When Fitz Cahall started his “Dirtbag Diaries” podcast in 2007, he was an avid outdoorsman struggling to make ends meet as a travel writer. At the time, this whole ‘on demand audio storytelling’ thing was kind of new, and Fitz saw it as a way of bringing new life to his joy of the outdoors. 

Today, he’s replaced his wild life bouncing around in a van with the concrete landscape of Seattle, where he continues to host his podcast with his wife, Becca, and their team of producers. And 17 years after they first began, Fitz and crew have now adapted 30 of their favorite “Dirtbag Diaries” into a new book titled States of Adventure: Stories About Finding Yourself by Getting Lost.

Cahall recently joined Libby Denkmann to discuss the book, the last 17 years of podcasting, and how he continues to find inspiration in the great outdoors.

Guests:
Fitz Cahall, author of States of Adventure.

Related Links:
The Dirtbag Diaries - The original outdoor adventure podcast : The Dirtbag Diaries
States Of Adventure - The Dirtbag Diaries : The Dirtbag Diaries

When Fitz Cahall started his “Dirtbag Diaries” podcast in 2007, he was an avid outdoorsman struggling to make ends meet as a travel writer. At the time, this whole ‘on demand audio storytelling’ thing was kind of new, and Fitz saw it as a way of bringing new life to his joy of the outdoors. 
Today, he’s replaced his wild life bouncing around in a van with the concrete landscape of Seattle, where he continues to host his podcast with his wife, Becca, and their team of producers. And 17 years after they first began, Fitz and crew have now adapted 30 of their favorite “Dirtbag Diaries” into a new book titled States of Adventure: Stories About Finding Yourself by Getting Lost.
Cahall recently joined Libby Denkmann to discuss the book, the last 17 years of podcasting, and how he continues to find inspiration in the great outdoors.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Fitz Cahall, author of States of Adventure.</li>
</ul>
Related Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://dirtbagdiaries.com/">The Dirtbag Diaries - The original outdoor adventure podcast : The Dirtbag Diaries</a></li>
<li><a href="https://dirtbagdiaries.com/states-of-adventure/">States Of Adventure - The Dirtbag Diaries : The Dirtbag Diaries</a></li>
</ul>

Soundside

Fitz Cahall on 17 years of finding new adventures outdoors

Imagine you are renting a property and your grass dies and gets brown (this is the Pacific Northwest, where, aside from some unseasonable August rain, it’s pretty dry all summer).

Then you get a note from your management company that letting that grass die violates the property’s rules and fines you $125. Then, on top of that, the company charges you an additional $125 for the trouble it took to put that note on your door. 

These fines, so called “junk fees,” are allowed in Washington State. 

A few cities like Seattle and Olympia have banned them. But those living outside areas with regulations can be subjected to a myriad of fines. 

Renters claim it is a way to penalize them to the point of moving. 

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Guests: 
Kelsey Turner, reporter at InvestigateWest

Relevant Links:
InvestigateWest: WA renters say unregulated ‘junk fees’ are being used to retaliate, discriminate

Imagine you are renting a property and your grass dies and gets brown (this is the Pacific Northwest, where, aside from some unseasonable August rain, it’s pretty dry all summer).
Then you get a note from your management company that letting that grass die violates the property’s rules and fines you $125. Then, on top of that, the company charges you an additional $125 for the trouble it took to put that note on your door. 
These fines, so called “junk fees,” are allowed in Washington State. 
A few cities like Seattle and Olympia have banned them. But those living outside areas with regulations can be subjected to a myriad of fines. 
Renters claim it is a way to penalize them to the point of moving. 
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 
Guests: 
<ul>
<li>Kelsey Turner, reporter at InvestigateWest</li>
</ul>
Relevant Links:
<ul>
<li>InvestigateWest: <a href="https://www.invw.org/2024/08/08/wa-renters-say-unregulated-junk-fees-are-being-used-to-retaliate-discriminate/">WA renters say unregulated ‘junk fees’ are being used to retaliate, discriminate</a></li>
</ul>

Renters say "junk fees" create real harm

The Washington State Department of Corrections has pledged to stop the use of solitary confinement in state prisons, in most cases. And the agency says it has made progress on that goal.

But a recent report from the agency’s own independent watchdog, the Office of the Corrections Ombuds, says isolating inmates for extended periods of time is still a widespread practice.

The findings, published in June, showed more than 1 in 5 people incarcerated in state prison at the time of the report had served a significant amount of time in solitary. 

The Ombuds also highlighted 176 suicide attempts over the last decade by people in solitary. 14 of those were fatal.

The report was requested by WA State lawmakers who are working to END solitary confinement because of its effects on the mental health of inmates.

To find out more, Soundside talked to WA State Standard reporter Grace Deng.

GUEST: Grace Deng - WA State Standard

RELATED LINKS: 
Prisoners still routinely isolated in WA, despite efforts to cut solitary confinement - WA State Standard
https://oco.wa.gov/sites/default/files/OCO_SolitaryConfinementReport_Part1_June2024.pdf

The Washington State Department of Corrections has pledged to stop the use of solitary confinement in state prisons, in most cases. And the agency says it has made progress on that goal. But a recent report from the agency’s own independent watchdog, the Office of the Corrections Ombuds, says isolating inmates for extended periods of time is still a widespread practice.
The findings, published in June, showed more than 1 in 5 people incarcerated in state prison at the time of the report had served a significant amount of time in solitary. 
The Ombuds also highlighted 176 suicide attempts over the last decade by people in solitary. 14 of those were fatal.
The report was requested by WA State lawmakers who are working to END solitary confinement because of its effects on the mental health of inmates.
To find out more, Soundside talked to WA State Standard reporter Grace Deng.
GUEST: Grace Deng - WA State Standard
RELATED LINKS: 
<ul>
<li><a href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/08/14/prisoners-still-routinely-isolated-in-wa-prisons-despite-efforts-to-cut-solitary-confinement/">Prisoners still routinely isolated in WA, despite efforts to cut solitary confinement</a> - WA State Standard</li>
<li><a href="https://oco.wa.gov/sites/default/files/OCO_SolitaryConfinementReport_Part1_June2024.pdf">https://oco.wa.gov/sites/default/files/OCO_SolitaryConfinementReport_Part1_June2024.pdf</a> </li>
</ul>

How solitary confinement affects the mental health of WA State inmates

The summertime is usually the peak season for tourists in Stehekin, Washington – a small community of around 100 people at the north end of Lake Chelan. It’s only accessible by boat or floatplane, making it an ideal place for a lakeside getaway or entry into the North Cascades wilderness. 

But the geography and topography that make Stehekin unique are now posing challenges as the Pioneer Wildfire continues to threaten the town. Since it started June, the fire has grown to tens of thousands of acres, and at one point spread to within 100 feet of buildings near Stehekin. Many of the areas residents have stayed, but no structures have burned.

Soundside caught up with Stan Hinatsu about the latest on the fire. Hinatsu is the public information officer on the latest incident management team -- one of six -- responding to the Pioneer and Easy Fires.

Guests:
Stan Hinatsu, Public Information Officer with the Pioneer/Easy Fire incident response team

Related Links:
Stehekin residents prepare to defend their town as Pioneer fire nears | The Seattle Times
Pioneer fire moves into Stehekin, comes within 100 feet of buildings | The Seattle Times

The summertime is usually the peak season for tourists in Stehekin, Washington – a small community of around 100 people at the north end of Lake Chelan. It’s only accessible by boat or floatplane, making it an ideal place for a lakeside getaway or entry into the North Cascades wilderness. 
But the geography and topography that make Stehekin unique are now posing challenges as the Pioneer Wildfire continues to threaten the town. Since it started June, the fire has grown to tens of thousands of acres, and at one point spread to within 100 feet of buildings near Stehekin. Many of the areas residents have stayed, but no structures have burned.
Soundside caught up with Stan Hinatsu about the latest on the fire. Hinatsu is the public information officer on the latest incident management team -- one of six -- responding to the Pioneer and Easy Fires.
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Stan Hinatsu, Public Information Officer with the Pioneer/Easy Fire incident response team</li>
</ul>
Related Links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/the-wildfire-finally-arrived-at-this-remote-wa-town-the-only-way-out-is-by-boat/">Stehekin residents prepare to defend their town as Pioneer fire nears | The Seattle Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/pioneer-fire-moves-into-stehekin-winds-expected-to-worsen/">Pioneer fire moves into Stehekin, comes within 100 feet of buildings | The Seattle Times</a></li>
</ul>

Fitz Cahall on 17 years of finding new adventures outdoors

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