Title: Volunteering, Budget Reductions, and Stitchery
Description: Episode 63 covers stepping in as a Puyallup Cal Ripken head coach, reflections on attention, smartphones, and AI, and a breakdown of proposed $15 million budget cuts in the Puyallup School District. Plus, updates on local arts, basketball playoffs, and upcoming events at the Washington State Fairgrounds.
Published date: February 20, 2026
Episode number: 063
Show Notes for Podyallup Episode #63: Volunteering, Budget Reductions, and Stitchery
Support the Show
Podyallup is a value for value show. That means we need your help to keep it going. You can provide value in many ways, such as telling your friends and community members about the show.
You can also provide finanical support by sending a monatary contribution equal to the value you feel you received for this episode. For donations $50 and above we'll read your name on the show as a way of saying thank you!
Thank you!
Links
Episode 63 (Friday, February 20, 2026) opens with Super Bowl celebration energy and a big personal update: stepping in as head coach of a Puyallup Cal Ripken team this season. With six teams in the division and 12 players per roster, the episode reflects on the responsibility of volunteering, building a draft board, and helping the league continue its post-COVID recovery.
The conversation then shifts to a broader cultural reflection sparked by listening to The Diary of a CEO podcast featuring social psychologist Jonathan Haidt, author of The Anxious Generation. The episode explores fractured attention, short-form video, smartphone dependency, and the trade-offs of modern technology, including AI tools and their limitations.
Locally, the episode reviews proposed $15 million budget reductions in the Puyallup School District for the 2026–27 school year, including central office cuts, staffing reductions, changes to technology take-home devices, and possible program eliminations. Community members are encouraged to review the proposal and submit feedback before the March board session.
Arts and athletics updates include upcoming school productions such as “Finding Nemo Jr.” at Kalles Junior High, regional band and orchestra festivals, and district basketball tournament results for Emerald Ridge, Puyallup, Rogers, and other local schools.
Community events at the Washington State Fairgrounds this week include the Puyallup Wedding Show, Northwest Aviation Conference and Trade Show, Washington Arms Collectors Show, Puyallup Flat Track, Day of Remembrance, and the upcoming Sewing & Stitchery Expo.
Podyallup remains a value-for-value podcast. Listeners can support the show by sharing it, submitting local stories and events, or contributing financially at podyallup.com/donate. New episodes release every Friday.