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
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Multiple false alarms warning of a dam failure have Carnation residents on edge
If the Tolt River Dam failed, it would be catastrophic for the roughly 2000 people that live in Carnation. Fortunately, the city has an alarm system that would alert residents of a dam failure so they could evacuate. Unfortunately, residents have unexpectedly and pointlessly heard that sound eight times in the last four years.
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Is Amazon’s ‘Just Walk Out’ technology powered by AI or by hundreds of underpaid workers in India?
The world’s first Amazon Go store in Seattle opened on Jan. 22, 2018. The New York Times called it “A Store of the Future,” where all customers had to do was pop an item in their cart and walk out. A little over six years in the future, developers for Amazon's “Just Walk Out” technology are facing layoffs, and the technology itself is being fazed out at 40 Amazon Fresh grocery stores.
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Who gets to own the beloved ‘chili crunch’ condiment? A foodie fight is heating up
Chili crunch is known for its punch, and now, a legal battle over the name has one local foodie fighting back against a culinary giant.
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Do basic income programs cause people to work less? Let's ask Alaska
Since the early 1980s, Alaska has sent checks to residents every October, generally for around $1,000 or $2,000. In 2020, they were for more than $3,000. A typical household could get up to $10,000.
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Why did the politician cross the Congressional aisle? A data privacy act was on the other side
What could bring Republicans and Democrats together? An unlikely political duo from Washington state has teamed up in the name of data privacy.
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Poems hang from the rafters across Seattle as part of 'Poetry in Place'
Across the city of Seattle this month, poems from local writers are on display at storefronts, libraries, and in office buildings. They're part of "Poetry in Place," a project from Seattle Civic Poet, Shin Yu Pai, which runs throughout April.
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Seattle operetta follows Japanese American women trapped on both sides of WWII
The separation of Japanese American families during WWII is the focus of "Currents," a new operetta by local librettist AC Petersen and composer Jeremy Berdin.
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Companion? Significant other? How we can understand friends who are more than just the 'best'
For a lot of people, our life-long significant other is a friend. And in a society that obsessed with finding a romantic soul mate, these platonic relationships are left in a gray area. It was after forging a strong platonic friendship that author Rhaina Cohen realized we often lack the words to talk about the variety of life-long best-friendships we can have. Cohen is the author of "The Other Significant Others: Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center"
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How 'deinstitutionalization' changed the face of mental health care in Washington state
Soundside host Libby Denkmann talks with Seattle Times reporter Sydney Brownstone about "Deinstitutionalization," and how that effort in the 60's and 70's attempted to refocus mental health support with community care.
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What do the graves around Northern State hospital tell us about the Lost Patients who lived there?
Soundside host Libby Denkmann talks with Northern State Hospital historian John Horne about some of the history surrounding the location & the gravestones he's found.