Soundside

Famous fiends like zombies, vampires, and werewolves are hallmarks of All Hallow's Eve. But how much do you know about why that is, and where those creatures come from?  It’s an origin story that’s fascinated University of Washington professor Charity Urbanski. Charity teaches medieval history at the UW, and she wrote a new book based on her research and seminars on the origins and meaning behind some of Europe’s most famous monsters. It's titled "Medieval Monstrosity: Imagining the Monstrous in Medieval Europe." She joined Soundside to talk about the ways werewolves, revenants, and other monsters came to be popular -- and what they tell us about the people who invented them.  Guests:  Charity Urbanski, teaching professor of history at the University of Washington and author of "Medieval Monstrosity: Imagining the Monstrous in Medieval Europe."  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.

Do you have weekend plans yet? On Soundside, we figure it’s never too early to make plans, plus, we’re not on the air Fridays...We’ve been looking at some of the exciting things happening around the region over the next few days.  Producer Jason Megatron Burrows has this roundup for you, in a segment that, for now, we’re calling the “Early Weekend Guide.”   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:  Anita Spritzer aka Johnny Marzano - Seattle Opera Kelly Froh - Short Run Comix & Arts Festival LINKS TO THE EVENTS LISTED: "This is Halloween" Burlesque at the Triple Door Skeleton Skate at Southgate Roller Rink QUEENS OF THE NIGHT at the Seattle Opera SeaMeowCon at Seattle Center Exhibition Hall Short Run Comix & Arts Festival at Fisher Pavilion Coco performed by Orquesta Folclórica Nacional de México at Benaroya Hall See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder or ADHD is often perceived as a static diagnosis– one that people carry with them throughout their lives with little to no change. But, new research may just change that view of ADHD all together. A recent study in the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry suggests that ADHD symptoms can actually fluctuate over time due to influence from environmental factors. In fact, for many individuals, symptoms can mellow out year after year - especially for people who are navigating a busy life.  Guest: Maggie Sibley, a clinical psychologist and Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and Seattle Children’s Hospital. She's also the lead author of the new study. Relevant Links: Characteristics and Predictors of Fluctuating Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder in the Multimodal Treatment of ADHD (MTA) Study - The Journal of Clinical Psychiatry See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Everett AquaSox's home for 40 years, Funko Field, is no longer in compliance with new stadium regulations implemented when Major League Baseball took over the minor leagues in 2020.  Now the city of Everett is exploring a replacement stadium that could cost up to $120 million. The city isn't shouldering the whole burden of this stadium, the state has chipped in money, along with Snohomish County, and AquaSox ownership has pledged $5 to $10 million. The city estimates that a new stadium downtown could generate up to $55 million dollars a year, whether that makes the stadium a good investment is up for debate. Guests: Will Geschke - General Assignment Reporter at the Everett Herald Nola Agha - professor at the University of San Francisco’s Sport Management Program Relevant Links: Everett Herald: Everett takes next step toward new AquaSox stadium Everett Herald: Everett faces June deadline to present AquaSox stadium plan   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.

Mount Adams has been a little more active than usual lately. That’s according to researchers with the United States Geological Survey.  Now, it’s not uncommon for our northwest volcanoes to shake things up a bit. But Adams tends to be one of the sleepier “chill” giants... until now. So what’s the deal? To dig into what these seismic shenanigans mean– and hopefully set all of our minds at ease – Soundside was joined by Alex Iezzi. Iezzi is a research geophysicist with the US Geological Survey’s Cascade Volcano Observatory.  Guests: Alex Iezzi, research geophysicist with the US Geological Survey’s Cascade Volcano Observatory.  Related Links: Washington’s Mount Adams is seeing unusual earthquake activity - OPB Glacier Peak's critical monitoring delayed. What this means for WA residents 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 investigation continues into attacks on two ballot drop boxes in Washington and Oregon.  Hundreds of ballots were damaged or destroyed early Monday morning at a drop box at a transit center in Vancouver, Washington, the other attack was on a box outside Multnomah County election officers in Portland. Washington’s Secretary of State, Steve Hobbs called the incidents “acts of terror that aim to disrupt lawful and fair elections...” The Vancouver ballot box that was sabotaged is in the highly competitive Third District, where Democrat Marie Gluesenkamp Perez is facing off against Republican Joe Kent in one of the closest watched House races in the country. Soundside got the latest information from Oregon Public Broadcasting's politics and government reporter, Dirk VanderHart, then talked election security with State Elections Director Stuart Holmes.   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:  Dirk VanderHart - OPB Politics & Government Reporter Stuart Holmes - State Elections Director RELATED LINKS: UPDATED: Clark County Auditor statement regarding ballots destroyed in ballot box - Clark County Statement Regarding Ballot Box Incident in Vancouver, WA - Sec of State  Inslee statement on ballot dropbox attack in Clark County - Gov Inslee 2 ballot boxes set on fire in Portland and Vancouver - OPB WA, OR ballot box fires: Here’s what we know | The Seattle Times  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz was placed on administrative leave yesterday. Diaz, who served as chief for four years, was demoted in May amid allegations that he’d hired a romantic partner to a top level advisor role. Diaz is also the subject of a handful of lawsuits asserting he discriminated against SPD staff. Guest: Ashley Hiruko, KUOW Investigative Reporter Relevant Links: KUOW: Former Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz placed on paid leave amid watchdog investigations KUOW: A beef jerky run and alleged romantic hire: Two investigations launched into former Seattle Chief Diaz   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.

Three of the seats on our state’s Supreme Court will be on the ballot next week. Two of them have incumbent justices running unopposed;  the race Washington voters will actually decide is for Washington Supreme Court Position 2. The incumbent, Justice Susan Owens, who turned 75 in August, is aging out of the position because of a rule in the state’s constitution.   The position is non-partisan, so you won’t see any party labels next to the candidates’ names - but don’t worry, we’re here to help you make that decision without the “D” or “R” shorthand.  Soundside is talking to both candidates vying for the seat this week. Today, we're interviewing Judge Dave Larson. Larson has been a judge for the Federal Way Municipal Court since 2008. Guest: Judge Dave Larson, candidate for Washington Supreme Court Position 2. 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.

Derrik was a 16 year old student when he was given a walk-behind trenching machine to guide through through a field.  Derrik was earning school credit with the Battle Ground School District for his work off site with the construction company Rotschy. With no training or oversight, Derrik was severely injured by the machine, eventually losing both of his legs. He survived the work accident, and is now a senior in high school.  His story highlights big questions about work based learning programs at Washington schools, and whose job it is to make sure that teens exploring the workforce are kept safe.  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: Lizz Giordano, investigative reporter with Cascade PBS Relevant Links: ‘Beyond failure’: WA teen loses legs at school-based work program See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Boeing machinist’s strike is now in its seventh week. Last Wednesday, the machinist's union rejected the latest contract from the company. A major sticking point continues to be union members’ insistence that the company reinstate a pension, also called a defined-benefits plan.  This is a long-held grievance. Union president Jon Holden said that the damage from a 2014 agreement— which froze pensions in favor of a 401(k) plan —remains unresolved. Boeing machinists aren’t alone in this fight. Striking autoworkers also sought to restore pensions during their 2023 strike, but received only increased contributions to their 401(k)s instead. So, why are workers so determined to reclaim pensions now and how realistic is this goal? Guest: Thomas Gilbert, Professor of Finance at the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business Links: NPR - At the heart of the Boeing strike, an emotional fight over a lost pension plan KUOW - Why pensions are a hot button issue in the Boeing machinists' strike   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.