Meet Me Here

Latest Episodes:

Ending your reading rut in the new year Dec 31, 2025

Show notes

Whether you devour 50 books a year or haven’t picked one up in months, we all get into reading ruts. So, let’s fix that.

Seattle Readers, it’s time to get into that reading groove and we’ve got you covered with tips, tricks, and a whole bunch of empathy. Seattle Public Library’s Stesha Brandon joins us for some literary hot takes, tips for getting out of a reading rut, and she explains why walking your cat is a perfect time to listen to audiobooks.

And… if you need even more help filling that book-shaped void, here’s Stesha and Katie’s Recommended If You Liked (RIYL): getting into your reading groove

The River Has Roots Amal El-Mohtar
The Husbands by Holly Gramazio
The Ministry of Time by Kaliane Bradley
Jane Austen (anything)
In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
Mapping the Interior Stephen Graham Jones
Hell Is A World Without You by Jason Kirk
Out There Screaming by Jordan Peele
Your Next Five via The Seattle Public Library
Welcome to Night Vale, a podcast

This episode originally ran in August 2025.

Where’s your favorite place to meet up around arts and culture in the region? Drop us a line at meetmehere@kuow.org.

Got an arts idea you want to pitch KUOW? Email us at arts@kuow.org

Your support helps create shows like Seattle Now, Soundside, and Meet Me Here!

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Meet the local lei makers nurturing a Native Hawaiian tradition Dec 24, 2025

Show notes

More and more Native Hawaiians are moving to the Pacific Northwest. In fact, Washington state has the third largest number of Kanaka Maoli, or Native Hawaiians, outside of Hawaii and California.

As they move here, people are bringing their beloved customs and traditions with them. Like the artform of making lei, which are garlands made using all kinds of materials including flowers, nuts, clay and feathers.

Seattle Times business reporter Megan Ulu-Lani Boyanton belongs to this community and was curious about how cultural traditions and customs have evolved in the Seattle area. Her article, Hawaiian lei makers blossom in Seattle area, but challenges grow, dives into this issue.

Boyanton spoke with Meet Me Here host Jeannie Yandel about what she learned from local lei-makers for this story, and about the history of lei in Hawaii.

This interview originally ran on KUOW's daily news podcast, Seattle Now.

Where’s your favorite place to meet up around arts and culture in the region? Drop us a line at meetmehere@kuow.org.

Got an arts idea you want to pitch KUOW? Email us at arts@kuow.org

Your support helps create shows like Seattle Now, Soundside, and Meet Me Here!

Become a KUOW member today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weekend Warmup for Dec 19-21 Dec 19, 2025

Show notes

Meet Me Here listeners, if you still don't have any plans for this weekend, fear not. The Weekend Warmup is here to help with a whole bunch of ideas for fun things to do around the region this weekend.

Hosted by KUOW's Jason Megatron Burrows.

LINKS:

The 29th Annual Model Train Festival - Washington State Historical Society
- Opens Fri 12/19 - runs through Jan 1, 2026
2025 Winter Beer Fest – WA Brewers Guild
- Fri/Sat - 12/19-20
Hell’s Belles at the Croc
- Sat 12/20
United Indians Native Art Market » United Indians of All Tribes Foundation - Daybreak Star
- Sat/Sun - 12/20-21
Seattle Torrent vs Boston Fleet
- Sun 12/21 - 2pm

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/meet

Meet Me Here is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why you're the VIP at art museums Dec 17, 2025

Show notes

When you visit an art museum, you are the VIP. At least according to art curator and Schmidt Ocean Institute artist-at-sea-manager, Haley Ha.

She says the people who work behind the scenes at art museums care enormously about visitors and their experiences.

One result from all that work? Haley says art museums are places where you slow down, enjoy yourself, and connect with yourself or with friends.

Haley also gives us the inside scoop about three of her favorite pieces at the Seattle Asian Art Museum, where she previously worked.

They include a deeply moving sculpture in SAAM's entryway by Kondo Takahiro, Park Young-sook's Moon Jar (which counts among its superfans a member of the K-Pop boy band BTS), and Ai Weiwei's Water Lilies, a 50-foot-long mural made entirely of Legos.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weekend Warmup for Dec 12-14 Dec 12, 2025

Show notes

Hosted by KUOW's Jason Megatron Burrows.

LINKS:

SPORTS!
- Seahawks vs Indianapolis Colts - Sun 1:25pm
- Buffalo Sabres at Seattle Kraken - Sun 5pm
- Seattle Torrent vs Ottawa Charge - Wed 7pm
WildLanterns: Night Owls (21+) - Fri 12/12
Mozart & Mutts: Annual Holiday Concert - Fri 12/12
Jurassic Quest | Washington State Fairgrounds
The Naughty Novel Social Club: Krampus Edition
DEAF SANTA CLAUS - Sun 12/14

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/meet

Meet Me Here is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Official Seattle Holiday Book Gift Guide Dec 10, 2025

Show notes

Books are the best gift you can give. And this holiday season, our book besties are recommending their favorites of this year and more. Host Katie Campbell opens the mail bag with KUOW producer Brandi Fullwood to find out which books you'll want to give this year… and maybe a few you’ll want to keep for yourself.

Here's a list of some the books our book besties recommend this year:

To the Moon and Back by Eliana Ramage
Perfection by Vincenzo Latronico
Strange the Dreamer by Laini Taylor
I'll Make a Spectacle of You by Beatrice Winifred Iker
Archangels of Funk by Andrea Hairston
Hild by Nicola Griffith
Horsefly by Mireille Gagné
Milk Fed by Melissa Broder

Looking for even more recommendations? Check out Katie Campbell's write up on KUOW.org: https://www.kuow.org/stories/holiday-gift-guide-books-ditch-gift-cards-gimmicks-seattle-readers

Your support helps create shows like Seattle Now, Soundside, and Meet Me Here!

Become a KUOW member today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weekend Warmup for Dec 4-8 Dec 05, 2025

Show notes

Hosted by KUOW's Jason Megatron Burrows.

LINKS:

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/meet

Meet Me Here is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christmas movie throw down: Bill Radke and Dyer Oxley debate 'Die Hard' Dec 03, 2025

Show notes

The holiday season means trees, cookies, family, spirituality, or presents to many. For Meet Me Here's Dyer Oxley, it means it's time to watch his favorite Christmas movie — "Die Hard." This 1988 action flick staring Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman has become a Christmas tradition for many, including the actors behind "A Very Die Hard Christmas," a holiday musical performed at Seattle's Green Lake Bathhouse Theatre each year.

But not everyone agrees that "Die Hard" can be a Christmas tradition. Week in Review host Bill Radke is in that camp. He challenges Dyer's "Die Hard" opinion in a special holiday throw down. Bill and Dyer debate a modern holiday question: Is "Die Hard" a Christmas movie?

EVENT RECOMENDATION:
Seattle Krampus: Go see Krampus at various holiday events in December. Krampus will show up at the Seattle Christmas Market at Seattle Center on Dec. 12-13.

Where’s your favorite place to meet up around arts and culture in the region? Drop us a line at meetmehere@kuow.org.
Got an arts idea you want to pitch KUOW? Email us at arts@kuow.org

Help support the local stories you love! Give now at https://www.kuow.org//donate/meet.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How to fake a sports conversation this holiday season Nov 26, 2025

Show notes

Are you meeting up with family or friends over the holidays? Someone will likely be roasting meat and veggies, maybe mashing potatoes and someone else will likely be watching a loud football game on TV. Sports seem almost inevitable this time of year. But what if you’re not a fan? This week, we will give you all the tips and tricks you need to fake your way through a sports conversation this holiday season. No need to fumble that conversation with your uncle.

Event Recommendation:

Holiday Magic Cabaret - Dec 14 and 20

Where’s your favorite place to meet up around arts and culture in the region? Drop us a line at meetmehere@kuow.org.

Got an arts idea you want to pitch KUOW? Email us at arts@kuow.org

Your support helps create shows like Seattle Now, Soundside, and Meet Me Here!

Become a KUOW member today.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Weekend Warmup for Nov 20-23 and 28-30 Nov 21, 2025

Show notes

Hosted by KUOW's Jason Megatron Burrows.

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