Best Crosscut Podcasts (2024)

1
Race, Power and Palestine with Ta-Nehisi Coates 46:38

1M ago46:38

46:38

In a live taping of Slate’s A Word podcast, Jason Johnson talks with Coates about the resonance between racism in America and the crisis in Gaza. On his podcast A Word, veteran political commentator Jason Johnson invites leaders, journalists and other change-makers to have productive and provocative conversations about race in politics and society.…

1
How Artificial Intelligence Could Impact Elections 48:17

1M ago48:17

48:17

Atlantic journalists talk the future of election interference in an era of chilling political deepfakes — and, the one company behind much of this tech. This year, two events will collide: AI voice replicas that can fool family and friends will be easier than ever to use, and half the world’s population will undergo an election. As part of the Casc…

1
Malcolm Gladwell Talks Gun Violence in America 49:13

2M ago49:13

49:13

The Revisionist History podcast host discusses America's firearms problem - and reasons to be optimistic about it - with a trauma surgeon and an activist. Acclaimed author Malcolm Gladwell explores all things overlooked and misunderstood in his podcast, Revisionist History. He recently produced a six-part series about what we get wrong about gun vi…

1
How Identity Shapes Politics in a Fractured America 48:01

2M ago48:01

48:01

Is the personal always political? Washington Post columnists discuss how identity markers have come to define how we think and vote. Trust in American institutions has reached record lows. Where do Americans turn to for a sense of identity, connection or belonging? Are identity markers such as race or religion a way to build community and understan…

1
Investigating Complaints at a Seattle VA Building 22:13

2M ago22:13

22:13

Lizz Giordano and Lauren Gallup discuss their reporting on Puget Sound Veterans Affairs clinic complaints. Plus, what’s changing with Northwest Reports. Patients and staff have navigated a myriad of concerning conditions in a building on the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System campus in South Seattle. Earlier this month, Northwest Publi…

1
Bridging the Partisan Divide with David Greene 45:52

2M ago45:52

45:52

In a live taping of Left, Right & Center, David Greene, Mo Elleithee and Sarah Isgur debate media bias ahead of the presidential election. KCRW’s weekly politics show, Left, Right & Center, takes on the tough, polarizing issues that Americans struggle to have conversations about. Host David Greene invites guests with a wide range of political views…

1
Finding and Losing Housing in Washington 19:53

2M ago19:53

19:53

After being forced to move from Seattle and, this year, Snohomish, Sandra Mears and her partner are still searching for a place to call home as renters. Sandra Mears rented in Seattle for years – until she and her partner had to leave their home because it was getting torn down. They moved to a spot in Snohomish, where they could go to the farmers …

1
Unpacking True Crime with Patrick Radden Keefe 47:32

2M ago47:32

47:32

In a live taping of The New Yorker’s Critics at Large podcast, Keefe and a panel discuss the genre's enduring popularity – and its problematic aspects. The appetite for true crime is more insatiable than ever, but audiences, authors and podcast producers are also grappling with the ethics of the genre. Patrick Radden Keefe, author of books includin…

1
A Chat With the Seattle UFO Network 19:21

2M ago19:21

19:21

Ahead of World UFO Day, we spoke with Carole Williams about the community she’s found with others who share her interest in extraterrestrials. We’re talking aliens – and community – ahead of World UFO Day. People generally celebrate World UFO Day on July 2 – though historically the celebration has also been held on June 24, thanks to a 1947 event i…

1
The Past and Future of American Democracy 45:18

3M ago45:18

45:18

In a live podcast taping, historian Heather Cox Richardson debates the nation's founding and the state of democracy ahead of the 2024 election. Historian Heather Cox Richardson, author of Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, points out a central tension in American history: The founding fathers penned the idea of equality before the …

1
Meet Seattle's Bird Woman 31:31

3M ago31:31

31:31

Adelaide Lowry Pollock was an educator, birder, author and believer in the power of civic participation at the turn of the 20th century. In the early 1900s, pioneering educator Adelaide Lowry Pollock was the first woman to be named principal of a Seattle grade school. A lifelong love of birds dominated her curriculum. Her students went on birding f…

1
KEXP Host Kevin Sur on the Limits of an Acronym 19:17

3M ago19:17

19:17

May is Asian American, Native Hawaiian & Pacific Islander month. KEXP host Kevin Sur shares why broad terms don’t always speak to communities like his own. AANHPI Heritage Month is coming to a close. May is widely recognized as a time to celebrate Asian American, Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander, or AANHPI, communities. There have been differen…

1
Good Economic Data and Bad Economic Feelings 47:49

3M ago47:49

47:49

The Journal co-hosts Kate Linebaugh and Ryan Knutson tackle the gap between bright data points and bad vibes with political correspondent Molly Ball. Data suggests the U.S. economy is performing well, but many Americans don’t feel that way. How will those feelings influence the 2024 election? As part of the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival in early May, …

1
The Wood That Won the Wars 31:41

3M ago31:41

31:41

Sitka trees were key military materiel in both World Wars. Knute Berger shares how the need for wood and the women who harvested it changed logging. In the early 20th century, Sitka spruce, a giant conifer native to the Pacific Northwest, became known as an excellent material for building airplanes. As a result, when the U.S. entered World War I, t…

1
Meet Samuel Wolfe, Director of Origins Season Three 21:30

3M ago21:30

21:30

Wolfe and his team will focus the five-part docuseries on reefnet fishing and its significance to PNW Indigenous communities. Cascade PBS has just revealed what’s to come in the third season of Origins. The company recently announced Samuel Wolfe as the director chosen to take on the newest season of Origins, a project that awards regional filmmake…

1
Laughing at Hollywood and the U.S. Supreme Court 48:13

3M ago48:13

48:13

Lindy West, Meagan Hatcher-Mays and Guy Branum rank Hollywood celebrities and Supreme Court justices in a lighthearted take on pop culture and politics. New York Times bestselling author Lindy West and democracy expert and “recovering lawyer” Meagan Hatcher-Mays have been best friends for 25 years. Their podcast, Text Me Back!, celebrates that frie…

1
Minoru Yamasaki's Architectural Legacy 29:23

3M ago29:23

29:23

Minoru Yamasaki was among the most influential architects of the 20th century. Knute Berger tells the story. Minoru Yamasaki was born in Seattle in 1912, studied architecture at the University of Washington and went on to design some of the most celebrated buildings of the 20th century. Among them: the World Trade Center in New York and the Pacific…

1
Swimming in Idaho as a Transgender Man 21:24

3M ago21:24

21:24

After taking steps to affirm his gender, Torrey Stephenson decided to take a plunge – and became a triathlete in the process. Torrey Stephenson was born biologically female. Over the years he realized that he identifies as a man, and took measures to align with his gender — for example, getting top surgery in 2020. As he grew more comfortable in hi…

1
Reporting on the Crisis in the Middle East 47:16

3M ago47:16

47:16

Tug of War host David Rind and international correspondent Nada Bashir dig into how the war in Gaza has changed the Middle East and the world. Since the Hamas attacks of October 7 and the outbreak of the war in Gaza, CNN’s Tug of War podcast has brought listeners into the heart of the conflict. As part of the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival in early May…

1
The Hike That Stopped a Highway 31:00

3M ago31:00

31:00

Environmental activist Polly Dyer teamed up with Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas in the 1950s to keep a stretch of Washington wild. Today, more than 73 miles of Washington’s rugged Olympic Coast is still rugged. It’s accessible only to hikers, not cars. Part of the reason for that is a famous 1958 beach hike led by former U.S. Supreme Cour…

1
A Chat With Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell 31:21

3M ago31:21

31:21

Cascade PBS anchor Paris Jackson hears from the mayor about key issues facing his administration, such as public safety and Downtown revitalization. The mayor of Seattle talked all things Emerald City in his recent conversation with Cascade PBS. Bruce Harrell was first elected to lead the city in 2021, though he had served as interim mayor in 2017.…

1
Welcome Back to the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival 6:28

4M ago6:28

6:28

Catch up on every session, featuring speakers such as Malcolm Gladwell, Lindy West and Ta-Nehisi Coates, on our weekly festival podcast. This year’s Cascade PBS Ideas Festival has officially wrapped. But the insightful conversations that took place on May 4, 2024, are coming soon to a podcast app near you. To help launch this season of the Cascade …

1
When Buffalo Bill Came to Seattle 32:31

4M ago32:31

32:31

Audiences loved Buffalo Bill's Wild West show, but what he sold as “authentic” was anything but. Knute Berger shares how the myth shaped our idea of the frontier. You’ve probably heard of Buffalo Bill. The name is nearly synonymous with “the Wild West,” a kind of cultural mythology created as white settlers colonized the American West in the late 1…

1
Black Arts Legacies: From Its Creation to Its Latest Season 18:45

3M ago18:45

18:45

Phillips, one of the advocates behind the Cascade PBS project that highlights Black artists in Seattle, discusses its origins — and the new season. Black Arts Legacies has returned for its third season. The project dedicated to documenting the impact and stories of Black artists in Seattle has showcased dozens of people — from dancers and musicians…

1
Happy as a Clam in the Pacific Northwest 31:03

4M ago31:03

31:03

Folk songs, clam bakes, aquaculture and more: Knute Berger explores the myriad ways clams have shaped our region’s culture. Clams are among the Pacific Northwest’s most vital natural resources. From thousands of years of aquaculture to folk songs and university mascots, the celebration and consumption of clams permeates local food and culture. Casc…

1
Behind the Scenes of the Mossback Podcast 19:07

4M ago19:07

19:07

Producer Sara Bernard offers a peek into how the moss is made and teases what lies in wait for listeners in the podcast’s fifth season. Mossback’s back! The beloved video series has returned, and host Knute Berger continues to explore Pacific Northwest history. The fifth season of the companion podcast that Knute co-hosts with Stephen Hegg is back,…

1
How Dan Evans Shaped Washington 21:27

4M ago21:27

21:27

After Evans' appearance at a Northwest Power and Conservation Council meeting, Venice Buhain and Knute Berger discuss his impact on Washington. Dan Evans has been a force in Washington for decades. The public figure, now 98, has plenty of titles under his belt: Engineer. Washington governor. U.S. Senator. In this episode of Northwest Reports, host …

1
The Greatest Camo Job in History 32:41

4M ago32:41

32:41

Boeing's Plant 2 was so crucial that the military asked Hollywood to hide it from the enemy. Knute Berger shares the story. From the moment the United States entered World War II, Seattle was vital to the war effort. Boeing’s Plant 2 was a key manufacturing hub for thousands of B-17 bombers, one of the Allies’ most important tools in Europe. Fearin…

1
Spokane's New Mayor on First Months in Role 23:57

4M ago23:57

23:57

Cascade PBS reporter Mai Hoang talks with the former state legislator about her newest gig, including key issues affecting the city's community members. This week, Lisa Brown officially passed the 100-day mark in her new role as Spokane’s mayor. Brown started her term at the beginning of the year after defeating incumbent Nadine Woodward. She has w…

1
The Deadliest Avalanches in North America 33:42

5M ago33:42

33:42

Back-to-back disasters in Washington and B.C. killed more than 150 people in 1910. Knute Berger digs into the traumatic circumstances and their fallout. In the stormy winter of 1910, an avalanche struck two stalled trains in Wellington, a railroad outpost in Washington’s Central Cascades. Three days later, another one blanketed dozens of rail worke…

1
Saying Bye To Beloved Third Places in Seattle 21:21

5M ago21:21

21:21

We spoke with Cynthia Brothers, founder of the project that highlights disappearing institutions and cultures in the city, about losing public spaces. Coffee shops. Churches. Gyms. These are just a few examples of what you might consider your “third place” – a spot you go outside of work and your home to hang out and connect. The concept of third p…

1
The Uncertain Artist - Episode 11 "We Thought It Was Funny" 36:16

5M ago36:16

36:16

Gregg and Joe discuss creating the pilot episodes of the detective show, after a screening at the SIFF Film Center. Hosted by Gregg Lachow and Joe GuppyBy The Uncertain Artist

1
Covering an Alleged Labor Trafficking Case in WA 19:17

5M ago19:17

19:17

Lizz Giordano takes us behind the scenes on how dozens of foreign Filipino fishermen wound up stranded on a boat in Grays Harbor. A fishing company allegedly left two dozen Filipino men stranded at the Westport Marina for months last year, according to the latest reporting from the investigative team at Cascade PBS. The men were contracted with McA…

1
Relaunching The Black Lens in Spokane 20:39

5M ago20:39

20:39

The newspaper’s future was in question after founder Sandy Williams died. Reporter Mai Hoang talks about the push to get it up and running again. For years Black readers in Eastern Washington could rely on The Black Lens, a Spokane-based newspaper, for community news. That changed in 2022, when founder Sandy Williams died in a floatplane crash. Sud…

1
Palestinian, Israeli Women on Friendship, Hope 46:25

5M ago46:25

46:25

The two, who met years ago through a peace organization, spoke about their lives before and after Oct. 7 at a Town Hall Seattle event on Friday. All eyes have been on Gaza since October 7, when Hamas launched a surprise attack on Israel that killed around 1,200 people. Since then, Israel has killed upward of 30,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s…

1
Climate Change Is Putting Us in a Funk 23:51

6M ago23:51

23:51

The environmental crisis has brought on anxiety, grief and a reluctance to have kids, says UW Bothell professor Jennifer Atkinson. It’s hard to miss the signs of climate change. The ocean’s heating, ice sheets are melting and – in places like Washington – wildfire seasons are getting longer. But climate change isn’t just impacting our landscape: It…

1
An Interview With WA’s Secretary of State 19:46

6M ago19:46

19:46

News editor Donna Blankinship interviewed Steve Hobbs about boosting voter confidence ahead of this year's elections. Washington’s Secretary of State has a big year ahead. The 2024 election is already underway as Washington voters begin to cast their ballots in the presidential primary. Voters have until March 12 to choose among a handful of candid…

1
How These Seattle Activists Remember 2020 19:34

6M ago19:34

19:34

Reporter Jadenne Radoc Cabahug shares the stories of Black Seattleites who are continuing to work for equity and police accountability. In May 2020, amid a global pandemic, protests erupted around the United States following the murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police. People marched to demand greater accountability from law enforcement across…

1
An Effort to Slow Rent Increases 22:51

6M ago22:51

22:51

A Bellingham tenant and a housing advocate explain how steep rent increases are hurting state residents, and how HB 2114 could help. For many tenants across Washington, rent is too high – and it keeps climbing. Right now, landlords face no limit on when or how much they can raise rents. HB 2114 would cap rent and fee increases to 7 percent in a 12-…

1
One Mother's Experience Without Child Support 16:10

7M ago16:10

16:10

Reporter Brandon Block shares an example of how the state intercepts parental assistance to people who also receive TANF, or welfare. In 2017, Amy Roark applied for the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) program after one of her exes stopped paying his child support.    She began to receive money through the program, but as these funds …

1
The 24/7 Hotline That Can Be a Lifeline 21:51

7M ago21:51

21:51

June Guzman and Audrey Baedke offer housing and emotional support through the nonprofit Real Escape from the Sex Trade (REST). The Seattle area is a known hub for sex trafficking. Some estimates suggest that more than two thousand people could be trafficked in the region every night. June Guzman manages the 24/7 hotline and emergency shelter for Re…

1
The Uncertain Artist - Episode 10 “That Was a Great Show” 1:04:07

7M ago1:04:07

1:04:07

Arts champion Charlie Rathbun talks with Gregg and Joe about love of live performance, the honor of public service, and the joy of making music. Hosts: Sam Lachow & Joe GuppyBy The Uncertain Artist

1
These WA Districts Could Change by Fall Election 18:49

7M ago18:49

18:49

Reporter Mai Hoang talks about the ongoing fight to redraw majority-Latino legislative districts between Yakima and Pasco. A yearslong debate over redistricting in Central Washington could close just in time for the 2024 election. Plaintiffs filed a lawsuit in January 2022 over the 15th Legislative District, arguing that its boundaries as drawn dil…

1
The Uncertain Artist - Episode 9 “You Have to Work” 59:53

7M ago59:53

59:53

Film Director Sue Corcoran talks with Gregg and Joe about filming reshoots, raising money, and working with Elliot Gould. Hosts: Gregg Lachow & Joe GuppyBy The Uncertain Artist

1
Tagging Along With Seattle's CARE Team 21:13

7M ago21:13

21:13

Reporter Nimra Ahmad describes a day on the job with the city's experimental mental health crisis program staff. Seattle is now dispatching mental health crisis responders on 911 calls – and reporter Nimra Ahmad got to watch them work in real time. In October, the city soft-launched the Community Assisted Response and Engagement (CARE) team, made u…

1
The Uncertain Artist - Episode 8 “I Am Not Afraid of Being Weak” 1:03:32

7M ago1:03:32

1:03:32

Composer/Performer Maggie Brown talks with Gregg and guest host Charlie Lachow about growing up in the arts, writing music in a diversity of genres, and finding strength in weakness. Hosts: Gregg Lachow & Charlie LachowBy The Uncertain Artist

1
An Interview with Governor Inslee 30:52

8M ago30:52

30:52

The governor spoke with Crosscut's Paris Jackson about mental health, climate change and the Huskies ... prior to their national championship game. In November, voters will cast their ballots for someone to succeed Jay Inslee, the governor of Washington for more than a decade. Until then, Inslee has some key issues he wants to address. The governor…

1
Introducing the Youth Today News Podcast 34:37

8M ago34:37

34:37

The third episode of the investigative series co-produced with Crosscut focuses on one woman's experience with foster care and homelessness in WA. A few months ago, Crosscut collaborated with the nonprofit organization Youth Today to produce a three-part multimedia series on youth homelessness. Reporter Elizabeth Whitman and producer Sam Leeds inve…

1
The Uncertain Artist - Episode 6 ”It Would Take Belief” 57:16

8M ago57:16

57:16

Actor Sarah Harlett talks with Gregg and Joe about fitting in and standing out, representation and accessibility, and working through fear and with students. Hosts: Gregg Lachow & Joe GuppyBy The Uncertain Artist

1
Mobile Home Tenants Have the AG’s Attention 29:37

8M ago29:37

29:37

Earlier this year, Crosscut reported on an Aberdeen park facing rising rents and cut services. Farah Eltohamy shares how the story has evolved. Mobile home parks are often considered one of the most reliable forms of affordable housing. Some tenants in Washington beg to differ. This summer, Farah Eltohamy and Mai Hoang investigated allegations that…

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