PODCAST

Think Out Loud

Oregon Public Broadcasting

OPB"s daily conversation covering news, politics, culture and the arts. Hosted By Dave Miller.

news

All Episodes

20:48

Portland podcaster and puzzle enthusiast explains...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/24

Over the pandemic, the sale of puzzles skyrocketed. And while people of all ages enjoy piecing together jigsaw puzzles as a more leisurely activity, others take it at a much more serious and at a competitive level. Speed puzzling is a competition where everyone is given the exact same puzzle and individuals, duos or teams work together to complete it the fastest. Last month, USA Jigsaw Nationals brought together puzzle lovers across the country to Atlanta to compete. Portlander

en-us

13:52

Scientist looks to microbe found in extreme...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/24

When it comes to growing apples, no state dominates like Washington. It accounts for roughly 6 in 10 of all the apples grown in the U.S. One of the major threats facing this top crop is fire blight. The bacterial disease attacks apple and pear trees and can ruin an entire harvest, costing roughly $100 million annually in losses for the U.S. apple industry. The fire blight bacteria can also develop resistance to the antibiotic orchardists have typically used to protect their

en-us

17:49

Washington researchers are concerned about gray whale...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/24

According to scientists at the Cascadia Research Collective, gray whale populations off the Washington coast are experiencing a higher level of early-season mortality than they’ve ever recorded. Just this year, three gray whales have been found off the Oregon Coast, and 14 have been found off the coast of Washington.The whales that have been found stranded in Washington and Oregon appear to have been extremely malnourished. Scientists think that melting sea ice due to

en-us

52:14

Patrick Radden Keefe discusses his new book “London...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/23

Patrick Radden Keefe discusses his new book “London Falling” at Lincoln High School in PortlandLONG SYNOPSIS: In 2019, a 19-year-old man named Zac Brettler died after jumping off the balcony of a luxury apartment in London near the River Thames. Police never came to a conclusion about what led to Brettler’s death. But soon after, it was revealed that Brettler was living a double-life, filled with lies and organized crime in a city changed by extreme wealth

en-us

20:34

Portland nonprofit engages with Black voters through...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/22

With ballots for Oregon’s primary elections scheduled to go out next week, civic organizations are working to get out the vote. Imagine Black, based in Portland, aims to engage voters through community events, rather than mailers or door-to-door canvassing. The nonprofit is holding a basketball benefit next month with community leaders and elected officials ahead of primary Election Day, May 19.Joy Alise Davis is the executive director of Imagine Black. She joins us to

en-us

18:10

OHSU cancer researcher’s work offers glimpse into...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/22

Scientists at Oregon Health & Science University’s Knight Cancer Institute are pioneering a new way to study cancer that could lead to faster cancer detection and more targeted treatment. It involves 3D printing cancer cells from a patient and miniature versions of organs like bones and lungs. The healthy tissue and cancer cells are placed together inside a tiny device that’s roughly the size of a thumbdrive. Scientists can then observe in real time how they

en-us

14:12

Health officials warn Oregon measles outbreak is growing

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/22

As of last week, Oregon had reported 20 measles cases since the start of 2026. Measles was declared eradicated in the U.S. in 2000, but falling vaccination rates have driven outbreaks in more than half of U.S. states so far this year. Health officials warn that community transmission in Oregon is beginning to grow and have asked for the public’s help in curbing the spread. Dean Sidelinger is a health officer and state epidemiologist for the Oregon Health Authority. He

en-us

22:52

New film showcases 3 Bend athletes’ commitment to...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/21

Josh Hancock, Danielle Doelling and Anna Soens are all athletes based in Bend who suffered life-changing accidents, leaving them with varied levels of spinal cord injury. All three of these athletes spent their lives before injury participating in extreme outdoor sports. The film “Adapted” follows these athletes on their journeys to get back to the activities they love, and finding new accessible ways to access the outdoors.Paul Bikis, the director of the film,

en-us

14:42

How some dogs are trained to find native and invasive...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/21

From the Emerald Ash Borer to Zebra Mussels, Oregon is no stranger to invasive species. The state has a management plan in place that aims to detect invasive species early on, educate the public and prevent their entry into Oregon to begin with. But there are other tools that government agencies and researchers use around the world: dogs. Conservation dogs are trained canines that help locate invasive and endangered species, as well as playing a role in data collection for

en-us

13:58

Portland emergency medical response now among the...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/21

Portland’s Bureau of Emergency Communications has drastically improved its 9-1-1 call times and medical response. Just a few years ago, the agency was short staffed and response times were far below national standards. But the efforts the Bureau has made have yielded dramatic results: it recently earned accreditation by the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch, which put it in the top 10 percent of dispatch agencies in the world. We talk with Steve Mawdsley, the

en-us

51:50

REBROADCAST: Portland author's new book celebrates...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/20

Ponderosa pine trees dominate parts of Eastern Oregon and Washington and have long been an icon of the American West, but in the past decade more than two hundred million ponderosa have died. Particularly in the Southwest, scientists estimate that by mid-century less than 5% of the ponderosa trees may remain. We revisit a conversation we first aired on Dec. 22, 2025 with Portland author Gary Ferguson about the history and the future of the ponderosa forests of the Southwest in

en-us

21:15

Portland’s Fertile Ground Festival of new plays...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/17

The Fertile Ground festival of news plays in development has become a staple of the Portland theatre scene since it first began in 2009. This year’s festival has expanded to 17 days, the longest festival yet, to take in the 80-some different productions that run through April 26. We talk with the festival director Tamara Carroll and Kristin Tehrani, who helped create “When I Was a Mexican: A Bollywood Musical.”

en-us

16:05

How charitable donation bins in Oregon, and around...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/17

Charitable donation bins, the large steel and metal boxes often found in parking lots, began appearing in the U.S. in the 1950s. By 1960, Portland had more than 70 goodwill bins, collecting tens of thousands of bags of donated goods a year. But there is a cost that comes with charitable giving. New reporting from The Believer found more than 30 documented cases where people have died while trying to access donated goods. Many of the deceased were people experiencing

en-us

15:41

First year of Washington County’s deflection program...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/17

Oregon voters passed Measure 110 in 2020. The goal was to decriminalize small amounts of street drugs and move users into treatment. That goal was ultimately not realized, and in 2024, the legislature changed the drug laws. They implemented a new program: it let counties set up deflection programs to direct people facing misdemeanor possession charges away from the criminal justice system and into treatment. Most counties set up these deflection programs, and some, like

en-us

14:31

Salem McKay High School teacher wins state award for...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/16

For more than four years, business teacher Marcia Latta has been helping youth improve their financial literacy at McKay High School in Salem. In recognition of her efforts, Latta was recently named the Oregon Financial Empowerment Educator of the Year by Oregon Treasurer Elizabeth Steiner. The Salem Statesman Journal first reported news of Latta’s award, which includes a $1,500 cash prize for Latta, $500 for her school and $500 total in college savings plan gift

en-us

15:37

Why some researchers are editing human genes in embryos

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/16

In 2023, the FDA approved the first gene therapies to help treat people with sickle cell disease. The treatment is for patients 12 years and older, but what if you could use this technology before someone is born? That’s what some researchers, and others, believe is the hope for the future. The idea is to use CRISPR, a technology used to edit the genes of living beings, during in vitro fertilization. It is much easier said than done, but could be possible in theory. Ashley

en-us

22:36

Ukrainian folk singers honor 40th anniversary of...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/16

An explosion on April 26, 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine, which was then a part of the Soviet Union, resulted in the worst nuclear disaster in history. Massive amounts of radioactive material spewed into the atmosphere. At least 30 people were killed. A Chernobyl Exclusion Zone was established and today remains largely uninhabited with lingering radioactive contamination.To mark the 40th anniversary of the disaster, a free concert is being held tomorrow

en-us

26:27

The Portland-based band The Builders and The Butchers...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/15

The Portland-based band The Builders and The Butchers released their seventh album, “No Tomorrow,” this month. The band started in 2005 busking and playing house shows and are now known for playing raucous, audience-involved stage shows. Many of the songs on the new album are a response to the current political moment in the U.S. Vocalist and songwriter Ryan Solee joins us for an acoustic performance and interview.The Builders and The Butchers will have an

en-us

10:01

Coyotes in Washington carry tapeworms that can be...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/15

Researchers in Washington state have found that about a third of the local coyotes studied have a species of tapeworm. These can be passed to dogs, and in rare instances humans. These parasites are also present in foxes and other canid urban wildlife. Domestic dogs can also contract them, and it can be years before the symptoms of the severe disease they cause are detected, making diagnosis and treatment difficult. In rare instances, dogs can spread the tapeworms to humans. We

en-us

15:48

New maps assess health of sagebrush ecosystems across...

Think Out Loud ·

2026/04/15

Vast expanses of the American West, including parts of Central and Eastern Oregon, share a unique ecosystem characterized by sagebrush, wildflowers and a wide array of perennial grasses. This “sagebrush sea” is one of the largest contiguous ecotypes in the U.S., but it faces increasing threats from wildfire, invasive species and development. A new tool aims to help land managers quickly assess the health of these vast regions. Conservation groups, state and federal

en-us

1,858 results

Think Out Loud

All Episodes

Similar Podcasts

Expres Ráno

Expres FM

PBS News Hour - Full Show

PBS News

CD Voice

China Daily

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

Noa Levi

Jeffrey Epstein: The Coverup Chronicles

Bobby Capucci