BomBardened

BomBardened

In BomBardened, Eric Barden, a retired Deputy Chief of the Seattle Police Department, and Amy Barden, Chief of Seattle’s new third public safety department, come together—not just as professionals, but as husband and wife—to tackle some of the most pressing issues in public service and community safety and health. Eric, the enforcer with decades of boots-on-the-ground experience, and Amy, the champion of compassion and crisis response, take a constructively critical approach to big questions: Do we need more enforcement or better interventions? Is the criminal justice system designed to punish or correct? What does compassion actually look like? Why do we keep doing what doesn’t work? And why does it feel like no one’s getting it completely right? Every episode features hard-hitting debates, real-world insights, and guest experts who bring fresh takes and bold ideas. It’s not just talk; it’s a call to action for anyone who cares about creating safer, smarter communities and a return to civil discourse. So, if you’re tired of political rhetoric and excuses and ready for real talk about the messy intersection of accountability and compassion, tune in to BomBardened. You might not always agree, but you’ll definitely think. The views, information or opinions expressed on the BomBardened Podcast are solely the personal views of the individuals involved and do not represent the views of any third party. Where guests appear on the Podcast, the views expressed by such guests are solely their own. The Podcast does not accept responsibility for the views of its guests and their appearance on the Podcast does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent.None of the guests or contributors to the BomBardened Podcast will be held responsible for your use of the information contained therein.

Episodes

July 8, 2025 53 mins
Content warning: The following episode contains detailed accounts of childhood abuse, sexual violence, and life inside the prison system. Listener discretion is advised.

In this episode of Bombardened, Eric and Amy sit down with Jacob Ivan Schmitt, the founder and Director of Just Us Solutions — a man whose story is shaped by early childhood trauma, addiction, incarceration, and the slow, painful work of transformation.

Raised around...
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In this episode of Bombardened, Eric and Amy sit down with Patrick Arney, Executive Director of Weld — a Seattle-based reentry organization helping people transition out of incarceration with dignity, support, and purpose.

Patrick brings a rare combination of lived experience and sharp insight to the table. Once caught in the same systems he now works to reform, Patrick shares how he rebuilt his life and became a leader within one o...
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In this episode of Bombardened, Eric and Amy Barden sit down with Joe Barsana, King County Drug Court Manager and President and Co-Founder of the WA State Therapeutic Court Alumni Association. What begins as a conversation about the blurry line between crime and crisis quickly becomes a masterclass in why we fail to help people to change and maintain recovery.

Joe brings insight forged from decades churning through the criminal just...
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In this episode of Bombardened, Eric and Amy sit down with Staci James—visionary leader, advocate for sensible drug policy and overdose awareness, and Executive Director of Hope Movement Coalition. What begins as a spirited debate between Eric and Amy about whether jail bookings actually serve as a deterrent, quickly deepens into a conversation about dignity, disruption, and the broken systems surrounding addiction.

Staci brings a p...
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In this episode of Bombardened, Eric and Amy Barden sit down with Dave Durocher—Executive Director and co-founder of The Other Side Academy. Dave shares his firsthand insights into breaking the cycle of addiction and criminal behavior through a radically different approach to rehabilitation. With a background in working with individuals often labeled as "lost causes," Dave explains how The Other Side Academy offers a no-excuses, re...
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In this episode of Bombardened, Eric and Amy Barden sit down with Amy King—founder of Weld and Pallet, builder of communities, and champion of second chances. Amy shares her deeply personal and unconventional path to employing justice-involved individuals, building intentional housing solutions, and raising kids in a household shaped by trust and belief in change.

What began as a chance encounter with a few men in need of work evolv...
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In this episode of Bombardened, Eric and Amy sit down with two seemingly unlikely allies: Hollywood actor and activist Billy Baldwin and homelessness and addiction expert Dr. Robert Marbut.

Billy Baldwin, best known for his roles on screen, found himself drawn into the world of homelessness advocacy after preparing for a role in a film about life on the streets. That journey led to No Address, a feature film, and the subsequent docu...
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In this episode of BomBardened, Eric and Amy Barden dive into a thought-provoking conversation with Ginny Burton, a fierce advocate for addiction recovery and interventions that actually work. Ginny shares her powerful redemption story, beginning with her tumultuous childhood, where she was exposed to drugs and chaos at an early age. After decades in and out of jails and prisons, Ginny found a way out, permanently breaking the self...
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Join Eric and Amy Barden as they introduce The BomBardened Podcast, where they bring their unique perspectives and debate critical societal issues. Eric, a newly retired deputy chief of police with 38 years of major city policing experience, and Amy, an innovative public safety leader and champion of early intervention and diversion, discuss their shared journey of finding common ground despite their differing opinions on criminal ...
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