If you look on the cover of Hole's album "Celebrity Skin," you'll see her right away. 

Melissa Auf der Maur is standing to the left of Courtney Love. The 1998 album is the first one she recorded with the band. She joined in 1994 after bassist Kristen Pfaff died, and she played with them around the world, from a music festival in Australia to Tuktoyaktuk, a village in the Arctic Circle.

But after a few years, Auf der Maur left Hole. She went on to have a highly successful career in music, including as bassist for the Smashing Pumpkins. She’s collaborated with many musicians and built a career as a solo artist. She’s also a photographer – a craft she studied in her university days. 

And now, she’s an author. Auf der Maur’s new book is called “Even The Good Girls Will Cry: A 90s Rock Memoir.” It chronicles her early life in Montreal and her time with Hole, and how she started making her own music. 

She stopped by KUOW while she was in Seattle on her book tour and told us just how she "liv[ed] through this.

Guest

Melissa Auf der Maur - musician, author, photographer

Melissa Auf der Maur's '90s song picks

Tragic Carpet Ride - Polvo

Doe - The Breeders

Out Of Focus - Love Battery

Use Once and Destroy - Hole (the one Courtney calls Melissa's song)

Followed The Waves - Melissa Auf der Maur

Related Links

Auf der Maur's interview with The Ringer's Bandsplain

Melissa Auf der Maur, a ’90s Rock Linchpin, Is Spilling Her Stories - The New York Times



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.

If you look on the cover of Hole's album "Celebrity Skin," you'll see her right away.&nbsp; Melissa Auf der Maur is standing to the left of Courtney Love. The 1998 album is the first one she recorded with the band. She joined in 1994 after bassist Kristen Pfaff died, and she played with them around the world, from a music festival in Australia to Tuktoyaktuk, a village in the Arctic Circle. But after a few years, Auf der Maur left Hole. She went on to have a highly successful career in music, including as bassist for the Smashing Pumpkins. She&rsquo;s collaborated with many musicians and built a career as a solo artist. She&rsquo;s also a photographer &ndash; a craft she studied in her university days.&nbsp;
And now, she&rsquo;s an author. Auf der Maur&rsquo;s new book is called &ldquo;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/even-the-good-girls-will-cry-a-90s-rock-memoir-melissa-auf-der-maur/f0ab189167ad8d8f">Even The Good Girls Will Cry: A 90s Rock Memoir</a>.&rdquo; It chronicles her early life in Montreal and her time with Hole, and how she started making her own music.&nbsp; She stopped by KUOW while she was in Seattle on her book tour and told us just how she "liv[ed] through this. Guest <a href="https://www.instagram.com/xmadmx/">Melissa Auf der Maur</a> - musician, author, photographer
Melissa Auf der Maur's '90s song picks
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8s9eLKJ-Trc">Tragic Carpet Ride</a> - Polvo
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wANv31sHYrk&amp;list=RDwANv31sHYrk&amp;start_radio=1">Doe</a> - The Breeders
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WHxRZ3Kg14I&amp;list=RDWHxRZ3Kg14I&amp;start_radio=1">Out Of Focus</a> - Love Battery
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=chX3R8zgvlY&amp;list=RDchX3R8zgvlY&amp;start_radio=1">Use Once and Destroy</a> - Hole (the one Courtney calls Melissa's song) <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K4LObO91WTA">Followed The Waves</a> - Melissa Auf der Maur Related Links <a href="https://www.theringer.com/podcasts/bandsplain/2026/04/16/perfect-song-boys-on-the-radio-with-patrik-sandberg-plus-an-interview-with-hole-bassist-and-author-melissa-auf-der-maur">Auf der Maur's interview with The Ringer's Bandsplain</a> <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/02/26/arts/music/melissa-auf-der-maur-even-the-good-girls-will-cry.html">Melissa Auf der Maur, a &rsquo;90s Rock Linchpin, Is Spilling Her Stories</a> - The New York Times 
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out,&nbsp;go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
<a href="https://www.kuow.org/podcasts/soundside">Soundside</a>&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Auf der Maur's new book is called "Even the Good Girls Will Cry: A '90s Rock Memoir."

Bassist Melissa Auf der Maur on joining Hole and why she stepped away from music

What happens when a state spends beyond its means? 

Moody’s and Fitch, two of the three major credit rating agencies, recently moved Washington’s credit outlook from “stable” to “negative.” 

So it turns out that you're not the only one keeping your spending in check and trying to bump up your credit score...

Because states have to worry about that, too. 

Guest: Mike Pellicciotti, Washington State Treasurer 

Related links:
Moody’s and Fitch revise Washington’s credit outlook down from stable to negative | Washington Research Council
State treasurer warns Washington credit rating at risk, cites reserves, tax debate | KOMO News
No, WA isn’t going bust. But falling credit outlook raises red flags | The Seattle Times

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.

What happens when a&nbsp;state spends beyond its means?&nbsp;
Moody&rsquo;s and Fitch, two of the three major credit rating agencies, recently moved Washington&rsquo;s credit outlook from &ldquo;stable&rdquo; to &ldquo;negative.&rdquo;&nbsp;
So it turns out that you're not the only one keeping your spending in check and trying to bump up your credit score...
Because states have to worry about that, too.&nbsp;
Guest:&nbsp;Mike Pellicciotti, Washington State Treasurer&nbsp;
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://researchcouncil.org/moodys-and-fitch-revise-washingtons-credit-outlook-down-from-stable-to-negative/">Moody&rsquo;s and Fitch revise Washington&rsquo;s credit outlook down from stable to negative | Washington Research Council</a></li>
<li><a href="https://komonews.com/news/local/state-treasurer-warns-wa-credit-possible-downgrading-cites-millionaires-tax-reserves-aaa-budget-issues-investors-service-bond-rating-financial-consequences-structural-imbalance">State treasurer warns Washington credit rating at risk, cites reserves, tax debate | KOMO News</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/business/economy/no-wa-isnt-going-bust-but-falling-credit-outlook-raises-red-flags/">No, WA isn&rsquo;t going bust. But falling credit outlook raises red flags | The Seattle Times</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

You're not the only one keeping your spending in check and maintaining your credit score. States have to worry about that, too.  

Why Washington's credit outlook dropped to 'negative' 

The nation is still reckoning with a Supreme Court decision last week that critics say renders a key aspect of the Voting Rights Act useless.

The court ruled that Louisiana illegally used race in the way it drew its district map. 

It has wider implications for how all such maps are drawn. Some states, including Florida, have already moved to change their maps. This is all happening mere months before the midterm elections. 

KUOW's Paige Browning talked with voting rights activist Stacey Abrams about her take on the decision, about her opinion on voter apathy and why she stepped back from the national stage.

Guest

Stacey Abrams, lawyer, former Georgia Democratic state legislator, founder of the American Pride Rises Network and the 10 Steps Campaign

Related Links

Louisiana v. Callais - Supreme Court decision

Supreme Court Strikes Down Louisiana Map, Another Blow to Voting Rights Act - The New York Times

Stacey Abrams on how voter suppression threatens democracy - Code Switch, NPR

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.

The nation is still reckoning with a Supreme Court decision last week that critics say renders a key aspect of the Voting Rights Act useless.
The court ruled that Louisiana illegally used race in the way it drew its district map.&nbsp;
It has wider implications for how all such maps are drawn. Some states, including Florida, have already moved to change their maps. This is all happening mere months before the midterm elections.&nbsp;
KUOW's Paige Browning talked with voting rights activist Stacey Abrams about her take on the decision, about her opinion on voter apathy and why she stepped back from the national stage. Guest
Stacey Abrams, lawyer, former Georgia Democratic state legislator, founder of the American Pride Rises Network and the 10 Steps Campaign Related Links
<a href="https://www.supremecourt.gov/opinions/25pdf/24-109_new_jifl.pdf">Louisiana v. Callais</a> - Supreme Court decision <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/29/us/politics/supreme-court-voting-rights-act.html">Supreme Court Strikes Down Louisiana Map, Another Blow to Voting Rights Act</a> - The New York Times <a href="https://www.npr.org/2025/10/11/nx-s1-5568174/stacey-abrams-on-how-voter-suppression-threatens-democracy">Stacey Abrams on how voter suppression threatens democracy</a> - Code Switch, NPR Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out,&nbsp;go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
<a href="https://www.kuow.org/podcasts/soundside">Soundside</a>&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

" We can't go back in time and change the [2024] election," Abrams says. "What we can do is look forward and make certain that we connect democracy to people's lived experiences." 

What Stacey Abrams thinks about a recent SCOTUS decision and the Voting Rights Amendment 

This year, Washington cut more than $500,000 from the state’s Department of Natural Resources. 

These budget cuts are going to mean campground closures, less trail maintenance and dirtier bathrooms at a lot of popular trailheads. 

Many are wondering how it’ll impact their outdoors time, because the Department of Natural Resources maintains a lot of land. 

We checked in with The Mountaineers to hear how they're feeling about these cuts.... and then we called up the Department of Natural Resources to figure out what all this means for outdoor recreation. 

Guests:
Tom Vogl, CEO of The Mountaineers 
Dave Upthegrove, Commissioner of Public Lands  

Related links: 
State Budget Cuts Prompt DNR to Reduce Recreation Services | Department of Natural Resources
Popular I-90 trailheads, bathrooms will feel budget crunch, WA says | The Seattle Times
The Mountaineers - Explore, Learn, Conserve  
WA Department of Natural Resources to close four campgrounds after lawmakers cut funding | Washington State Standard

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.

This year, Washington cut&nbsp;more than $500,000&nbsp;from the state&rsquo;s Department of Natural Resources.&nbsp;
These budget cuts are going to mean campground closures, less trail maintenance and dirtier bathrooms at a lot of popular trailheads.&nbsp;
Many are wondering how it&rsquo;ll impact their outdoors time, because the Department of Natural Resources maintains a lot of land.&nbsp;
We checked in with The Mountaineers to hear how they're feeling about these cuts.... and then we called up the Department of Natural Resources to figure out what all this means for outdoor recreation.&nbsp;
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Tom Vogl, CEO of The Mountaineers&nbsp;</li>
<li>Dave Upthegrove, Commissioner of Public Lands&nbsp;&nbsp;</li>
</ul>
Related links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://dnr.wa.gov/news/2026/state-budget-cuts-prompt-dnr-reduce-recreation-services">State Budget Cuts Prompt DNR to Reduce Recreation Services | Department of Natural Resources</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/climate-lab/popular-i-90-trailheads-bathrooms-will-feel-budget-crunch-wa-says/?utm_source=marketingcloud&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Morning+Brief+04-27-26_4_27_2026&amp;utm_term=">Popular I-90 trailheads, bathrooms will feel budget crunch, WA says | The Seattle Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.mountaineers.org/">The Mountaineers - Explore, Learn, Conserve&nbsp;&nbsp;</a></li>
<li><a href="https://washingtonstatestandard.com/briefs/wa-department-of-natural-resources-to-close-four-campgrounds-after-lawmakers-cut-funding/">WA Department of Natural Resources to close four campgrounds after lawmakers cut funding | Washington State Standard</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Washington cut more than $500,000 from the state’s Department of Natural Resources, which means campground closures, less trail maintenance and dirtier bathrooms at some of your favorite trailheads. 

Hiking and camping could look different this year after budget cuts 

May the Fourth Be With you, because today is Star Wars Day!

For nearly 50 years, the Star Wars franchise has captured the hearts of SO MANY sci-fi and fantasy fans. And for a lot of people, it’s all about the droids… R2-D2 and C-3PO, to be precise.

This past weekend, that love of droids was on full display at both the Museum of Flight, and at Barnes & Noble in Northgate, where we caught up with James Adams of the Pacific Northwest R2 Builders Club.

He and his fellow club members build and demonstrate life-sized replicas of the beloved droids. Some of them can be driven around using remote control. The R2 unit James brought to Northgate looks and sounds just like what you see on the screen. It’s a hit with kids who fawn over it. 

"Seeing the kids really light up – and it’s a type of character that is very easy for people to kind of let their imagination fill in the little bit of blank. So when you have a little kid come up, and you just see their eyes light up. They can’t see that there’s somebody remote controlling the device, so to speak, but instead to them it’s just R2-D2, the little guy from the movie that they like. And just seeing that, it’s like, it is them genuinely meeting the character and not standing next to an object, it never, it never gets tiring."

Speaking of kids, droid builders say it’s a great opportunity to get people excited and involved with STEM projects. For this Star Wars Day, we wanted to learn more about the craft and dedication that goes into making these droids, so we’re speaking with Dr. Scott Ransom!

He’s got a lot of expertise in robots. That’s because he’s a Director of a research center at Northwestern University that researches and develops robotic hands.

GUEST: Dr. Scott Ransom is Director of Industry and Innovation at the Center for Human Augmentation via Dexterity at Northwestern University

RELATED LINKS:


Astromech.net


R2Northwest: Pacific Northwest R2 Builders Club


For R2-D2 builders in the Seattle area, ‘it’s a joy to see this thing bring so much happiness’

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.

May the Fourth Be With you, because today is Star Wars Day!
For nearly 50 years, the Star Wars franchise has captured the hearts of SO MANY sci-fi and fantasy fans. And for a lot of people, it&rsquo;s all about the droids&hellip; R2-D2 and C-3PO, to be precise.
This past weekend, that love of droids was on full display at both the Museum of Flight, and at Barnes &amp; Noble in Northgate, where we caught up with James Adams of the Pacific Northwest R2 Builders Club.
He and his fellow club members build and demonstrate life-sized replicas of the beloved droids. Some of them can be driven around using remote control. The R2 unit James brought to Northgate looks and sounds just like what you see on the screen. It&rsquo;s a hit with kids who fawn over it.&nbsp;
"Seeing the kids really light up &ndash; and it&rsquo;s a type of character that is very easy for people to kind of let their imagination fill in the little bit of blank. So when you have a little kid come up, and you just see their eyes light up. They can&rsquo;t see that there&rsquo;s somebody remote controlling the device, so to speak, but instead to them it&rsquo;s just R2-D2, the little guy from the movie that they like. And just seeing that, it&rsquo;s like, it is them genuinely meeting the character and not standing next to an object, it never, it never gets tiring."
Speaking of kids, droid builders say it&rsquo;s a great opportunity to get people excited and involved with STEM projects. For this Star Wars Day, we wanted to learn more about the craft and dedication that goes into making these droids, so we&rsquo;re speaking with Dr. Scott Ransom!
He&rsquo;s got a lot of expertise in robots. That&rsquo;s because he&rsquo;s a Director of a research center at Northwestern University that researches and develops robotic hands.
GUEST: Dr. Scott Ransom is Director of Industry and Innovation at the <a href="https://hand-erc.org/leadership/">Center for Human Augmentation via Dexterity</a> at Northwestern University
RELATED LINKS:
<ul>
<li>
<a href="https://astromech.net/">Astromech.net</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.facebook.com/R2Northwest/">R2Northwest: Pacific Northwest R2 Builders Club</a>
</li>
<li>
<a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/entertainment/movies/how-building-r2-d2-and-star-wars-droids-creates-joy-and-wonder/">For R2-D2 builders in the Seattle area, &lsquo;it&rsquo;s a joy to see this thing bring so much happiness&rsquo;</a>
</li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out,&nbsp;go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
<a href="https://www.kuow.org/podcasts/soundside">Soundside</a>&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Dr. Scott Ransom shares his love of Star Wars, Robots, and the builders who bring R2-D2 to life through the R2 Builders Club in the Pacific Northwest.

Bringing R2-D2 from the screen to real life with Pacific Northwest Droid Builders

Members of Congress from Washington state are almost unified in their condemnation of the Iran war, which passed the two-month mark this week.

But the two House Republicans on the east side have been supportive of President Trump’s decision to strike Iran starting Feb. 28th.

One of them is Rep. Michael Baumgartner, a Republican representing Washington's 5th Congressional District.

Baumgartner has been a vocal champion of the war, calling it “important and necessary.”

Guest: Rep. Michael Baumgartner, a Republican who represents Washington’s 5th Congressional District, which includes Spokane, Walla Walla, and Pullman. 

Related links:
Washington lawmakers react to U.S. attacks on Iran | KREM 2
Trump threatened to wipe out Iran. Here’s how WA lawmakers responded | The Seattle Times
Rep. Michael Baumgartner on U.S. Strategy in War With Iran | Video | C-SPAN

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.

Members of Congress from Washington state are almost unified in their condemnation of the Iran war, which passed the two-month mark this week.
But the two House Republicans on the east side have been supportive of President Trump&rsquo;s decision to strike Iran starting Feb. 28th.
One of them is Rep. Michael Baumgartner, a Republican representing Washington's 5th Congressional District.
Baumgartner has been a vocal champion of the war, calling it &ldquo;important and necessary.&rdquo;
Guest:&nbsp;Rep. Michael Baumgartner, a Republican who represents Washington&rsquo;s 5th Congressional District, which includes Spokane, Walla Walla, and Pullman.&nbsp;
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.krem.com/article/news/politics/washington-lawmakers-react-to-us-attacks-on-iran/293-85500aa7-95d7-4295-8ae4-a9da67f30ecf">Washington lawmakers react to U.S. attacks on Iran | KREM 2</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/trump-threatened-to-wipe-out-iran-heres-how-wa-lawmakers-responded/">Trump threatened to wipe out Iran. Here&rsquo;s how WA lawmakers responded | The Seattle Times</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.c-span.org/program/public-affairs-event/rep-michael-baumgartner-on-us-strategy-in-war-with-iran/676381">Rep. Michael Baumgartner on U.S. Strategy in War With Iran | Video | C-SPAN</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Members of Congress from Washington state are almost unified in their condemnation of the Iran war. But Rep. Michael Baumgartner has been a vocal champion of the war. 

Rep. Michael Baumgartner on why he supports Trump's approach to the Iran war 

If you still don't have any plans for this weekend, fear not. The Weekend Warmup is here to help with a whole bunch of ideas for fun things to do around the region this weekend.

LINKS: 
Seattle May Day 2026
Seattle Black Film Festival
Sequim Irrigation Festival
Mariners vs KC Royals
Kentucky Derby Day Party at Emerald Downs
May the Fourth | The Museum of Flight
Seattle Erotic Art Festival
PNW Burlesque Festival

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.

If you still don't have any plans for this weekend, fear not. The Weekend Warmup is here to help with a whole bunch of ideas for fun things to do around the region this weekend.
LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.seattlemayday.org/">Seattle May Day 2026</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.langstonseattle.org/seattle-black-film-festival/">Seattle Black Film Festival</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.irrigationfestival.com/">Sequim Irrigation Festival</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.mlb.com/mariners/schedule/2026-05">Mariners vs KC Royals</a></li>
<li><a href="https://emeralddowns.com/event/kentucky-derby-day-party-2026/">Kentucky Derby Day Party at Emerald Downs</a></li>
<li><a href="https://pages.museumofflight.org/en/may-the-fourth-be-with-you">May the Fourth | The Museum of Flight</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.seaf.art/">Seattle Erotic Art Festival</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://pnwburlesquefestival.com/">PNW Burlesque Festival</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out,&nbsp;go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
<a href="https://www.kuow.org/podcasts/soundside">Soundside</a>&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside presents the Weekend Warmup! Find all the events worthy of YOUR time off with host Jason Megatron Burrows.

Soundside's Weekend Warmup: Star Wars, Sequim, SEAF!

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

It’s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward.

Guest: Cat Smith, KUOW politics editor 

Related links:
Public Safety Committee 4/28/2026 | Seattle Channel
Washington state says Geo Group refuses to let health inspectors into detention facility | KING 5
Behind Meta’s Huge Layoffs Is a Relentless Shift Toward AI | WSJ

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.

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.
It&rsquo;s our chance to talk about the latest news with a rotation of plugged-in journalists and guests, taking a look at the headlines from the weekend and the stories that we'll be following as the week moves forward.
Guest:&nbsp;Cat Smith, KUOW politics editor&nbsp;
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aASppjEKc8M">Public Safety Committee 4/28/2026 | Seattle Channel</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.king5.com/article/local/associatedpress/washington-state-says-geo-group-refuses-to-let-health-inspectors-into-detention-facility/616-5673983a-4cd5-4878-a0d1-e198a188ad87">Washington state says Geo Group refuses to let health inspectors into detention facility | KING 5</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/ai/behind-metas-huge-layoffs-is-a-relentless-shift-toward-ai-97d99b54?mod=WSJ_TJPOD">Behind Meta&rsquo;s Huge Layoffs Is a Relentless Shift Toward AI | WSJ</a></li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to&nbsp;<a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>
Soundside&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Every week we talk about the most fascinating stories in the news and what they say about the Pacific Northwest. We call it Front Page.

Front Page: Tacoma ICE facility, AI tech layoffs, City Council on public drug use

A plethora of social media influencers and affordable, high-quality products means the quest for so-called “perfect skin” seems more attainable than ever.

Poreless, plump, unwrinkled, acne-free: Companies are ready to sell you something to make those attributes a reality for you.

But does anyone really need a 20-step skincare routine? And when do our efforts start to do us harm – either physically or mentally?

Guests

Dr. Sarah Sung, The Perq Dermatology

Arabelle Sicardi, beauty writer, author of You've Got Lipstick on Your Chin and The House of Beauty: Lessons from the Image Industry

Related Links

The Best Skin-Care Trick Is Being Rich - Amanda Mull, The Atlantic

The Classist Implications of ‘Bad Skin’ - Jaya Saxena, Racked


The House of Beauty: Arabelle Sicardi exposes the dark side of the industry- Dazed

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. 

A plethora of social media influencers and affordable, high-quality products means the quest for so-called &ldquo;perfect skin&rdquo; seems more attainable than ever. Poreless, plump, unwrinkled, acne-free: Companies are ready to sell you something to make those attributes a reality for you. But does anyone really need a 20-step skincare routine? And when do our efforts start to do us harm &ndash; either physically or mentally? Guests
<a href="https://www.instagram.com/drsarahsung/">Dr. Sarah Sung</a>, The Perq Dermatology
Arabelle Sicardi, beauty writer, author of <a href="https://arabellesicardi.substack.com/">You've Got Lipstick on Your Chin</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/the-house-of-beauty-lessons-from-the-image-industry-arabelle-sicardi/51510cd8198e11f5">The House of Beauty: Lessons from the Image Industry</a> Related Links
<a href="https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2019/01/skin-care-secret-wealth/579337/">The Best Skin-Care Trick Is Being Rich</a> - Amanda Mull, The Atlantic <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190322195347/https://www.racked.com/2018/4/12/17169846/bad-skin-classist">The Classist Implications of &lsquo;Bad Skin&rsquo;</a> - Jaya Saxena, Racked 
<a href="https://www.dazeddigital.com/beauty/article/68934/1/the-house-of-beauty-arabelle-sicardi-exposes-the-dark-side-of-the-industry">The House of Beauty: Arabelle Sicardi exposes the dark side of the industry</a> - Dazed 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.&nbsp;

The way to get "perfect" skin for all? "An unbothered existence, universal healthcare and a billion dollars."

Ask A Doc: What is perfect skin, anyway? 

Sound Transit is looking at potential cuts and readjustments to its ST3 plan. Voters approved the vision for the next phase of regional transit nearly a decade ago. 

But last year, Sound Transit announced it was somewhere between 30 and 40 billion dollars in the hole. At a Sound Transit retreat in March, board members were presented with the reality that they may need to drop planned stations or entire lines in Ballard, Issaquah, Everett, and Tacoma. 

So what happens next? And how will affected communities respond?

Guest:

Ryan Packer, contributing editor at The Urbanist

Kristina Walker, Tacoma City Councilmember, Chair of the Sound Transit Board Rider Experience and Operations Committee, and chair of Pierce Transit

Mark Mullet, Issaquah Mayor

David Scott, board chair of Seattle Subway

Relevant Links: 

The Urbanist: Three More Takeaways from a Pivotal Sound Transit Board Retreat

The Urbanist: Snohomish County Has Sound Transit's Regional Rail Spine Top of Mind

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. 

Sound Transit is looking at potential cuts and readjustments to its ST3 plan. Voters approved the vision for the next phase of regional transit nearly a decade ago.&nbsp; <a href="https://www.theurbanist.org/sound-transit-plans-major-program-reset-in-face-of-30-to-40-billion-shortfall/">But last year, Sound Transit announced it was somewhere between 30 and 40 billion dollars in the hole</a>. At a Sound Transit retreat in March, board members were presented with the reality that they may need to drop planned stations or entire lines in Ballard, Issaquah, Everett, and Tacoma.&nbsp;
So what happens next? And how will affected communities respond?
Guest:
Ryan Packer, contributing editor at The Urbanist
Kristina Walker, Tacoma City Councilmember, Chair of the Sound Transit Board Rider Experience and Operations Committee, and chair of Pierce Transit
Mark Mullet, Issaquah Mayor
David Scott, board chair of Seattle Subway
Relevant Links:&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.theurbanist.org/three-more-takeaways-from-a-pivotal-sound-transit-board-retreat/">The Urbanist: Three More Takeaways from a Pivotal Sound Transit Board Retreat</a>
<a href="https://www.theurbanist.org/snohomish-county-rail-spine-top-of-mind/">The Urbanist: Snohomish County Has Sound Transit's Regional Rail Spine Top of Mind</a>
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.&nbsp;

Last year, Sound Transit announced it was somewhere between $30 and $40 billion in the hole.  At a Sound Transit retreat in March, board members were presented with the reality that they may need to drop planned stations or entire lines in Ballard, Issaquah, Everett, and Tacoma. 

Soundside

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