Soundside

King County continues to ramp up its behavioral health services following the  approval of a $1.25 billion by voters. With the latest development being the launch of an expanded and streamlined mobile crisis team-program last week. Guest: Taylor Blatchford, engagement reporter for the mental health project at the Seattle Times Relevant links: Seattle Times: King County expands mobile teams that bring care to people in 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.

Stories about the newspaper industry struggling - aren’t necessarily breaking news. Over the last 10 to 15 years, we’ve read and listened to plenty of coverage about the challenges news organizations are facing: corporate buyouts and layoffs, and the rise of social media misinformation. But now, there’s another challenge local news journalists have to watch out for - artificial intelligence. Ryan Haas is a news editor and podcast producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting. He recently reported on an alarming instance of – not just fake news – but rather an entire fake news outlet. GUEST: Ryan Haas, news editor and podcast producer for Oregon Public Broadcasting RELATED LINKS: AI slop is invading Oregon's local journalism - OPB See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In fall of 2023, San Juan County transitioned to a 32-hour work week for county employees. It was meant to keep the county within its budget while staying conscious of the cost-of-living in San Juan. One year later, the county released a check-in report based on resident and employee feedback. So, how’s the new system working out? San Juan County Manager Jessica Hudson joined Soundside to give us insights into what the county discovered. 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. GUESTS:  Kelsey Venegas Jessica Hudson - San Juan County Manager RELATED LINKS:  32-Hour Work Week | Engage San Juan County 32-Hour Work Week - One Year Report See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pianist Salo was a longtime member of a Seattle post-rock band called “Joy Wants Eternity.” Their music was instrumental -- and all of it was made close to ten years ago. The band went their separate and amicable ways in 2015.  So, imagine Salo’s surprise when just this year, Joy Wants Eternity was listed as a collaborator on a new project: an album from a musician called the “Illusory Explainer. An album they didn’t actually collaborate on. Both the band and their fans were confused. If the group didn’t help make the music, then who did?  It’s something podcast producer Roddy Nikpour has been looking into. He detailed the possible use of generative music A.I. in a recent story for KEXP.  Guests: Roddy Nikpour, assistant teaching professor at Arizona State University and a podcast producer for KEXP.  Related Links: Find Nikpour's story on Joy Wants Eternity here: AI-Generated Music Is Siphoning Streams from Artists in Seattle and Beyond See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Seattle City Council Member Tammy Morales is leaving her post. She announced last week she is resigning from the council.  Morales has represented Seattle’s 2nd District, which includes Yesler Terrace, the CID, Beacon Hill, Rainier Valley and Rainier Beach, since 2019.  Her last day in the seat will be January 6th.  It’s a surprise decision considering Morales was re-elected to a four year term just last year. In a letter to her constituents, Morales leveled criticisms about at toxic environment on the council and the toll the job has taken on her personally over the past year - "For the last 11 months, this Council has eroded our checks and balances as a Legislative department and undermined my work as a policymaker." Guest: District 2 Seattle City Council Member Tammy Morales Relevant Links: Morales letter to her constituents City Councilmember Tammy Morales Will Leave the Council In January - Publicola   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 '90s kids, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen were the dominant force in twin fiction. Over the years, other generations have been fascinated by characters like Wrigley's Doublemint Twins, or Hayley Mills and Lindsay Lohan in the 1961 and 1998 versions of the film "The Parent Trap," respectively. Twins are rich narrative terrain and raise questions about individuality. "They're a natural kind of hook for a bunch of questions about human life in general," said Helena de Bres, a professor at Wellesley College and author of "How to Be Multiple: The Philosophy of Twins." Her identical twin, Julia de Bres, illustrated the book. Together, they explored the twin experience through a philosophical lens and examined free will, love, and personal identity. "I think people are fascinated because we're just kind of cute and unusual and trippy, but also because we raise these really big questions just by standing there," Helena de Bres said. Stories about twins go back to antiquity: Castor and Pollux, Romulus and Remus, and Hercules and Iphicles all represent binaries that describe human nature. "You can use twins narratively to explore a whole range of different contrasts, or different ways of living or being," Helena de Bres said. "So they're just really useful for getting at some of these questions. They're also easily used for comic purposes — you know, that whole switcheroo thing [of] twins switching places. Identity confusion is really ideal for theatrical treatments." Whether twins fit neatly into those binaries is a different story. Helena de Bres said she believes that twin binaries are a created to differentiate between children who people can't tell apart. "We're going to decide, maybe randomly, maybe on a little bit of a clue that this is the quiet one. And then the quiet one takes that up and starts acting into that role. And it is a self-fulfilling prophecy," she said. Guest:  Helend de Bres, author of "How to Be Multiple: The Philosophy of Twins"   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.

Thanksgiving may be over, but there is still so much to celebrate this month. We're about 3 weeks out from Christmas and Hanukkah, then there's all the New Year festivities. If your calendar isn't already packed with wintry, holiday fun, we've got you covered. Soundside Producer Brooklyn Jamerson-Flowers made a list of weekend events for you to add to your list of end of year goodness. She even checked it twice. LINKS: Christmas Tree Lightings: Friday: Des Moines Friday: Duvall Saturday: West Seattle Saturday: Snoqualmie Saturday: Redmond Saturday: Bellingham Saturday: Port Orchard Saturday: Vashon Craft Fairs: Urban Craft Uprising - Seattle Center Exhibition Hall Creative Avenue Final Holiday Market - The Depot, Anacortes Performances: Billie Eilish - Climate Pledge Arena God is a Scottish Drag Queen: A Christmas Special - The Washington Center for the Performing Arts & Rialto Theater ETC: Krampusnacht Bremerton Mozart & Mutts - Old Stove Brewing If you would like to suggest events for us to talk about in upcoming "Weekend Warmups," please send Jason an email at SOUNDSIDE@KUOW.ORG 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.

It can be challenging for anyone to stay on top of their mental health. One organization in Bellingham has come up with a creative solution to make it easier for its clients to access consistent therapy.  Lydia Place has turned a Ford Transit cargo van into a therapy office on wheels.  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. Guests: Cassidy Schroeder, Lydia Place mental health clinician Amanda Doell, Lydia Place mental health clinician Relevant Links: Bellingham nonprofit offers therapy on wheels - KUOW See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winter is here. The nights are long, cold, and let’s face it … dark. Instead of scrolling endlessly on Netflix, maybe rewatching Hot Frosty (you know, the one about the magical snowman who turns into a hot dude), why not escape into a good book instead? If you’re not sure where to start, no worries, we got you.  We’ve got a panel of book nerds ready with some book recommendations to help you get through the season.  Guests: Heidi Daniel, Executive Director of King County Library System Robert Sindelar, Third Place books managing partner Katie Campbell, editor and reporter at KUOW who runs the station’s book club Book Recommendations:  Miss Silver Series by Patricia Wentworth On the Calculation of Volume by Solvej Balle Under the Whispering Door by TJ Klune The Return of Ellie Black by Emiko Jean Seattle Samurai: The Book by Kelly Goto Twenty Four Seconds from Now ...: A Love Story by Jason Reynolds Spooky Lakes: 25 Strange and Mysterious Lakes that Dot Our Planet by Geo Rutherford CABIN: Off the Grid Adventures with a Clueless Craftsman by Patrick Hutchison Playground by Richard Powers Horror Movie by Paul G. Tremblay The Light Eaters: How the Unseen World of Plant Intelligence Offers a New Understanding of Life on Earth by Zoë Schlanger The Comfort Book by Matt Haig   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, there was a surprise announcement from Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales. After 5 years on the council, Morales, the representative for the 2nd District, said she is resigning, effective January 6th. KUOW Investigative reporter Ashley Hiruko gives us some insight into the decision and the council. Guest: Ashley Hiruko, KUOW Investigative Reporter Related Links: KUOW - Seattle City Councilmember Tammy Morales steps down, citing harmful work environment 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.