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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

Podcasts

Stories

  • caption: Wildfire smoke drifts through Snoqualmie Pass in 2017.

    How an ambitious lawsuit reshaped environmental law — without ever going to trial

    In 2015 “Our Children’s Trust” took aim at what they thought was a major contributor to ongoing climate problems: that the U.S. government had continued to permit, authorize and subsidize fossil fuel extraction. So, along with 21 plaintiffs whose ages ranged from 8 to 19 years old, they sued the U.S. government. Even though the "Juliana V United States" has never actually gone to trial after 9 years of arguments, the ambition behind the litigation has made an impact on environmental law and helped inspire other climate cases involving young people around the world.

  • caption: Imprints of tents are visible ahead of the 3 p.m. deadline for students and protesters to remove the pro-Palestinian encampment on Monday, May 20, 2024, on the University of Washington campus Quad in Seattle.

    What comes next for the pro-Palestine protesters at UW?

    The University of Washington reached an agreement with the leaders of an encampment of students protesting the war in Gaza. As part of that agreement, students had until 3 p.m. Monday to clear the area where they’ve been living.
  • caption: Jon Schlueter is portrayed with his guitar at his home, and business, the Bamboo Collective Nursery, on Thursday, April 18, 2024, in Seattle’s Broadview neighborhood.

    He broke his neck diving into a pool. 20 years later, new technology is helping him recover

    In a study published Monday in the journal Nature Medicine, researchers at the University of Washington and at universities in Colorado and Georgia have found that electrical stimulation on the surface of the skin, targeting the spine, can improve strength, mobility, sensation and function in the bodies of people with long term spinal cord injuries. The novel therapy is breaking the limits that many with spinal injuries have dealt with for years, and all without the need for additional surgery.

  • caption: A radiologist uses a magnifying glass to check mammograms for breast cancer in Los Angeles, May 6, 2010. An influential U.S. task force now says women should get screened for breast cancer every other year starting at age 40. The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force announced the updated guidance Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

    How early and often should women get mammograms?

    New guidance from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recommends women should get a mammogram every other year starting at age 40 and continuing until age 74. With so much at stake, it’s important to stay in the know. Soundside spoke with Dr. Janie Lee, professor of Radiology at the University of Washington and the director of breast imaging services for the UW and Fred Hutch Cancer Center, to learn more.

  • caption: Melinda Gates in 2017 at an event in Washington, D.C., about investing in adolescents.

    What's next for the Gates Foundation?

    The foundation headquartered in Seattle is the largest philanthropic organization in the world. The move marks a new direction for the world of philanthropy and the Pacific Northwest’s best-known ex-power couple.