Weekday

What is there to eat in Antarctica? Not much, though you could try penguin. In 1897, stranded Captain Georges Lecointe said penguin tasted like “beef, odiferous cod fish and a canvas-backed duck, roasted together in a pot with blood and cod-liver oil for sauce.” Desperate and trapped Antarctic explorers have eaten all kinds of awful things. Author Jason Anthony explains the culinary lengths people will go to in order to survive.

Mark Arm and Steve Turner founded Mudhoney years before the national music press catapulted Seattle onto the national stage. Their 1988 debut single, “Touch Me I’m Sick,” was the first major hit for Sub Pop Records. While they’ve also had careers outside of music-making, the band has remained together for more than 25 years, continuing to record and go on tour. We talk with singer and guitarist Mark Arm about Mudhoney’s latest album, "Vanishing Point."

It’s Friday — time to review the week’s news with Joni Balter, Knute Berger and Eli Sanders. Seattle Police Chief John Diaz announces he’ll retire after more than three decades with the SPD. What will be the impact on the city's police reform efforts? Boeing announces a big investment in South Carolina as it warns engineers here of layoffs. And the Blue Angels won't fly over this year's Seafair thanks to federal budget cuts, but Seattle's July 4 fireworks may be back on. What stories caught your attention this week? Call us at 206.543.5869 or send an email to weekday@kuow.org.

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.

Interim Seattle Police Department Chief Jim Pugel says he hasn't decided whether he'll seek the job, but he doesn't plan to be a placeholder as the SPD works on critical reforms with the Department of Justice. Pugel is set to replace outgoing chief John Diaz, who announced his retirement on Monday. We talk with the new officer in charge at SPD.

Vancouver Sun political correspondent Vaughn Palmer brings us the latest news from Canada, Everett Herald film critic Robert Horton looks at what's happening at the movies, and Geekwire's Todd Bishop reviews the latest in tech.

Our spring membership drive rolls along with two of our favorite interviews: two-time Grammy winning musician Taj Mahal joined us late last year to celebrate 40 years in music and a new retrospective album, "Maestro." Plus, we listen back to a conversation with Harvard psychologist Steven Pinker about his book, "The Stuff of Thought: Language as a Window Into Human Nature."

As the cost of health care continues to rise, what can patients do to help? Dr. John Santa is director of the Consumer Reports Health Ratings Center. We talk with him about Choosing Wisely, a campaign to encourage doctors and patients to ask questions to avoid unnecessary medical tests and procedures.

Seattle Police Chief John Diaz announced on Monday that he’s stepping down. Diaz was appointed chief by Mayor Mike McGinn in 2010 and served 33 years with the SPD. Assistant Chief Jim Pugel will lead the department until the city hires a successor. How will Diaz's departure affect SPD morale and the city's ongoing police reforms? We talk with City Attorney Pete Holmes, public defender Lisa Daugaard and Seattle Times reporter Steve Miletich.

How does the human digestive system actually work? Why can competitive eaters eat so much, so fast? Why do we like certain food textures better than others? Science writer Mary Roach is the author of books including “Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife" and "Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers." She answers these questions and more in her latest book, “Gulp: Adventures on the Alimentary Canal."