Best Bee Loud Podcasts (2024)

1
Asahel Curtis' photography continues to suprise archivists nearly a century later 10:37

17m ago10:37

10:37

At the turn of the 20th century, Asahel Curtis was a prolific photographer who traveled throughout Washington. His work captured the state as it underwent big changes, owing to rapid industrialization. For decades, a massive collection of Asahel’s glass plate negatives has been held at the Washington State Historical Society in Tacoma. The plates a…

1
"The importance of giving folks their flowers" - Black & Loud Fest highlights Black performers across the PNW 20:10

2m ago20:10

20:10

If someone asked you to name three Rock musicians that are Black, could you? Some people might be able to, but in general there aren’t a lot of them. This is despite the fact that the genre traces its roots back to Black blues, gospel, and rhythm and blues artists in the United States. The rock music industry and academic scholarship of the genre i…

1
Burien faces new challange to homelessness policy, this time on religious grounds 15:45

9m ago15:45

15:45

There’s a new wrinkle in the debate over homelessness policy in the city of Burien. Last September, Burien passed a controversial ordinance banning camping in much of the city, Meanwhile, a local church decided to step in and offer its property as a temporary encampment for the homeless. Burien requested that the church, the Oasis Home Church, get …

1
PFAs in Spokane's well water? Maybe recall a County Commissioner 14:28

24h ago14:28

14:28

Spokane County Commissioner Al French is facing a recall effort over his handling of disclosures of contaminated groundwater in the West Plains. The “Clean Water Accountability Coalition” is sounding the alarm about PFAS—sometimes called 'forever chemicals’—in well water. And let's not forget to mention that French is also running for re-election t…

1
How small acts of “dignity” can help vulnerable populations 20:04

22h ago20:04

20:04

One of the best coffee spots in Bellingham isn’t a cafe, at least according to some of the folks in the city’s unhoused population. Instead, it’s a casual coffee cart that pops-up twice a week, at a free lunch program, known as the Maple Alley Inn. While the coffee is decent, the main attraction is the person running the cart. 85 year-old Ursula De…

1
Space Anthropology with Savannah Mandel

10h ago

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Ground Control: An Argument for the End of Human Space Exploration chronicles the author’s journey as a scholar and a young woman working in the commercial space industry in the US. It also talks about the difficulties of gaining access to certain technical field sites. Transcript available at https://blog.castac.org/2024/09/space-anthropology-with…

1
As light rail expands, suburbs plan for density 10:24

5m ago10:24

10:24

Riders packed trains on Friday to see four new stations on the One Line, which now stops in Shoreline, Mountlake Terrace, and Lynnwood. At the 148th Street Station, Shoreline celebrated the occasions with a marching band, speeches, and bubble machines. The suburb has been planning for this moment for years, that’s apparent when you step off the tra…

1
A look at the Seahawks before their home opener on Sunday 15:08

11m ago15:08

15:08

Being a sports fan in Washington State is akin to riding the Extreme Scream at the fair: big highs, and REAL SUDDEN LOWS. Yes, I’m looking at you, Seattle Mariners… With the Seahawks kicking off their regular season at home this weekend against the Denver Broncos, hope springs eternal! And it felt like a good time to check in on what’s been cooking…

1
King County Council is unanimous: keep the youth jail open 24:57

16m ago24:57

24:57

Members of the King County Council have moved to officially say the county’s youth jail should remain open. The council voted last week eight-to-zero in favor of a non-binding resolution to declare its support for keeping the Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center in operation – with some improvements. The move comes just over four ye…

1
Why Are Cicadas So Loud? With Biologist Jill Smith - Episode 42 32:13

2d ago32:13

32:13

What is a cicada and why do they make so much noise? Biologist and cicada expert Jill Smith joins us to share about these amazing opera singers in nature! Here’s our trail map: What Is A Cicada? How Do Cicadas Grow Up? Why Were There So Many Cicadas This Year? Why Are Cicadas So Loud? How Can We Wait Well On God’s Timing? Episode Links: Nat Theo Sh…

1
69: Money, money, money! 40:13

6d ago40:13

40:13

This month we're diving into money with Ray Dodd. Money is a conversation topic that's often avoided, but money is essential to us all. So how does our upbringing, our experiences and social expectations impact our relationship with money and our money-making potential? Ray Dodd’s coaching is all about Money Mindset without the BS. Her work gives y…

1
From a Hashtag to the Right for Indoor Air Quality: A Short Story of the #covidisairborne Movement

6h ago

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This bonus content is a reading from Platypus, the CASTAC Blog. The full post by Beatriz Klimeck can be read at https://blog.castac.org/2024/09/from-a-hashtag-to-the-right-for-indoor-air-quality-a-short-story-of-the-covidisairborne-movement/. About the post: Isolated during the first year of the Covid-19 pandemic, I started to follow on Twitter (so…

1
Walking Through the Unimaginable: My Journey of Planning My Mother’s Funeral 7:06

14h ago7:06

7:06

If you ever wanted to know what it's like taking the devastating trip to the funeral home to plan the funeral for your mother who died unexpectedly, I share my personal story... Some people want to know these things because they try to imagine it for themselves. Grieving Unapologetically is brought to you by The Heart of Miss Bee, Inc. a 501(c)(3) …

1
I May Forget What You Said, I Might Forget What You Bought Me, But I Will Never Forget How You Treated Me While I Grieved 5:12

6d ago5:12

5:12

Some things just need to be said -- even in grief. Grieving Unapologetically is brought to you by The Heart of Miss Bee, Inc. a 501(c)(3) organization that exists to honor the late Beverly E. Carroll. This episode is brought to you by The Heart of Miss Bee, Inc. which exists to honor the late Beverly E. Carroll.…

1
Why Washington is a bellwether for the presidential election 20:49

5d ago20:49

20:49

The Democratic party is riding the Good Vibes Express after its Chicago convention. And a look at polling averages gives them reason to celebrate: Since becoming the nominee, Vice President Harris has shaken up a relatively static presidential race: She’s now running slightly ahead of former President Trump nationwide. In swing states, she has pull…

1
WSU researchers are on a quest to digitize over 30,000 bees, butterflies and other pollinators 9:42

7m ago9:42

9:42

Washington State University's MT James Entomological Collection is the largest insect museum in the state, it holds around three million specimens. In 2022, state legislators allocated $50,000 for the collection to digitize pollinators, like bees, moths, flies, butterflies and other insects that carry pollen. Adding the 30,000 pollinators in WSU’s …

1
Girl, That's Not Networking, You Just Formed a Clique... 5:26

7d ago5:26

5:26

I stopped attending "empowerment" brunches and anything marketed as joining a certain type of group to receive access to certain things, exclusive support, access to certain people and privileges, here's why... If you want to form a clique, just say that. Don't sell it as networking. Grieving Unapologetically is brought to you by The Heart of Miss …

1
Foucault, Dialectics, and Randomized Clinical Trials: Bridges Between Medicine and Anthropology

8h ago

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This bonus content is a reading from Platypus, the CASTAC Blog. The full post by Ana Paula Pimentel Jacob can be read at https://blog.castac.org/2024/08/foucault-dialectics-and-randomized-clinical-trials-bridges-between-medicine-and-anthropology/. About the post: I hope that other scientists understand anthropology, but at the same time, it’s essen…

1
Christian Nationalism and its effect on Yakima city politics 20:09

19m ago20:09

20:09

Last year, the Yakima City Council made a landmark decision by passing a proclamation to designate the month of June as LGBTQ+ Pride month. Less than a year later, the council voted to reverse that decision. The move was celebrated by far right religious leaders like Turning Point USA’s Charlie Kirk and Sean Feucht, who took to X to applaud the dec…

1
Budget woes, cellphones, and safety: educators share their thoughts going into the new school year 29:43

9m ago29:43

29:43

For many Washington students, and parents, the school year is just about to start - if it hasn’t already. And they're not the only ones gearing up for the new year. Teachers and school staff are about to step into a new year with all sorts of new questions about how their respective school systems will be run. So, we wanted to check in with a panel…

1
It's time to do a vibe check on the state of remote work 25:53

9d ago25:53

25:53

Earlier this month, City of Seattle workers were told most of them will have to return to the office at least 3 days a week starting this fall. Meanwhile… a certain large tech and online retail company (named after a river in South America) has reportedly started a mulling the minimum number of hours employees must stay on site to count towards its…

1
Mia Zapata and The Gits are often defined by a tragic murder, drummer Steve Moriarty's book tells a different story about the band 17:48

7d ago17:48

17:48

In the early 90s, Seattle was at the center of a sonic revolution. Grunge, a homegrown sludgy rock sound, became a global commodity. At the same time, another sound was making its mark on Seattle. The Gits were a band on the precipice of national stardom, standing out with their punk sensibility and charismatic female vocalist, with music labels ci…

1
From Foraging to Keeping Bees in Northeast Brazil

10d ago

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This bonus content is a reading from Platypus, the CASTAC Blog. The full post by Cydney Seigerman can be read at https://blog.castac.org/2024/08/from-foraging-to-keeping-bees-in-northeast-brazil/. About the post: For Rogério and other meleiros, greater awareness of the environmental impact of their foraging practices developed through their transit…

1
How Thurston County is aiming to bring homelessness to "functional zero" 23:41

9d ago23:41

23:41

Addressing homelessness is looking a little different in Thurston County these days. The county, which includes Olympia, just became the fifth community in the nation to collect data on every single adult experiencing homelessness. The county’s partner organization says that data includes the names and circumstances of each person counted. And the …

1
No, Seattle's most notorious brothel madam was not a Gilded Age Girl Boss 25:12

2d ago25:12

25:12

We know a few things about the woman known as Lou Graham, for sure: She was a brothel madam in Seattle at the turn of the century. And she’s immortalized in one of the city’s popular ghost tours. Maybe you’ve even felt her spiritual presence while passing through tunnels underneath Pioneer Square. Beyond that, facts are sparse. But plenty of legend…

1
MAREN WÖLFL: Erreichen Sie Ihre Ziele durch inspirierende Coaching-Ansätze und Female Leadership 44:32

10h ago44:32

44:32

In dieser Episode sprechen wir mit Maren Wölfl, einer Expertin für Coaching und weibliche Führung. Maren teilt ihre inspirierende Reise und ihre wirkungsvolle Arbeit. Sie erläutert ihre innovativen Coaching-Ansätze, die Entwicklung ihrer Plattform, dem Female Wake-Up Call, und wie diese Frauen bei der Verwirklichung ihrer beruflichen Ziele unterstü…

1
How a battle over owls points to a bigger question in conservation 19:31

1h ago19:31

19:31

Last winter, federal officials with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced a program to save the perpetually threatened northern spotted owl. The problem? Invasive barred owls are crowding out our local forest -- they're bigger, and more aggressive. The solution? Culling half a million of those owls over the next 30 years. On its face, the is…

1
The battle for Public Lands Commissioner turns to a recount 14:12

25m ago14:12

14:12

At this point, most of Washington’s primary election results have been called. Bob Ferguson will face Dave Reichert in the race for governor. Tanya Woo and Alexis Mercedes Rinck are vying for a spot on the Seattle City Council. Goodspaceguy once again failed to get onto the November ballot. But – in one race, the drama has remained at a fever pitch…

1
What goes on beyond the tv stream at the DNC 12:55

3d ago12:55

12:55

When some people picture political conventions, they might imagine a grand stage lit up with dazzling lights, a seemingly never ending stream of speeches - and a sea of enthusiastic supporters cheering their hearts out, waving lots and lots of American flags. Since Monday, the Democratic National Convention has been underway in Chicago. There have …

1
For the first time in its history, McNeil Island is releasing more patients than it's taking in 24:11

18h ago24:11

24:11

Chances are high that you’ve never been to McNeal Island before. Few have - the island, located in the Puget Sound, southwest of Tacoma, isn’t accessible to the general public. The only people that are allowed are staff and pre-screened visitors at the Washington State Special Commitment Center - the first post-prison institution for people designa…

1
How a century-old church in Tacoma is trying to become affordable youth housing 12:26

10m ago12:26

12:26

Picture a historic church in Tacoma’s Proctor neighborhood, bathed in afternoon sunlight, poised for a dramatic transformation. Julie Cain, who purchased the church in 2021, envisions turning it into affordable housing for young adults. The project aims to address local housing needs and foster a supportive community, with plans for shared rooms an…

1
Fitz Cahall on 17 years of finding new adventures outdoors 25:41

12m ago25:41

25:41

When Fitz Cahall started his “Dirtbag Diaries” podcast in 2007, he was an avid outdoorsman struggling to make ends meet as a travel writer. At the time, this whole ‘on demand audio storytelling’ thing was kind of new, and Fitz saw it as a way of bringing new life to his joy of the outdoors. Today, he’s replaced his wild life bouncing around in a va…

1
Renters say "junk fees" create real harm 13:27

23m ago13:27

13:27

Imagine you are renting a property and your grass dies and gets brown (this is the Pacific Northwest, where, aside from some unseasonable August rain, it’s pretty dry all summer). Then you get a note from your management company that letting that grass die violates the property’s rules and fines you $125. Then, on top of that, the company charges y…

1
How solitary confinement affects the mental health of WA State inmates 11:31

4m ago11:31

11:31

The Washington State Department of Corrections has pledged to stop the use of solitary confinement in state prisons, in most cases. And the agency says it has made progress on that goal. But a recent report from the agency’s own independent watchdog, the Office of the Corrections Ombuds, says isolating inmates for extended periods of time is still …

1
How Do Prairie Dogs Use A Secret Language? Episode 41 28:29

16d ago28:29

28:29

Discover the amazing secret language of prairie dogs. Prairie dogs have one of the most detailed ways of communicating among animals. Learn what they might be saying on today’s episode. Here’s our trail map: What Is A Prairie? Are Prairie Dogs…Dogs? What Is A Keystone Species? What Is A Prairie Dog Town? How Do Prairie Dogs Use A Secret Language? H…

1
Commodifying Disability as an Experience

7h ago

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This bonus content is a reading from Platypus, the CASTAC Blog. The full post by Mine Egbatan can be read at https://blog.castac.org/2024/08/commodifying-disability-as-an-experience/. About the post: In this post, I explore how disability is depoliticized when it is reduced to an individual, sensory experience within technologically reproduced spac…

1
Weekend rain a welcome relief as wildfire burns near Stehekin 13:28

18d ago13:28

13:28

The summertime is usually the peak season for tourists in Stehekin, Washington – a small community of around 100 people at the north end of Lake Chelan. It’s only accessible by boat or floatplane, making it an ideal place for a lakeside getaway or entry into the North Cascades wilderness. But the geography and topography that make Stehekin unique a…

1
Fewer WA children are in foster care amid state effort to keep families together 14:44

29m ago14:44

14:44

The Department of Children, Youth, and Families, which oversees the state’s foster care system, celebrated a milestone last week: The number of children in foster care has dipped below 5,000. That’s down significantly from 9,171 kids in foster care in 2018 – a reduction of more than 50% in six years. This is seen as progress among experts who have …

1
Hear It Again: He broke his neck diving into a pool. 20 years later, new technology is helping him recover 21:57

3d ago21:57

21:57

For decades, the road to recovery after a spinal cord injury has meant years of physical therapy. The goal is often small but meaningful improvements in body function. Being able to stretch your fingers that much farther, or grip just a bit harder. Jon Schleuter’s path began after he broke his neck diving into a pool 20 years ago. Soundside's Libby…

1
New COVID study finds pandemic mandates did, in fact, save lives 20:50

3d ago20:50

20:50

A new study out of the University of Virginia combined data from all 50 states to see how COVID restrictions did or didn’t reduce pandemic deaths. Despite criticism – even today – that COVID restrictions were tyrannical and unnecessary, the paper shows that states with more stringent mask and vaccine mandates did in fact save lives, and that states…

1
For Seattle drag performers, sick days are not an option 13:52

4h ago13:52

13:52

For many performers, a missed show can mean a huge pay cut. Drag queens, comedians, musicians, and other entertainers are mostly independent contractors, which means no employer provided health insurance or sick time. Now, local drag queen Betty Wetter, as well as the dance duo Drama Tops, and Velocity Dance Center, have come together to create the…

1
Medicine Disoriented

5h ago

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This bonus content is a reading from Platypus, the CASTAC Blog. The full post by Amanda Quan can be read at https://blog.castac.org/2024/08/medicine-disoriented/. About the post: What follows is an object collection that troubles the arrival of The Clinic by engaging the historic underpinnings, cultural logics, and afterlives of its object parts. I…

1
Updates are coming to this 60-year-old treaty guiding the Columbia River 19:06

13d ago19:06

19:06

The Columbia River is undoubtedly one of the most important rivers in the Northwest. Today, its irrigation provides water for the farms of Central Washington; it’s a vital waterway for salmon; and it provides a critical source of hydroelectric power. The river is split between the U.S. and Canada, and its headwaters begin in British Columbia. For t…

1
An Indigenous CEO says "time is ticking" to help Native elders heal from government-run boarding schools 20:23

20d ago20:23

20:23

For 150 years, the United States government operated boarding schools that separated Native American children from their families and communities. The government's goal was to eradicate native languages and culture. At least 17 US Indian boarding schools existed in Washington State. A new report from the Department of Interior outlines the scale an…

1
Exploring the intersection of art and landscape in the Pacific Northwest 10:45

7d ago10:45

10:45

A new show from Cascade PBS looks at the way artists in the Pacific Northwest incorporate their surroundings into drawings, tapestry, and pottery. ‘Art by Northwest’ showcases local artists inspired by the landscapes and culture of their communities. Each episode explores the stories behind their work, reflecting the unique essence of the Pacific N…

1
Marysville Schools are facing a 'critically declining financial condition,' but is far from the only district with budget challanges 19:34

27m ago19:34

19:34

There are a lot of stories about the financial challenges facing schools right now: Seattle School District has a $100 million budget gap they need to close and they’re going to be shuttering schools to make ends meet. Bellevue School District also closed schools to shore up its budget last year. Other districts are looking at million dollar shortf…

1
What will it take to bring the Boeing Starliner, and it's astronauts, back to Earth? 29:26

12m ago29:26

29:26

Two NASA astronauts named Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams, are currently stuck in space. The pair launched in the Boeing Starliner earlier this year. Malfunctions have delayed their return from what was originally meant to be an 8 day trip to the International Space Station. Now, they may not be back on Earth until February. And – most galling for …

1
Race remains tight in primary for public lands commissioner 9:52

8h ago9:52

9:52

While ballots are still being counted, most of the races in last week’s primary election have been decided. But one contest in particular – the race to become the next Commissioner of Public Lands for Washington state – has become surprisingly close. The Commissioner of Public Lands runs the state Department of Natural Resources – think forest and …

1
The Cloud is Too Loud: Spotlighting the Voices of Community Activists from the Data Center Capital of the World

10h ago

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This bonus content is a reading from Platypus, the CASTAC Blog. The full post by Madelyn Zander can be read at https://blog.castac.org/2024/08/the-cloud-is-too-loud-spotlighting-the-voices-of-community-activists-from-the-data-center-capital-of-the-world/. About the post: In this post, I draw on ethnographic fieldwork that began in 2021 with communi…

1
Remembering Seattle music journalist Charles R. Cross 25:20

17d ago25:20

25:20

We wanted to round out today’s show by remembering a man described as the greatest music journalist Seattle ever had - Charles R. Cross. For over 40 years, Cross tracked the pulse of Seattle through its music. He was also known for his biographies of local rock legends: Jimi Hendrix, Kurt Cobain, and Ann and Nancy Wilson of Heart. Cross’ family con…

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