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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: President Joe Biden delivers his first State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol, as Vice President Kamala Harris and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of Calif., watch, Tuesday, March 1, 2022, in Washington.

    President Biden's coming to town — but are Seattleites excited?

    President Biden will be celebrating Earth Day with Governor Inslee and other local Democratic officials. He won a record 75% of the vote in King County during the 2020 election. But today he faces the lowest national approval ratings of his presidency. Soundside guest Sandeep Kaushik says that's due to overpromising during his campaign. Can he make up for those promises now?

  • caption: Pike Place Market Entrance

    Should vehicles be allowed through Pike Place Market?

    Earlier this week, a serious confrontation occurred on the cobbled street running through Pike Place market. Involving three motorists, a hammer, and an injured bystander, the altercation is the latest fiasco to reignite a decades-old debate on whether Pike Place Market should stay open to cars.

  • caption: An oyster tray at Seattle restaurant Westward.

    The disgusting, and fascinating, case of the worm in the oyster

    If you’ve shucked an oyster from Washington State recently, you might have noticed something new. Black blisters on the meat of the oyster. Researchers are attributing many of these blisters to a parasite they’ve never seen before.

  • caption: The tide along Alki Beach in West Seattle was so low on June 25, 2021, that fields of kelp and other marine life were exposed. The low tide made way for visitors for hours.

    Washington just designated its first seagrass sanctuary. Here's why

    Last month, the state of Washington announced a new kelp and eelgrass protection zone off the shores of Everett. Covering roughly 2,300 acres, this marine plant sanctuary is the first of its kind. Officials hope the designation will help preserve the vital ecosystem seagrass provides, while also opening an avenue to understand the threats seagrasses face.

  • Cote Book Cover

    What does it mean to 're-Indigenize' contemporary diets?

    Dr. Charlotte Coté is the author of A Drum in One Hand, a Sockeye in the Other: Stories of Indigenous Food Sovereignty from the Northwest Coast, and she sat down with Libby Denkmann to discuss "decolonizing" native diets.

  • caption: Hikers stand along Burroughs Mountain Trail with a view of Mount Rainier on Saturday, July 20, 2019.

    New to the outdoors? These volunteers will teach you to explore safely

    When the best laid plans go south, and you're stuck in the wild either lost or hurt, Seattle Mountain Rescue springs into action to get you home safe. The volunteer team covers a wide area from Seattle city proper to the Cascades, and after 70 years they're finally close to getting a new base of operations in North Bend. Additionally, a recent study from the Black Washingtonians Workgroup on Outdoor Recreation found fewer than 1.5% of State Parks visitors are Black. So how can Washington improve access to its famed outdoors?

  • caption: The dental floor at the Seattle/King County Clinic

    Major toothache: A look inside dental care in Washington

    For years the Seattle King County Clinic provided free medical, eye and dental care for thousands of people. After taking a break in 2021, this was supposed to be the grand return. But after a scheduling mishap, the dental clinic has been canceled this year.