Megan Sukys

Local record producer and writer Pat Thomas recently compiled a collection of music written by and for the Black Power movement,  "Listen, Whitey! The Sounds of Black Power 1965–1975." One of the musicians he discovered in putting the album together is a woman named Elaine Brown. She was the head of the Black Panther party during the mid '70s. Today, she's most well known for her activism for prisoners, but Pat thinks her music from the late '60s and early '70s has a message that still applies today.  He recommends listening to "Seize The Time," "The End of Silence" and "Until We're Free."

It's sometimes difficult to engage in conversation with people whose beliefs are very different from your own. But Brenda Peterson, a West Seattle author and environmentalist, has found a place on a local beach where she can have those conversations. It's a sanctuary for Brenda where she finds connection with creatures of all kinds. And it's the place where she founded the nonprofit Seal Sitters a few years ago.

Seal Sitters is a volunteer organization that watches after seal pups that show up on Puget Sound beaches. Brenda Peterson speaks with KUOW's Dave Beck. Her new children's book, based on her experiences with Seal Sitters, is called "Leopard and Silkie."

Other stories from KUOW Presents:

Only 3 percent of commercial airline pilots are women. But if you were flying into Anchorage, Alaska back in 2006, you'd be glad Stephanie Wallach was your pilot. On that flight, Stephanie made an emergency landing in an MD–80 jetliner after an engine failed.

Steven Bender is a law professor at Seattle University. He writes about the policies and issues involving Mexican–Americans. And, he’s also kind of obsessed with deconstructing popular culture messages about the lives and experiences of Latinos, because he’s seen a lot of negative stereotypes. Professor Bender talked with KUOW's Jamala Henderson about watching three films that present a more nuanced portrayal of Mexicans and the Mexican–American experience.

Cheech and Chong, "Born in East LA"

University of Idaho is unpacking 1000 pieces of rare opium smoking equipment. An eccentric collector beat his addiction. Now he just wants them out of his house. Correspondent Tom Banse has the intriguing back story of how these so-called "instruments of self-destruction" came to a small Northwest town.