Wednesday at 7 pm for new episodes.
