Seattle Now

Unions are back in style

March 03, 2022 13:00 - 13 minutes - 13.7 MB

Workers at companies including Amazon, REI and Starbucks are attempting to unionize across the country. We wanted to know: Is this part of a new push for more labor protections, or just a coincidence? Guest: Margaret O'Mara, professor of history at the University of Washington

Two years and a pandemic later

March 02, 2022 13:04 - 11 minutes - 11.7 MB

It's been two years since we launched Seattle Now. Five hundred episodes later, it's a good time to reflect on what we've all been through. We check back with our very first guest, infectious disease specialist Dr. Clyde Crumpacker, about the course of the virus.

The war in Ukraine is also about history

March 01, 2022 13:04 - 9 minutes - 10.3 MB

The war in Ukraine has illuminated the complicated and contested relationship it has with Russia. University of Puget Sound history professor Ben Tromly sheds light on this relationship and the long history both countries share. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod

Revenge of the Hard Pants

February 28, 2022 13:05 - 11 minutes - 12.2 MB

Microsoft welcomes workers back to campus today, and office leases in the city are above pre-pandemic levels. This begs the question — are we going to have to give up our sweatpants and go back to formal office attire? We're asking Shea Jensen, Executive Vice President of men's and women's attire at Nordstrom. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod

Casual Friday with Katie Campbell and Justin Shaw

February 25, 2022 13:00 - 16 minutes - 17.4 MB

We hit record low temperatures, West Seattleites got some bad news about their bridge and Sue Bird is playing another season at a discount. KUOW’s Katie Campbell and Justin Shaw of Seattle Weather Blog break it all down. Share your pandemic postcards with KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/postcard

A lesson on masking

February 24, 2022 18:51 - 12 minutes - 13.3 MB

The state's mask mandate for schools will expire next month. That means the decision to wear a mask in the classroom (or not) will be left up to districts, families and students — and the answer is far from simple. Guest: Dr. Dimitri Christakis, professor of pediatrics and director of the Center for Child Health, Behavior and Development at Seattle Children’s Research Institute

Concrete strike slows the city's building boom

February 23, 2022 13:04 - 10 minutes - 11.2 MB

A concrete truckers strike is entering its third month and is slowing projects all around the city, including the reopening of the West Seattle Bridge. Seattle Times reporter Heidi Groover has details. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod

Ending downtown homelessness?

February 22, 2022 13:04 - 12 minutes - 13.1 MB

There's a new vision to end homelessness downtown. If that sentence just made you roll your eyes, we get it. This is a big challenge — but the new approach includes some firsts for the city that might make a big difference. Seattle Times Project Homeless reporter Scott Greenstone explains. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod

Peepin' birds

February 21, 2022 13:00 - 11 minutes - 11.8 MB

Trish heads to the Center for Urban Horticulture to get a lesson in Birding 101 from ecologist Olivia Sanderfoot.

Casual Friday with Rachel Belle and Terry Hollimon

February 18, 2022 13:04 - 15 minutes - 15.8 MB

The mask mandates are starting to lift, the proof of vaxx is going away and thousands of remote workers are getting the call to come back to the office. Time to find the work pants!

How Washington fits into the West's megadrought

February 17, 2022 13:04 - 9 minutes - 10.3 MB

An attention-grabbing headline this week warned that the Western U.S. is seeing its worst megadrought in 1200 years. Washington has been mostly spared for now, but that doesn’t mean it won’t impact us eventually. Assistant State Climatologist Karin Bumbaco explains.

Reconsidering the city's bike helmet law

February 16, 2022 13:04 - 13 minutes - 14 MB

Bicycling groups and doctors agree – helmets save lives. But this week the King County Board of Health is expected to repeal the helmet law because it's being disproportionately enforced. KUOW's Gracie Todd explains. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod

The all-cash housing craze

February 15, 2022 13:00 - 12 minutes - 13.2 MB

As if buying a house in the Seattle area isn't hard enough already, enter the all-cash offer. These bids are often the ticket to buying a house in the region, and they're getting easier for people without existing wealth to access. Guest: Chad Dierickx, real estate broker based in West Seattle. Find Prashant on TikTok and Youtube - @PrashantKuchi

Masks on, masks off

February 14, 2022 13:00 - 11 minutes - 11.9 MB

No trouble getting a hold of masks these days. Two years into the pandemic, they're giving them away for free at the drug store, just as we're rolling back the mask mandates. We talk with UW's Ali Mokdad about going maskless, and why you should probably hang on to them anyway. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod

Casual Friday with Tan Vinh and Geraldine DeRuiter

February 11, 2022 13:04 - 19 minutes - 20.3 MB

This week, Washington is reconsidering its mask mandate, Amazon pay and housing prices are soaring and KUOW broke some Mazdas. Seattle Times food writer Tan Vinh and The Everywhereist's Geraldine DeRuiter break it all down. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod

Why is everything so expensive?

February 10, 2022 13:04 - 11 minutes - 12.1 MB

Prices for everything from gas to food to housing have skyrocketed in the last year. Seattle is being hit harder than the rest of the country — we had the second-highest inflation rate, behind Atlanta. So what's going on? Guest: Seattle Times Graphics Reporter Alison Saldanha Read Alison's article about inflation in Seattle: https://www.seattletimes.com/business/economy/seattle-registers-largest-increase-in-inflation-in-three-decades/

A town divided over pandemic streateries

February 09, 2022 13:04 - 13 minutes - 14.2 MB

There was a time when outdoor dining was something everyone could rally around. Even now, those sidewalk and parking space set ups are a way for people to gather safely and support struggling restaurants. But, now two years into a pandemic, in cities like Edmonds there’s tension over whether they should stick around. Seattle Times reporter Jackie Varriano explains why some people and businesses are upset.

We all should have worked in tech

February 08, 2022 13:04 - 12 minutes - 12.8 MB

How competitive is the tech economy? Amazon announced yesterday that it's doubling maximum base pay for tech and corporate employees to $350,000 a year to stay competitive. Geekwire’s Todd Bishop gives us the backstory. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod

Could WA outlaw doxxing?

February 07, 2022 13:00 - 11 minutes - 11.8 MB

Doxxing — publishing someone's private information online — is getting more and more common, along with the harassment and intimidation that it can cause. Crosscut's Melissa Santos explains why the state legislature's attempt to outlaw it is trickier than you might expect. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod

Casual Friday with Chase Burns and Cynthia Brothers

February 04, 2022 13:00 - 19 minutes - 20.3 MB

This week Omicron cases dropped, Sound Transit spoke up about people not paying their fare. And the Capitol Hill Block Party is back. The Stranger’s Chase Burns and Vanishing Seattle’s Cynthia Brothers are here to break it all down. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod

Black runners find a path in Seattle

February 03, 2022 13:04 - 15 minutes - 15.5 MB

Running is an easy way to get exercise, with great health benefits. But it’s far from simple for Black runners as they head out the door. NY Times columnist Kurt Streeter talks about running while Black in his Seattle neighborhood. And Johnny Fikru, captain of Black Men Run Seattle, shares how running with a group of Black men builds community and creates a safe space. Check out the Seattle Black Men Run chapter: https://blackmenrun.com/blackmenrun-chapters/seattle/ And read Kurt's pieces ...

Can Washington make housing affordable for the 'middle?'

February 02, 2022 13:04 - 14 minutes - 14.8 MB

If you're trying to buy a home here, you already know Washington’s housing market is tough. Some lawmakers think density is part of the solution… things like more duplexes. But as lawmakers consider legislation to help create that density, KUOW’s Joshua McNichols explains why it’s a lot more complicated than simply building housing.

Happy Lunar New Year!

February 01, 2022 13:04 - 10 minutes - 11.2 MB

It's time to start celebrating spring. We're welcoming the Year of the Tiger and making meaning of the holiday with chef and author Hsiao-Ching Chou. See recipes, videos and more at Hsiao-Ching's website: https://mychinesesoulfood.com

Ticket to ride

January 31, 2022 13:00 - 12 minutes - 12.8 MB

Sound Transit's CEO is warning that not enough passengers are paying to ride. And it’s happening just as the agency is talking about relaxing its fare enforcement policies. Seattle Times transportation reporter David Kroman explains.

Casual Friday: 'I will take any good news I can get'

January 28, 2022 13:04 - 13 minutes - 14.3 MB

This week the fog rolled in, Omicron cases went down and Seattle bagels vie for the same respect as those in New York. We’re breaking it all down with the Strangers Jas Keimig and Seattle comedian Monica Nevi. See pictures from our episodes on Instagram @seattlenowpod.

SPD drops some traffic stops

January 27, 2022 13:04 - 10 minutes - 11.2 MB

Earlier this month SPD said it will stop pulling people over for some minor traffic infractions, like expired tabs. It's part of a strategy to address disproportionate enforcement and reprioritize what the city’s cops spend their time on. KUOW's Amy Radil explains. Like the show? Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts... and tell a friend about us!

Clouds on the ground

January 26, 2022 13:04 - 12 minutes - 12.5 MB

A cozy blanket of fog has been socking us in all this week. And that means a week with no horizon and an air stagnation advisory. We’ll find out what’s up with the fog and when it will go away with FOX Weather's Scott Sistek.

State lawmakers take aim at fake vaxx cards

January 25, 2022 13:04 - 9 minutes - 9.49 MB

It’s a crime to use a fake ID to buy beer. Should it also be a crime to use a fake vaccination card so you can get into a bar to buy beer? State lawmakers are thinking about it. KUOW’s Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins has details. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod

When do we go from pandemic to endemic?

January 24, 2022 13:04 - 14 minutes - 15.1 MB

There’s been a lot of discussion lately about whether Omicron is in retreat, and what happens next. So we’re starting another week with the question: Where are we in this pandemic? Guest: Jessica Malaty Rivera, epidemiology research fellow at Boston Children's and senior advisor with the Pandemic Prevention Institute

Casual Friday: Enough with the atmospheric rivers

January 21, 2022 13:04 - 16 minutes - 16.9 MB

It’s another Friday and another week filled with Omicron. At least the free at-home Covid tests are on the way. Plus we’ve had a break from the rain, and our hockey team got an adorable new puppy. Aww. We’ll get into all of that with Seattle Weather Blog’s Justin Shaw and KUOW’s Paige Browning. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod

Inside the hospital covid crunch

January 20, 2022 13:04 - 10 minutes - 11 MB

The good news: Omicron appears to be peaking and fewer people are becoming seriously ill. But the biggest infections spike of the entire pandemic is flooding hospitals, and the next few weeks could push things past the breaking point. We talk with NPR science reporter Will Stone about how Harborview Medical Center is holding up. Follow Will's reporting on Twitter: twitter.com/wstonereports

On the road to one million EVs

January 19, 2022 13:04 - 13 minutes - 14.2 MB

There are 84,000 electric vehicles on the road in Washington today. By the end of this decade, the plan is to get to one million, and there’s a pile of federal money on the way to get you behind the wheel. Guests: Seattle Times reporter Hal Bernton and WSDOT's Tonia Buell For more information on EVs: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center: https://afdc.energy.gov/vehicles/electric_emissions.html Plugstar: https://plugstar.com Washington State tax exemptions for alternat...

Tongans wait for a word from home

January 18, 2022 13:00 - 14 minutes - 14.5 MB

Tonga is still mostly cut off after an undersea volcano erupted on Saturday and put the West Coast on tsunami lookout. Here in Seattle, family and friends are standing by and ready to help. Guests: Vaeomatoka "Toka" Valu with the Pacific Islander Community Association of Washington and Harold Tobin with the Pacific Northwest Seismic Network

When MLK came to town

January 17, 2022 13:04 - 8 minutes - 8.5 MB

MLK only came to Seattle once, in 1961, invited by his longtime friend, Reverend Samuel B. McKinney of Mt. Zion Baptist Church. KUOW's Isolde Raftery tells Kim Malcolm about the message he brought with him that would become his most famous speech. Regular listener? Help us out and take our audience feedback survey! https://www.getfeedback.com/r/vyWxeo7x

Casual Friday: Definitely no crimes in this episode

January 14, 2022 13:04 - 15 minutes - 16.3 MB

The second week of 2022 was a lot like the first week of 2022: wet, gray and filled with Omicron. We talk school closures, judging risks in this non-lockdown, and a different kind of horror story: a new thriller set in Seattle with Scotty Cayton, a.k.a. drag queen Betty Wetter, and UW journalism student Jadenne Radoc Cabahug. Regular listener to the show? Take our survey and tell us a little about yourself!:https://www.getfeedback.com/r/vyWxeo7x/

This squirrel puppet won't judge

January 13, 2022 13:04 - 14 minutes - 15 MB

Plenty of people are struggling with their mental health through this long pandemic. Some are finding community online. We’ll meet a TikTok creator who’s roaming Orcas Island with a squirrel puppet who preaches non-judgement. You can find Squirrel Dialogues and support Evan Wagoner-Lynch's work on his website. Regular listener to the show? Take our survey and tell us a little about yourself! https://www.getfeedback.com/r/vyWxeo7x

How do we make the city safer for pedestrians?

January 12, 2022 13:00 - 15 minutes - 16 MB

More Seattle walkers and bikers are dying on the city's roads than five years ago, despite an initiative to eliminate traffic fatalities by the end of this decade. KUOW's Gracie Todd dug into why it's happening and what could be done to reverse the trend. Regular listener? Take our survey and tell us a little about yourself: https://www.getfeedback.com/r/vyWxeo7x

Charge your laptops, remote school might be back

January 11, 2022 13:04 - 13 minutes - 14.2 MB

It's "refresh your email and wait for an update to find out if your kid has school tomorrow" time, as Omicron has begun to force closures due to short staffing and safety concerns. KUOW's Ann Dornfeld explains how Seattle is handling the pressure to keep schools open. Regular listener to the show? Take our survey and tell us a little about yourself: https://www.getfeedback.com/r/vyWxeo7x

The pandemic starts now?

January 10, 2022 13:04 - 14 minutes - 15.2 MB

When you're coming up on two years in a pandemic, the last thing anyone wants to hear is that everything up until now has been a trial run. But that's how UW epidemiologist Judith Malmgren sees things with Omicron driving infections to record levels.

Casual Friday: The Homer Simpson Transformation

January 07, 2022 14:10 - 16 minutes - 17 MB

It's a new year, but Covid didn't get the memo that it's no longer invited to the party. Between scrambling to find rapid test kits and returning to our home offices, it's been a hell of a year so far. Plus, a look ahead to the good food Seattle can expect to see in 2022. Guests: Seattle Times Food Writer Tan Vinh and Rachel Belle, reporter at KIRO radio and host of the Your Last Meal podcast

It'll melt

January 06, 2022 13:04 - 14 minutes - 14.8 MB

The first big snow of winter is mostly behind us, but if you’ve been trying to get around recently you’ve likely got a story to tell about it. Seattle Times transportation reporter Mike Lindblom is going to explain why parts of the city are still an ice rink days later. See pictures from our episodes on Instagram @seattlenowpod

Seattle Now: Drama at Stevens Pass

January 05, 2022 13:05 - 12 minutes - 13.2 MB

It's been a rip roaring start to snow season, but half of the ski area at Stevens Pass is still closed. Other resorts in the area are also having a bumpy start to the season, in part because of the demand for outdoor activities. We explain the international business game that's changing skiing in Washington. Guest: Gregory Scruggs, Seattle Times outdoors reporter Read Gregory's reporting on ski season: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/the-2021-22-ski-season-in-full-swing-but-sea...

Drama at Stevens Pass

January 05, 2022 13:05 - 12 minutes - 13.2 MB

It's been a rip roaring start to snow season, but half of the ski area at Stevens Pass is still closed. Other resorts in the area are also having a bumpy start to the season, in part because of the demand for outdoor activities. We explain the international business game that's changing skiing in Washington. Guest: Gregory Scruggs, Seattle Times outdoors reporter Read Gregory's reporting on ski season: https://www.seattletimes.com/life/outdoors/the-2021-22-ski-season-in-full-swing-but-sea...

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