Alec Cowan
Senior Podcast Producer
About
Alec Cowan is a senior podcast producer at KUOW, where he works on Booming and other podcast projects.
Alec has worn many hats at KUOW. He helped launch Soundside and brought many eclectic stories to the program, from a late-night patrol with real life superheroes to the sewing machine sounds of an artisanal sail loft. Additionally, he was previously a producer for The Record with Bill Radke and the Primed podcast.
Before joining KUOW, Alec worked in NPR's Story Lab, where he helped pilot the Louder Than a Riot podcast 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.
He's proud to be KUOW's unofficial "boat guy."
Location: Seattle
Languages Spoken: English
Pronouns: he/him/his
Podcasts
Stories
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A career of dangerous rescues on Washington's 'Graveyard of the Pacific'
Just outside Ilwaco, Washington, is the nation’s largest and busiest coast guard unit. This stretch of coast, known as the “Graveyard of the Pacific,” is one of the most dangerous waterways to navigate in the U.S.
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The love story that grew Seattle's 'secret garden'
Since 1972, the Streissguth Gardens have become one of Seattle’s most unique landmarks. The gardens take up a full acre of hillside just west of Capitol Hill’s Volunteer Park. If you’ve spent a morning running up the long Blaine Street Stairs, you’ve passed right by the gardens. But the story of how this unorthodox public garden came to be is one of coincidence, love, and perhaps a bit of magic.
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EPA sides with tribes on petition to regulate toxic tire chemical that kills salmon
6PPD has been in use for decades as a kind of bonding agent that prevents cracking and general wear and tear in tires. When the surface of the tire reacts with ozone or oxygen, it turns into a new compound called 6PPD-Quinone, which is toxic to aquatic life like coho salmon.
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The Snohomish County Sheriff's race is breaking fundraising records. Who are the candidates?
In many counties across Washington, sheriffs are nonpartisan, at times running unopposed. But this year’s election in Snohomish County is different. Bothell Deputy Chief of Police Susanna Johnson, who is currently leading with 52% of the vote, is running against incumbent Sheriff Adam Fortney, who so far has garnered 47% of votes.
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Despite opposition, feds approve increased gas flow through Eastern Washington pipeline
A federal commission has approved a pipeline project to increase the flow of Canadian natural gas through the Pacific Northwest and California, despite opposition from from state officials, federal lawmakers, and Native American tribes.
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Following near disaster for Alaska Airlines, concern over 'magic mushrooms' grows
After passing over Astoria, OR earlier this month, passengers on an Alaska Airlines flight from Everett to San Francisco were told their flight was being diverted. According to court documents, an off-duty pilot attempted to pull a fire suppression lever, which would have effectively turned the plane into a glider. He later told police that his mental health had been declining for months, he was dehydrated and sleep-deprived. He also said he’d taken psychedelic mushrooms 48 hours prior to the flight.
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Scientists hope new research linking polar bear deaths and climate change will help protect arctic wildlife
For 15 years, a federal standard has prevented regulators from considering planet-warming emissions when enforcing the Endangered Species Act, a federal law aimed at protecting species at risk of extinction. But now, researchers at the University of Washington and Polar Bears International believe they’ve found a way to close that loophole. It's a finding that they hope will actually protect polar bears — the poster children for climate change — for real this time.
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Heart it again: Northwest shipwreck enthusiasts spot possible site of region's deadliest wreck
Last December, a group of shipwreck enthusiasts made news when they discovered a historic wreck. Using sonar, they found what they believed to be the S.S. Pacific. It’s the deadliest shipwreck in Pacific Northwest History, and it’s also rumored to have carried millions in gold when it sank.
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As wildfire risk scores rise, WA homeowners are left in insurance limbo
To scope out the danger, insurance companies are turning to a variety of tools that use algorithms to measure and predict wildfire risk. As that risk grows, insurance is becoming harder for homeowners to come by.
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Who will replace Kshama Sawant as she exits Seattle's city council (and will they be different)?
This year, two candidates are vying to replace socialist Kshama Sawant on the Seattle City Council. At a KUOW event this week, we asked Cannabis entrepreneur Joy Hollingsworth and transportation advocate Alex Hudson how they’d be different from Sawant.