Soundside

We are three weeks into the Major League Baseball season and one of the main story lines of the nascent season is the bats. On the second day of the season, the New York Yankees hit 9 home runs against the Milwaukee Brewers. Many of the Yankees players were using a new type of bat – shaped kind of like a bowling pin. This bat bulges at the center and narrows at the end. It’s called a torpedo bat.  Of course, traditionalists don’t love the new bat (let’s be real, some people hate change). But Major League Baseball says the bats do meet regulations … which say bats must be “a smooth, round stick not more than 2.61 inches in diameter at the thickest part and not more than 42 inches in length.” How does the torpedo bat work? Fortunately for us, there is a wealth of baseball knowledge in our own backyard to answer that question. The Sports Science Laboratory at Washington State University "specializes in the dynamics of bat and ball collisions." Guest: Lloyd Smith, Professor of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Sports Science Laboratory Links:  NPR: How do 'torpedo bats' work? We asked baseball physicists to explain   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.

The James Beard Award has been a kingmaker in the food business since the 1980s. Even getting a nomination can be life-changing.  Chef Jay Blackinton – a punk musician and self-described wannabee skateboarder – has been nominated seven times. He’s self-taught and runs a buzzy two-man kitchen on Orcas Island. And this year, he’s been named a James Beard Award finalist in the Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific category.  Seattle restaurants Archipelago and Atoma are also finalists in the Outstanding Hospitality and Best New Restaurant categories, respectively.  Not a single eatery from Washington state has taken home the big prize in the past three years. If Chef Blackinton wins, it could change the fate of his restaurant, which is both nurtured and challenged by its remote location. Guest: Jay Blackinton is the head chef at Houlme in Eastsound on Orcas Island, and is a James Beard Award Finalist for Best Chef: Northwest and Pacific category 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.

Mindie Lind is a Seattle-based musician. In a new short animated film called "View from the Floor", Lind and co-director Megan Griffiths explore Mindie’s life as an artist grappling with imposter syndrome. Mindie was born without legs. And as she came of age, she couldn’t shake the idea that the praise and attention she received was more about her disability, and people looking to create “inspiration porn,” rather than her talent.  View from the Floor debuted at Sundance this year and is available to view online now through the New York Times.  Guests: Mindie Lind, co-director of "View from the Floor" Megan Griffiths, co-director of "View from the Floor" Related Links: View From the Floor website The View From the Floor: After appearing on “Maury” 25 years ago, a singer without legs questions why she’s seen as inspirational - 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.

Today, a federal judge reprimanded the Trump Administration over its failure to comply with a court order to facilitate the release of Kilmar Abrego Garcia to the United States.  Abrego Garcia is a 29 year old Salvadoran citizen who is married to a U-S citizen and was living in Maryland when he was mistakenly deported despite being under court-ordered protection from being sent back to El Salvador. The Trump Administration blamed an “administrative error.” U.S. District Court Judge Paula Xinis called the administration’s actions “wholly illegal from the moment it happened.” Her ruling was partially upheld in a unanimous decision by the Supreme Court, released on Thursday – which said the government must “facilitate” Abrego Garcia’s release from custody in El Salvador.  But so far, the Trump administration is not making moves to get him back. In a court filing on Monday, a Department of Homeland Security official wrote, basically – it’s out of our hands: "DHS does not have authority to forcibly extract an alien from the domestic custody of a foreign sovereign nation."  Yesterday, President Trump met with El Salvador’s President, Nayib Bukele. At the meeting, both leaders said they would not act to release Abrego Garcia from prison. So, is the Administration ignoring a ruling from the highest court in the land? And where does that leave our constitutional democracy? Guest: Eric Schnapper, professor of law at the University of Washington Relevant Links: WaPo: The deportation standoff sending the U.S. toward a constitutional crisis   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 an executive order called “Restoring Truth and Sanity to American History,” President Trump criticizes Smithsonian exhibits that examine how race interacts with power and privilege. He claims they “portray American and Western values as inherently harmful and oppressive.”   The executive order also threatens to take away funding from exhibitions within the Smithsonian Museum network that promote what the administration is calling “a divisive, race-centered ideology.”    Under President Trump’s order, a number of federally funded museums could lose government support unless they make changes to their programming.  But there are smaller organizations that are forging ahead to preserve American history—including history about race. Guest: Stephanie Johnson Toliver, the President of the Black Heritage Society of Washington Related stories: The latest battleground in the fight for America’s story - Washington Post  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A harried emergency room doctor rushes between patients; his waiting room is filled to the brim with sick and injured people, he’s dodging a RAT infestation, all while overseeing a new crop of residents getting up to speed on their ER rotation. AND oh yes… sparring with a hospital administrator who’s reminding him: He needs to get those patient satisfaction scores up. It’s all in the day in the life of Dr. Robby of “The Pitt,” the fictional Pittsbourgh Emergency Department at the heart of HBO’s buzzy new streaming show. The show has received praise from medical pros, and close readings from fans who say it portrays the financial pressure of ERs in a new and compelling way. One of those fans is the host and creator of the "An Arm and A Leg" podcast - a show about the cost of healthcare in America, co-produced with KFF Health News and distributed in partnership with KUOW.  GUEST: Dan Weismann RELATED LINKS: An Arm and A Leg Podcast A Real-Life ER Doctor Examines The Pitt  ‘The Pitt’ Has Impressed Real Doctors With Its Accuracy - The New York Times 'The Pitt' Wins Praise From Pittsburgh ER Staff for Being 'Most Realistic' "ER" Sues "The Pitt" 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.

For years now, members of Seattle's political establishment have been trying to fix one particular street corner: 12th and Jackson, in Little Saigon. This corner is an example of what city leaders call "hot spots" — tiny sections of the city that are home to disproportionate amounts of crime and disorder. A report by the city last year found there were more than a hundred crimes targeting people and overdoses - mainly from fentanyl - at or around 12th and Jackson over a one-year period. And it's been this way for years. Leaving residents and business owners in this historically Asian-American community begging for help from the city. KUOW's Will James wanted to know: What's driving the crisis on display at 12th and Jackson? Why has it persisted for so long? And is there a solution to these problems that seem so intractable? Will spent months visiting this corner and getting to know some of the people who congregate there, trying to answer these questions. Read the full story: Fentanyl fuels a persistent ‘hot spot’ at Seattle’s 12th and Jackson. What will it take to fix it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pride is one of the events of the summer here in Seattle. Thousands of people gather in the city throughout the month of June for parties, themed events, and of course a huge parade celebrating and elevating the LGBTQIA+ community here in the Pacific Northwest. But this year, those events may look a little different. And that may be due to pressure from the other Washington. In his first few months in office, President Trump has called for an end to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs in both the public and private sector.. He’s also pushed forward multiple executive orders focused on limiting the rights of transgender Americans, including access to healthcare. Now, Pride organizations across the country are seeing a decline in sponsorship dollars as they prepare for this year’s events. Guests: Egan Orion, Executive Director of Seattle PrideFest Patti Hearn, Executive Director of Seattle Pride Danni Askini, Executive Director Gender Justice League and Trans Pride Seattle Related Links: Seattle PrideFest website Seattle Pride website Trans Pride Seattle website 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.

Certain names linger on the lips of ardent Seattle fans who still rock Supersonics Green & Gold: Gary Payton and Shawn Kemp. Detlef Schrempf and Nate McMillan. Ray Allen and Kevin Durant… Players who evoke wistfulness and nostalgia.  Other names bring notes of bitterness, and regret for Sonics faithful: Howard Schultz. The man who sold the team…  And Clay Bennett – the man who bought them and soon moved them to Oklahoma City. The team pulled up stakes 16 years, five months, and 12 days ago … but who's counting?  Why are many Seattle-ites still hung up on the team that broke their hearts nearly two decades ago? And what REALLY went wrong to make Seattle lose its NBA franchise? Most lifelong fans could spin their version of events … but the one we’re asking also happens to be an award-winning journalist and the host of a podcast called “Sonic Boom: How Seattle Lost its Team.”  The show was recently re-released by The Ringer, and it remains relevant for anyone who wants to understand the history of the NBA in Seattle and when and how the Sonics could return. GUEST: Jordan Ritter Conn - Senior Staff Writer at The Ringer RELATED LINKS: Sonic Boom: How Seattle Lost Its Team - The Ringer SuperSonics | The 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.

Trapped in the never ending cycle of, “what do YOU want to do? I dunno, what do YOU want to do?” Well, the weekend is nigh, and Soundside Producer Jason Megatron Burrows is here with everything YOU need to enjoy your time away from work… LINKS: Scott Shoemaker’s :Probed! – Intiman Theatre Rick Steves, Ann Powers, J. Kenji López-Alt, and Pedro the Lion — Live Wire Radio Roméo et Juliette | April 11 - 20, 2025 Record Store Day - Seattle Stores SIFF & Stitch - Labyrinth Free Oral Cancer Screening - UW Red Square 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.