Soundside

As humans have built skyscrapers, factories and highways around the Puget Sound, our environment has become much noisier, and not just terrestrially. Underwater, humans (and our large cargo ships) have a large sonic impact, too. New research suggests that cacophony is hurting the survival of some of the original inhabitants of the Salish Sea: Southern Resident orca whales. Orcas use a series of clicks and vocalizations to hunt down their favorite meal: Chinook Salmon. It’s sort of like a bat using echolocation. A new study published in Global Change Biology by scientists at the University of Washington and NOAA shows how orcas’ hunting is affected by all that sound we create. Guests: Jennifer Tennessen, senior research scientist in the University of Washington’s Department of Biology Relevant Links: KUOW: Shhh! The orcas can’t hear their dinner  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Washington state parks need to be more accessible to people with disabilities. That’s the conclusion from a U.S. Department of Justice investigation – which prompted a deal announced earlier this month to bring state parks into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Guests: Laurel Demkovich, Washington State Standard reporter Syren Nagakyrie, Founder and Director of Disabled Hikers Related Links: Washington to fix accessibility violations at its state parks - Washington State Standard U.S Department of Justice and Washington State Parks resolve complaint over Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) violations  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

33,000 Boeing factory workers walked off the job Friday, demanding higher wages and for the company to restore pensions. Most are based here in the Pacific Northwest.  The overall labor landscape in the U.S. has changed significantly since the last machinists strike 2008 – nationally, union membership remains at historically low levels, but work stoppages have increased in recent years and the number of striking workers skyrocketed in 2023.The UAW strike late last year won historic concessions for auto workers across the country.  Guests: Richard Aboulafia, managing director of AeroDynamic Advisory Rebecca Givan, Associate Professor of Labor Studies and Employment Relations at Rutgers University Relevant Links: Seattle Times: Boeing Machinists reject contract as 96% vote to strike AP: Boeing machinists vote to strike after rejecting pay increases of 25% over 4 years New York Times: Boeing’s Strike Halts Airplane Production at Key PlantsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

K-beauty is not a niche market. Built around dewy skin with no visible pores, big eyes, a thin body, it’s the “ideal” for pop stars, celebrities, and regular people across the world. The industry, built on Korean skincare and makeup products, is the result of “hallyu” — exporting of South Korean pop culture that the government has helped sponsor since the 1990s. In her new book, “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital,” Elise Hu describes how digital filters and a booming beauty economy have transformed the industry, societal expectations, and what’s actually achievable when it comes to that “flawless” finish. This interview originally aired on June 6th, 2023. 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.  Guest:  Elise Hu: journalist, podcaster, and author of “Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital” See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is Mexican Independence Day, and we’ve got a bit of a musical treat to take us out.   Yesterday, Orquesta Northwest put on a concert at Town Hall Seattle, celebrating “El Grito” -- the day that father Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla called for Mexicans to rise and fight for freedom.  The concert was part of the Mexam NW Festival, which features dozens of Mexican cultural events around the Seattle area. The festival is curated by the Mexican Consulate of Seattle and runs through October 19th.  Soundside producer Jason Burrows went to the Town Hall Seattle and caught the musicians and organizers as they were rehearsing for the performance.   GUESTS:  Paula Madrigal, Artistic Director of Orquesta Northwest Teo Benson, Executive Director of Orquesta Northwest Related Links:  Orquesta Northwest  Mexam NW Festival   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.

If you’ve ever tried to find a therapist who takes your insurance and failed -- you're not alone. Many in-network providers are bailing on insurance companies, and it’s affecting access to care. A new investigation from ProPublica surveyed over 500 therapists nationwide – compiling their answers in a new investigation called “Why I left the network”.  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: Annie Waldman, a reporter at ProPublica covering health care Canh Tran, a clinical social worker & therapist in Seattle Dr. Chuck Benincasa, a psychologist working in a group practice in Everett   Relevant Links: Why I Left the Network - ProPublica New Biden Administration Rules Aim to Hold Insurers Accountable for Mental Health Care Coverage - ProPublica What Mental Health Care Protections Exist in Your State? - ProPublica See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For months, parents, students, and faculty at Seattle schools have been nervously awaiting news about potential elementary closures throughout the district.  Back in May, Seattle Public Schools announced it would need to close roughly 20 schools, citing a $105 million budget shortfall…  Now, the wait to know FOR SURE about the fate of Seattle schools isn’t over YET, but the elementary schools on the chopping block have been identified. Wednesday, the district’s “Well Resourced Schools” website published two different proposals.  One would close 17 schools. The other recommends closing 21. KUOW Education Reporter Sami West joins Soundside to break down the options at hand. 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.    RELATED LINK: Seattle names 21 public schools to possibly close See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You won’t see Brian Heywood’s name on your ballot this November but you will see his impact. Heywood is a Redmond based hedge fund manager who spent millions of dollars of his own money to fund citizen’s initiatives against the state’s cap and invest system, capital gains tax, and long term care insurance program. His PAC, Let’s Go Washington, also gathered signatures for another initiative on your ballot about natural gas regulations. Brian Heywood joins Soundside host Libby Denkmann to discuss his attempt to rollback these policies and why he's pursuing citizen's initiatives instead of running for office. Guest: Brian Heywood, hedge fund manager and funder behind I-2117, I-2109, and I-2124 Relevant Links: Seattle Times: 6 initiatives head to WA ballot with $6M support of Brian Heywood KUOW: WA initiative supporters turn in signatures to repeal capital gains tax, carbon auctionsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

To ratify, or to strike: those are the options in front of 33,000 Boeing workers this week. On Monday, machinists at Boeing sites across the West Coast woke up to news that union leadership had reached a tentative contract agreement with the company.  The last contract was ratified 16 years ago -- in 2008. However, not everyone is excited about the terms of the agreement. On Thursday, those union employees will decide to take or reject the offer. If they vote it down, machinists could walk off the job later this week. 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. GUEST: Lauren Rosenblatt - Seattle Times  Innovation, Technology, and Workforce issues reporter Related Links: Machinists union agrees on tentative contract deal with Boeing | The Seattle Times Boeing Machinists union chief expects members will reject deal, strike | The Seattle Times  UNION RECOMMENDS ACCEPTANCE - PDF of the Contract Basics See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last March, it was reported that the Nordstrom family was interested in once again taking their storied retail company private.  There hadn’t been much word until last week, when we finally heard a price proposal – $23 a share. Another bid by the Nordstrom family was rejected six years ago. So - why try again now? And what is the future of this iconic Seattle brand? Seattle Times business reporter Alex Halverson breaks it all down. 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: Alex Halverson, Seattle Times business reporter Relevant Links: What’s behind Nordstrom family’s $3.8B play to take control of company - Seattle Times See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.