Soundside

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Dec 22, 2025 · 31 min
Kiss Merry Kill: Holiday Edition
The holidays: a time to gather with friends and family, to enjoy one another’s company as we light candles or sit by a tree and contemplate the year’s passing. It’s also a time to argue with said friends and family about some really dumb stuff. Is Die Hard a holiday movie? Should Mariah Carey officially be crowned “Queen of Christmas?” Has there ever been a good Hanukkah song? You’ll be debating hard hitting questions like this. And on Soundside, we’re here to help you win the argument. It’s our gift to you. Today – We’re pitting three movies, songs, and local events against each other to determine a winner, in a totally original game we’re calling “Kiss Merry Kill.” And of course that’s merry like Santa is - with an E. HOLIDAY FARE DISCUSSED: Movies Deck the Halls (2006) The Happiest Season (2020) A Diva’s Christmas Carol (2000) Music The Christmas Shoes by NewSong Mistletoe by Justin Bieber Puppy for Hanukkah by Daveed Diggs Events The Bait Shop holiday light show SantaCon The Seattle Christmas Market Sitting on Santa's lap at the Bellevue Square Mall GUESTS: Betty Wetter is a Seattle drag queen, and host of monthly drag variety show Tush! at the Clock-out Lounge Juno Men is a comedian, and co-host of the Moth Storytelling Slam here in Seattle Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 19, 2025 · 5 min
Red Light Vintage could close for good. A familiar face is trying to keep it alive.
Seattle may have to say goodbye to a longstanding vintage shop in the new year. Red Light Vintage & Costume sits in the heart of the University District. It has been a fixture in Seattle’s fashion scene since it opened in the mid 90s. Now the shop could close because owner Niz Marar is retiring. He’s hoping to sell the business before his lease expires at the end of January. If he can’t find a buyer, fashion lovers will have to let go of this cherished spot. We talk to Marar about his final few weeks at Red Light... and hear from the person who's trying to keep it alive by buying the shop before the lease ends. GUESTS: Niz Marar, owner of Red Light Vintage & Costume Tacee Webb, co-founder of Red Light Vintage & Costume RELATED LINKS: Red Light Vintage – vintage & costume Red Light Revival: New classes, events, & memberships! — Kickstarter Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 18, 2025 · 27 min
Yay books! Soundside's 2025 in letters
There are only a few weeks left in 2025. That means for those of you who resolved, at the beginning of the year, to do more reading — it's crunch time. Did you actually put down your phone long enough to get through a book this year? It's not too late. Many great books came out this year. If you need suggestions for something to read or to give to someone who really ought to be reading more, we've got you covered. GUESTS: Misha Stone, reader services librarian, Seattle Public Library Spencer Ruchti, author events manager, Third Place Books RELATED LINKS: Our list of books we loved! Yes, it's a Google Doc. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 18, 2025 · 4 min
Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Dec 18-21
The end of the year is just around the corner, and with the next two Thursdays each being holidays, this is the final Weekend Warmup of the Year! LINKS: TNF! Seahawks vs Rams Thurs 12/18 The 29th Annual Model Train Festival - Washington State Historical Society Opens Fri 12/19 - runs through Jan 1, 2026 2025 Winter Beer Fest – WA Brewers Guild Fri/Sat - 12/19-20 Hell’s Belles at the Croc Sat 12/20 United Indians Native Art Market » United Indians of All Tribes Foundation - Daybreak Star Sat/Sun - 12/20-21 Seattle Torrent vs Boston Fleet Sun 12/21 - 2pm Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 18, 2025 · 14 min
Flooding in WA: Skagit County's 40-year old flood maps and a dog kennel evacuation
Skagit County has been hit by multiple waves of catastrophic flooding over the past week. Amid the devastation, there is a bright spot: A floodwall in Mount Vernon successfully held off the Skagit River as it rose to a record 37.7 feet. That floodwall only exists because it sits in an area determined by the Federal Emergency Management Agency to be at highest risk of flooding. Many residents of Skagit county might be unaware of the current flooding risk to their homes or businesses – because, according to The Seattle Times, Skagit County’s flood maps haven’t been updated in 40 years. We'll hear from Lulu Ramadan, who reported on these flood maps, before turning to Kristiana de Leon, who had to evacuate malamutes amid flooding along the Puyallup River last week. GUESTS: Lulu Ramadan, an investigative reporter at The Seattle Times Kristiana de Leon of the Washington Alaskan Malamute Adoption League RELATED LINKS: Skagit County flood maps showing high-risk areas are 40 years old | The Seattle Times Washington Alaskan Malamute Adoption League – We pull for them Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 16, 2025 · 19 min
Flooding in WA: Pacific evacuation, levee breach and more
Approximately 10,000 people are still under evacuation notice after multiple levee failures across Western Washington. In King County: flood controls have breached in the last 48 hours. As of this morning, residents in the city of Pacific, east of Tacoma, are under a "go now" evacuation order after a flood control breach on the nearby White River. A levee was breached yesterday in Tukwila and Kent, the evacuation order for the area is no longer in effect. Guests: Casey Martin, KUOW reporter Josh Baldi, water and land resources division director for King County Department of Natural Resources and Parks Relevant Links: KUOW live updates See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 16, 2025 · 18 min
What might an "in-house" deportation fleet mean for DHS & ICE?
The Department of Homeland Security may be shifting its approach to deportation flights by ICE. According to reporting by the Washington Post, DHS recently signed a contract to purchase six Boeing 737 planes. Currently, ICE primarily uses charter planes for deportations. This purchase suggests the agency has plans to expand its capacity to deport people using its own fleet. What implications does this have for immigration enforcement and the way detainees are moved in and out of the United States? GUEST: McKenzie Funk - Reporter at ProPublica covering immigration, privacy and climate change RELATED LINKS: DHS inks contract to create its own fleet of 737 jets for deportations Inside ICE Air: Flight Attendants on Deportation Planes Say Disaster Is “Only a Matter of Time” At Seattle’s Boeing Field, Real-Time Video Offers a Rare Glimpse of America’s Troubled Deportation Flights Avelo Airlines, a New ICE Air Contractor, Faces Backlash in Connecticut Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 15, 2025 · 15 min
Front Page: Flooding, food prices, and one really old quarterback
Every Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now – and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward. GUEST: KUOW Politics Editor Cat Smith TODAY'S TOPICS: Flooding Live updates: Western Washington braces for more rain and flooding this week - KUOW Canlis A market of extremes: How 2026 will impact restaurant winners and losers - Restaurant Dive Grandpa Rivers & the Indianapolis Colts Philip Rivers hadn't played an NFL game in 5 years. The grandfather nearly upset a Super Bowl contender. - NBC Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 12, 2025 · 24 min
Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes weighs in on the police shooting in Othello and a new mayor-elect
It’s been a busy year for the Seattle Police Department. A new chief was sworn in, the longstanding federal consent decree ended and the city reached a new contract with the Seattle Police Officers Guild that changes how it can approach unarmed crisis response. Plus, a new mayor will take office in January. Mayor-elect Katie Wilson announced this week that she planned to retain Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes, despite some rumors to the contrary. Soundside's Libby Denkmann talked with Barnes on the morning of Thursday, December 11th, about the incoming administration, the recent policing shooting in Othello, and more. Note: Starting at 7:45 in the interview, Barnes cites several statistics about a drop in crime. We asked SPD for more information about the decreased crime percentages, and they said Barnes is referencing the first 11 months of 2025 compared to 2024. But in reference to homicides, the information SPD gave us cites 2019 as the last comparable year, and the reduction is actually 36 percent, instead of 35 percent, as Barnes states. Guest Seattle Police Chief Shon Barnes Related Links Seattle City Council approves new police contract, boosting pay and expanding crisis response -KUOW Seattle police video shows officers fatally shooting allegedly armed man - The Seattle Times Seattle City Council Approves Police Contract as South End Mourns Killing in Othello - South Seattle Emerald Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 11, 2025 · 33 min
Flooding in WA: Skagit County, Gov. Ferguson's emergency response and more
Catastrophic flooding continues to threaten Washington. Around 100,000 people in Western Washington have been advised to evacuate. Hundreds of Washington National Guard members have been tapped to help with response efforts. And Gov. Ferguson declared a statewide emergency in response to the flooding. We talked to three KUOW reporters about what they're seeing on the ground and what we need to know about this weather event. CORRECTION: As of 5:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 11, approximately 100,000 people were advised to evacuate across Western Washington. An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated that Skagit County issued immediate evacuation orders to 100,000 residents. GUESTS: KUOW Reporter Joshua McNichols KUOW Reporter John Ryan KUOW Reporter Casey Martin RELATED LINKS: KUOW - Live updates: 100,000 evacuated in historic Skagit Valley flood in Washington state KUOW - Western Washington faces 'catastrophic' flooding as two atmospheric rivers dump heavy rain Live: Flooding in WA’s Skagit, Snohomish rivers prompt road closures, evacuations | The Seattle Times Skagit River creeps toward Mount Vernon flood wall | The Seattle Times Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 11, 2025 · 4 min
Soundside's "Weekend Warmup" - Dec 12-14
Hey Soundside Listeners! Because our entire show was focused on flood coverage with the Governor's press conference, and live conversations with KUOW reporters Joshua McNichols, John Ryan, and Casey Martin, we decided to skip the Weekend Warmup on the air this week, and drop it here on the podcast feed instead. Stay safe, check KUOW.org for updates, and look in on your neighbors. With that said, please enjoy this podcast exclusive Weekend Warmup! LINKS: SPORTS! Seahawks vs Indianapolis Colts - Sun 1:25pm Buffalo Sabres at Seattle Kraken - Sun 5pm Seattle Torrent vs Ottawa Charge - Wed 7pm WildLanterns: Night Owls (21+) - Fri 12/12 Mozart & Mutts: Annual Holiday Concert - Fri 12/12 Jurassic Quest | Washington State Fairgrounds The Naughty Novel Social Club: Krampus Edition DEAF SANTA CLAUS - Sun 12/14 Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 11, 2025 · 15 min
Meet King County's new Executive: Girmay Zahilay
At 38 years old, Girmay Zahilay is King County’s youngest-ever executive. He’s coming in after the long tenure of his predecessor Dow Constantine, who ran the county for nearly 16 years. Zahilay was sworn in early to replace the temporary acting executive who’s been in charge since Constantine stepped down in March. He says he’s ready to “completely change” the office. The King County Executive oversees all kinds of important services like the sheriff’s department, public health, transportation, public housing, and jails. So what will that change look like? And what could it mean for King County? GUESTS: King County Executive, Girmay Zahilay RELATED LINKS: Sworn in early, Exec Zahilay is ready to shake up King County - KUOW Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 11, 2025 · 15 min
Flooding in WA: Updates from Auburn and Carnation
On Wednesday morning, we spoke with the mayor of Auburn and the city manager in Carnation about flooding in their cities and what they expect to happen next. GUESTS: Nancy Backus, mayor of Auburn, WA Rhonda Ender, city manager, Carnation, WA RELATED LINKS: ‘Catastrophic’ flooding expected in King, Snohomish, Skagit counties -The Seattle Times Western Washington faces 'catastrophic' flooding as two atmospheric rivers dump heavy rain - KUOW Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 11, 2025 · 19 min
This researcher is working on a fentanyl vaccine to curb overdoses and addiction
Washington, like the entire country, has been hit hard by fentanyl. So far this year, King County has recorded more than 650 overdose deaths involving the synthetic opioid, which can be 50 times stronger than heroin. 650 is a devastating number but it’s actually down from a peak in 2023, when more than 1,000 people died from fentanyl-related overdoses in the county. The drop mirrors a downward trend that we’ve seen across the entire country… But the crisis is still overwhelming many communities. A biotech company called ARMR Sciences is hoping to solve at least one piece of this very complicated puzzle: Instead of reversing these overdoses, they want to stop them from happening in the first place... through a fentanyl vaccine. GUESTS: Dr. Colin Haile, a research associate professor at the University of Houston and he’s also one of the co-founders of ARMR Sciences. RELATED LINKS: A Fentanyl Vaccine Is About to Get Its First Major Test | WIRED Scientists Create a Vaccine Against Fentanyl Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 9, 2025 · 17 min
Facing uncertain federal landscape, KCRHA looks to adapt
For weeks, King County homelessness service providers have been staring down a majorly disruptive change to how they currently operate. The federal Department of Housing and Urban Development said in November that it intended to redirect billions of dollars in grants that house homeless people. This was in line with President Trump’s rejection of “housing first,” the practice that aims to get people stabilized in long-term housing before addressing mental health issues or addiction. It's guided policy in this region and across the United States for decades. The Trump Administration’s announcement put $65 million in federal grant money for King County in doubt. And it left local leaders scrambling. The county called providers together last week to discuss the change. Washington state and roughly 20 states sued, and later, so did King County and local homeless service providers. But yesterday, 90 minutes before a court hearing, HUD withdrew the new requirements around grants. Sounds like a rollercoaster, right? Providers in the area are breathing a sigh of relief. Though, the last-minute shift signifies the complicated task of planning homelessness response, one that relies on federal dollars, when massive changes are taking place in Washington, D.C. GUEST: Kelly Kinnison, CEO of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority RELATED LINKS KCRHA: Changes to Federal Funding will Increase Unsheltered Homelessness in King County Seattle Times: King County has 3 plans for Trump’s homelessness funding changes Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 9, 2025 · 15 min
'He wasn't resisting' - WA man mauled by immigration enforcement canine
A disturbing image shared by Senator Patty Murray has been reverberating across the internet. It shows a man’s torso, his right side covered in wounds - lacerations, scratch marks, bite marks - after he was mauled by an immigration agent’s canine. Blood splatters the sheets below him. The man, Wilmer Toledo-Martinez of Vancouver, Washington, was detained outside his home last month by federal agents. Senator Murray and Wilmer’s family are calling for his release – and calling out the violent treatment he received at the hands of immigration officers. GUEST Olia Catala is Wilmer Toledo-Martinez’s attorney, and the owner of Catala Immigration PLLC RELATED LINKS Senator: ICE dog attack on WA man ‘should shock the conscience’ - Seattle Times Vancouver man speaks for first time since viral video of ICE arrest - OPB Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 9, 2025 · 18 min
Why Native American kids are getting harsher prison sentences in WA
We could tell this next story with numbers. There is a lot of data. But at its core: This is a story about Native American kids. And how year after year, law enforcement and lawmakers in Olympia allow these children to be arrested and jailed at far higher rates than their white peers. Those experiences as children have lasting consequences well into adulthood. State officials and lawmakers know there’s a problem. But advocates say they haven’t done enough to stop it. GUEST Melanie Henshaw - Indigenous affairs reporter, InvestigateWest RELATED LINKS Native American children significantly more likely to be arrested, detained in Washington Native American kids less likely than others in WA to be offered second chance in juvenile court, data shows Most children charged as adults in Washington are youth of color Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 8, 2025 · 40 min
New video found featuring victim of unsolved CHOP killing
It’s June 26th, 2020, and a group of protesters stands in the midst of the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest. They’re talking to another group of people, including a city employee, about city sanitation workers getting access to the area. Towards the front of the group stands a 16 year old boy, wearing a grey baseball cap, a hoodie, and a surgical mask. He taps a protest organizer’s shoulder, so they’ll know he wants to speak. What you’re hearing is some of the last known footage of Antonio Mays Jr before he was shot and killed, just days later, in the CHOP zone. That death contributed to the end of the Occupied Protest in 2020. The video - was livestreamed by Omari Salisbury of Converge Media, and remained on Youtube all these years. The fact that it shows Antonio was only recently rediscovered, shortly before a civil trial that could shed more light on Antonio’s death . That civil trial, stemming from a lawsuit the teen’s father filed against the City of Seattle, is set to begin this week. Guests: Omari Salisbury, founder of Converge Media Will James, KUOW reporter and producer Relevant Links: Converge Media: Reflections on the Rediscovered Dignity of Antonio Mays Jr. Converge Media: The Tape: Rediscovering Humanity in the Shadow of CHOP KUOW: Victim of unsolved Seattle CHOP killing featured in newly unearthed video Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 8, 2025 · 20 min
Front Page: ICE K-9 attack, what a new Montana windfarm means for WA, and the ongoing debate over Frank Gehry's MoPop
Every Monday on Soundside we catch you up on the top stories that are fascinating right now – and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward. GUEST: Seattle Times city hall reporter David Kroman TODAY'S TOPICS: ICE K-9 Attack Senator: ICE dog attack on WA man ‘should shock the conscience’ - Seattle Times Energy troubles loom large As WA’s coal ban looms, Montana wind fills only some of the energy gap - Seattle Times Frank Gehry Dies Frank Gehry, Titan of Architecture, Is Dead at 96 - NYT FIFA World Cup schedule announced 2026 FIFA World Cup schedule: Seattle matches’ times, matchups unveiled - Seattle Times Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
Dec 4, 2025 · 26 min
Ask a Doctor: Ozempic, Wegovy and GLP-1 drugs in general
GLP-1 drugs that are commonly used to treat diabetes and obesity, like Ozempic and Wegovy – are in big demand. And they’re going to be more affordable. The Trump administration recently negotiated deals to lower the prices of these drugs. It seems like some details still need to be ironed out…. but from the looks of it, many Americans who use Medicare will be able to access GLP-1s at a fraction of their original cost. According to one of the deals, some Medicare patients will be able to get GLP-1s for a $50 copay. So it’s safe to assume as costs come down, these drugs are only going to get even more popular…. And we want to know more about them. In this latest “ask a doctor” segment, we’re asking two physicians to answer all of our burning questions. GUESTS: Dr. Scott Hagan, an associate professor of medicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine, who studies obesity. Dr. Mara Gordon, a family physician based in Philadelphia. She also writes about the culture of medicine and authors the “Real Talk With a Doc” column for NPR. RELATED LINKS: Medicare negotiated lower prices for 15 drugs, including 71% off Ozempic and Wegovy : Shots - Health News : NPR Ozempic is making me rethink how to be a body-positive doctor : Shots - Health News : NPR Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.