Seattle Now
975 episodes - English - Latest episode: 11 days ago - ★★★★★ - 584 ratingsA smart, daily podcast for a curious city. Seattle Now brings you quick, informal, and hyper-local news updates every weekday.
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Episodes
Casual Friday: A very Krampus Christmas
December 24, 2021 13:04 - 19 minutes - 19.8 MBIt's Christmas Eve! Lots of folks are hoping for snow this weekend, everyone is hoping Omicron doesn't show up uninvited. Plus, Leavenworth is the new front on the "War on Christmas," according to one guy with a Bratwurst stand at least. We dig into it all with Jeannie Yandel, host of Battle Tactics for your Sexist Workplace, and Libby Denkmann, host of a new KUOW show, Soundside. Happy Holidays from the Seattle Now team! We're taking next week off, but you'll still hear some of our favori...
Have yourself a merry little Christmas
December 23, 2021 13:04 - 11 minutes - 12.3 MBIt's the most wonderful time of the year again. No pressure! Except for maybe the crowds, travel and Omicron variant. We’re turning to John Moe of the Depresh Mode podcast for some last-minute support and inspiration.
WA's Long term care insurance on hold
December 22, 2021 13:04 - 13 minutes - 14 MBA first-in-the-nation program to help Washingtonians pay long-term healthcare costs is on hold, just two weeks before it was about to start. KUOW’s Olympia correspondent Austin Jenkins catches us up on the future of the Washington Cares program. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
From Kabul to Seattle
December 21, 2021 13:00 - 13 minutes - 13.5 MBThousands of Afghans who left Kabul after the U.S. withdrawal are in limbo as they try to resettle in America. We talk with one man who left Kabul for Seattle and the head of a local agency trying to smooth the path. Guest: Aneelah Afzali, executive director of the American Muslim Empowerment Network at the Muslim Association of Puget Sound DSHS website welcoming Afghans: www.dshs.wa.gov/welcomeafghans Emergency Fund for Afghan Refugees Joint Campaign: www.launchgood.com/waafghanfund A...
Staying safe from Omicron
December 20, 2021 13:04 - 10 minutes - 11 MBIt's our second pandemic holiday season, and a speedy new variant, boosters and rapid tests are all part of the mix. We check in with UW professor Ali Mokdad about how to stay ahead of Omicron. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
Casual Friday: An augmented reality New Year's
December 17, 2021 13:04 - 12 minutes - 13.1 MBThe Space Needle says it's bringing back real fireworks this year, but please stay at home and watch them online. Washington names its newest state ferry. And should cars be allowed to drive through Pike Place Market? Guests: Eva Walker of The Black Tones and South Seattle Emerald publisher Marcus Green
The scientist behind the perfect Christmas tree
December 16, 2021 13:04 - 12 minutes - 12.8 MBChristmas trees are big business here in the Pacific Northwest, and that's thanks to WSU plant pathologist Gary Chastagner, who has studied what makes the perfect tree for four decades. We take a trip to Pfaff's Christmas Tree Farm in Auburn to get the download. Like the show? Let us know! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send us mail at [email protected].
Meet Shi Shi, the rescued sea turtle
December 15, 2021 13:04 - 11 minutes - 11.7 MBJust last month, an endangered sea turtle washed up on the beach in a remote spot on the coast. When she was found, a whole network of people jumped in to help with the rescue. We check in on Shi Shi at the marine hospital where she’s recovering in a heated pool. Head over to Instagram for Shi Shi pics! We're @seattlenowpod To report an injured or stranded marine mammal, call the West Coast Marine Mammal Stranding Network at 866-767-6114
The secret history of nukes in WA
December 14, 2021 13:04 - 13 minutes - 13.9 MBSince the launch of the Manhattan Project 80 years ago, Washington has been a hub for both facilities that make components of nuclear weapons and the weapons themselves. KUOW investigative fellow Gracie Todd dug into our legacy with nukes and is here to tell us all about it. Read Gracie's full investigation into nukes in Washington on KUOW.org - https://www.kuow.org/stories/the-secret-history-of-nukes-in-washington-state Like the show? Let us know! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or se...
Looks like the Sawant recall goes down
December 13, 2021 13:04 - 13 minutes - 13.8 MBDown almost 2,000 votes on election night, it looks like Kshama Sawant will defeat a recall attempt to remove her from office. We make sense of the results with Publicola's Erica C. Barnett and campaign consultant Sandeep Kaushik. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
Casual Friday: Outsmarting the package thieves
December 10, 2021 13:00 - 14 minutes - 14.8 MBWe learned more about Omicron this week, and it's causing some people to rethink their holiday plans. But there's still plenty of festive spirit around the city, including the holiday tradition of trying to outsmart package thieves. Guests: Science journalist Jane Hu and KUOW community engagement producer Kristin Leong
Could slowing down help get people off the streets?
December 09, 2021 13:00 - 13 minutes - 13.7 MBThe city is closing down two large and long-running North Seattle tent camps this week. It's been done before, but this time they say things are different. Seattle Times reporter Scott Greenstone explains why officials think they've hit on a new approach. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
Urban coyotes and your pet
December 08, 2021 13:04 - 12 minutes - 12.9 MBSeattle is home to a lot of green space, and with that comes a lot of wild critters -- including coyotes. The canines are a worry for pet owners in and around the city. So how much danger does a coyote actually pose to the average housecat or pup? Guest: Isolde Raftery, KUOW online managing editor
Down the Q rabbit hole
December 07, 2021 13:04 - 13 minutes - 13.4 MBA Federal Way man has QAnon followers gathered at Dealey Plaza in Dallas, believing a wild story that JFK Jr. will return as part of a plan to restore Donald Trump to the White House. Seattle Times political reporter Jim Brunner tells us what’s going on. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
Something in the water
December 06, 2021 13:04 - 11 minutes - 11.8 MBPuget Sound may be surrounded by acres of clams, but we'll have to clean up our act if we want to keep eating them. Crosscut's Hannah Weinberger explains how untreated sewage is threatening the health of the region's shellfish beds. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
Casual Friday: Our guilty music pleasures
December 03, 2021 13:04 - 15 minutes - 15.8 MBEveryone was talking about their Spotify Wrapped top music of the year this week. But the real question is, when is it okay to start blasting the holiday tunes? Plus, sports (and some concerts) are getting so pricey in the city that people just aren't going. We dig through it all with The Stranger's Chase Burns and Jas Keimig. Like the show? Let us know! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send us an email at [email protected].
Searching for Omicron
December 02, 2021 13:04 - 11 minutes - 11.7 MBIt’s only a matter of time before the Omicron variant is detected in Washington. In fact, there’s a good chance it’s already here. But don’t panic, we’re focusing on the science with UW Medicine virologist Pavitra Roychoudhury, who’s been watching out for variants since the start of the pandemic. Like the show? Let us know! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send us mail at [email protected]
Does Sawant stay or go?
December 01, 2021 13:04 - 11 minutes - 11.6 MBCity Councilmember Kshama Sawant is facing a rare recall election. Next week, her constituents in District 3 will decide whether she's removed from office. KUOW’s David Hyde explains how we got here and what voters are weighing. Liking the show? Let us know! Leave us a review on Apple Podcasts or send us mail at [email protected]
The Nutcracker is back
November 30, 2021 13:04 - 11 minutes - 12.2 MBLast year was the first time since 1974 that Seattle didn't have a live performance of The Nutcracker ballet. The Pacific Northwest Ballet is back at it this year, with some pandemic-induced changes. Producer Clare McGrane takes us behind the scenes for a look at how the dancers are approaching the holiday classic differently. See photos of dancers rehearsing (and the new Cricket costume) on our Instagram - we're @SeattleNowPod Or check out the episode on KUOW.org - https://www.kuow.org/st...
Why nonprofits should pay more
November 29, 2021 13:04 - 12 minutes - 12.6 MBThe nonprofit world is filled with dedicated, talented people doing meaningful work. One thing it’s not known for is the pay. We’ll hear from Choose 180's Sean Goode about why they're boosting base salaries to $70,000, and what that means for the work they do. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
Casual Friday: 'I'm a Day Five guy'
November 26, 2021 13:04 - 12 minutes - 12.6 MBHeat up the leftovers turn on the Apple Cup. We're talking Thanksgiving plans and whether WSU can snap a 7-year losing streak with The Barbershop's Terry Hollimon and Marcus Trufant. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
Dave & Dave and the midnight orca ride
November 25, 2021 13:04 - 15 minutes - 15.6 MBA story about a man named Dave, another four guys also named Dave, and two majestic killer whales taken from the Northwest. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
Get out the long table
November 24, 2021 13:04 - 13 minutes - 13.8 MBIt's the closest thing to a normal Thanksgiving since the beginning of the pandemic. We're calling on Chef Kristi Brown of That Brown Girl Cooks! catering and Communion Restaurant & Bar to find out what the holiday will look like for her. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
Your booster questions, answered
November 23, 2021 13:04 - 14 minutes - 14.8 MBTo boost or not to boost? Many of you are asking the question now that the feds have opened the shots up to anyone over 18. UW Medicine’s Dr. Christine Johnston has some answers. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
Indigenize the airwaves
November 22, 2021 13:00 - 9 minutes - 9.56 MBDaybreak Star Radio is a brand-new online stream of indigenous music, news and culture from here in Seattle. We head to Discovery Park to visit station manager Sherry Steele at the studio in the Daybreak Star Indian Cultural Center. Listen to Daybreak Star Radio online at https://daybreakstarradio.com Music from this episode: 1) 'My Stone,' Frank Waln, 2) 'Me and You,' Drezus, 3) 'Boogie,' Cece T, 4) 'Where They At,' Snotty Nose Rez Kids, 5) 'For Women by Women,' Eekwol
Casual Friday: In defense of Dick's
November 19, 2021 13:04 - 15 minutes - 15.8 MBIchiro earns a spot in the Mariners Hall of Fame. A Boeing 747 lands in some schmancy new SLU apartments. And a Business Insider writer finds Dick's burgers lacking. Guests: Kat Kruger, game designer and Dungeon Master of D20 Dames, and KUOW newscaster Paige Browning
Casual Friday: In defense of Dick's Drive-In
November 19, 2021 13:04 - 15 minutes - 15.8 MBIchiro earns a spot in the Mariners Hall of Fame. A Boeing 747 lands in some schmancy new SLU apartments. And a Business Insider writer finds Dick's burgers lacking. Guests: Kat Kruger, game designer and Dungeon Master of D20 Dames, and KUOW newscaster Paige Browning
WA's redistricting drama
November 18, 2021 13:04 - 13 minutes - 14.4 MBHigh drama unfolded this week over the future of Washington’s political battle lines. A redistricting committee missed its midnight deadline to redraw the state’s congressional and legislative maps. Now, for the first time, it’ll go to the state Supreme Court. Seattle Times political reporter Jim Brunner explains. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
Treating the opioid epidemic
November 17, 2021 13:04 - 12 minutes - 13 MBState Attorney General Bob Ferguson wants three drug distributors to pay up for their role in the opioid epidemic. If he wins in court, the state could have billions of dollars to spend on treatment. We talk with UW's Dr. Michelle Peavy about what that money could do. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
The big dark and the big SAD are here
November 16, 2021 13:04 - 13 minutes - 13.5 MBThe big dark is here, and for some so is the big SAD, which stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder, a mood disorder that affects five percent of adults. We get some strategies for coping from Kathleen Cook, chair of the psychology department at Seattle University. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
What's holding up your stuff?
November 15, 2021 13:04 - 10 minutes - 11 MBThe supply chain is slowing down, shipping containers are stacking up and the holidays are right around the corner. We hear from a small press publisher at the Market and a bookstore manager on Queen Anne about how shortages and delays are impacting their businesses.
Casual Friday: Thursday was a holiday edition
November 12, 2021 13:04 - 14 minutes - 15.4 MBSeattleites get momentarily confused by a tornado warning meant for Kitsap County. Three school districts call it a week after hundreds of teachers call out. And there's a new push to save the Cinerama. Guests: Geekwire's Kurt Schlosser and KUOW's Jeannie Yandel
Why you need to take a 'forest bath'
November 11, 2021 13:05 - 13 minutes - 13.6 MBA story from KUOW's The Wild podcast, about the benefits of the Japanese relaxation practice of shinrin-yoku, or 'forest bathing.' Hear more from The Wild: https://www.kuow.org/podcasts/thewild
Remember remote school? It's still here
November 10, 2021 13:04 - 9 minutes - 10.2 MBAfter more than a year of remote school, students are back in class. But for some families, online school still makes more sense. We hear from a mom whose elementary schooler is still learning from home and find out what Seattle school officials are thinking about keeping remote learning around.
Welcome back, Canadians!
November 09, 2021 13:04 - 11 minutes - 11.9 MBYesterday was a big day for long-overdue reunions. For the first time since the start of the pandemic, Canadians traveled south to visit family, shop and travel. Northwest News Network reporter Tom Banse headed to Port Angeles to capture the scene. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
We voted, but what did we say?
November 08, 2021 13:04 - 11 minutes - 12.2 MBWith more results to chew on, it's just about time for some election analysis. What was the message from voters this time around? Publicola's Erica C. Barnett and political consultant Sandeep Kaushik are here to help us out.
Casual Friday: Time to turn out the lights
November 05, 2021 12:04 - 14 minutes - 14.6 MBSeattle elects a new mayor. There finally might be a plan to finish the 'missing link' of the Burke Gilman bike trail. And we voted to stop doing it two years ago, but you'll still have to set your clocks back an hour this weekend. Guests: Crosscut reporter Hannah Weinberger and KUOW senior producer Katie Campbell
Zillow overzestimated its flipping biz
November 04, 2021 12:04 - 11 minutes - 12.2 MBAfter selling thousands of properties for a loss, Zillow shut down its home buying unit this week and said it will cut 25 percent of its workforce over the next few months. James Rodriguez has been reporting on Zillow for Business Insider and explains what's happening at the company. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
The results are in
November 03, 2021 12:04 - 9 minutes - 10.2 MBSeattle voters appear to be sending a clear message about how they want the city to approach its biggest challenges. KUOW editor Deb Wang has our rundown of last night’s election results. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
Some Starbucks workers want a union
November 02, 2021 12:00 - 8 minutes - 9.17 MBStarbucks is the latest major Seattle-based company to face a unionization effort. If successful, three stores in Buffalo would be the first U.S. corporate-owned Starbucks stores to organize. We hear from shift manager Alexis Rizzo and New York Times labor reporter Noam Scheiber. Follow us on Instagram @seattlenowpod
Vaccines on the way for kids 5 and up
November 01, 2021 12:04 - 11 minutes - 11.8 MBThe FDA has approved Pfizer's vaccine for children over 5, and full approval could be on the way as soon as this week. If you’re a parent who’s already scheduling an appointment, or have questions before you do, we’ve got you covered. Guest: Dr. Dimitri Christakis, pediatrician at Seattle Children's Hospital
Casual Friday: 'Devilment on a Sunday'
October 29, 2021 12:04 - 11 minutes - 11.6 MBA bomb cyclone soaks Western Washington, the Kraken get their first win on home ice and Trish learns why she never gets any trick-or-treaters. Guests: Kemble Bray Jr. and Lex Vaughn, editor-in-chief of The Needling
What's going on with the ferries?
October 28, 2021 12:04 - 13 minutes - 14 MBThe state ferry system is struggling with a worker shortage, causing cancelled sailings and chaos for commuters. KUOW’s Casey Martin spoke to people who rely on the ferries and tells us how they're coping. Follow us on Instagram! We're @seattlenowpod
Mushrooms and mental health
October 27, 2021 12:04 - 13 minutes - 14.2 MBSeattle is taking steps toward decriminalizing psilocybin, in the hope that psychedelics could one day be used as treatment for depression and PTSD. We talk with UW oncologist Dr. Anthony Back about who it could help, and how it could work. Follow us on Instagram! We're @seattlenowpod
A path forward on policing
October 26, 2021 12:04 - 13 minutes - 14.1 MBLess than a week to go until voters set the course for Seattle, especially when it comes to policing and public safety. We hear what former Seattle Police Chief Carmen Best thinks about what the future of policing should look like. Following us on Instagram? Check us out @seattlenowpod
Two Council seats up for grabs
October 25, 2021 12:04 - 10 minutes - 10.9 MBThey don’t have quite the spiciness of this year’s city attorney’s race, but two citywide council races will have a lot to do with how Seattle takes on its biggest challenges. We get the short version from Crosscut's David Kroman. It's KUOW's fall membership drive! Take two minutes and make a gift at KUOW.org to support Seattle Now and all the programs you love.
Casual Friday: Living our best life (in the rain)
October 22, 2021 12:04 - 15 minutes - 15.7 MBClimate Pledge Arena welcomed its first crowd — but seriously, it needs a better name. A series of storms (including something called a 'bomb cyclone') will dump rain on us for the next week. And there's plenty more to do around the city these days, so long as you're vaccinated. Guests: Scotty Cayton (a.k.a. drag queen Betty Wetter) and KUOW's Paige Browning
Amazon's self-driving cars to get tested by Seattle's rain
October 21, 2021 12:05 - 10 minutes - 11.3 MBAmazon says it's getting ready to test self-driving cars on the streets of downtown Seattle. The cars need to perform in adverse conditions, and Seattle has them. But advocates for pedestrian safety are concerned about what autonomous vehicles mean for walkers and cyclists. Guest: Katherine Anne Long, business reporter for The Seattle Times
No jab, no job
October 20, 2021 12:04 - 13 minutes - 14.4 MBVaccine mandates are now alive and well in Washington, but how did we do when it comes to vaxxing up? And will the deadline mean disruptions for the average Seattleite? Guest: Kate Walters, KUOW Covid reporter
La Niña winter is coming
October 19, 2021 12:04 - 10 minutes - 10.8 MBDo you feel it? The chill in the air? Meteorologists are predicting a La Niña weather pattern for this winter. Assistant state climatologist Karin Bumbaco explains what it means for Western Washington. Follow us on Instagram, we're @seattlenowpod