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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Is this week's heat wave fueling your climate anxiety? Yeah, us too.
We're experiencing record temperatures in the Pacific Northwest this week. In Europe, unprecedented heat is fueling wildfires in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, France, and Germany. The new climate reality is here. For many of us, that reality is leading to feelings of hopelessness, stress, and late night doom-scrolling.
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The heat, the smoke, the pandemic, rising costs. It's not an easy time to make wine in the PNW.
In 2020, wineries in the Pacific Northwest had to rethink how they did business... Because of the pandemic, they couldn't keep their tasting rooms open. Wildfire smoke got into grapes and changed the way their wines tasted, and often not for the better. The supply chain wineries relied on started faltering. And, of course, our summers are getting hotter and drier. So, what does it look like to run a winery when so many elements you rely on are rapidly changing?
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A story of resilience and patriotism after Japanese internment
120,000 Japanese Americans were forced into camps by the U.S. government during World War II. Seattle's May Namba became part of a movement to help those interned regain what they'd lost.
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The objects that define us: Shin Yu Pai on her new podcast, 'The Blue Suit'
Objects can sometimes tell complicated stories. An old collection of papers might be destined for the recycling, or it might tell us how someone lived and what they loved most. Plant clippings might be a hobby, or they might show a connection to home, the life of a transplant.
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Taking the temperature as Washington's primary races heat up
Washington’s primary election is happening right now. This vote will whittle down a big field of candidates for important jobs like – Secretary of State, all state House spots and half of the state Senate positions, congressional seats and a spot in the U.S. Senate. KUOW’s David Hyde is here to walk us through what’s going on.
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How is the rollout of 988 going in Washington state?
The 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline launched just over a week ago.
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Are we victims of a chicken conspiracy?
The average person eats over 100 pounds of chicken every year. That’s more than double what we ate when the USDA first started keeping track in the 70s. And the vast majority of that chicken comes from large poultry producers - think Tyson, Foster Farms, Pilgrim’s Pride.
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Is someone watching you vote?
Austin Jenkins brings us the latest on the "Guard The Vote" movement, led by an unsanctioned group of citizens ostensibly watching for voter fraud at the ballot box.
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Why is there a reservoir in Volunteer Park?
If you've ever taken a walk around Volunteer Park, in the Capitol Hill neighborhood of Seattle -- you know that smack dab in the middle of this bustling public space is a pool of water. It's surrounded by a chain-link fence, with a walking path looping around the perimeter, and signs saying 'do not feed the birds'. It's not just a reflecting pool or a lake. It’s a reservoir.
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A small sales tax cut has big implications for Tri-Cities transit
In recent months Ben Franklin Transit has been considering something unusual: cutting their own funding. In a story that includes busses, taxes, and a Tim Eyman cameo, Soundside dives into what's happening in the Tri-Cities.