Alec Cowan
Producer, Soundside
About
Alec Cowan is a producer for Soundside. His interests have brought many eclectic stories to the program, and his segments gravitate toward history, technology, arts and culture, and the environment. Proud to be KUOW's unofficial "boat guy."
Prior to joining Soundside, Alec wore many hats at KUOW. He was a producer for The Record with Bill Radke and Primed seasons two and three . He also reported an episode of SoundQs detailing how prohibition forever changed Seattle policing and assisted with reporting a breakthrough cold case solved with the use of genetic genealogy.
Before joining KUOW Alec worked in NPR's Story Lab, where he helped pilot the Louder Than a Riot podcast, about hip-hop and mass incarceration, and assisted in producing a story on volunteerism in Iraq for Rough Translation. Originally from Grand Junction, Colorado, his roots in the Northwest begin in Eugene, where he studied English and philosophy at the University of Oregon and worked as a news reporter for NPR member station KLCC. He is likely neglecting his saxophone, growing book collection, and expanding personal project list in favor of boosting his online Xbox ranking.
Location: Seattle
Languages Spoken: English
Pronouns: he/him/his
Podcasts
Stories
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Politics
Is this the year rent limits pass?
For years, progressives have tried to fight the rising cost of living by instituting a kind of "rent control" – what proponents call "rent stabilization." There’s buzz this year that a rent stabilization bill could safely parachute onto the Governor’s desk.
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Federal forestry changes leave state officials in the lurch
The state’s Department of Natural Resources says it’s coming up with backup plans to address the growing threat of serious wildfires in Washington. This, as it's typically close working relationship with federal forest managers has frayed under the Trump Administration.
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$100 million police hiring bill moves on to the state Senate
The state House on Tuesday approved $100 million in funding aimed at helping local police departments hire more officers.
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How Rainier Beer went from an old fashioned brew to an advertising icon
For decades, Rainier Beer commercials captivated audiences through its Northwest spirit and eclectic style, and it owes its success to this small local advertising firm.
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Can the artificial really be 'intelligent'? This researcher wants us to think bigger
In his new book, "What is Life?" Blaise Agüera y Arcas argues for a broadened definition of “intelligence,” to include things like single celled organisms and even basic tools. And he says humans’ development of technology -- most recently, AI -- is part of a long history of symbiotic relationships that have pushed our evolution forward.
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Politics
The graveyard shift: lessons from WA's dead bills (so far)
It’s an old saw in Olympia: A lawmaker’s job is not so much to pass good bills, but to kill bad ones (because there are just a lot of bad ones). Good or bad, this time of year is “Bill Killing Season” at the state capitol, having just passed two deadlines for the hundreds of policy and fiscal bills introduced this session.
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How Seattle's rap scene got its start
In the 1980s, Seattle's music scene was hooked on disco. That made room for a similar but modified version of the song's simple breakbeat by a group called The Sugarhill Gang, who quickly brought "rapping" to a nationwide audience.
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This actor found freedom — and refuge — on the Seattle stage
As a young artist in Tehran, “Julia” Rahmanzaei's theater work repeatedly ran up against the strict rules of government monitors – who shut down several of her shows, including her master’s thesis and performance, which discussed limitations of physical performance for women actors.
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Does the Washington flag need a facelift?
Earlier this year Edmonds state Representative Strom Peterson put forward a bill to potentially change the state’s flag. But what makes a good banner?
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Seattle Mayor Harrell says he was racially profiled in 1996 firearm arrest
KUOW has uncovered a controversial period in the life of Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell -- one that he's rarely discussed in public. In 1996, while at a casino in Iowa, Harrell brandished a gun in a late-night confrontation over a parking spot.
