There’s a major reshuffling of leadership happening at one of the videogame industry’s top companies. 

After 38 years at Microsoft, Phil Spencer is stepping away from his role as CEO of Microsoft Gaming. 

His was an incredibly long tenure, and it’s leaving many to wonder what it means for XBox, Microsoft Gaming, and gamers alike.

GUEST: Todd Bishop - Co-Founder of Geekwire

LINKS:
Xbox chief Phil Spencer retiring after 38 years at Microsoft; Asha Sharma named new gaming CEO
Who is Asha Sharma? A closer look at Microsoft’s surprise pick to lead the Xbox business
Analysis: The best thing that the new Xbox CEO can do is ... nothing

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.

There&rsquo;s a major reshuffling of leadership happening at one of the videogame industry&rsquo;s top companies.&nbsp;
After 38 years at Microsoft, Phil Spencer is stepping away from his role as CEO of Microsoft Gaming.&nbsp;
His was an incredibly long tenure, and it&rsquo;s leaving many to wonder what it means for XBox, Microsoft Gaming, and gamers alike.
GUEST: Todd Bishop - Co-Founder of Geekwire
LINKS:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/xbox-chief-phil-spencer-retiring-after-38-years-at-microsoft-asha-sharma-named-new-gaming-ceo/">Xbox chief Phil Spencer retiring after 38 years at Microsoft; Asha Sharma named new gaming CEO</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/who-is-asha-sharma-a-closer-look-at-microsofts-surprise-pick-to-lead-the-xbox-business/">Who is Asha Sharma? A closer look at Microsoft&rsquo;s surprise pick to lead the Xbox business</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/analysis-the-best-thing-that-the-new-xbox-ceo-can-do-is-nothing/">Analysis: The best thing that the new Xbox CEO can do is ... nothing</a></li>
</ul>
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&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

Soundside

Geekwire's Todd Bishop joins Soundside to talk about the latest changes at Microsoft Gaming and XBox as longtime CEO Phil Spencer retires after 38 years.

What a new CEO might signal about XBox's future

April Fool’s Day is thankfully behind us, and while they DO say that “April Showers bring May Flowers,” it looks like we’ve got a partly sunny weekend ahead… 

Let’s check out what there is to do in the next few days!

HOST: Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows

LINKS: 
Norwescon
Sakura-Con
Seattle's Easter Swing
Women Made Film Festival in Everett, WA
The Stranger Presents: The 2026 Undisputable Champions of Comedy!
93rd Annual Daffodil Festival Grand Floral Parade
Seattle Torrent vs NY Sirens at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN

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.

April Fool&rsquo;s Day is thankfully behind us, and while they DO say that &ldquo;April Showers bring May Flowers,&rdquo; it looks like we&rsquo;ve got a partly sunny weekend ahead&hellip;&nbsp;
Let&rsquo;s check out what there is to do in the next few days!
HOST: Soundside producer Jason Megatron Burrows
LINKS:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.norwescon.org/">Norwescon</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://sakuracon.org/">Sakura-Con</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://easterswing.org/">Seattle's Easter Swing</a></li>
<li><a href="https://everettfilmfestival.org/film-festival/">Women Made Film Festival in Everett, WA</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://everout.com/seattle/events/the-stranger-presents-the-2026-undisputable-champions-of-comedy/e230703/">The Stranger Presents: The 2026 Undisputable Champions of Comedy!</a></li>
<li><a href="https://thedaffodilfestival.org/events/daffodil-parade/">93rd Annual Daffodil Festival Grand Floral Parade</a> </li>
<li><a href="https://www.thepwhl.com/en/stats/game-center/308">Seattle Torrent vs NY Sirens at MADISON SQUARE GARDEN</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>
<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 - NorWesCon, West Coast Swing, and COMEDY!

Has something like this happened to you before? 

You’re on a hike with someone, maybe a romantic partner, and you start slowing down, or want to take a break, but your partner wants to push on.

Eventually, you’re left behind as your partner goes ahead without you. And this situation has consequences for the relationship.

If so, you’re not alone. 

The phrase “Alpine Divorce” was coined in a short story about a murderous husband over 100 years ago - but TikTok has lately adopted the label for less dastardly scenarios.

In a recent viral post, a woman sobs as she climbs down a mountain - saying “he left me”.

The video has thousands of comments, many of which share similar stories of being left behind on the trail.

But how common is Alpine Divorce? And is it actually a bad thing to spend some solo time on the trail?

Guest:
Alaina Demopoulos, daily features writer for the Guardian

Related stories:
Women are being abandoned by their partners on hiking trails. What’s behind ‘alpine divorce’? - The Guardian

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.

Has something like this happened to you before?&nbsp;
You&rsquo;re on a hike with someone, maybe a romantic partner, and you start slowing down, or want to take a break, but your partner wants to push on.
Eventually, you&rsquo;re left behind as your partner goes ahead without you. And this situation has consequences for the relationship.
If so, you&rsquo;re not alone.&nbsp;
The phrase &ldquo;Alpine Divorce&rdquo; was coined in a short story about a murderous husband over 100 years ago - but TikTok has lately adopted the label for less dastardly scenarios.
In a <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@everafteriya/video/7608301949011660045">recent viral post</a>, a woman sobs as she climbs down a mountain - saying &ldquo;he left me&rdquo;.
The video has thousands of comments, many of which share similar stories of being left behind on the trail.
But how common is Alpine Divorce? And is it actually a bad thing to spend some solo time on the trail?
Guest:
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Alaina Demopoulos, daily features writer for the Guardian</li>
</ul>
Related stories:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/ng-interactive/2026/mar/17/alpine-divorce-abandoned-hiking-trail">Women are being abandoned by their partners on hiking trails. What&rsquo;s behind &lsquo;alpine divorce&rsquo;? - The Guardian</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.

The phrase “Alpine Divorce” was coined in a short story about a murderous husband over 100 years ago - but TikTok has lately adopted the label for less dastardly scenarios.

Ever been abandonded on the trail? There's a name for that.

The King County Council has made some moves lately to limit federal immigration enforcement within the county. Last week, council expanded on Executive Girmay Zahilay’s order that bars ICE and other agencies from using county property to make arrests .

And earlier in the month, the council passed an emergency moratorium on new ICE detention facilities. Those include holding centers for people awaiting deportation. 

How much of an impact will these new laws have against the administration’s push for detention and deportation? 

Guests:

King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda

King County Councilmember Jorge Barón 

Relevant Links: 

KUOW: King County bans immigration detention facilities, joining other Western Washington cities

Seattle Times: King County Council votes to ban ICE from county property 

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 King County Council has made some moves lately to limit federal immigration enforcement within the county. Last week, council expanded on Executive Girmay Zahilay&rsquo;s order that bars ICE and other agencies from using county property to make arrests .
And earlier in the month, the council passed an emergency moratorium on new ICE detention facilities. Those include holding centers for people awaiting deportation.&nbsp;
How much of an impact will these new laws have against the administration&rsquo;s push for detention and deportation?&nbsp;
Guests:
King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda
King County Councilmember Jorge Bar&oacute;n&nbsp;
Relevant Links:&nbsp;
KUOW: <a href="https://www.kuow.org/stories/king-county-bans-immigration-detention-facilities-joining-other-western-washington-cities">King County bans immigration detention facilities, joining other Western Washington cities</a>
Seattle Times: <a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/king-county-council-votes-to-ban-ice-from-county-property/">King County Council votes to ban ICE from county property </a>
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.

The King County Council has made some moves lately to limit federal immigration enforcement within the county.

What a new CEO might signal about XBox's future

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