Soundside

KUOW News and Information

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June 4 · 6 min
Soundside's Weekend Warmup: PRIDE, Fishsticks, and the Sound of Sunshine!
It’s Thursday, and like we do every week, we like to look ahead at what there is to do over the weekend. And we do that by turning to the biggest nerd in the business, Soundside Producer Jason Burrows... LINKS: Seattle Pride in the Park Paws & Pride Dog Walk Northwest Pinball and Arcade Show NORTHWEST NOIR: NWFF's 2026 Annual Gala DubSea Fish Sticks 2026 Cascade PBS Ideas Festival Kent Nerd Party 2026 Duvall Days 2026 Anacortes Waterfront Festival Point Defiance Flower & Garden Festival The "Sound of Sunshine" Steel Orchestra Concert 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.
June 4 · 21 min
What made Ada's Technical Books special, according to its co-owner
For 16 years, Ada’s Technical Books in Capitol Hill was THE place to find eclectic books, grab a coffee and co-work with other folks in the neighborhood, play a game out on the street side tables, or just hang out and read a book. But like a lot of our favorite books, the ending often arrives before you’re ready, and Ada’s story is no different. The bookstore and cafe will be closing at the end of the week, and many Ada’s faithful will MOURN its loss. Ada’s was built to be a place of community that encouraged curiosity and learning. You learn a lot yourself, when you run a business for so long, and Soundside is happy to have the chance to glean wisdom from the co-owner of Ada’s Technical Books. GUEST: Danielle Hulton RELATED LINK: Capitol Hill bookstore Ada’s will close; Fuel coffee chain up for sale 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.
June 4 · 16 min
This program uses AI to screen Medicare requests. WA lawmakers and medical professionals are worried.
Washington is more than five months into a new pilot program that has been using AI to screen requested procedures for people enrolled in Medicare. It’s called the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) program, which incentivizes private companies to deny procedures. Washington lawmakers and medical professionals say the program has led to denials and delays in care for older residents. All of this is covered in a new story from KUOW that looks at the pushback to this pilot program. Guest: Stephen Howie, a senior online editor and reporter at KUOW Related links: Washington seniors face denied, delayed care under AI Medicare review program | 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.
June 3 · 15 min
What the Longview disaster tells us about why the paper mill industry is dangerous
We won’t have a full explanation for the implosion at a Longview paper processing mill for a while. The disaster left 11 people dead, and released thousands of gallons of white liquor, which is a highly corrosive chemical used to break down wood chips into pulp. The tragedy highlights the risks when people work in close proximity with large quantities of dangerous chemicals. The plant is one of several big industrial facilities in the area. Reporter Kyra Buckley looked into the pulp and paper mill industry and its safety record for Oregon Public Broadcasting. Related Links Longview mill tragedy highlights dangerous nature of wood product manufacturing - Kyra Buckley, Oregon Public Broadcasting After Explosion, Mourning Mixes With Dread Over a Paper Mill’s Future - Anna Griffin, Aaron West The New York Times WA agencies lacked role inspecting failed chemical tank in Longview mill disaster - Washington State Standard 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.
June 3 · 20 min
Front Page: a CCTV fight, a proposed tax hike, and we 'wave' goodbye to a Washington institution
Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page. 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: David Kroman, Seattle Times city hall reporter Related stories: Bob Kettle says Mayor Wilson is legally required to turn on CCTV cameras - Seattle Times Mayor Katie Wilson pitches sales tax increase for transit - Seattle Times Giant warehouse planned for Wild Waves property in Federal Way - Federal Way Mirror Car drives onto elevated light rail tracks in Seattle - KING5 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.
June 2 · 20 min
Bill Gates keeps tight control of his public image. Epstein is threatening it.
Just like many other celebrities, Bill Gates has a stylist. His sweaters, button-downs and glasses are meant to portray someone calm and approachable, current and former employees say. His clothing choices show how carefully he's crafted an image as a global philanthropist, in the decades since co-founding Microsoft. But maintaining Gates’s image has become more difficult, due to persistent inquiries about his relationship with the late financier and convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. That relationship is also affecting his major philanthropic efforts with the Seattle-based Gates Foundation. Reporter Emily Glazer investigated the mounting backlash against Bill Gates over revelations in the Epstein files and the ways Gates’s team has tried to manage his image. Guest Emily Glazer, enterprise reporter at The Wall Street Journal Related Links Bill Gates Spent Years Crafting His Image. Now It’s Cracking. - The Wall Street Journal Bill Gates Apologizes to Foundation Staff Over Epstein Ties - The Wall Street Journal Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. Tell us where we could improve, or what you've enjoyed at kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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.
June 2 · 21 min
Ballard light rail is on 'life support' after Sound Transit board vote
The dream of light rail to Ballard just took a big hit. The Sound Transit Board voted last week on how to move forward with expanding the system and how to cover a $34 billion dollar budget shortfall over the next two decades. After a marathon voting session, the board moved forward with several major projects. Those include: finishing rail to Everett and Tacoma, building a West Seattle extension, adding a new station at Graham Street, and making a new line between Issaquah and Kirkland (though, the delivery target is now 2050). You may have heard the board did not, however, prioritize getting light rail to Ballard. Instead, under the new plan, the line will stop at Seattle Center. Guest: Seattle City Council Member Dan Strauss Relevant Links: The Urbanist: Sound Transit Board OKs Major ST3 Update, Casting Ballard into Limbo KUOW: Sound Transit board shelves Ballard extension, saves South Seattle stations Seattle Times: Ballard light rail idea rejected while Sound Transit OKs other lines Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you like, what you hate: Tell us your hot takes. kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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.
June 1 · 19 min
Front Page: North Aurora shootings, white collar slowdown, and "Aviatrix"
Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page. 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 Angela Poe Russell, a veteran journalist and the playwright behind "Aviatrix." Related Links Seattle Times: Seattle officials introduce bill to help residents battle gun violence Axios: Seattle's economic engine is starting to sputter Aviatrix | Seattle Public Theater Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you want from the show, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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.
June 1 · 20 min
Breaking down Seattle's 6 World Cup matches
The men’s FIFA World Cup starts next week! Seattle will host six games, including one featuring the U.S. team. Soundside has discussed the politics of the World Cup, how these giant events can impact a city, and other weighty FIFA-related topics. You can find all of those conversations below. But we haven't talked about the actual game yet. Who’s playing, who’s expected to do well and could our own US team actually pull out a better-than-expected this year? Guest Leander Schaerlaecken, author, The Long Game - U.S. Men's Soccer and Its Savage, Four-Decade Journey to the Top, or Thereabouts. Related Links As the World Cup arrives in Seattle, so do the contradictions - Soundside Is it worth it to host the World Cup? It depends. - Soundside How Good Is This World Cup Squad, Really? - The New Yorker Leander Schaerlaecken's columns for The Guardian Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you like, what you hate: Tell us your hot takes. kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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.
June 1 · 10 min
The 3 Spokane anti-ICE protesters found guilty of federal conspiracy charges. What does that mean for future protests?
This case was seen as a test case for harsher enforcement by the Trump administration against protestors, and now there’s a verdict. Three anti-ICE protestors have been found guilty of federal conspiracy charges. The case had to do with a demonstration outside of the Spokane ICE office last June. The protest was part of a wave of anti-immigration actions that popped up across the country. The day after the protest in Spokane, the Trump Administration started cracking down on immigration protests by instructing prosecutors to charge non-violent demonstrators with conspiracy. So what happens now to these convicted protestors? And what does this mean for future political marches or demonstrations? Guest: Erin Sellers, reporter with RANGE Media, a media organization that covers the Inland Northwest. Related Links: Jury finds Spokane 3 protesters guilty of federal conspiracy charges - Range Media Inside the federal trial of 3 Spokane anti-ICE protesters - KUOW Conspiracy Trial Will Test Trump’s Aggressive Tactics Against Protesters - New York Times Six of the Spokane 9 accept plea deals - Range Media Prosecutors told to prioritize, publicize cases tied to Trump immigration protests - Reuters Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you want from the show, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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.
May 29 · 14 min
Meet the mountain guide who broke a speed record on Mount Rainier
What do you think of when you see Mount Rainier? Some of us think, "Oh wow, I can see Mount Rainier. Must be really clear out today. Pretty." Some people, though, look at its snow-capped peaks and see a challenge, a life goal -- something they may climb one day, braving cold and oxygen deprivation. To able to say they've done it. And then there is Simon Kearns, who looks at Mount Rainier as something to absolutely dominate. That's what he did in early May, when he set a new speed record for climbing Washington state’s tallest peak on foot. He traveled the nearly 9,000 vertical feet to the summit and back in three hours, 43 minutes and 52 seconds. Kearns joined Soundside to talk about what it was like shattering the previous record by more than half an hour. Guest: Simon Kearns, a mountain guide at RMI Expeditions. Related links: Mount Rainier climber sets new speed record | The Seattle Times Simon Kearns Smashes Mount Rainier FKT by Over 30 Minutes | Outside Magazine Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you want from the show, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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.
May 28 · 9 min
The latest on the deadly implosion at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Plant
As many as 11 people are dead in Longview, Washington after a chemical tank implosion at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Plant earlier this week. Officials also confirmed yesterday that the Columbia River is contaminated due to the disaster. Washington’s governor is calling this the deadliest industrial tragedy in the state’s modern history. Guest: Erik Neumann, the Southwest WA Bureau Chief for Oregon Public Broadcasting Related Links: Longview paper mill disaster could be ‘deadliest industrial tragedy in modern Washington state history,’ governor says - OPB Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you want from the show, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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.
May 28 · 6 min
Soundside's Weekend Warmup: Bark! Honk! Battle!
It’s the FINAL Thursday in May, meaning that we’re just mere MOMENTS away from the BEST WEEKEND OF YOUR LIFE, so far, this week. Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with more stuff than we can fit in a normal Weekend Warmup: LINKS: Bark! The Musical HONK! Fest West Mason County Forest Festival Glazer's PhotoFest Battle on the Bank Sally Ride: A New Opera About Queer Love and the First American Woman in Space Pollinator Fest 2026 Run to End Weekend Hunger 5K THE STUFF WE DIDN'T GET TO: Brandi Carlile - Echoes Through the Canyon 14th Annual Seattle Asian American Film Festival Trae Crowder at Emerald City Comedy Club Seattle Mariners vs Arizona D-Backs Stamp & Scrapbook EXPO Seattle Spring - Renegade Craft 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.
May 27 · 15 min
Ask a Doctor: Ketamine
It’s a drug you see doctors on “The Pitt” give patients in the ER for pain relief or sedation. It’s also what cast members on the reality show “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives” take to connect with their spouses. And it's what some Americans use to treat their depression. Ketamine has gotten negative press in the past few years, like in 2023, when “Friends” co-star Matthew Perry died from “the acute effects of ketamine.” We sat down with a doctor to learn more about this substance that’s showing up more and more in popular culture …and in Seattle, which is home to several ketamine clinics. This is part of our recurring “Ask a Doctor” segment, where we ask medical professionals to help us understand health news and trends. Guest: Dr. Nathan Sackett, an assistant professor in the University of Washington School of Medicine and addiction psychiatrist Related links: She Hoped Ketamine Would Rewire Her Brain. She Didn’t Live to See It Work. | WSJ Center for Novel Therapeutics in Addiction Psychiatry As ketamine clinics emerge in Seattle to treat mental illness, so does debate about safety and regulations | The Seattle Times Ketamine Use on the Rise in U.S. Adults; New Trends Emerge | UC San Diego Today Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you want from the show, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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.
May 27 · 22 min
Inside the federal trial of 3 Spokane anti-ICE protesters
In Spokane, an ongoing federal trial is raising questions about the Trump administration’s legal strategy regarding political protesters. Three people are charged with conspiracy to impede or injure federal officers during an anti-ICE protest last June. They were part of a demonstration that was trying to stop ICE agents from moving two Venezuelan immigrants from the ICE office in Spokane to the Tacoma Northwest Detention Center. If convicted, each of the three could face up to six years in federal prison. It’s a test case for the use of conspiracy charges against protestors. The Trump administration has used the tactic several times recently in prosecutions of anti-ICE protestors. Guest Erin Sellers, reporter at RANGE Media, a media organization covering the Inland Northwest Related Links All of RANGE Media's trial coverage - Erin Sellers, Conspiracy Trial Will Test Trump’s Aggressive Tactics Against Protesters - Anna Griffin, The New York Times Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. Fill out our survey! We want to know what you want to hear, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback. 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.
May 27 · 8 min
Teens & seniors swap tech skills and life skills
This whole thing started because Sedro-Woolley high school teacher Linsey Kitchens saw the people in her life struggle with the Internet. Specifically, she saw them struggle with what to believe and how to engage their critical thinking skills. Whether that was a teenager in her classroom, convinced that if they bought a protein powder from their favorite influencer, it would make them stronger and more popular. Or the senior citizens in her life, who went down rabbit holes of conspiracy theories online. Or fell for online scams. So Kitchens became obsessed with teaching media literacy to people of all ages. She even won a fellowship at the University of Washington’s Center for an Informed Public where she studied how teachers can incorporate media literacy into their classrooms. This past spring, she created a day-long event where teens and seniors could spend the day together, at what you might call a “giant skills swap.” The teenagers gave presentations about how AI scrapes information from reliable and unreliable sources.While the seniors gave presentations about animal rescue and how to fix a flat tire. But the event almost didn’t happen, because one of those groups was scared to engage with the other group. SoundSide’s Kyle Norris was at the event, called “Ageless Intelligence,” and has this story. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! Right now, we're asking for listeners to give us a full review of the show. We want to know what you want from the show, so share your thoughts with us at kuow.org/feedback. Also, 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.
May 26 · 31 min
After damning audit, KCRHA CEO Kelly Kinnison outlines agency response
The organization charged with managing the regional response to homelessness is facing an existential crisis. Some local elected leaders have called for the dissolution of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority after a damning forensic audit from consulting firm Clark Nuber released last month. The audit reported the agency has lost track of at least $8 million dollars, incurred $4 million of questionable administrative costs, and at one point operated with a negative cashflow of $44 million dollars. The review found the $200 million dollar agency, which started operations in 2021, didn’t have the necessary oversight, accounting practices or internal financial controls to handle large amounts of public money appropriately. King County and the City of Seattle fund the bulk of KCRHA. Now, the city and county are at a decision point: reform the agency or shut it down. And that decision is likely to come this summer. KCRHA released a corrective action plan on Friday that outlines steps the agency will take over the next 60 days in response to the audit. Guest: Kelly Kinnison, CEO of King County Regional Homelessness Authority Relevant Links: KUOW: King County homelessness agency board votes to tighten purse strings following damning audit AXIOS: Seattle-area homelessness agency at risk after audit KCRHA Corrective Action Plan 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.
May 26 · 19 min
Front Page gets techy: Meta layoffs, Starlink files to go public, and the Pope comes out as anti-AI
Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page. 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 Todd Bishop, editor and co-founder of Geekwire Related stories Meta cuts nearly 1,400 jobs in Seattle area, 20% of local workforce, in sweeping AI revamp - Geekwire Pope Leo Warns of Risks From A.I. in 42,300-Word Encyclical - NYT SpaceX is churning out 70 Starlink satellites a week in Redmond, and other tidbits from its IPO filing - Geekwire A viral video says booking a flight at a library is cheaper. We investigated. - Washington Post 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.
May 21 · 19 min
Ask a Doctor: What are ultra-processed foods (and should we avoid them)?!
Ultra-processed foods are everywhere. But we aren’t supposed to eat them. At least, that’s the current discourse around these foods, which can include soda, instant oatmeal and sliced bread. Research has found that diets high in ultra-processed foods are linked to diabetes, obesity, heart disease and many cancers. That's a hard pill to swallow, considering that roughly 70% of our grocery store products are ultra-processed, according to the Yale School of Public Health. So we want a little more clarity on what these foods are, how they could impact us and if it’s really so bad to snack on a granola bar (or order the occasional hot dog at a baseball game). Guest: Dr. Neelendu Dey, a gastroenterologist at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center and associate professor of gastroenterology at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Related links: Ultra-Processed Foods Information Sheet | Yale School of Public Health Ultra-processed food: Five things to know | Stanford Medicine News Center What Are Ultra-Processed Foods? | Johns Hopkins | Bloomberg School of Public Health 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.
May 21 · 5 min
Soundside's Weekend Warmup: Books, Books, and MORE BOOKS!
What a week, right? But hey… We’ve got a long weekend ahead of us, and since Memorial Day is the unofficial start of Summer, it’s exciting to see that there’s… rain in the forecast for Monday. Well, either way - rain or shine, Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with a ton of fun stuff to do this weekend! LINKS: Inaugural Ballard Book Crawl Lost the Plot Mobile Books Bremerton by the Book Page 42 Bookstore Smut & Sips Book Recommendations thanks to @beckybooksandbeads! Trailhead Direct - Begins Saturday! Whidbey Ren Faire Festival | Northwest Folklife 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.