Sara Dickerman

Ask King County Executive Dow Constantine And Radio Retrospective

Weekday — Thu, 16 May 2013 17:26:08 +0000

Ask King County Executive Dow Constantine
Every month, King County Executive Dow Constantine joins us to chat about issues facing King County. Today he’s here to discuss the possible cuts to King County Metro, Dow’s re-election campaign, and of course Seattle’s unyielding desire for an NBA franchise. If you have a question for the King County Executive, feel free to give us a call at 206-543-5869 or toll-free at 800-289-5869.

Radio Retrospective: When Music and Comedy Merge
Radio had a huge effect on the music industry. Suddenly musicians had regular work composing and performing on radio dramas. Radio also turned select musicians into actors. What happens when music and comedy merge?

A Lunch Recommendation
For our Thursday lunch recommendation, food writer Sara Dickerman profiles the Blossom Restaurant in Renton. If you prefer to cook for yourself, she suggests “The Duke’s Table: The Complete Book of Vegetarian Italian Cooking.”

Defining Genius, Radio Retrospective, And A Lunch Pick

Weekday — Thu, 09 May 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Your Bike Helmet Isn't As Safe As You Think
You probably think your bicycle helmet keeps you safe getting a concussion. You’re wrong. It doesn’t. Most helmets only prevent skull fractures. As a result, bicycle deaths are down, but concussions and other brain injuries are on the rise as biking becomes more popular. Writer Bruce Barcott explains that some helmet manufactures have ignored the concussion problem because they believed it couldn’t be fixed. Others thought consumers would be unwilling to pay more for a protection they assume they already have.

Who's A Genius?
We often toss around the word “genius,” but what does it really mean? How does the definition of genius change depending on region or expertise? Eleven years ago, the staff at The Stranger weekly newspaper came up with the tongue-in-cheek Genius Awards for artists in the Seattle area. They were joking, but over the past decade, awards have gone to some people who would fit the dictionary description.

Radio Retrospective: From Live To Tape
During the early years of radio, performances were always live — that is, until tape was invented and accepted by the industry. How did tape change radio?

A Lunch Recommendation
Food writer Sara Dickerman joins us with a lunch recommendation. Prefer to cook for yourself? She also has a pick for a great cookbook!

Seattle Reads Gregory Martin, And Comics On The Radio

Weekday With Steve Scher — Thu, 02 May 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Seattle Reads: Gregory Martin
What would you do if you found out that your 65-year-old father had attempted suicide? Or that he’d been sexually abused by his own father? Or that he’d been a closeted gay man throughout 39 years of marriage? Gregory Martin learned all this one evening, and it changed his relationship with his parents. Martin chronicles his experiences in the memoir "Stories for Boys," this year’s Seattle Reads book.

Radio Retrospective: Comics On The Radio
We’re familiar with comics being adapted to the big screen. But you might not know that comic strip adaptations aren’t new. Comics were also adapted into radio dramas. There’s Blondie, Archie Andrews, and Superman, and that’s just the beginning. Listen back to the comics strips of the radio.

A Lunch Recommendation
Food writer Sara Dickerman joins us with a lunch recommendation. Prefer to cook for yourself? She also has a pick for a great cookbook!

South Lake Union, Gun Control, And Our Miss Brooks

Weekday With Steve Scher — Thu, 25 Apr 2013 17:00:00 +0000

The New Affordable Housing Requirements In South Lake Union
The Seattle City Council will require developers to put in some affordable housing in new South Lake Union residential towers, or pay for the city to build it. Developers are still deciding whether the requirement will make taller buildings in the neighborhood economically feasible.

Politics Is A Fighting Word
In Olympia, stronger laws regarding gun control couldn’t get past the opposition from state Senate leadership. What will citizens who support gun control do now? Eric Liu lobbied in Olympia for stronger gun control rules in Washington state.

Radio Retrospective: Gloria McMillan From Our Miss Brooks
Our Miss Brooks starring Eve Arden was a popular comedy show during radio’s golden age. Gloria McMillan was a teenager when she played Harriet on the show. She shares her insider take on the cast, Hollywood and what it was like to work in radio.

A Lunch Recommendation
Food writer Sara Dickerman recommends Pestle Rock Isan Thai Cuisine this week. It's a Thai restaurant in Ballard with bright and spicy, salads and delicious young coconut juice. You can read her recommendation for the the best hotels for food lovers in Bon Appetite.

Living With Bipolar Disorder

Weekday with Steve Scher — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 17:00:00 +0000

What does it feel like to be bipolar? How does mental illness affect family and relationships? What misunderstandings does the general public have about people who are bipolar? Katy Sewall speaks with Janine Crowley Haynes, author of the memoir “My Kind of Crazy: Living in a Bipolar World.”

How Doctors Are Handling 'Death With Dignity'

Weekday with Steve Scher — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 00:17:53 +0000

A new study in the New England Journal of Medicine looks at how one Seattle medical institution has managed the state’s 2009 Death With Dignity law. The report shows how rarely Washington state residents have pursued a legal prescription to end their own life, and describes the early debate among physicians over whether to participate. We talk with study author Dr. Elizabeth Loggers of Seattle Cancer Care Alliance.

A Conversation With The Cast Of "The 206"

Weekday with Steve Scher — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 17:00:00 +0000

We bring you more of our favorite Weekday guests this hour as our spring membership drive rolls on. Earlier this year we spoke with the team behind Seattle sketch comedy show, The 206. We listen back to our conversation with Almost Live! alums John Keister and Pat Cashman and 206-er Chris Cashman. The show premiered on KING 5 in January and returns from a brief hiatus later this month.

A "Yokohama Yankee" Journeys Into His Family's Past

Producer — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:00:00 +0000

Leslie Helm was born and raised in Yokohama, Japan. Most of his family members are of European descent, and you would be hard pressed to look into his face and see his half-Japanese grandparents reflected back. When he adopted Japanese children, he started exploring his own roots. Leslie Helm takes us along on his journey as a "Yokohama Yankee" — a story that outlines the racial and economic tensions that defined US and Japanese relations for much of the 19th and 20th centuries.

Ask King County Executive Dow Constantine

Producer — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 17:00:00 +0000

King County Metro officials are warning of major cuts to bus service if the state Legislature does not pass a transportation funding package or approve increased fees and taxes. If nothing changes, Metro says riders could face a 17 percent cut in service by late next year. We talk public transportation with King County Executive Dow Constantine and take your questions on County business. Call us at 206.543.5869 or email weekday@kuow.org.

Why Are Used Cars So Valuable?

Producer — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 18:00:00 +0000

Right now is a terrible time to buy a used car. But it’s an excellent time to sell a used car, especially here in Seattle. Sales of new cars plunged between 2008 and 2010, and that’s caused a shortage of used cars. According to Forbes, Seattle is the second worst city in the country to buy a used car. So why here? We'll get some answers from Micheline Maynard. She covers business and the automobile industry for Forbes and other publications.