The 509 Unfiltered

Hey, I’m Jessica Taylor—retired big-city cop turned podcaster, small business supporter, and full-time truth seeker. After years of dealing with politics, law enforcement, and a whole lot of nonsense, I decided it was time to have real conversations about what actually matters—right here in Eastern Washington.

Welcome to The 509 Unfiltered—where we keep it real, have some laughs, and talk about what’s actually happening in our community.

If you think the 509 is just wheat fields and tumbleweeds, think again. We’ve got everything from world-class wine to forgotten ghost towns, epic landscapes to underground dive bars. And we’re here to explore it all.

We’re about community, conversation, and a little bit of chaos. We highlight the small businesses that deserve a spotlight, talk about changes that affect our backyard, and yes, spill a little tea on the ones that don’t make the mark. Because people are people, and at the end of the day, all we have is each other.

So what’s happening in The 509?

  • Who are the movers, shakers, and game-changers in our towns?

  • What small businesses deserve our support (and which ones need to step it up)?

  • What local issues should we actually care about?

  • Any hidden gems we need to check out—like that tiny roadside joint serving the best huckleberry shakes, or a funky house made entirely of scrap metal?

Hidden Gems of The 509

We’re on a mission to uncover the best-kept secrets of Eastern Washington—places that make you wonder, How did I not know about this? A few on our list:

  • Outdoor Adventures – Hike the stunning cliffs of Ancient Lakes, take in the rolling Palouse from Steptoe Butte, or visit Dry Falls, the site of a once-massive waterfall that’ll blow your mind.

  • Underrated Small Towns – Have you been to Winthrop, the old Western town straight out of a movie? What about Dayton, where history and charm collide? Or Republic, where you can dig up your own 50-million-year-old fossils?

  • Foodie Finds – Where’s the best burger in The 509? Is Huck’s Place really home to the best huckleberry shake? And what wineries, breweries, or hole-in-the-wall restaurants do we need to try?

  • Weird & Quirky Spots – Ever heard of the Junk Castle in Pullman? Or soaked in the “healing” waters of Soap Lake? What about Spokane Valley’s abandoned Hat ‘n’ Boots gas station relic?

  • Spilling the Tea – Which businesses live up to the hype, and which ones don’t? We’ll celebrate the best and (gently) call out the ones that need to step it up.

Got a Story? Let’s Connect!

If you have an interesting story to tell or run a business everyone should know about, we want to hear from you! Maybe you’ve got the best tacos in town, a wild conspiracy theory, or an inside scoop on local news—whatever it is, reach out. Let’s put it on the map.

We’re telling the stories of The 509—celebrating, questioning, and maybe even stirring the pot a little. Got a tip? A favorite hidden gem? A local issue we should tackle? Let’s hear it.

Grab a coffee, hit play, and let’s figure it out together.