John O'Brien
Producer, Speakers Forum
About
John O’Brien produces Speakers Forum at KUOW. He learned to love radio as a child waking up one summer morning to the harmonies of Simon and Garfunkel. As a teenager, he would drive the back roads of Indiana and Michigan late at night listening to vintage radio theater. The question of whether or not he had the legal right to drive then remains a mystery. Only The Shadow knows. Inspired by a chance meeting with Noah Adams, he learned to make radio as an intern on KUOW’s The Conversation with Ross Reynolds. John has been recording talks for Speakers Forum since 2007. Early on he learned Seattle is a Mecca for any touring speaker because Seattleites read so much, support a wide variety of venues and ask smart questions. He says that makes his job easy and always interesting. John is a graduate of St. Johns College in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Podcasts
Stories
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Speakers Forum
"I think it's important to use the word 'lie.'" How veteran journalists approach news in the Trump era
News reporting is a crucial and costly endeavor. Here, veteran journalists discuss what it takes
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Speakers Forum
How Sydney Brownstone learned to be a ‘rape reporter’
The #MeToo movement has opened a door to more and better reporting on rape and sexual assault issues.
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Speakers Forum
"Fake news,” press freedom and the business of journalism now
Journalist Jill Abramson on newsmaking and truth-telling in a fact-challenged society.
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Three hints your relationship is working, according to these researchers
One difference between happy couples and miserable couples is how they repair disagreements or tough moments.
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Speakers Forum
Storywallahs asks: What’s in your name?
Stories from the first inaugural Tasveer South Asian Literary Festival
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Speakers Forum
Dating game off? Drop your defenses (and other tips)
John and Julie Gottman want to help your love life. And they know what they’re talking about.
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Speakers Forum
Seattle series keeps a classic genre intriguing, boozy and fun
Noir at the Bar highlights the enduring worth of crime fiction
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Speakers Forum
Angry much? Soraya Chemaly says women should be
Author and activist Soraya Chemaly is angry about patriarchy. She says her anger is both resentful and hopeful. Hear why.
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Between Joy and Suffering: How a first radio story came to life
A bicultural producer discovers a familiar narrative and faces unexpected challenges in a her first public radio story.
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Speakers Forum
More than a Dream speech. Challenging status quo thinking about MLK
Michael Eric Dyson’s keynote for “a triumphant King in the age of a tragic Trump”