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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: Containers containing liquid called 'media' that the coronavirus test swabs are placed in are shown on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, at Fred Hutch in Seattle. First responders with the Seattle Fire Department who either hadn't tested positive for the coronavirus, or had never been tested at all, participated in the Seattle Covid Cohort Study and were tested for the virus as well as for antibodies.

    Covid testing company with Washington outlets is under investigation

    If you needed a Covid test in the past few years, there’s a chance you visited GS Labs. There are five GS Labs locations here in Washington. Typically they’re located in strip malls, and promise quick results and same-day appointments, even when Covid cases are surging. But a new investigation by American Public Media indicates GS Labs didn’t always carry through on those promises.

  • caption: KUOW letters are shown before "That's Debatable: The Homelessness Crisis is Killing Seattle" on Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2019, as the sun sets at Langston Hughes Performing Arts Institute in Seattle.

    Sound it Out: Messages from Listeners

    At its core, Soundside is about connecting with our listeners and bringing you stories you care about. Interviews, reporting and features that impact our lives here in the Pacific Northwest. And part of that engagement process is asking for your thoughts about our stories -- what we got right, how we can improve. And as often as possible we turn those voicemails and messages into a segment called, "Sound It Out."

  • caption: Homes are shown in the Beacon Hill neighborhood of Seattle in July of 2020.

    What can Seattle learn from Spokane's "Missing Middle Housing" solution?

    The City of Spokane voted to allow “missing middle housing” across the city earlier this month. That means it’s now legal to build duplexes, triplexes, quads and townhomes in all residential areas. KUOW’s Joshua McNichols looked into how that happened, and what kind of competition that sets up for Seattle, which also has a housing shortage.

  • caption: People watch as the sun sets from Gas Works Park on Monday, July 30, 2018, in Seattle.

    Is this week's heat wave fueling your climate anxiety? Yeah, us too.

    We're experiencing record temperatures in the Pacific Northwest this week. In Europe, unprecedented heat is fueling wildfires in Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, France, and Germany. The new climate reality is here. For many of us, that reality is leading to feelings of hopelessness, stress, and late night doom-scrolling.

  • caption: Wine grapes from SJR Vineyard

    The heat, the smoke, the pandemic, rising costs. It's not an easy time to make wine in the PNW.

    In 2020, wineries in the Pacific Northwest had to rethink how they did business... Because of the pandemic, they couldn't keep their tasting rooms open. Wildfire smoke got into grapes and changed the way their wines tasted, and often not for the better. The supply chain wineries relied on started faltering. And, of course, our summers are getting hotter and drier. So, what does it look like to run a winery when so many elements you rely on are rapidly changing?