PODCAST · news
Cascade PBS Ideas Festival
by Cascade PBS
The official podcast of the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival, featuring conversations with the journalists, politicians, leaders, academics and thinkers who shape our world. Hosted by Paris Jackson
Episodes
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What's on Seattle's mind? Trump, housing & the high cost of living
At the 2025 Cascade PBS Ideas Festival, we asked attendees to share their thoughts about what's going on in our city and the nation. The Cascade PBS newsroom used this year’s Ideas Festival as a chance to engage directly with our audience. A few of our journalists hosted a “Share Your Story”…
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U.S. Rep. Pramila Jayapal shares her joy for food and cooking
In a live taping of 'Your Last Meal,' Jayapal shares how her experience as an immigrant and an organizer influenced her affinity for world cuisines. U.S. Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal has represented Washington’s 7th district since 2016. A prominent member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus,...
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Travel guru Rick Steves on why seeing the world makes it a better place
In a live taping of The Journal podcast, host Ryan Knutson talks with Steves about the value of travel and Americans’ reception abroad in 2025. Rick Steves has created one of the most successful travel businesses in the U.S., including guidebooks, European tours and a longstanding TV and radio...
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Amanda Knox talks wrongful conviction and telling her own story
In a live taping of the Criminal podcast, host Phoebe Judge speaks with Knox about her new memoir and how a murder accusation redefined her life. Amanda Knox became a household name when she was convicted, in 2009, of the murder of her roommate while studying abroad in Perugia, Italy. She spent...
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Harvard historian discusses brainwashing in the digital age
In a live taping of Radiolab, co-host Latif Nasser and guest Rebecca Lemov discuss prominent examples of indoctrination and their modern implications. As part of the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival in late May, Latif Nasser, co-host of WNYC’s Radiolab, sat down with Harvard historian Rebecca Lemov to...
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Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson defend claims on Biden’s decline
In a live taping of ‘The Gist’ podcast, the authors of “Original Sin” — a book questioning the former president’s health — share their findings. One book has been stirring up a lot of political controversy this spring: Jake Tapper and Alex Thompson’s deep dive into President Biden’s health during...
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Six months in, how has Trump’s second term impacted free speech?
In a live taping of the ‘Open to Debate’ podcast, commentator Brandi Kruse and legal scholar Nadine Strossen examine the state of the First Amendment. From funding cuts at universities to restrictions on the press, critics of Trump 2.0 point to a long list of potential threats to the freedom of...
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Former U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake on the Past & Future of GOP Politics
In a live taping of CCN's One Thing, Flake speaks with host David Rind about a post-Trump era and his hopes for a party of governance, not grievance. Former U.S. Senator Jeff Flake (R – Arizona) is perhaps best known for his early and vocal criticism of President Donald Trump. In 2017, Flake...
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Why Tech Platforms Have Gotten Worse – and What to Do About It
In a live taping of WNYC’s On the Media, author and activist Cory Doctorow argues that tech giants have chased profits at the expense of users. There’s no question that the products that giant companies such as Amazon, Google and Meta have developed now dominate many people’s lives. The road to...
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Al Franken on Trump 2.0, Comedy and What’s Next for Democrats
Author, comedian and former U.S. Senator Al Franken has a unique resume. One of the original writers on Saturday Night Live, he won five Emmys, wrote several comedic books on politics and represented Minnesota as a U.S. Senator from 2009 to 2018. As part of the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival in late...
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Missed the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival? Listen here
Well, that’s a wrap! The 2025 Cascade PBS Ideas Festival took place in downtown Seattle on May 31. But the event’s thoughtful conversations, lively debates and incisive commentary are all coming soon to your podcast feeds. To kick off this season of the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival podcast, host...
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“Text Me Back!” Prepares Us for the Election
Co-hosts Lindy West and Meagan Hatcher-Mays remind us to laugh in this bonus episode recorded live at the Seattle Public Library on October 15. Lindy West and Meagan Hatcher-Mays join us again for another lively discussion on The Cascade PBS Ideas Festival podcast. In a special bonus episode,...
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Race, Power and Palestine with Ta-Nehisi Coates
In a live taping of Slate’s A Word podcast, Jason Johnson talks with Coates about the resonance between racism in America and the crisis in Gaza. On his podcast A Word, veteran political commentator Jason Johnson invites leaders, journalists and other change-makers to have productive and...
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How Artificial Intelligence Could Impact Elections
Atlantic journalists talk the future of election interference in an era of chilling political deepfakes — and, the one company behind much of this tech. This year, two events will collide: AI voice replicas that can fool family and friends will be easier than ever to use, and half the world’s...
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Malcolm Gladwell Talks Gun Violence in America
The Revisionist History podcast host discusses America's firearms problem - and reasons to be optimistic about it - with a trauma surgeon and an activist. Acclaimed author Malcolm Gladwell explores all things overlooked and misunderstood in his podcast, Revisionist History. He recently produced a...
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How Identity Shapes Politics in a Fractured America
Is the personal always political? Washington Post columnists discuss how identity markers have come to define how we think and vote. Trust in American institutions has reached record lows. Where do Americans turn to for a sense of identity, connection or belonging? Are identity markers such as…
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Bridging the Partisan Divide with David Greene
In a live taping of Left, Right & Center, David Greene, Mo Elleithee and Sarah Isgur debate media bias ahead of the presidential election. KCRW’s weekly politics show, Left, Right & Center, takes on the tough, polarizing issues that Americans struggle to have conversations about. Host David…
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Unpacking True Crime with Patrick Radden Keefe
In a live taping of The New Yorker’s Critics at Large podcast, Keefe and a panel discuss the genre's enduring popularity – and its problematic aspects. The appetite for true crime is more insatiable than ever, but audiences, authors and podcast producers are also grappling with the ethics of the...
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The Past and Future of American Democracy
In a live podcast taping, historian Heather Cox Richardson debates the nation's founding and the state of democracy ahead of the 2024 election. Historian Heather Cox Richardson, author of Democracy Awakening: Notes on the State of America, points out a central tension in American history: The...
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Good Economic Data and Bad Economic Feelings
The Journal co-hosts Kate Linebaugh and Ryan Knutson tackle the gap between bright data points and bad vibes with political correspondent Molly Ball. Data suggests the U.S. economy is performing well, but many Americans don’t feel that way. How will those feelings influence the 2024 election? As...
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Laughing at Hollywood and the U.S. Supreme Court
Lindy West, Meagan Hatcher-Mays and Guy Branum rank Hollywood celebrities and Supreme Court justices in a lighthearted take on pop culture and politics. New York Times bestselling author Lindy West and democracy expert and “recovering lawyer” Meagan Hatcher-Mays have been best friends for 25…
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Reporting on the Crisis in the Middle East
Tug of War host David Rind and international correspondent Nada Bashir dig into how the war in Gaza has changed the Middle East and the world. Since the Hamas attacks of October 7 and the outbreak of the war in Gaza, CNN’s Tug of War podcast has brought listeners into the heart of the conflict.…
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Welcome Back to the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival
Catch up on every session, featuring speakers such as Malcolm Gladwell, Lindy West and Ta-Nehisi Coates, on our weekly festival podcast. This year’s Cascade PBS Ideas Festival has officially wrapped. But the insightful conversations that took place on May 4, 2024, are coming soon to a podcast app...
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Marc Summers on Double Dare and His Last Meal
The television host shares his ideal last meal and serves behind-the-scenes details from Nickelodeon and the Food Network. Marc Summers, best known for his role as host of the 1980s Nickelodeon game show Double Dare and host of the Food Network’s Unwrapped, actually launched his career doing…
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Psychedelics and Our Mental Health
Research shows the drugs can be effective in treating depression and substance-use disorders — but there’s still much we don’t know. Psychedelics are moving back into the mainstream. According to a growing body of medical research, psychedelic drugs such as psilocybin and ketamine can have a...
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Tackling the Biodiversity Crisis
Pollution, habitat loss and climate change all threaten wildlife and their ecosystems. Conservationists discuss what we can do to help. Wildlife numbers are plunging worldwide. From toxic waste to invasive species, deforestation to rising temperatures, threats to the survival of our planet’s...
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Solving the World’s Plastics Problem
Following the failure of the Washington Recycling and Packaging Act, experts and a key lawmaker discuss next steps. Plastic is everywhere. It’s in our refrigerators, in our oceans and even in our bloodstreams. And wherever there are plastics, there are questions over what to do with them. In...
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Climate Crisis Solutions with Jamie Stroble and Dr. Heidi Roop
The climate leaders share why individual responsibility and corporate accountability aren’t mutually exclusive — and how daily habits can aid the planet. The impacts of climate change are everywhere, often making headlines. Yet most Americans don’t know what climate change really is, or don’t…
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The Powers and Possible Perils of Gene Editing
Nobel Prize-winning scientist Jennifer Doudna discusses how the technology she helped advance is treating diseases and raising ethical dilemmas. Gene editing is a game-changer for humanity. From health on individuals to the fate of the planet, the possible impacts of the technology are something...
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Which Metaverse Will Win?
Two experts in immersive technologies may disagree on what the metaverse will look like, but they do agree that it is going to change society. The metaverse may very well be the future. Before we get there, though, it is probably necessary to establish what exactly the metaverse is. That, it…
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Big Tech’s Midlife Crisis with Will Oremus
The Washington Post tech industry analyst discusses how America’s major tech companies are grappling with government regulation and a public that has fallen out of love. Tech companies aren’t the shiny new players in the world economy anymore; they are core pillars of that economy and primary...
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How ‘Jeopardy!’ Is Changing with Ken Jennings
The Edmonds-born record-breaker muses on the game’s transformation and reveals behind-the-scenes secrets. Jeopardy! is an American institution, a television game show that for decades didn't really change all that much. But in recent years the syndicated staple has undergone some relatively…
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How the Forward Party Might Work with Andrew Yang
The former presidential candidate believes he knows what is wrong with American politics and shares why his new party is a solution. When Andrew Yang ran for the Democratic nomination for president in 2020, he did so with hopes of changing the conversation. He left the race despondent, he says.…
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Rebooting the Republican Party with Will Hurd
Former congressman Will Hurd says his party needs to stop election denial and start appealing to voters that have lost trust in the party. As the 2024 presidential election approaches, the Republican Party and its voters have a major decision to make about the future of the party. With former...
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The Return of the Abortion Underground
Since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade, advocates are pushing back to assure that people still have access to reproductive care. Last June the Supreme Court transformed the landscape of reproductive rights overnight when it overturned Roe v. Wade, leaving the power to determine the...
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Working to End the Fentanyl Crisis
Three advocates weigh in on the rising threat of the synthetic opioid — and what policymakers can do to fight it. Seattle is in the midst of a fentanyl crisis. Of the 310 overdose deaths recorded in the city in 2022, more than half were from the powerful synthetic opioid. And we are not alone.…
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Living With Artificial Intelligence with Oren Etzioni
As the new technology proliferates, the founding CEO of the Allen Institute for A.I. discusses how — or even whether — it should be controlled. Artificial intelligence is everywhere. Companies are already exploring the many uses of AI and a number of tools are widely available for public use.…
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Inside the Fight for Trans Rights with Danni Askini
Danni Askini of the advocacy group The Gender Justice League breaks down the misconceptions and myths surrounding gender-affirming care. Legislation seeking to limit the rights of trans people has been on the rise in state houses throughout the U.S. But why? For this episode of the Crosscut Talks...
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Preparing Kids for Life After High School
Three education experts discuss how young people can find postgrad success (and it's not a 'one-size-fits-all' approach). With high school graduation approaching, many young people across Washington state will be taking a big step toward adulthood. Whether they have all the information and...
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Rep. Adam Smith on the War in Ukraine
The Washington congressman said a Ukrainian offensive could beat Moscow’s forces back and have them at the bargaining table by the fall. When Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2022, the conventional wisdom in both Russia and throughout the West was that it would be a short war and that Ukraine…
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Michael Cohen on the Trump Indictment
A year after his release from prison, the former president’s ex-fixer talks about the unprecedented case. Having completed a three-year sentence for his role in a hush-money scheme for then-presidential candidate Donald Trump, Michael Cohen has a lot to say about his former boss. One month after...
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Eric Holder on Trump, the Supreme Court and Voting Rights
The former Attorney General discusses how voting rights laws and Supreme Court term limits could preserve American democracy. Few people in the United States have more experience at the intersection of the rule of law and the world of politics than Eric Holder. As the U.S. Attorney General during...
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Falling Out of Love With the Supreme Court with Dahlia Lithwick and Michael Waldman
Amicus host Dahlia Lithwick and Brennan Center president Michael Waldman discuss SCOTUS's history and coming decisions. Though its mythology says otherwise, the U.S. Supreme Court is not a static institution. As its justices have slowly turned over, the Court’s ideological makeup and the nature…
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Michael Barbaro on the New Era of News
The host of the New York Times podcast discusses the ways modern politics have transformed the media landscape. For many American news consumers, Michael Barbaro’s voice is a defining element of the modern era. As a host of the New York Times podcast The Daily, Barbaro speaks to an audience of…
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Deepak Chopra’s Prescription for Your Mental Health
The author and doctor explains how treating the mind and the body as one can help stop humanity from sleepwalking to extinction. Deepak Chopra has a lot of thoughts on the state of our mental health, and they start with the idea that mental health is not a singular thing that resides in our…
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Understanding Death to Understand Life with Andrew Steele and Carl Zimmer
Science can't fully explain what life is. Three experts try anyway in a conversation about life, death and our desire to push back the expiration date. Talking about life and death is tricky for anyone, even scientists. Despite considerable research over the course of generations, scientists…
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How to Be Happier with Dr. Laurie Santos
Happiness takes work. The host of The Happiness Lab podcast shares what social science says about making that work more manageable. Happiness can feel fleeting in even the best of times. In the midst of a pandemic shot through with personal and social upheaval, maintaining a sense of joy or...
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How Billionaires Are Changing the Space Race with Tim Fernholz and Christian Davenport
A decade of advancement by private companies run by billionaires has transformed how humanity is approaching the final frontier. Some of the biggest news in recent space exploration has revolved around billionaires. Last year, for instance, both Jeff Bezos and Richard Branson actually traveled…
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Keeping Arts Alive in an Expensive City During a Persistent Pandemic
The city’s arts industry is returning to some semblance of normalcy. During a live Civic Cocktail event, four leaders survey the damage done and chart a path forward. In the spring of 2020, many artists and arts organizations were already struggling to maintain a place for themselves in Seattle....
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How the Internet Changed Us with Pamela Paul
Author Pamela Paul recalls what the world was like before it was connected — and how privacy and personal memory have transformed since. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the internet was there to help much of humanity keep going while maintaining a social distance. The transition was not seamless,...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
The official podcast of the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival, featuring conversations with the journalists, politicians, leaders, academics and thinkers who shape our world. Hosted by Paris Jackson
HOSTED BY
Cascade PBS
CATEGORIES
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many episodes does Cascade PBS Ideas Festival have?
Cascade PBS Ideas Festival currently has 111 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Cascade PBS Ideas Festival about?
The official podcast of the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival, featuring conversations with the journalists, politicians, leaders, academics and thinkers who shape our world. Hosted by Paris Jackson
How often does Cascade PBS Ideas Festival release new episodes?
Cascade PBS Ideas Festival publishes regularly with 111 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
Where can I listen to Cascade PBS Ideas Festival?
You can listen to Cascade PBS Ideas Festival on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Cascade PBS Ideas Festival?
Cascade PBS Ideas Festival is created and hosted by Cascade PBS.
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