Transit

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This week, we’re revisiting some of our favorite segments of the year. 

And today, we're talking about transit. And translators. 

A now-former King County Metro Bus driver tells us what passengers should know when they ride the bus. But more importantly, we got some insight into why the 8 in downtown Seattle is so often called the late bus. 

Plus, we sat down with a Seattle-based translator to discuss her National Book Award-nominated work translating the novel We Computers into English. 

She said that translating the poetry and the prose in this book was like running a triathlon.

We're taking a trip with two local women who helped us get from point A to point B in 2025. 

Guests
Desiree Andersen, former King County Metro bus driver, @desinthepark
Shelley Fairweather-Vega, Seattle-based translator of Hamid Ismailov's 

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 week, we&rsquo;re revisiting some of our favorite segments of the year.&nbsp;
And today, we're talking about transit. And translators.&nbsp;
A now-former King County Metro Bus driver tells us what passengers should know when they ride the bus. But more importantly, we got some insight into why the 8 in downtown Seattle is so often called the late bus. Plus, we sat down with a Seattle-based translator to discuss her National Book Award-nominated work translating the novel We Computers into English.&nbsp;
She said that translating the poetry and the prose in this book was like running a triathlon.
We're taking a trip with two local women who helped us get from point A to point B in 2025.&nbsp;
Guests
<ul>
<li>Desiree Andersen, former King County Metro bus driver, @desinthepark</li>
<li>Shelley Fairweather-Vega, Seattle-based translator of Hamid Ismailov's&nbsp;</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 is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

We review two Seattle-area women who helped readers — and passengers  — get from point A to point B in 2025. 

Producer Picks: Transit & Translators

It’s the holidays and, to round out 2025, the Soundside team is sharing some of our favorite conversations we had on the show this year.

For this episode, we devoted the entire hour to a conversation we originally aired last month on Bruce Lee.  

This year, author Jeff Chang published an in-depth biography on Lee’s life. It's called “Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America." In it, Chang shows how the rise of Bruce Lee mirrored the rise of Asian American identity. 

In this interview, we talked about Lee’s life in Seattle; his rise in Hollywood; and how his short life left an imprint on Asian Americans that can be felt to this day. 

RELATED LINK:
"Water Mirror Echo" explores the life, and legacy, of Bruce Lee
Book Review: ‘Water Mirror Echo,’ by Jeff Chang - 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.

It&rsquo;s the holidays and, to round out 2025, the Soundside team is sharing some of our favorite conversations we had on the show this year.
For this episode, we devoted the entire hour to a conversation we originally aired last month on Bruce Lee.&nbsp;&nbsp;
This year, author Jeff Chang published an in-depth biography on Lee&rsquo;s life. It's called &ldquo;Water Mirror Echo: Bruce Lee and the Making of Asian America." In it, Chang shows how the rise of Bruce Lee mirrored the rise of Asian American identity.&nbsp;
In this interview, we talked about Lee&rsquo;s life in Seattle; his rise in Hollywood; and how his short life left an imprint on Asian Americans that can be felt to this day.&nbsp;
RELATED LINK:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/water-mirror-echo-explores-the-life-and-legacy-of-bruce-lee">"Water Mirror Echo" explores the life, and legacy, of Bruce Lee</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2025/10/01/books/review/water-mirror-echo-jeff-chang.html">Book Review: &lsquo;Water Mirror Echo,&rsquo; by Jeff Chang - The New York 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 is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

We're rounding out 2025 with some of our favorite conversations we had on the show this year. In this episode, we're revisiting our interview with Jeff Chang, the author of an in-depth biography on Bruce Lee.

Producer Picks:  Bruce Lee, the international icon who holds a special place in Seattle's heart

Tactile Basketball

Costco

Cougar Gold

Grand Illusion Cinema

Christmas Eve begins our holiday break here on Soundside. We’re taking some time off to enjoy the holidays with our friends and family… or to just eat lots of good food while staying indoors.

But we’ve still got plenty of jam packed shows ready for you.

Today - we’re focusing on local businesses here in the Pacific Northwest.

RELATED LINKS:
A tech startup helping the visually impaired "watch" sports with their fingertips
Will people always love Costco?
At 75, Cougar Gold canned cheese is still a Washington state favorite
The lights go down... for now... on the Grand Illusion Cinema

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.

 

Christmas Eve begins our holiday break here on Soundside. We&rsquo;re taking some time off to enjoy the holidays with our friends and family&hellip; or to just eat lots of good food while staying indoors.
But we&rsquo;ve still got plenty of jam packed shows ready for you.
Today - we&rsquo;re focusing on local businesses here in the Pacific Northwest.
RELATED LINKS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://thankyou.kuow.org/stories/a-bellevue-startup-helping-the-visually-impaired-w">A tech startup helping the visually impaired "watch" sports with their fingertips</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/will-people-always-love-costco">Will people always love Costco?</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/at-75-cougar-gold-canned-cheese-is-still-a-local-favorite">At 75, Cougar Gold canned cheese is still a Washington state favorite</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/the-lights-go-down-for-now-on-the-grand-illusion-c">The lights go down... for now... on the Grand Illusion Cinema</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 is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.
&nbsp;

Soundside's Producer Picks for this Christmas Eve look at a number of local businesses here in the Pacific Northwest !

Producer Picks: Tactile Basketball, Costco, Cougar Gold, and the Grand Illusion Cinema

A lot has changed during Sara Nelson’s time in Seattle government.

She was a centrist outlier on a progressive city council when she was first elected in 2021. But the dynamics changed: Nelson became the center of power, and ended up running the show as council president, after a moderate slate of candidates swept the 2023 election. 

She helped oversee pandemic-era recovery, worked with two different mayoral administrations and two very different presidential administrations during her time on the council. 

Now - her time in office is coming to an end.

Next month, there will be a new, more progressive representative in the citywide Position 9 seat that Nelson’s held the past four years. Nonprofit leader Dionne Foster will take Nelson’s place after winning by a wide margin of votes in November. 

Between passing a police contract, approving phase one of the city’s Comprehensive Plan, and putting forward a bill to change how consultants work with the city – Nelson has been busy during her last month in office.

And last week she spent an hour with Soundside to reflect on her tenure and the direction Seattle politics is moving.


GUESTS:
Sara Nelson, outgoing position 9 Seattle City Councilmember and City Council President

RELATED LINKS: 
Seattle passes new transparency law aimed at political consultants - Seattle Times
New Seattle Police contract includes pay boost, increased use of unarmed crisis responders - KUOW

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 lot has changed during Sara Nelson&rsquo;s time in Seattle government.
She was a centrist outlier on a progressive city council when she was first elected in 2021. But the dynamics changed: Nelson became the center of power, and ended up running the show as council president, after a moderate slate of candidates swept the 2023 election.&nbsp;
She helped oversee pandemic-era recovery, worked with two different mayoral administrations and two very different presidential administrations during her time on the council.&nbsp;
Now - her time in office is coming to an end.
Next month, there will be a new, more progressive representative in the citywide Position 9 seat that Nelson&rsquo;s held the past four years. Nonprofit leader Dionne Foster will take Nelson&rsquo;s place after winning by a wide margin of votes in November.&nbsp;
Between passing a police contract, approving phase one of the city&rsquo;s Comprehensive Plan, and putting forward a bill to change how consultants work with the city &ndash; Nelson has been busy during her last month in office.
And last week she spent an hour with Soundside to reflect on her tenure and the direction Seattle politics is moving. 
GUESTS:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Sara Nelson, outgoing position 9 Seattle City Councilmember and City Council President</li>
</ul>
RELATED LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-passes-new-transparency-law-aimed-at-political-consultants/">Seattle passes new transparency law aimed at political consultants - Seattle Times</a></li>
<li aria-level="1"><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/new-seattle-police-contract-includes-pay-boost-increased-use-of-unarmed-crisis-response">New Seattle Police contract includes pay boost, increased use of unarmed crisis responders - KUOW</a><a href="https://www.kuow.org/authors/amy-radil"></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 is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.&nbsp;

Sara Nelson reflects on her tenure, and the direction Seattle politics is moving.

Producer Picks: Transit & Translators

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