Soundside

Latest Episodes:

A lot of people love matcha... And that's causing some problems Aug 01, 2025

Show notes

It’s not just your imagination: Matcha is actually getting harder to track down these days.

The green drink has become a hot commodity in the past few years, blowing up on TikTok and taking up more real estate on your favorite coffee shop’s menu. Japan’s tea industry has struggled to keep pace with the fervor. There’ve been reports of a global shortage and price hikes.

In this episode, we hear about Miro Tea's experience of the shortage before checking in with Bettina Makalintal, a senior reporter at Eater, who gave us a broader look at what's going on with matcha.

Guest:

Jeannie Liu, owner of Miro Tea
Bettina Makalintal, senior reporter at Eater

Related stories:

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Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crystals with a side of conspiracy theory: Washington's role in the spread of new age movements Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

The NEW AGE movement isn't just about crystals, suburban yoga studios, dubious medical cures and positive affirmations – though there’s plenty of all of that to be found on YouTube.

The concept of changing your mindset, accessing a higher spiritual power or vibration – and ushering in a utopia is a powerful and enduring promise that emerges again and again in America.

And the American New Age movement has deep ties to Washington State and the West.

Journalist Leah Sottile examined the history of several spiritualists and new age leaders – some may say cult leaders – in a new book published earlier this year.

It’s called Blazing Eye Sees All: Love Has Won, False Prophets, and the Fever Dream of the American New Age.

GUEST: Leah Sottile

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.

To hear an iconic sound of the Northwest, listen to a driftwood log Jul 30, 2025

Show notes

What does the Northwest sound like to you?

Is it the tide rolling over a rocky beach? The wind across the Palouse? A ferry horn echoing across the Puget Sound?

On Soundside, we occasionally ask field recordists about their iconic sounds of northwest.

Today, we'll hear from acoustic ecologist Gordon Hempton, also known as the Sound Tracker.

He brought a recording from inside a driftwood log on the Washington coast.

Guest:

Gordon Hempton, acoustic ecologist and Emmy Award winning sound recordist

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.

A peek behind the wheel of a Seattle bus with @desinthepark Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

When you get on the bus, do you think about the driver behind the wheel?
If you rode the 8 bus recently, your driver might have been Desiree Andersen, otherwise known as @desinthepark. During her more than two years driving, she also went to grad school for social work. That helped give her extra insight into the needs of the people she drives.

And she shared those insights on TikTok, where she started posting during a break between driving shifts.

But Andersen is now shifting gears. This month, she left her job at King County Metro. We talked with her about what's next.

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.

"Attack scientific ignorance" - Inslee responds to EPA roll back Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

A policy change from the Trump Administration could fundamentally change the federal government’s relationship with climate change.

The proposal, announced on Tuesday, would overturn the Environmental Protection Agency’s "endangerment finding” – which, in 2009, determined that greenhouse gases are harmful to people and the environment.

It's the basis for emissions regulations on vehicles, power plants, and the oil and gas industries under the Clean Air Act.

Washington has been at the vanguard of climate regulations – last year, voters chose to keep our carbon auction system in place, and our attorney general is fighting to preserve plans to ban sales of most non-electric vehicles in Washington by 2030.

So, what could this EPA proposal mean for Washington’s climate policies? And where does Washington stand amid the flurry of deregulatory moves and cuts to green energy subsidies by the Trump Administration?
Guest:

Jay Inslee, former Governor of Washington state

Related stories:

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.

From Frenchies to Foxtails - How to keep your furry friends safe this summer Jul 29, 2025

Show notes

Summer is a great season for adventures with your favorite pup.

The sun is shining. The lakes are glistening. The grass is only partially dead.

But – just like your human kids, furry members of the family need you to keep a watchful eye out for warm-weather hazards

Soundside called in an expert here to help.

GUEST: Seattle Humane Society Senior Veterinarian Dr. Lauren Restis

RELATED 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/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Banding together to Save the (Little Red) Hen Jul 28, 2025

Show notes

People are clucking about the Little Red Hen.

The cherished country music bar in Green Lake could close at the end of July, after nearly 100 years in business.

The Little Red Hen first opened its doors in 1933 inPhinney Ridge, before moving to Green Lake. Today the bar’s a community hub where customers line dance, sing karaoke and enjoy bluegrass jam sessions.

Fun fact, it was also featured in the Stone Temple Pilots’ music video for the song, “Plush.”

Now a lease dispute between the bar’s owner and the landlord could shut it down.

In response, community members - and avid country music and dance fans - have banded together to try to keep the bar open.

Guest: