Libby Denkmann
Host, Soundside
About
Libby Denkmann has covered veterans' issues, homelessness, and local politics during her radio journalism career. She became the host of KUOW's Soundside in November 2021. Previously she was a producer, reporter, anchor, and host for stations KIRO, KFI, and KPCC in Seattle and Los Angeles. During a yearlong hiatus from journalism in 2011, she worked as a congressional staffer in Washington, D.C.. Libby was born in Seattle, grew up on the eastside, and graduated from the University of Washington. Her favorite things include soccer, video games, and her dog, Monty.
Location: Seattle
Languages: English, limited Japanese and Portuguese
Pronouns: she/her
Podcasts
Stories
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Poet Koon Woon on his verses of solitude and the working-class immigrant life
Koon Woon has been an important member of the Seattle poetry community for decades. He’s the publisher of Goldfish Books and Chrysanthemum Poetry Journal, as well as a formidable poet in his own right. But his poems aren’t lofty and highbrow — they're deeply rooted in his lived experiences of poverty, working-class immigrant life, and living on the margins.
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The high environmental cost of cheap cruises
Next month, it begins again. Tourists flooding Pike Place Market, plonking their luggage onto precious light rail seats, crowding downtown bars and restaurants. Yes, we’re talking about the start of the Alaska cruise season.
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The grandeur and legacy of drag trailblazer Doris Fish
Drag superstars have become household names. RuPaul, Trixie Mattel, Bianca Del Rio, Ben DeLaCreme — chances are you’ve probably heard of at least one of them. But before Drag Race dominated the zeitgeist, there was Doris.
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At the height of the KKK's popularity, one woman's story toppled its leader
In "A Fever in the Heartland," National Book Award-winning author Timothy Egan tells the often-overlooked story of the Ku Klux Klan's power in northern states and the testimony that brought down its most powerful leader.
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How one conversation changed the life of a RadioActive alum
Today, we’re revisiting a feature story from RadioActive alum April Reyes. It’s about how one conversation with a classmate changed Reyes’s junior year, and ultimately — her life.
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Tacoma Refugee Choir helps members find hope and home through song
Over the past 10 years, more than 30,000 refugees, from more than 70 countries have resettled in Washington state through the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program. It’s one thing to welcome refugees; it’s another to make them feel at home. The Tacoma Refugee Choir has helped give that feeling to refugees, as well as immigrants and native U.S. citizens.
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Major league baseball is back — with some not so minor changes
Major League Baseball is back in full-swing. But in the off-season, some of the biggest rule changes to the game came into play.
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Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands, on wildfires and forestry
The Department of Natural Resources manages almost 6 million acres of the state’s forest, farm, tidelands, recreational and commercial lands. Soundside asks your questions about wildfire management and forestry, including the state's new carbon credit market and logging practices.
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Trying to count unhoused people in WA is 'like nailing water to the wall,' experts say
How many unhoused people live in Washington state? It seems like a relatively simple question — especially since it’s the basis for so many important decisions. But figuring out the answer is tough.
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Hear it Again: The 'raw deal' within our meat industry
In early 2020, the world shut down. Those of us who could, stayed inside. We learned to bake. We got really into animal crossing. But the workers who process our food couldn’t afford that same time off.