Think Out Loud

We revisit a conversation we first aired in April 2023 which was the first installment of our series on people’s professions. We’ll learn what it takes to do different kinds of jobs and how these professions change us. David Beer is Portland’s Squeezebox Surgeon. He has studied the inner workings of accordions in Italy and at A World of Accordions Museum in Wisconsin. He operates on all different kinds of free reed instruments. He shares with us how he got into this business and gives us an inside look of how accordions work and what it takes to get them singing again.

Two Republican candidates are hoping to win their party’s nomination to upset the Democratic incumbent Congresswoman Val Hoyle in ORegon’s 4th District. Amy Ryan Courser is a consultant and former Keizer city council member. One her campaign website she says she’s a mom, wife, mom, friend and Patriot, and describes her priorities as “America first.” Her primary opponent, Monique DeSpain, a 30-year Air Force veteran and attorney, declined OPB’s invitation for an interview or candidate debate. We talk with Amy Fryan Courser about making her case to Oregon voters in the 4th district. 

Timberline Lodge on Mount Hood is closed until further notice following a fire Thursday night. The surrounding Timberline ski area is also closed Friday. Clackamas Fire officials have reported that everyone evacuated from the building safely. We get more details on the fire and the extent of the damage from John Burton, director of marketing and public relations for Timberline Lodge.

The award winning poet, writer and essayist Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s genius lies in making connections between the astonishments of the natural world and the particular wonders of her own - and all of our - lives. Nezhukumatathil is the author of four collections of poems, including “Oceanic, and her latest book, a bestselling collection of essays, is called “World of Wonders.” Nezhukumatathil is a professor of English at the University of Mississippi, and joins us in front of an audience of students at McDaniel High School.

The award winning poet, writer and essayist Aimee Nezhukumatathil’s genius lies in making connections between the astonishments of the natural world and the particular wonders of her own - and all of our - lives. Nezhukumatathil is the author of four collections of poems, including “Oceanic, and her latest book, a bestselling collection of essays, is called “World of Wonders.” Nezhukumatathil is a professor of English at the University of Mississippi, and joins us in front of an audience of students at McDaniel High School.

Scientists at the University of British Columbia may have identified a new population of orcas, also known as killer whales, feeding in the deep waters between Astoria and Southern California, according to a recently published study. The researchers reviewed photos, videos and descriptions made by fishermen, NOAA scientists and a whale-watching tour operator during multiple encounters with the marine mammals over a span of nearly 25 years. Their distinctive appearance and feeding behaviors - including a penchant for hunting sperm whales – are some of the ways they’re unlike other killer whales that forage off the West Coast of North America. Joining us to share more details about this mysterious pod of orcas is Andrew Trites, director of the Marine Mammal Research Unit and professor at the Institute for the Oceans and Fisheries at the University of British Columbia, and a co-author of the study.  

Oregon’s second largest city has an open seat for mayor. Incumbent Eugene mayor Lucy Vinis announced last year she would not be seeking a third term of office, and she promptly endorsed architect and housing expert Kaarin Knudsen, the first to declare her candidacy. Educator Shanaè Joyce-Stringer joined the race later, as well as Stefan Strek, who does not appear to have a campaign website but who was included in a recent mayoral candidate forum hosted by the Eugene City Club. KLCC’s Rebecca Hansen-White moderated that event and has been covering the race. She joins us with more about the candidates and the most pressing issues the city is facing.

At this point, many of us have probably encountered someone in the midst of a drug, alcohol or mental health-related crisis in a public place. And you may have wondered: What can I do for that person? Where could that person go so as not to be disrupting public space? In Multnomah County for the last four years, the answer has been: nowhere. Central City Concern’s Sobering Station closed abruptly in December 2019, and a lengthy effort to reopen a new center fell apart two years later. Now, Multnomah County Commissioner Julia Brim-Edwards has led an effort to propose a new center which is backed by state funding. Brim-Edwards joins us to explain the final proposal.

If your weekends aren’t complete without watching a tight spiral arc, you can catch the Oregon Ravens as they are starting their season in the Women’s National Football Conference. We talk to two players about the joys of playing one of America’s favorite sports on a team dedicated to women and nonbinary players: Chris Landers is defensive tackle and offensive guard and has been playing with the Ravens since 2019. Kola Shippentower is in her first season as a linebacker and running back. We talk to them ahead of their first home game against the Las Vegas Silver Stars on April 27.

In 2017, fewer than 1,000 winter steelhead returned to the Upper Willamette Basin. That number has exploded to more than 7,600 so far this year. The returns are the highest since 2004. Zach Urness is the outdoors editor for the Statesman Journal and hosts the Explore Oregon podcast. He joins us with more on what’s behind the increase.