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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Health
Rural communities desperately need more pharmacists. A new initiative aims to help
Around the country, many rural communities are dealing with the issue of “pharmacy deserts.” A combination of widespread retirements and high operating costs is leading to a shortage of pharmacists and pharmacies. In rural communities across Washington state, those in the profession are usually the first person residents see for medical care.
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Arts & Life
Hear it again: Remembering the maestro behind 'Twin Peaks' sound
February 24th marks the day agent Dale Cooper first came to the town of Twin Peaks. While the town may be fictional, the towns of Snoqualmie and North Bend have embraced “The Real Twin Peaks Days." We're celebrating by returning to one of our favorite stories — remembering the maestro behind the music that made Twin Peaks so iconic.
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From unexpected invasion to unyielding resolve, Seattleite documents a year of war in Ukraine
On February 23, 2022, Ukrainians went to bed in a country on the brink. For months, Russian military forces were stationed near the border, encircling Ukraine on three sides. The U.S. intelligence community told the world to brace for an invasion. But many observers questioned if war was in Vladimir Putin’s plans. The worst-case scenario was confirmed the next morning, when Putin announced a "special military operation." Soundside host Libby Denkmann caught up with David Tagliani, a Seattleite volunteering on the ground in Ukraine with the aid organization Stay Safe UA.
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A year later, Ukrainian refugees' legal status creates roadblocks for resettling in the PNW
The U.N. estimates that at least 8 million Ukrainian refugees have been recorded across Europe. Before Russia’s invasion, the Taliban's takeover of Afghanistan prompted another refugee crisis. These global conflicts, among others, have triggered mass displacements on an unprecedented scale. Some folks are making it here. In the last year, Snohomish county alone has welcomed several thousand Ukrainian and Afghan refugees.
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Crime
The lasting harm of Washington's deadliest mass shooting
The tragedy at the Wah Mee Club left 13 people dead 40 years ago. The way the story showed up in the news inflicted long term harm to the CID and Chinese American communities.
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Technology
Artists vs. AI: where innovation meets unwelcome imitation
KUOW Arts and Culture reporter Mike Davis shares what he's learned about ChatGPT after interviewing a man who used the chatbot to write & publish a novel in less than eight hours.
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Soundside goes live: Behind the scenes of 'Ghost Herd'
All six episodes of the series are out now, and Soundside host Libby Denkmann caught up with host Anna King, and producer Matt Martin to talk about reporting on one of the biggest cattle swindles in U.S. history.
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Health
Siblings of people with disabilities find connections through Sibshops
Sibshops started in Seattle over 40 years ago. Today they take place across the United States and around the world.
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Could unidentified objects represent another 'Sputnik moment' in U.S. skies?
The White House says that the three flying objects U.S. fighter jets shot down last weekend were probably not spying on us — they could be benign, for research or commercial purposes. And, they originated on Earth (no aliens to see here.) That got us wondering — who’s finding these things? And why are they suddenly popping up so often, after the U.S. popped a much larger, suspected Chinese surveillance balloon earlier this month?
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Environment
The Abstract: Stink bugs, penguins, and climate change, oh my
In this first episode of a new segment on scientific research in Washington state that we're calling "The Abstract," we’re exploring new revelations about how animals adapt to climate change and what that tells us about the future of ecosystems, including an unwelcome and foul-smelling new neighbor here in the Pacific Northwest, and an adorable Patagonian predator.