The Sound of the Pacific Northwest

Have you ever wondered about the people you see all the time, like your bus driver, your baker, your garbage collector? What’s interesting or fun about their jobs? What ticks them off? What makes them smile? Well, we thought it would be a great idea to talk to them. This week, we talked to a Community Transit bus driver in Washington. We had a great conversation and learned a lot about him and his job. Listen to our conversat...

When Tacoma Police discovered a sailboat anchored off Owen Beach, they didn't expect to find 61 cats and kittens living onboard—a massive rescue that, alongside 20 other cats found abandoned in a car that same week, pushed the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County to its absolute limits. In this episode, Madison Kaeding, Marketing Specialist with Tacoma Humane, takes us behind the scenes of this incredi...

If you’ve been looking for a sign to step up, get involved, and make a real difference in your community, you won't want to miss Oregon's premier volunteer event. The Standard’s Volunteer Expo is returning to "Portland's Living Room"—Pioneer Courthouse Square—connecting thousands of attendees with more than 100 non-profit organizations that keep our region thriving. To give us an inside look at wha...

Scammers preying on senior citizens is nothing new, but today these cons are highly sophisticated and convincing, making it easy for anyone to fall victim. From AI-cloned faces and voices that sound like loved ones to impersonation scams that mimic trusted companies, today’s threats are now past the ability for the human eye and ear to spot. Jocelyn King, founder and CEO of Smarter Online Safety, joined us today to help famil...

Let’s talk about our last trip to Portland and seeing the dragon boats on the Willamette.

That team we saw that day, is called Pink Phoenix and my team Survivor SAKE has raced against them many, many times… They are strong! They have a really annoying habit of winning… I have so much respect and admiration for them that I decided to invite them on our show to see if I can steal their secrets. So, to ta...

If someone you loved suddenly collapsed from cardiac arrest, began choking, or stopped breathing, would your family know what to do before first responders arrived? Fire captain, paramedic, EMS educator Brad Newbury and emergency medical technician Kiera Newbury say preparedness is one of the greatest gifts you can give the people you love. Brad and Kiera wrote a book: “The Saved Effect: True Stories of Lives Reclaimed by Peo...

Food inflation is high, and across the country, thousands of families are quietly wondering where their next meal will come from. In fact, a massive loss in funding recently forced Catholic Charities of Oregon to close nine of its eleven permanent food pantries.

But instead of pulling back, they pivoted.

Today, they are launching high-impact, one-day pop-up pantries to bridge the gap—but each single event costs a staggering f...

On today’s show, we’re gonna talk about a love affair. Relax, Pedro, this is no gossip, this is a love affair we all can enjoy. I’m talking about a new book called “Have a Love Affair with the USA.” Perfect for the 250-birthday party this weekend. Today we have invited the authors of this book. Evelyn and Natalie are a mother-daughter travel expert team. They have traveled to seven continents, 89 count...

Joining us today is the woman behind one of Portland’s most iconic summer traditions. As the Festival Director and co-owner of Fuller Events, she leads the team that transforms Tom McCall Waterfront Park into a massive celebration of music, community, and charity. The Waterfront Blues Festival returns this July 2nd through 4th with three days, three stages, and an incredible lineup. Christina Fuller, welcome to the ...

Teen Feed has been serving youth experiencing homelessness for decades—offering more than just meals, but also consistency, trust, and critical support services that help young people take real steps toward stability. From nightly meal programs to outreach and case management, their work is rooted in one simple but powerful idea: meeting people where they are, and staying with them as they move toward something bett...

June 6th and 7th is Free Fishing Weekend in both Washington and Oregon, and the gates are open and the lakes are stocked. Joining us today is a man who practically has river water in his veins. Bill Herzog, widely known in the angling community as "The General," is a legendary figure in Pacific Northwest fishing with nearly 40 years of professional experience. He is most celebrated as a maste...

Seafair is almost here! ! The Seafair Summer Kickoff is on June 1 and it goes on till the Seafair Weekend Festival, July 31 through August 2 at Genesee Park and Playfield. This event anchors the Boeing Seafair Air Show and the Apollo Mechanical Cup Hydroplane Races on Lake Washington. Have you ever wondered when and why Seattle became so huge on hydroplanes racing? Our guest today knows everything about hydroplanes races in Seattle...

New Episode of Sound of the Pacific Northwest! 

This week we welcome Roula Bland, Head Coach of SAKE Paddling Club, for an inspiring conversation about teamwork, resilience, competition, and the growing dragon boat community in the Pacific Northwest.

From championship races to building community on the water, Roula shares the passion and purpose behind the sport — and why paddling changes lives.

Don’t miss this enc...

Furnish Hope is more than just a furniture bank—it is a community movement dedicated to turning empty houses into warm, dignified homes for those in need in Bend, Oregon. As the only organization of its kind east of the Cascades, it serves as a critical bridge for individuals and families rebuilding their lives after crisis. To talk about Furnish Hope, we invited their Founding Executive Director, Megan Martin.

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