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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

Stories

  • caption: Reggie Fils-Aimé is the former COO and president of Nintendo of America. He sat down with Soundside host Libby Denkmann.

    Sound it Out: Seattle graffiti update and a revisit to our electoral system

    We're a show built around you – our listeners. Every other week, we bring you a segment called "Sound it Out," to broadcast your thoughts about the show and answer questions about stories we've covered. Today, we're looking back on our conversations with Mayor Bruce Harrell on graffiti in Seattle and why we vote for uncontested judges.

  • caption: The King County Jail is shown on Thursday, September 17, 2020, on 5th Avenue in Seattle.

    Why did a mental health crisis end in death for a 63-year-old Seattle man?

    The press release simply stated that a 63-year-old man was found unresponsive in his cell minutes after being booked. But reporters Sydney Brownstone and Greg Kim of The Seattle Times went beyond the press release — they dug into this story, and uncovered a lot more about who Michael Rowland was and how he died.

  • caption: Patricia Grayhall in Boston, 1983

    Hear it again: Defying the odds, one patient at a time

    Seattle author and doctor Patricia Grayhall went to medical school in the early 1970s, when gender discrimination and homophobia were commonplace in the field. Grayhall was forced to hide her identity as a lesbian and she faced sexism from superiors and colleagues.

  • caption: The intersection of University Way Northeast and Northeast 45th Street is shown on Monday, October 5, 2019, from UW Tower in Seattle.

    Neighbors: UW professor and author Taso Lagos

    UW Professor and author Taso Lagos first immigrated to Seattle with his family from Greece when he was just nine years old. For 40 years, this family constellated around the Continental Restaurant on University Way NE, near the University of Washington. Several years ago, Taso’s parents closed The Continental and retired. Taso and Libby Denkmann walk the Ave and talk about his memories of the U-District, and how the neighborhood and his parents’ old storefront has changed.

  • caption: Student journalists Anna Pogarcic and Brandon Standley of UNC's <em>Daily Tar Heel</em> review a recent issue at their offices off campus.

    For student journalists, reporting on schools can run afoul of administrations

    When you think about impactful journalism, some images may come to mind — meeting sources in dark parking lots, going undercover to bust a scam ring, entering war zones. But those images are pretty far from the usual day to day work, which involves a lot of phone calls and unanswered emails and a whole lot of perseverance.