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
Adam Savage made a toolbox for creativity, with his brain
The famed Mythbuster loves to create. Hear how he manages that process
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Speakers Forum
The bittersweet story of ‘our greatest friend among the insects’
Dr. Thomas Seeley on the crucial importance of ‘The Lives of Bees’
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Speakers Forum
‘There will be no privacy.’ The internet, tech moguls and you
Journalist Kara Swisher sees into the future of technology. That may scare the hell out of you, or give you hope.
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Speakers Forum
The moral response to ‘a national valley of distrust and disconnection’
David Brooks considers the ways human nature and ingenuity can help us rise above disunion
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Speakers Forum
Moby in Seattle: 'Famous people are not that interesting'
When, why and how Moby fell apart — and pulled it back together.
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Speakers Forum
Why the ‘Seattle is Dying’ conversation won’t die
Civic Cocktail takes on KOMO’s controversial look at homelessness in our fair city
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Speakers Forum
Meet the Clintons, again
Listen in to the Seattle stop of the political power couple’s national tour
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Speakers Forum
Is there still time make a difference on climate change?
A talk by Bill McKibben
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Speakers Forum
Stacey Abrams has an outsider’s view of government. Hear how she’s working her way in
Abrams fell short in her attempt to become the first African-American woman to govern an American state. She’s not letting that get her down.
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Speakers Forum
Poetry month: 'A lovesong to a planet in crisis'
Poets call for climate action