Seattle Public Schools have only been back in session for about a month, but it’s already been a busy year for the district. 

We wanted to get caught up on what’s been happening, so we reached out to Interim Superintendent Fred Podesta for a conversation last week. 

We talked with him about school lunch protests, the budget, and a proposed pilot program to bring a school engagement officer back to one Seattle high school. 

Guest

Fred Podesta, interim superintendent, Seattle Public Schools

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.

Seattle Public Schools have only been back in session for about a month, but it&rsquo;s already been a busy year for the district.&nbsp;
We wanted to get caught up on what&rsquo;s been happening, so we reached out to Interim Superintendent Fred Podesta for a conversation last week.&nbsp;
We talked with him about school lunch protests, the budget, and a <a href="https://www.theurbanist.org/2025/09/23/seattle-school-board-considers-returning-police-to-garfield-high/">proposed pilot program</a> to bring a school engagement officer back to one Seattle high school.&nbsp;
Guest
Fred Podesta, interim superintendent, Seattle Public Schools 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.

Soundside

Fred Podesta takes our questions on school closures, budget shortfalls, the proposed school engagement officer pilot, and much more. 

The interim head of Seattle Public Schools on budgets, protests and beyond  

In less than two months, Seattle will begin hosting matches for the 2026 World Cup. 

And, like in the 10 other U.S. host cities, there is a lot of excitement here about this mega international sporting event coming to town.

... But there's likely some trepidation, too, as people think ahead to the congested streets, possible transit hangups and big crowds. 

Seattleites could be tempted to ask, how did we get roped into this and will it be worth it?

We called up a sports economist for answers. 

Guest:
Victor Matheson, a professor at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts

Related links:
"The Economics of the World Cup" by Victor Matheson
The World Cup is around the corner. Are cities and states prepared? • Stateline
Why Host The Olympics When History Shows It's Likely A Money Pit? : The Indicator from Planet Money : NPR
KUOW - Will this summer's World Cup be an economic win for Seattle?

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.

In less than two months, Seattle will begin hosting matches for the 2026 World Cup.&nbsp;
And, like in the 10 other U.S. host cities, there is a lot of excitement here about this mega international sporting event coming to town.
... But there's likely some trepidation, too, as people think ahead to the congested streets, possible transit hangups and big crowds.&nbsp;
Seattleites could be tempted to ask, how did we get roped into this and will it be worth it?
We called up a sports economist for answers.&nbsp;
Guest:
<ul>
<li>Victor Matheson, a professor at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts</li>
</ul>
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://crossworks.holycross.edu/econ_working_papers/180/">"The Economics of the World Cup" by Victor Matheson</a></li>
<li><a href="https://stateline.org/2026/03/31/the-world-cup-is-around-the-corner-are-cities-and-states-prepared/">The World Cup is around the corner. Are cities and states prepared? &bull; Stateline</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.npr.org/2021/08/05/1025310133/why-host-the-olympics">Why Host The Olympics When History Shows It's Likely A Money Pit? : The Indicator from Planet Money : NPR</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/will-this-summers-world-cup-be-an-economic-win-for-seattle">KUOW - Will this summer's World Cup be an economic win for Seattle?</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.

Seattle has been buzzing with excitement over this year's World Cup. But does all of the preparation, financial investment and fanfare pay off for host cities in the end? 

Is it worth it to host the World Cup? It depends. 

Hey, it's your weekly roundup of everything worth going out & doing this weekend!

HOST: Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows

LINKS: 
Seattle/King County Clinic at Seattle Center
Washington State Apple Blossom Festival
Melissa Auf der Maur: Even the Good Girls Will Cry, A '90s Rock Memoir
Professional Bull Riding - Tacoma Dome
The Pancakes & Booze Art Show
Carnival of Cocktails — Seattle Cocktail Week 2026
Seattle Independent Bookstore Day
The Tacoma Flea
Seattle Seawolves Rugby vs Chicago Hounds
Seattle Sounders vs FC Dallas
Seattle Reign vs Utah Royals
Seattle Torrent vs Montreal Victoire

Pre-game "Tailgate" will be held at the corner of 1st Ave N & Lenny Wilkins Way from 4pm until the doors open at 5:30!

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.

Hey, it's your weekly roundup of everything worth going out &amp; doing this weekend!
HOST: Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows
LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://seattlecenter.org/skcclinic/patients/">Seattle/King County Clinic at Seattle Center</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.appleblossom.org/">Washington State Apple Blossom Festival</a></li>
<li><a href="https://townhallseattle.org/event/melissa-auf-der-maur/">Melissa Auf der Maur: Even the Good Girls Will Cry, A '90s Rock Memoir</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.pbr.com/tours/unleash-the-beast/2026/tacoma-wa/">Professional Bull Riding - Tacoma Dome</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.pancakesandbooze.com/seattle">The Pancakes &amp; Booze Art Show</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://seattlecocktailweek.com/carnival-of-cocktails-2026">Carnival of Cocktails &mdash; Seattle Cocktail Week 2026</a></li>
<li><a href="https://everout.com/seattle/events/seattle-independent-bookstore-day/e233225/">Seattle Independent Bookstore Day</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/DWzsPKUAdWv/">The Tacoma Flea</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.seawolves.rugby/schedule/">Seattle Seawolves Rugby vs Chicago Hounds</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.soundersfc.com/competitions/mls-regular-season/2026/matches/seavsdal-04-25-2026/">Seattle Sounders vs FC Dallas</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.reignfc.com/match-hub">Seattle Reign vs Utah Royals</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.thepwhl.com/en/stats/game-center/326">Seattle Torrent vs Montreal Victoire</a> 
<ul>
<li>Pre-game "Tailgate" will be held at the corner of 1st Ave N &amp; Lenny Wilkins Way from 4pm until the doors open at 5:30!</li>
</ul>
</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 - Indie Bookstore Day, The Carnival of Cocktails, and the Seattle Torrent's final game of the season!

If you’ve walked through Westlake Park recently, perhaps you’ve noticed the new statue of Swami Vivekananda, a philosopher and Hindu monk.

Vivekananda is credited with introducing yoga and the Vedanta philosophy to a global audience.

That statue is a gift to the city from the government of India.

People from India represent more than 10 percent of Washington’s foreign-born residents. As of 2024, nearly 95,000 King County residents were born there. 

The statue is part of a broader cultural diplomacy initiative, according to the consulate general in Seattle.

The diplomatic outpost opened two years ago, and India's consul general in Seattle joined Soundside to talk about the relationship between the Pacific Northwest and India. 

Guest


Consul General Prakash Gupta

Related Links

America's First Guru - PBS

Trump’s Changes Lock Some Employers Out of H-1B Visa Program & As H-1B Visa Program Changes, Skilled Foreign Workers Consider Leaving U.S.  - 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&rsquo;ve walked through Westlake Park recently, perhaps you&rsquo;ve noticed the new statue of Swami Vivekananda, a philosopher and Hindu monk.
Vivekananda is credited with introducing yoga and the Vedanta philosophy to a global audience.
That statue is a <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/new-statue-in-westlake-park-honors-indian-philosopher-swami-vivekananda/">gift to the city</a> from the government of India.
People from India represent more than <a href="https://www.migrationpolicy.org/data/state-profiles/state/demographics/WA">10 percent of Washington&rsquo;s foreign-born</a> residents. As of 2024, <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/data/share-of-wa-born-king-county-residents-at-lowest-point-since-1930s/">nearly 95,000 King County residents</a> were born there.&nbsp;
The statue is part of a broader cultural diplomacy initiative, according to the consulate general in Seattle.
The diplomatic outpost opened two years ago, and India's consul general in Seattle joined Soundside to talk about the relationship between the Pacific Northwest and India.&nbsp;
Guest 
Consul General Prakash Gupta <a href="https://www.pbs.org/show/americas-first-guru/"></a>Related Links
<a href="https://www.pbs.org/show/americas-first-guru/">America's First Guru</a> - PBS
<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/10/us/politics/h1b-visa-program-changes.html">Trump&rsquo;s Changes Lock Some Employers Out of H-1B Visa Program</a> &amp; <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/04/03/video/h-1b-visa-skilled-workers-trump.html">As H-1B Visa Program Changes, Skilled Foreign Workers Consider Leaving U.S.&nbsp;</a> - The New York Times
&nbsp;
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.

Despite a changing U.S. political landscape, ties between the Pacific Northwest and India remain strong, according to our region's top diplomat

The interim head of Seattle Public Schools on budgets, protests and beyond

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