SoundQs
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What’s at the bottom of Lake Washington? How are proceeds from marijuana sales used by the state? What will happen if Mount Rainier erupts? SoundQs brings you collections of stories that share one thing in common—they each started with a curious listener who asked KUOW to help them learn more.
Whether you just moved here or have lived in the Puget Sound region your entire life, SoundQs tells us a bit more about the character and the people of the place we call home.
Episodes
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How prohibition forever changed policing in Seattle
On a recent SoundQs segment we learned about historic bootlegger Roy Olmstead. Today we do a deep dive on another larger-than-life figure from that time, black business owner Doc Hamilton. Both men dealt in illegal alcohol, but had wholly different experiences with the temperance movement and the law.
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How safe are the bridges in the Puget Sound region?
There are more than 8000 bridges in Washington state. How safe are they? And how will they fare in the event of a major earthquake?
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Why is Seattle so geeky? We went on a quest to find out
Seattle is home to some of the biggest game and comics conventions in the world. Board game cafes are scattered across the city. So what is it about Seattle that makes geek culture thrive here?
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This king of bootleggers was one of Seattle's biggest employers
Plus lot's of answers to your questions, on this special episode of SoundQs.
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What’s with Seattle bumper stickers these days?
On this episode a listener asks us to explore the patterns and messages of bumper stickers in the Pacific Northwest. But there’s a personal reason she wants to better understand Seattle’s bumper sticker culture.
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How do those holiday lights get on construction cranes?
The holidays are coming. Which means even our construction cranes start looking festive. One listener wants to know - who decorates construction cranes
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Is Seattle a target for nuclear attack?
Our region is home to global companies like Amazon and Microsoft - and it's home to large cache of nuclear weapons and military assets.
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What should you do in the event of a nuclear attack?
If you don't know, you're not alone.
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How is Amazon changing our lives?
Over the last year or so, the SoundQs team has gotten a lot of questions about one Seattle-based company. Amazon. Happily, KUOW's podcast Primed is finding answers to questions about how Amazon is changing our lives. Here's the first episode of their newest season, about Alexa and kids.
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Has any city figured out public toilets?
On this episode we try and figure out if any city has figured out public toilets, and what Seattle can learn
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Where has Seattle's music scene gone?
Twenty-five years ago, Seattle was the epicenter of the popular music world. Bands like Soundgarden, Pearl Jam and Nirvana had legions of fans around the globe. But now, musicians are leaving Seattle because of rising costs. The city has a plan to change that - and it's got a lot to do with the mega-hit Old Town Road.
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Why are those food safety posters smiling at me?
Those posters with smiley faces outside area restaurants are surprisingly complicated. Please consider donating to KUOW at https://kuow.org/donate/soundqs.