Soundside

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May 21 · 26 min
In her new book, Dr. Kemi Doll says Black women are facing a 'gynecological health crisis'
Black women face higher rates of uterine fibroids compared to white women. They’re less likely to get accurate diagnoses for endometriosis. And they’re twice as likely to die from uterine cancer than white women. Dr. Kemi Doll considers these disparities part of the evidence for a broader health crisis in gynecological care for Black women. Why hasn’t the medical community done more to address these problems? And how can patients and practitioners navigate a system that consistently overlooks Black women? Doll's new book, "A Terrible Strength: The Hidden Crisis of the Black Womb and Your Survival Guide to Healing,” works to answer those questions. Guest: Dr. Kemi Doll, a professor of Obstetrics and Gynecology at the University of Washington and the author of "A Terrible Strength." Related links: A Terrible Strength by Kemi Doll | Penguin Random House Spotlighting a common female cancer, and a health disparity - UW Medicine Newsroom Why Black women are at greater risk for fibroids and endometrial cancer | Scientific American Understanding the gynecological health crisis facing Black women | Science Friday 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 20 · 18 min
Front Page: Murray vs Duffy, West Seattle anti-same sex marriage activist, opposition to "millionaire's tax"
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 Jim Brunner, political reporter for The Seattle Times Related Links Duffy Defends Road Trip Reality Show In Tense Senate Hearing Foes of WA high-earners income tax launch repeal initiative Meet the Seattle woman behind a national effort to end same-sex marriage Seahawks’ Jaxon Smith-Njigba gets his trophy — but for wrong award 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 20 · 6 min
The Seattle Torrent's first season? It really was about the friends we made along the way.
Sports superfans may seem to have been born bleeding their teams’ colors, but really, they’re created. It happens around formative events: a buzzer-beating come-from-behind win, a once-in-a-generation athlete or a championship season. This year probably saw a few Seattle uberfans get converted during the Seahawks’ dominating Superbowl performance. Tonight, some more sports fanatics may be formed. Game 4 of the Professional Women’s Hockey League finals begins in a few hours, and new champions could be crowned. Sadly, Seattle’s PWHL team, the Torrent, is not among those vying for the title. But the team still managed to capture its own share of superfans during their inaugural season. One of those is our producer Jason Burrows. If you’ve noticed that we mentioned the Torrent a lot this year, it’s because of him. We decided to let him have one more go, talking about his new favorite team. We were more than a little surprised to learn how far he has fallen. RELATED LINKS: Seattle Torrent | Home | PWHL Season Ticket Memberships | Seattle Torrent Seattle Torrent • Instagram Gloves Off Seattle | Instagram 365 HOCKEY GIRL | Instagram 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 19 · 26 min
A Tacoma author grapples with Japanese American incarceration and her father's death
Tacoma author Tamiko Nimura's father died when she was just 10 years old. Among the things he left behind was an unpublished manuscript about his family’s incarceration at the Tule Lake camp for Japanese Americans. Nimura ultimately made a pilgrimage to Tule Lake in 2014, to see where her father was forced to spend part of his childhood. She used her father's manuscript and her own experience to write a new book called “A Place for What We Lose: A Daughter’s Return to Tule Lake,” which is out now. Guest Tamiko Nimura, author, “A Place for What We Lose: A Daughter’s Return to Tule Lake” Related Links Exploring Tamiko Nimura’s New Book “A Place For What We Lose” - Densho Nimura's event in Seattle on June 6th 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 19 · 24 min
A loophole that can allow problem teachers back in class
In April 2024, the Everett School District launched a third-party investigation into a teacher at Henry M. Jackson High School over allegations of an inappropriate physical relationship with a student. Later that year, the teacher resigned. Not long after, he voluntarily gave up his K-12 teaching license. That decision stopped further investigation and the gears of oversight meant to provide transparency about problem teachers. And the teacher soon got a faculty job at a nearby community college. Guests Moe Clark, investigative reporter for InvestigateWest Eliza Aronson, investigative reporter for The Daily Herald in Everett Related links InvestigateWest: An Everett teacher resigned over a relationship with a student. Shoreline Community College hired him months later. 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 18 · 16 min
As the World Cup arrives in Seattle, so do the contradictions
From high ticket prices to questions about how the games are used by authoritarian leaders to bolster nationalism, the World Cup coming to town raises questions about the organization running the event. FIFA has also been dogged by scandal over host country selection and TV marketing rights. But, it's the World Cup – probably the biggest sporting event of all – and one that is so fun to watch. So how do we relate to a game that is both beautiful and run by an entity as complicated as FIFA? Guest: Jules Boykoff, professor of Political Science at Pacific University and the author of the forthcoming book Red Card: The 2026 World Cup, Sportswashing and the FIFA Greed Machine Relevant Links: Red Card: An excerpt from Jules Boykoff's new book on the 2026 FIFA World Cup Jules Boykoff’s ‘Kicking’ Is Clear-Eyed And Warm-Hearted ‘Green card for the planet’? Fifa’s World Cup is on pace to be a climate catastrophe 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 18 · 16 min
Front Page: Juniper Blessing, AI Data Centers, and AI Scams
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: Melissa Santos - Axios Related Links: UW student Juniper Blessing, 19, remembered as ‘full of life’ Seattle weighs pause on large data centers An AI hate wave is here Five large data centers eyed for Seattle His daughter called him crying, and then another voice got on the phone. Only one of them was real 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 14 · 45 min
A live Q&A with SPS Superintendent Ben Shuldiner
Ben Shuldiner just hit 100 days in his role as the superintendent of Seattle Public Schools.... and he’s had to tackle some pretty big issues in that short window. Like a budget deficit, which could be as much as $100 million. And student safety, after two Rainier Beach High School students were shot and killed at a bus stop in January. And screen time in the classrooms (Shuldiner recently implemented a new cell phone policy limiting student screen time during the school day) Shuldiner sat down for a live interview to answer a whole bunch of questions from us here on Soundside and from our listeners. Guest: Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Ben Shuldiner Related links: Can new superintendent Shuldiner the burden of Seattle Public Schools? | KUOW 100 days for Seattle’s new superintendent. How is he doing? | The Seattle Times Seattle’s new superintendent takes aim at administrative bloat | The Seattle Times Why U.S. Test Scores Are in a ‘Generation-Long Decline’ | The New York 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.
May 14 · 5 min
Soundside's Weekend Warmup: Vikings, Saunterers, and the U-District Street Fair!
It might not be the prettiest weekend, but there ARE a lot of things to do! Go enjoy your weekend! LINKS: Seattle International Film Festival GeekCraft Expo Viking Fest Seattle Pierogi Fest 2026 – Polish Home Association The Seattle Super Saunter U District Street Fair Mariners vs San Diego Padres Reign vs NJ/NY Gotham FC Sounders vs LA Galaxy Storm AWAY vs Indiana Fever 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 13 · 12 min
Hear It Again: What are your rights if Border Patrol wants to search your phone?
If you’re planning to head across the border to Canada for a weekend trip this summer, you've got to pack the essentials. Keys, wallet and of course your phone. But you may want to also consider something new – who might want to take a look at that phone as you cross the border. Last fiscal year, Customs and Border Protection reported a 16% increase in searches of digital devices compared to 2024. Should you expect your phone to be searched at the border? And what steps can you take to protect your data? In February, Soundside broadcast a conversation with New York Times reporter Gabe Castro-Root and talked about some of those questions. GUEST: Gabe Castro-Root, New York Times RELATED LINKS: Phone Searches at the Border Are Up: How to Protect Your Privacy Traveling to the U.S. Under Trump: Visas, Border Control and What to Know Border Search of Electronic Devices at Ports of Entry 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 13 · 15 min
Remembering the OG OMG: Operation Mother Goose
Spring is here which means a malignant force is around us, stalking our parks, beaches and grassy medians. I’m talking about the Canada Goose. You turn a corner and you see two geese and small goslings. They hiss, they honk, they’re aggressive, their poop closes Lake Washington swim spots and, I hate to implicate you, but they are here because of us. Western Washington wasn’t home to abundant year round Canada Geese until the mid to late 20th century. Humans purposefully moved them here in an operation dubbed “Mother Goose.” Guest: David B. Williams, author and historian of books like Wild in Seattle: Stories at the Crossroads of People and Nature and the newsletter The Streetsmart Naturalist Relevant Links: History Link: Operation Mother Goose begins to distribute Canada geese across the state starting on April 11, 1968 The Street Smart Naturalist: Operation Mother Goose 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 13 · 22 min
In ‘The Life We Leave,’ human composting and grief from an Auburn funeral home
In 2019, Washington became the first state in the country to legalize human composting as an alternative to burial and cremation. That same year, entrepreneur Micah Truman founded Return Home, a funeral home that built the world’s first large-scale human composting facility in Auburn, Washington. A new documentary tells the story of how Truman, who set out to disrupt the funeral industry for profit, discovered meaning in this new vision for death care. Guest(s) JJ Gerber, director of "The Life We Leave" 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 12 · 9 min
Laurelhurst residents respond to Seattle Children's helicopter controversy
Yesterday, we spoke with KUOW reporter Anna Boyro Weyrauch about the social media maelstrom that has taken over Seattle. I am talking about the drama between the Laurelhurst neighborhood and Seattle Children’s Hospital over helicopter landings. When we talked about this yesterday – we were curious to hear how the whole saga had unfolded from the perspective of someone living in Laurelhurst. Did the average resident even know about this policy? How did they feel being at the center of the online firestorm? Well, I asked for feedback and you delivered. Relevant Links: KUOW: How online scrutiny is changing Seattle Children's and Laurelhurst's helipad policy 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 12 · 12 min
Are the Seattle Storm so back?
Well, yes, they're back on the court. Seattle's WNBA team played their first regular season game Friday night. But the team has changed a lot since last season. They lost two key veteran players. But a new coach and two first-round draft picks could mean an exciting year for the Storm. And as more people are watching the WNBA, the players start this season with a new union contract – with new salary increases and other new benefits to match. Guest Maitreyi Anantharaman, staff writer for Defector, an employee-owned sports and culture website. Related Links Role Players, Ring Chasers, And A Shadow GM: Your Guide To The 2026 WNBA Season - Defector How Can You Not Be Romantic About Women’s Basketball? - Defector 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 12 · 22 min
Microsoft set ambitious climate goals. AI is making them hard to meet.
In 2021, Microsoft set an aggressive emissions goal: 100 percent of its electricity would come from renewable sources or be matched by zero-carbon energy purchases, 100 percent of the time. This was a big pledge – one that went farther than its existing net-zero emissions goal. But a lot can change in six years … Now, the company appears to be weighing a retreat. According to recent reporting by Bloomberg, Microsoft is considering delaying or dropping its 100 percent renewable electricity pledge because of energy intensive data center build outs. This isn't the only scaling back the company has been doing with its carbon goals. GUEST: Alastair Marsh LINKS: Microsoft Reconsiders Clean-Energy Pledge Made Harder by AI How Microsoft Spooked the Global Carbon Removal Market Microsoft will be carbon negative by 2030 6 projects that helped Microsoft meet its renewable energy goal 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 12 · 17 min
'My Cham Tongue' isn't your standard cookbook
A cookbook from a Seattle author takes readers into the food and history of the Cham, an ethnic group in Vietnam and Cambodia. Nurhaliza Mohamath is a writer, storyteller, culture worker..... and the author of "“My Cham Tongue," which promises readers “a taste of an ancient kingdom through family recipes." Mohamath stopped by Soundside to share why she wanted to publish the book... and why she wanted it to go beyond the food. Guest: Nurhaliza Mohamath, the author of "My Cham Tongue" Related links: My Cham Tongue In a New Cookbook, Author Nurhaliza Mohamath Serves Up Cham Cuisine and Culture | South Seattle Emerald 'My Cham Tongue' seeks to unite people through Cham cuisine Real Change Cham Refugee Community: A Photo and Video Portrait of Generational Wealth-Building | 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.
May 11 · 11 min
How online scrutiny is changing Seattle Children's and Laurelhurst's helipad policy
For decades, Seattle Children’s Hospital has been restricted from using its helipad except when transporting a child who is critically ill or facing a life-threatening emergency. These restrictions come from an agreement between the hospital and the nearby neighborhood of Laurelhurst. The old agreement became the subject of new scrutiny on Reddit and now a change may be in the works. Guest Anna Boiko-Weyrauch, general assignment reporter at KUOW Related links KUOW: Seattle Children's and Laurelhurst neighborhood agree to change controversial helicopter landing policy 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 11 · 21 min
Front Page: Helicopter battles, Light Rail Funding, and the Mystery of the WinCo store
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: Ryan Packer - Contributing Editor at The Urbanist Related Links: Seattle Children's and Laurelhurst neighborhood agree to change controversial helicopter landing policy Noisy protest calls out limits on airlifts to Seattle Children's Sound Transit Board Grapples with Plan to Rebalance ST3 Somers Proposal Keeps Rail to Everett and Tacoma On Track, Stops Short of Ballard Seattle Sound Transit Leaders Rally to Avoid Light Rail Delays Who doesn’t want WinCo store to open in North 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.
May 7 · 7 min
Soundside's Weekend Warmup - SIFF, Mother's Day, and MaiFest Leavenworth!
You know, it really feels like THIS WEEKEND is the first REAL weekend of Spring... Let’s get out & enjoy it! LINKS: Seattle International Film Festival Seattle Beer Week Maifest - Leavenworth Washington Get Intimate with the Shrub-Steppe | KEEN World Migratory Bird Day Celebration! · Seward Park Audubon Center Beat the Bridge for Breakthrough T1D Spring Walk n Wag Penn Cove Water Festival 18th Annual Flower Festival - Pike Place Market BonsaiFEST! | Pacific Bonsai Museum Sounders vs San Diego FC Seattle Reign vs Washington Spirit - MOTHER’S DAY 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 7 · 13 min
"Achieve Optimal Cinelation" at SIFF 2026
The 52nd Annual Seattle International Film Festival begins this evening, bringing 11 days of movie magic back to the Pacific Northwest. Over 200 films from more than 70 countries are on the docket, with features, shorts, documentaries, and – for the brave at heart – SECRET screenings on both Sundays of the festival. It’s been a tough year for SIFF, the organization that runs the festival... The closure of the Egyptian Theater in Capitol Hill and layoffs loom large, while staffing issues and contract negotiations with SIFF’s Cinema Workers’ Union remain unresolved. Those talks have been put on hold until after the Festival. This year’s fest kicks off at the Paramount Theater with Boots Riley’s “I Love Boosters,” tonight at 7pm. GUEST: Megan Leonard - SIFF’s Festival Programming Manager LINKS: Seattle International Film Festival SIFF 2026 Program Programmers' Picks: Megan Leonard on SIFF 2026 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.