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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

  • caption: Karina Shumate, 21, a college student studying stenography, fills out a voter registration form in Richardson, Texas, on Jan. 18, 2020.

    College voters: Increased importance and expanding turnout

    Since the 2016 presidential election, voter turnout among college students has been steadily increasing. Take the last midterms for example: In 2018, 40 percent of registered college students voted. It’s too early to tell if that trend will continue during this midterm election, but what can this trend tell us about the power of college students as a voting block?
  • caption: Seattle Children Theatre's "The Boy Who Kissed the Sky" is inspired by the childhood of rock legend Jimi Hendrix, who grew up in Seattle's Central District.

    'The Boy Who Kissed the Sky' explores Jimi Hendrix's childhood

    We know a lot about the man Hendrix became: the paratrooper who played in a band during his free time, the backup player for musicians like Sam Cooke, BB King, and Little Richard, and eventually, the world renowned rockstar. But there’s a chapter of Hendrix’s life that has gone largely unexplored: his childhood. A new production from playwright and Seattle Children’s Theatre Creative Director Idris Goodwin is inspired by Hendrix’s childhood growing up in Seattle’s Central District. It’s called “The Boy Who Kissed the Sky.”

  • caption: Throughout her life, Delia Cano touched many parts of Seattle history. From the early days of REI, to the creation of Education for All Act.

    A 'force to be reckoned with,' remembering REI seamstress Delia Cano

    Today, REI has over 15,000 employees, but in the early 1960s, one employee, Delia Cano, a Peruvian immigrant to Seattle, was responsible for sewing many of their earliest products. She recently passed, and KUOW’s Soundside spoke with two of her children about her personal and professional legacy.

  • caption: Republican Matt Larkin is challenging Democrat incumbent Kim Schrier in the Congressional race for Washington's 8th District.

    A Northwest politics roundup as the 2022 election draws near

    We’re just under a week out from the 2022 midterm election on Nov. 8. You’ve got until Tuesday at 8 p.m. to get that ballot into a drop box, or postmarked and in the mail. And if you’re wading through debates, political mailers, and some pretty scary attack ads, don’t panic. KUOW politics reporter David Hyde is here to help.
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    Hear it again: This AI learned to be ethical. Sort of.

    University of Washington professor Yejin Choi was recently named one of this year's MacArthur Fellows. This honor is commonly known as the "Genius Grant" and awards an $800,000 stipend for recipients to use on new research. Choi works on artificial intelligence, and earlier this year Soundside spoke with her about an AI she helped build called "Delphi."