Soundside

Are men okay?  It’s a question sometimes asked in jest, but recent data has caused some experts to worry about American men and boys. Men are going to and graduating from four year colleges at lower rates than women. Men age 25-54 are participating in the workforce at a lower rate than ever before. And, data from 2023 suggests young men are spending significantly more time alone than they did in 2019. And this concern comes as influencers like the Tate brothers and Joe Rogan keep taking up space in the manosphere – a network of podcasters and influencers pushing a version of masculinity that many people consider toxic.   So how do you navigate healthy masculinity, and raising young men, in 2025? We talk with our expert panel about how to raise boys in 2025.  Guests: Don Cameron, executive director of Seattle CARES Mentoring Movement Jerad Koepp, Native student program specialist for North Thurston Public Schools, 2022’s Washington Teacher of the Year Keren Landman, independent reporter, former health reporter for Vox Related Links: Mentor sign up form for Seattle CARES, the next mentor trainings take place on May 31st and August 27th How to talk to boys so they grow into better men, a Vox article by reporter Keren Landman Men are lost. Here’s a map out of the wilderness. A 2023 Washington Post opinion piece on this topic, by Christine Emba  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.

Kevin Diers was an announcer and engineer here at KUOW. You could hear his work all over the station, behind shows like Morning Edition and All Things Considered. He had a big footprint in the radio and music scene here in Seattle, for many years: Kevin was a long time host of Metal Shop and Loud and Local at KISW. On KISW’s Instagram page, the band The Home Team wrote: "Kevin was the biggest supporter of local bands and music... He put us on when no one else would, and consistently uplifted the local scene with Loud & Local. He will be missed.” Kevin was also part of the team at DEFY wrestling, a Seattle-area pro-wrestling promoter where he hosted a DEFY podcast. Kevin was a gentle soul. He was kind and built community wherever he went. And he leaves a huge hole in our hearts. We miss you, Kevin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Should Seattle city council members have to recuse themselves if a policy proposal would directly help or harm their self interests? That’s been the guidance here in Seattle for the last 40 years. But a new proposal from City Council member Cathy Moore could change that. The idea to change ethics rules for the council comes ahead of contentious debates related to tenant protections and eviction laws in the city.  And it’s set to go before the council’s governance committee today, Thursday May 8th. Guest: Seattle Times city hall reporter David Kroman Related stories: Seattle City Council to consider changing ethics code for votes - 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.

Thanks for checking out the Weekend Warmup - We have a LOT going on this weekend. First of all, Sunday is Mother's Day. Second of all, the Mariners are starting a home stand against the Blue Jays on Friday. Let's go! LINKS: Seattle Mariners Schedule USAF Band of the Golden West - Bellingham USAF Band of the Golden West - Mercer Island Seattle Beer Week 43rd Annual Beat the Bridge World Migratory Bird Day | Seward Park Audubon Center Penn Cove Water Festival  Pierogi Fest 2025 Seattle Art Book Fair  BonsaiFEST! | Pacific Bonsai Museum  SIFF 'n' Stitch: Mamma Mia! Sinners - SIFF Cinema Downtown NEXT WEEK: Never Turn Back Opening Party: Soul Train Revival | Museum of Pop Culture 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.

More than three decades ago, tiny blobs of gelatinous goo of unknown origin rained down on the small Grays Harbor community and captured national headlines. The cause of the strange phenomenon, and even what the blobs were made of -- remains an enigma. It was even the subject of an episode of the TV show Unsolved Mysteries. (Watch the episode here.) No one knows what they were. But last month they returned.  Guests: Alli McCrite Tom Paulson, former reporter for the Seattle P-I Related Links: Oakville blobs return? Resident says she and neighbors saw mysterious blobs falling from the sky once again last week The Day Blobs Rained Down on Oakville 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.

Yesterday, Seattle-based author Tessa Hulls won a Pulitzer Prize for her graphic novel "Feeding Ghosts." Hulls' first published book starts with her Chinese grandmother, Sun Yi, a journalist and author who fled Shanghai after the Communist Revolution. Then, the narrative shifts -- to her mother Rose, the daughter of a Swiss diplomat, essentially raised in a Hong Kong boarding school after her mother was institutionalized. And finally to Hulls herself, who is trying to bring peace to her family ghosts. 10,000 Things host and author Shin Yu Pai sat down Hulls for Soundside last year. We're re-sharing our original interview to highlight Hulls' big achievement. Guest: Tessa Hulls, Pulitzer Prize winning author of Feeding Ghosts Related stories: In 'Feeding Ghosts,' author, illustrator Tessa Hull recounts a healing journey across generations - KUOW Seattle author Tessa Hulls wins 2025 Pulitzer Prize - 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.

King County has its first new Executive in 15 years.  Dow Constantine, who held the position since 2009, was chosen as the CEO of Sound Transit earlier this year. He stepped away from the Executive job at the end of March.In his place, Shannon Braddock is leading the county until a new executive is elected this November. Before this she worked mostly behind the scenes in various roles for the county over the last 15 years, including Deputy County Executive.  County business waits for no one and Braddock is holding the position at a challenging time. King County is facing a roughly $150 million dollar general fund budget deficit and is dealing with uncertainty over federal grants. How does Braddock intend to lead the second largest government in the state of Washington? Well, she has a blueprint for that. At yesterday’s council meeting, she released her 200 day plan for her time in office.  Guest: Shannon Braddock, King Count Executive Relevant Links: Seattle Times: Shannon Braddock is King County’s first new leader in 15 years. Who is she?  Seattle Times : Maneuvering and lack of trust as King County seeks a new executive  The Urbanist: King County Council Appoints Shannon Braddock Acting Executive in Constantine’s Wake PublicCola: Could a Sales Tax Hike for Criminal Justice Programs Save the County’s Budget?   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.

In the face of staff cuts, funding freezes, and threats to zero out its budget – Head Start has survived… for now.  This program serves almost 800,000 kids throughout the country –15,000 in Washington State alone. Many of these children are low-income, disabled or in foster care. A Trump Administration budget proposal leaked in April put all Head Start funding on the chopping block. Providers in multiple states, including Washington, filed a lawsuit last week, aiming to halt the elimination of the program and actions, they say, further undermine it. But on Friday there was a bit of a reprieve: the Administration’s budget summary did not list Head Start as one of their defunding targets, and an official told reporters there would be no changes to the program.  But the lawsuit will continue. And, according to supporters, this dismantling of the program has been in the works for a while.  Guest: Joel Ryan, the Executive Director of the Washington State Association of Head Start. Links: Head Start survives Trump administration budget proposal WA Head Start staff locked out and let go due to Trump cuts Washington ACLU sues Trump administration over attempts to dismantle free Head Start preschool program 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.

In the new Netflix documentary “Bad Influence”, 11 teenagers recount their experiences working with Piper Rockelle, who was herself a child influencer. All of the teens were former “squad members” of the Youtuber. They described performing scripted scenes in front of the camera - like fake “dating” scenarios, or pranks.  They also described feeling violated by some of the videos, and behind the scenes interactions with Rockelle’s mother, Tiffany Smith - who’s also her manager. And they described not knowing how to say “no” when placed in a situation where they felt uncomfortable. “Bad Influence” is one of two recently released documentaries about the impact being a “kidfluencer” can have on children, as well as on their families.  There’s also the new Hulu documentary, “The Devil in the Family: The Ruby Franke Story”.  The documentaries are bringing a lot of attention to the potential dangers of kidfluencing and the work many are doing to rein in the industry. One person who is pushing for changes is Chris McCarty. They founded “Quit Clicking Kids”, a non-profit dedicated to stopping the monetization of minors on social media, as a high school senior.   Now, as a college student at the University of Washington, McCarty has helped shape legislation in multiple states focused on regulating the kidfluencer industry. They were also featured in Netflix’s “Bad Influence: the dark side of kidfluencing”. Guest:  Chris McCarty, founder of Quit Clicking Kids Related stories: Kids, Inc. - NYT Piper Rockelle Has a Lot to Say About That Netflix Documentary - Rolling Stone 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.

In the 2010s, the video game industry saw an ENORMOUS boom, with annual revenues jumping from 80 billion dollars to TWO HUNDRED billion over that decade, according to a report by investment research group Epyllion. But in recent years, that exponential growth hit a plateau.  “Games were so successful both prior to & during 2020 & 2021, that they set kind of impossible standards for 2023 & 2024… And when the uptick flattened, it was seen as a tremendous failure.” That’s video game writer and creator Alanah Pearce from her recent video titled, “The games industry is screwed.” While the industry remains profitable, volatility has shaken investors and large game studios – and created major instability for workers.  Last week, EA, which has a local footprint in Kirkland, announced a new round of layoffs – affecting hundreds of employees including workers at Respawn, the studio behind games like Apex Legends and the Star Wars: Jedi series. Things are changing for consumers, too: Microsoft recently announced that it’s raising prices across the entire XBOX platform, … hot on the heels of Nintendo announcing price hikes for its Switch 2 games.  The gaming industry appears to be at a crossroads. GUEST: Jason Schreier, author & reporter at Bloomberg RELATED LINKS:  The games industry is screwed. Electronic Arts Lays Off Hundreds, Cancels ‘Titanfall’ Game - Bloomberg Apex Legends and Star Wars: Jedi Dev Respawn Cancels Another Incubation Project, Around 100 Employees Impacted - IGN Players Have Too Many Options to Spend $80 on a Video Game - Bloomberg PRESENTATION: The State of Video Gaming in 2025 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.