Best Cascade Pbs Podcasts (2025)

1
Former U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake on the Past & Future of GOP Politics 47:32

2d ago47:32

47:32

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 announced he would not run for reelection, largely becaus…

1
Molly Yeh: Salami Matzo Brei 34:35

6d ago34:35

34:35

Molly Yeh is the Emmy- and James Beard Award-nominated star of Girl Meets Farm on the Food Network; owner of Bernie’s, a bakery and cafe in East Grand Forks, Minnesota; and a bestselling cookbook author. Her new cookbook is Sweet Farm, 100 dessert recipes that feature oh-so-Molly flavors like tahini, marzipan, hawaij and halva, plus a whole chapter…

1
Why Tech Platforms Have Gotten Worse – and What to Do About It 47:18

9d ago47:18

47:18

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 that domination, argues author and activist Cory Docto…

1
The Leftovers with Prabal Gurung 10:27

13d ago10:27

10:27

This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from Prabal Gurung, celebrated fashion designer and author of the new memoir Walk Like a Girl. Prabal has made a habit of ordering a cheeseburger and fries in every city he visits – he tells host Rachel Belle who makes the best burger in the world. He recalls the magical celebrity sighting he had…

1
It’s (Still) Not Easy Going Green: Bonus Episode 21:17

14d ago21:17

21:17

Despite ambitious goals toward combating climate change, Oregon and Washington lag far behind other states when it comes to adding renewable energy. Our series It’s Not Easy Going Green focused on the struggles around the creation of new green energy projects. But it turns out that even if Oregon and Washington built all the wind and solar farms an…

1
Al Franken on Trump 2.0, Comedy and What’s Next for Democrats 36:06

16d ago36:06

36:06

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 May, Franken sat down with Jane Coaston, host of Croo…

1
Prabal Gurung: Momos! 29:58

20d ago29:58

29:58

Prabal Gurung’s new memoir, Walk Like a Girl, tells his life story: how he went from being a bullied queer boy in Nepal who was always an outsider to starting his own label in New York City, designing gowns for First Lady Michelle Obama, Vice President Kamala Harris and Oprah Winfrey. Prabal says he loves all kinds of food, but he is OBSESSED with …

1
Missed the Cascade PBS Ideas Festival? Listen here 8:33

23d ago8:33

8:33

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 Paris Jackson catches up once more with events director…

1
The Leftovers with W. Kamau Bell 12:40

27d ago12:40

12:40

This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from W. Kamau Bell, Emmy- and Peabody-nominated TV host, comedian, filmmaker and best-selling author. Kamau tells host Rachel Belle about the delightfully different flavor of attention that came with winning Celebrity Jeopardy; how rare it is to find his favorite kind of burrito in California’s B…

1
W. Kamau Bell: Dim Sum 46:39

1M ago46:39

46:39

Kamau Bell has a long and impressive resume, including hosting seven seasons of the CNN docuseries United Shades of America, winning a Peabody Award for We Need to Talk About Cosby, and winning the third season of Celebrity Jeopardy, and he’s about to take off on his “Who’s With Me” standup tour. Kamau wore a T-shirt on TV that read, “Not All Macar…

1
The Leftovers with Sharon Van Etten 8:17

1M ago8:17

8:17

This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from musician and actor Sharon Van Etten, who is on the road touring her new album now! An educated wine lover, Sharon tells host Rachel Belle which bottle best represents her personality and which countries are often left out of the conversation when we talk about fantastic wines. Nicknamed “Sna…

1
Sharon Van Etten: Mashed Potatoes on Toast 32:04

2M ago32:04

32:04

Sharon Van Etten is on the road now touring her seventh album, Sharon Van Etten & The Attachment Theory. But as much as she loves writing and performing music, she has considered a couple different career paths: therapist and sommelier! Sharon’s love of wine started in high school, when she was an exchange student living with a family in Spain. So …

1
The Leftovers with Josh Groban 9:22

2M ago9:22

9:22

This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from Tony-, Emmy- and Grammy-nominated singer and actor Josh Groban. Josh is getting ready for a string of shows in Las Vegas, so host Rachel Belle presents him with the most ridiculous, over-the-top, calorie-packed dishes she could find on Vegas menus (obviously Guy Fieri is involved) and asks h…

1
Josh Groban: Chocolate Covered Gummy Bears 35:10

2M ago35:10

35:10

Is Josh Groban’s best song about baked beans? Two foods Josh Groban’s dad turned him onto as a child: pickled and smoked fish and baked beans. So when Bush’s asked Josh to write them a commercial jingle, he took it a step further and composed a semi-autographical baked-bean power ballad! He tells host Rachel Belle the whole story. Josh learned to c…

1
The Leftovers with Danielle Chang 17:25

2M ago17:25

17:25

This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from Danielle Chang, host of Lucky Chow on PBS. And Rachel Belle takes a very special field trip to Seattle’s Mixed Pantry, a beautifully curated specialty foods shop that exclusively sells Asian and Asian American-made products. On last week’s episode of Your Last Meal, Danielle told Rachel she …

1
Danielle Chang: Hot Pot 23:13

3M ago23:13

23:13

PBS's "Lucky Chow" host, Danielle Chang, has been using food as a tool to promote diversity since her family immigrated from Taiwan to Texas when she was 5, and she eventually turned it into a career! Danielle tells host Rachel Belle which condiment she always keeps in her bag and Your Last Meal listeners call in to confess what flavor enhancers th…

1
The Leftovers with Pink Martini 10:23

3M ago10:23

10:23

This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from China Forbes and Timothy Nishimoto from Pink Martini! The Portland, Oregon-based band is taking off on tour this week to celebrate its 30th anniversary. Get tickets here! China and Timothy reveal their perfect birthday cakes, the countries they most enjoy eating in when they’re traveling the…

1
A Journey to the Headwaters of the Columbia 33:27

3M ago33:27

33:27

The massive Columbia River travels more than 1,200 miles from start to finish. It crosses four mountain ranges, powers 14 hydroelectric dams and irrigates hundreds of thousands of acres of farmland, among other feats. But its origins start humbly: in a gentle lake in the mountains of British Columbia. Cascade PBS’s resident historian Knute Berger j…

1
Pink Martini: A 14-Course French Feast + Thanksgiving 32:24

3M ago32:24

32:24

Pink Martini is celebrating 30 years of global music, and for the band’s pearl anniversary, China Forbes and Timothy Nishimoto dish on oysters (get it?!), the group’s unusual origin story and Thanksgiving dinner. It may be March, but thanks to lead vocalist China Forbes’ last meal, we’re talking turkey! China is very particular about which seven di…

1
The 1800s Influencer Who Made Tacoma Famous 32:29

3M ago32:29

32:29

In the second half of the 19th century, a businessman named George Francis Train rose to prominence through his success with global shipping and trade. As his wealth grew, so did his obsession with himself, and his tireless self-promotion made him a social media phenomenon of his age. Train is perhaps best known for the alleged relationship between…

1
It's Not Easy Going Green: A Path Forward 18:23

3M ago18:23

18:23

One group with a loud voice in the debate over renewable energy development in Washington is farmers. Since so many of these conflicts are rooted in land-use decisions, a major question remains: Should the state prioritize land for agriculture or energy development? Brandon Block explains how some farmers believe these new energy facilities could t…

1
It's Not Easy Going Green: An Obscure State Agency 19:25

3M ago19:25

19:25

What is the Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council, or EFSEC, anyway? While so many of Washington’s proposed renewable energy projects are mired in controversy, one thing all sides can agree on is their criticism of EFSEC. The state body, which is empowered to override local laws and recommend permits for new energy projects, is routinely critique…

1
It's Not Easy Going Green: A Controversial Wind Farm 32:08

3M ago32:08

32:08

As originally proposed, the Horse Heaven Hills wind farm would have built more than 200 wind turbines on a prominent ridgeline just south of Washington’s Tri-Cities. After years of community backlash, litigation and former Governor Inslee’s veto of a controversial state council’s permitting decision, the project is still in limbo. Cascade PBS inves…

1
Salt & Straw's Kim & Tyler Malek: Grandma's Cooking (Re-Air) 44:28

3M ago44:28

44:28

From pear & blue cheese to bone marrow with bourbon smoked cherries, Salt & Straw has always been experimental, and eager to weave local products and ingredients into their flavors. On this delightful episode, we hear how the highly successful brand got started (the story involves Portlandia, an ice-cream maker from Goodwill and Cheetos), the gross…

1
The Deadly Mouth of the Columbia 32:58

3M ago32:58

32:58

The tumultuous mouth of the Columbia River, near Astoria, Oregon, is beautiful but deadly. Thousands of ships have capsized and wrecked on its shores over the centuries. That’s earned it the menacing nickname “Graveyard of the Pacific,” although that’s not the only gloomy moniker in the region. Cascade PBS’s resident historian Knute Berger explored…

1
The Leftovers with "The Pasta Queen" Nadia Caterina Munno 4:58

3M ago4:58

4:58

This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from Nadia Caterina Munno, known to her 10 million social-media followers as The Pasta Queen, which also happens to be the name of her new Amazon Prime Italian cooking and travel show. On this bite-sized episode, Nadia reveals her all-time favorite pasta shape, how many times she's been to The Ol…

1
The Strange Things That Happen to Bodies After Death 34:20

3M ago34:20

34:20

The Pacific Northwest has a reputation for the macabre. We’ll never escape the allure of Twin Peaks, for instance, or the terrible crimes of some of the most infamous serial killers in American history. But some of the weirdest things can happen to corpses after death. Did you know that dead bodies can turn into soap? Cascade PBS’s resident histori…

1
"The Pasta Queen" Nadia Caterina Munno: Nonna's Lasagna 26:21

4M ago26:21

26:21

Nadia Catarina Munno is best known to her 10 million social-media followers as The Pasta Queen, a glamorous, dramatic Italian who crumples her face in ecstasy and throws her fork across the room after slurping up a sauce-slicked noodle. Cooking traditional pasta dishes in her Florida kitchen has earned Nadia two bestselling cookbooks and a new Amaz…

1
Racism, History and the Great Outdoors 32:05

4M ago32:05

32:05

A few seasons ago, the Mossback’s Northwest video series profiled Catherine Montgomery, an early 20th-century wilderness advocate who has been dubbed “the Mother of the Pacific Crest Trail.” But after the video aired, a viewer reached out with some more information: Catherine Montgomery, a “progressive” of her time, expressed extremely racist views…

1
The Leftovers with Kevin Morby 8:17

4M ago8:17

8:17

This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from singer/songwriter Kevin Morby. Kevin grew up in Kansas, and after 15 years of building a successful music career living in the coast’s largest cities, he has returned to his hometown. He tells host Rachel Belle why living in the Midwest can spark creativity, what Kansas City meal should be a…

1
The People of the Columbia River 34:57

4M ago34:57

34:57

In 1996, some of the oldest human remains ever found in North America were discovered along the banks of the Columbia River, ultimately illuminating Indigenous presence in the region since time immemorial. Long a crucial source of sustenance, culture and trade, the Pacific Northwest’s largest river has continued to be a vital part of human civiliza…

1
Kevin Morby: PB&J + Phở 34:18

4M ago34:18

34:18

Singer/songwriter Kevin Morby is a peanut butter and jelly man. Like most kids who grew up in the U.S. before peanut-allergy-mania, he loves the classic lunchbox version. But as an adult he’s taken to adding some very unorthodox ingredients like ... scrambled or fried eggs! In this economy?! You know who else eats a TON of peanut butter and jelly s…

1
How Horseless Carriages Took Off 36:29

4M ago36:29

36:29

At the turn of the 20th century, almost no one had a car in Seattle. There weren’t traffic laws or paved roads, and at first, only the wealthiest people could own these “horseless carriages.” Within a couple of decades, though, cars were everywhere, and Pacific Northwesterners were using their cars for all kinds of intrepid adventures, from long-ha…

1
The Leftovers with Alton Brown 27:36

4M ago27:36

27:36

This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from TV host, chef and author Alton Brown. Alton famously loathes single-use gadgets, but the one he despises most still has a home in his kitchen drawer. He tells us why. And he shares how he developed a deep love for Jewish deli food as a kid growing up in 1970s Georgia. Seattle chef and restau…

1
The Forces That Carved the Columbia 28:45

4M ago28:45

28:45

The Columbia River has been carved up by more than a dozen dams over the past century. But it’s the colossal floods and lava flows from millions of years ago that truly set it on its winding path. How do we really know what we know about the Columbia? To better understand this history, Cascade PBS’s resident historian Knute Berger joined forces wit…

1
Alton Brown: His Wife's Witchy Soup 38:11

5M ago38:11

38:11

Alton Brown hosted Good Eats on the Food Network for 16 seasons, and says Julia Child, Mr. Wizard and Monty Python were his inspirations for the wacky, science-driven TV show he created. He just released his 10th book, Food for Thought: Essays and Ruminations. Alton famously despises single-use gadgets, but he tells host Rachel Belle about the one …

1
The Leftovers with Paula Poundstone 12:07

5M ago12:07

12:07

This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from comedian Paula Poundstone! If you listened to last week's episode of Your Last Meal, you know Paula has a serious sweet tooth, from the Ring Dings she wants for her last meal to the sugar packets she used to eat for dessert. Same holds true in this episode where Paula shares her perfect birt…

1
Paula Poundstone: Ring Dings 32:19

5M ago32:19

32:19

Veteran comedian Paula Poundstone loves Ring Dings, her favorite little chocolate snack cakes only sold in a handful of East Coast states. She once told a very skeptical Michael Pollan, on NPR's Wait Wait...Don't Tell Me!, that they are her reason for living. So host Rachel Belle interviews the pastry chef/owner of The Ring Ding Bar in New York Cit…

1
The Leftovers with Ani DiFranco 9:32

5M ago9:32

9:32

This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from Ani DiFranco, singer/songwriter, activist and feminist icon. Ani started her own record company in 1989, put out her first record in 1990 and just released her 23rd album. But what do her two school-aged children think about her music? She will discuss! Plus she shares her family’s boozy hol…

1
Ani DiFranco: Watermelon Feta Salad 36:18

6M ago36:18

36:18

If you listened to the Grammy-winning singer/songwriter in the ’90s, she wants you to know she’s still making music: Ani DiFranco just released her 23rd album! Ani is known for lyrics that explore politics, social justice and feminism, but in real life she is smiley, friendly and down-to-earth – not the “angry feminist” she was often mislabeled as.…

1
LIVE Q&A with Rachel Belle on her debut cookbook 49:28

6M ago49:28

49:28

Host Rachel Belle celebrated the launch of Open Sesame at Book Larder, Seattle's only dedicated cookbook store. The event sold out, but you can listen in! Rachel is usually the one asking the questions, but on November 13 the tables were turned! She was in conversation with Becky Selengut, a beloved Seattle cookbook author, cooking instructor, podc…

1
The Leftovers with Jonathon Van Ness & Tan France 9:40

6M ago9:40

9:40

This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from Jonathan Van Ness and Tan France, two of the stars of the popular Netflix show Queer Eye. Last week on Your Last Meal, Tan said his love language is cooking for the people he loves. So just imagine the fight that breaks out in this episode when Tan tells JVN he’ll bring him take-out instead …

1
Jonathan Van Ness & Tan France: Fast Food Feast & a British Roast 34:33

6M ago34:33

34:33

Queer Eye Season 9 just dropped on Netflix, and Jonathan Van Ness (beauty expert), Tan France (fashion expert) and the rest of The Fab Five are back to make over folks who have big hearts but need lots of help in the self-care department. This episode is chock full of big energy and big personalities – so much so that host Rachel Belle hardly had t…

1
The Elephant in the Room: Where WA's GOP Goes From Here 29:43

6M ago29:43

29:43

In the final episode of the series, three Washington Republicans react to Donald Trump’s reelection and ponder the future of the state’s GOP. Donald Trump’s reelection to the country’s highest office elicited a range of reactions ... even among Republicans in Washington state. Some on the right have distanced themselves from Trump, which listeners …

1
Behind the 10th Season of 'Mossback's Northwest' 50:52

6M ago50:52

50:52

At a live event, Knute Berger, Stephen Hegg and Nick Zentner discussed Mossback’s Northwest and the 10th season's focus on the Columbia River. Mossback’s Northwest is still going strong, with its most recent season covering everything from the Columbia River to a history of racist exclusion in the outdoors. In October, Cascade PBS put on a live eve…

1
The Leftovers with Al Roker 9:21

6M ago9:21

9:21

This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from Al Roker, longtime weather presenter and co-anchor of NBC’s Today. Al and his chef daughter Courtney Roker Laga just released a cookbook called Al Roker’s Recipes to Live By – Easy, Memory-Making Family Dishes for Every Occasion. Al tells me about the strangest recipe in the cookbook (hint: …

1
The Elephant in the Room: National Triumphs, Local Losses 27:14

7M ago27:14

27:14

Follow the team as they head to Bellevue for a Republican election night watch party. As results roll in, attendees share their thoughts. Washington state, as expected, went blue in this year’s election – showing up for Kamala Harris and electing Democrats in statewide races. Still, Republicans here had a lot of enthusiasm on election night ... and…

1
Al Roker: Steakhouse Dinner 34:09

7M ago34:09

34:09

Longtime Today show weatherman and anchor, Al Roker, just released a cookbook of family recipes with his chef daughter called Al Roker’s Recipes to Live By...but it took some convincing. When Courtney Roker Laga asked her dad if he wanted to write a cookbook together, he knew his answer immediately: No thanks! Fifty years into a busy career, Al wro…

1
The Elephant in the Room: Moderate Republicans on Trump 33:31

7M ago33:31

33:31

A Northwest Reports limited series examines the present and future of Washington’s GOP. In this episode, moderate Republicans talk internal divisions. Republicans won big in this year’s election. Republicans in Washington state, however ... That's a different story. In November, the country voted to reelect Donald Trump to the nation’s highest offi…

1
The Leftovers with Chuck Palahniuk 10:53

7M ago10:53

10:53

This week on The Leftovers, never-before-heard audio from Portland, Oregon, novelist Chuck Palahniuk, author of Fight Club and nearly 20 other books, including his new novel Shock Induction. Chuck tells host Rachel Belle about his family’s favorite processed food gimmicks from the ’70s, who his dream dinner party guests are, and his favorite Portla…

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