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

It's not a spoiler to say someone gets murdered in T Kira Madden's new book, "Whidbey." But what happens next? You'll have to read and find out.

Whidbey is expansive, detailed and visceral. It makes readers wonder about questions of justice, forgiveness, belief and unconditional love.

We talk with Madden about how the island inspired her new literary thriller. 

Guest

T Kira Madden, author of "Whidbey"

Related Links
Somebody Killed Her Assailant. Was Justice Served? - The New York Times

T Kira Madden Casts a Spell - Elle


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's not a spoiler to say someone gets murdered in T Kira Madden's new book, "Whidbey." But what happens next? You'll have to read and find out.
Whidbey is expansive, detailed and visceral. It makes readers wonder about questions of justice, forgiveness, belief and unconditional love.
We talk with Madden about how the island inspired her new literary thriller.&nbsp; Guest
T Kira Madden, <a href="https://bookshop.org/p/books/whidbey-a-novel-t-kira-madden/48258f7008b1c293">author of "Whidbey"</a> Related Links <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2026/03/09/books/review/whidbey-t-kira-madden.html">Somebody Killed Her Assailant. Was Justice Served?</a> -&nbsp;The New York Times
<a href="https://www.elle.com/culture/books/a70679469/t-kira-madden-whidbey-interview-2026/">T Kira Madden Casts a Spell</a> - Elle
 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.

T. Kira Madden's new novel challenges the reader to ask: Who gets believed?

A ferry ride and an unsettling offer launches us into the new novel, "Whidbey"

Last month, Olympia became the first city in Washington, and one of just a handful in the country, to pass explicit protections for polyamorous families.

The city passed two ordinances in late February that establish protections for people in diverse family and relationship structures. 

Supporters say the changes are aimed at protecting these community members against discrimination and unfair housing practices. 

Similar efforts are underway in multiple cities across the west coast. 

More than 60% of people who responded to a 2025 survey on non-monogamy said they experienced discrimination or stigma in at least one domain, like healthcare or employment. 

We spoke to an advocate who backed these ordinances -- and who's hoping to bring similar change to Seattle. 

Guests:
Jessa Davis is the executive director for the Seattle Coalition for Family and Relationship Equity

Related links:
First WA city with protections for polyamorous families | The Olympian
In the Northwest, polyamory finds something new: legal protection | The Seattle Times
Polyamorous protections moving ahead in Portland as council reaffirms LGBTQ safe harbor status | oregonlive.com
2025 Community Survey Report | OPEN (Organization for Polyamory and Ethical Non-monogamy)

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.

Last month, Olympia became the first city in Washington, and one of just a handful in the country, to pass explicit protections for polyamorous families.
The city passed two ordinances in late February that establish protections for people in diverse family and relationship structures.&nbsp;
Supporters say the changes are aimed at protecting these community members against discrimination and unfair housing practices.&nbsp;
Similar efforts are underway in multiple cities across the west coast.&nbsp;
More than 60% of people who responded to a 2025 survey on non-monogamy said they experienced discrimination or stigma in at least one domain, like healthcare or employment.&nbsp;
We spoke to an advocate who backed these ordinances -- and who's hoping to bring similar change to Seattle.&nbsp;
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Jessa Davis is the executive director for the Seattle Coalition for Family and Relationship Equity</li>
</ul>
Related links:
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article314855142.html">First WA city with protections for polyamorous families | The Olympian</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2026/02/portland-moves-to-extend-discrimination-protections-to-polyamorous-people.html"></a><a href="https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/in-the-northwest-polyamory-finds-something-new-legal-protection/?block=ebnightcap&amp;utm_source=marketingcloud&amp;utm_medium=email&amp;utm_campaign=Evening+Brief+03-02-26_3_2_2026&amp;utm_term=">In the Northwest, polyamory finds something new: legal protection | The Seattle Times</a><a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2026/02/portland-moves-to-extend-discrimination-protections-to-polyamorous-people.html"></a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.oregonlive.com/portland/2026/02/portland-moves-to-extend-discrimination-protections-to-polyamorous-people.html">Polyamorous protections moving ahead in Portland as council reaffirms LGBTQ safe harbor status | oregonlive.com</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.open-love.org/blog/2025-community-survey-report">2025 Community Survey Report | OPEN (Organization for Polyamory and Ethical Non-monogamy)</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.

Olympia recently became the first city in Washington to pass explicit protections for polyamorous families. We sat down with someone who was involved in that effort.... and who hopes to bring a similar change to Seattle. 

The push to protect polyamorous families in the Puget Sound

Residents of Tehran were warned to stay indoors yesterday [SUN], as black smoke blanketed parts of the Iranian capital city. It comes after Israel attacked dozens of fuel depots in the city of 10 million people.  

The U.S. and Israel continued to launch airstrikes against Iran over the weekend.

And the conflict continues to impact many nations. Today, NATO member Turkey said it shot down a second Iranian missile. 

Closer to home: two men have been charged with attempting to support the Islamic state after they tried to set off homemade bombs at a far-right protest near Gracie Mansion, the home of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. 

None of the devices detonated.

Obviously, this continues to be a fast-moving situation. This morning, Congressman Adam Smith sat down with Soundside to share his thoughts on what’s been happening so far in Iran and across the globe.

Guest:


Adam Smith represents Washington's 9th congressional district and is the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee. 

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.

Residents of Tehran&nbsp;<a href="https://www.ft.com/content/d08d89bb-89f5-41c2-9835-e3ac59b67cfa">were warned to stay indoors</a> yesterday [SUN], as black smoke <a href="https://time.com/7383099/iran-news-oil-strikes-tehran/">blanketed parts of the Iranian capital city</a>. It comes after Israel attacked dozens of fuel depots in the city of 10 million people.&nbsp;&nbsp;
The U.S. and Israel continued to launch airstrikes against Iran over the weekend.
And the conflict continues to impact many nations. Today, NATO member Turkey said it shot down a second Iranian missile.&nbsp;
Closer to home: two men have been <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2026/03/09/nyregion/gracie-mansion-bomb-investigation-nyc">charged </a>with attempting to support the Islamic state after they tried to set off homemade bombs at a far-right protest near Gracie Mansion, the home of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.&nbsp;
None of the devices detonated.
Obviously, this continues to be a fast-moving situation. This morning, Congressman Adam Smith sat down with Soundside to share his thoughts on what&rsquo;s been happening so far in Iran and across the globe.
Guest:
<ul>
<li>
Adam Smith represents Washington's 9th congressional district and is the top Democrat on the House Armed Services Committee.&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&nbsp;is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.

This morning, Congressman Adam Smith sat down with Soundside to share his thoughts on what’s been happening so far in Iran and across the globe.

What a new CEO might signal about XBox's future

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