Think Out Loud

Susan Sokolowski holds more than 100 patents, most of which she earned during the nearly 18 years she worked as a sports product designer at Nike. One of her favorite patents was for Flyknit, a knitted fabric upper that’s lightweight and provides a sock-like fit on shoes. The inspiration for it came, she says, from conversations she had with women athletes while working as a designer on Nike’s women’s footwear division, which launched in 2002. While at Nike, she also helped design shoes worn by women gymnasts at the 2008 Summer Olympics and track and field uniforms worn by Team USA at the 2016 Summer Olympics. That same year, Sokolowski left Nike to launch University of Oregon’s first graduate program in sports product design.  Sokolowski was named by USA Today as one of its 2025 Women of the Year in recognition for her work championing and designing sports apparel and products made specifically for women such as sports bras and women’s running shoes. She joins us to discuss her trailblazing career and the big trends, challenges and future of this industry, from sustainable fabrics to equipment for athletes with disabilities.

Artificial intelligence is beginning to change the entry-level job market. AI often automates the repetitive tasks that might otherwise allow new employees to learn on the job, and some worry it could eventually replace those jobs altogether. A study from Stanford University found these changes were most likely to affect “AI exposed occupations” such as software development and customer service. Lucas Hellberg is an enterprise reporter for the Daily Emerald newspaper at the University of Oregon and an elections reporting intern for Lookout Eugene-Springfield. He recently wrote about how AI is changing entry-level jobs in Oregon, and joins us with more details.

College newspapers are often on shoestring budget, and at the same time they’re a vitally important source of information — especially for their student readers. At the University of Oregon’s The Daily Emerald and Portland State University’s The Vanguard, reporters have been tear-gassed while covering immigration protests. Though reporters at Oregon State University’s The Daily Barometer have not faced that challenge, the editor-in-chief says the paper would like to be prepared for that situation if it arises. All three papers also cover stories in the community that affect the campus. Managing these competing priorities with limited resources can be a major challenge. We get more details from the editors-in-chief at the University of Oregon, Oregon State University and Portland State University: Tarek Anthony, Jenna Benson and Noah Carandanis.

Anna Soens, an alpine sit-skier and wildlife biologist from Bend who recovered from an incomplete spinal injury, qualified for Team USA at the 2026 Paralympics. She talks about her rapid rise from novice to Paralympian, her five qualified alpine events, balancing risk and training, the tight adaptive‑ski community, and challenges of custom gear and classification.

Ashley Radney, a performer who plays Precious 'Pete' and explores sex work and burlesque onstage. Faith LaVaughn, a stage actor portraying Anna and wrestling with intergenerational theater legacies. They talk about casting conflicts, generational tensions among Black women artists, reclaiming adult performance as art, and balancing diva personas with vulnerability.

Joel Beinin, former Stanford Middle East history professor and uncle of Liat, offers personal and historical perspective. Lance Kramer, film producer, explains making intimate documentaries. They discuss filming a family's real-time struggle after October 7, ethical choices around consent and access, generational tensions over trauma, and the challenges of documenting reunions and uncertainty.

Austin Smith Jr., general manager for the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs natural resources branch, is an expert in bighorn sheep restoration and disease management. He recounts tribal-led recovery work that grew small herds into thriving populations. He explains current threats like disease from domestic flocks, predation, and climate, and describes practical protection measures and creative conservation fundraising.

Jane Zhu, an OHSU associate professor and primary care physician, discusses new nationwide data showing many physicians enrolled in Medicaid do not see Medicaid patients. She explains how enrollment can mislead access estimates. She highlights specialty differences, why doctors avoid Medicaid, and policy ideas to activate latent provider capacity.

Ken Sanchagrin, Executive Director of the Oregon Public Defense Commission and long-time reformer, outlines efforts to repair Oregon’s strained public defense system. He discusses court timelines for representation and what dismissals mean. He explains challenges prosecutors face refiling cases and why shifting to full-time trial teams can help. He also covers recent funding, recruitment efforts, and realistic progress metrics.

          According to recent surveys, the number of people who say they are experiencing burnout is on the rise. Dr. Zarya Rubin practices functional medicine in Portland who specializes in identifying and relieving burnout. She started a podcast last year that she both produces and hosts called “Outsmart Burnout.” She says burnout can manifest as physical and mental exhaustion, brain fog, an increase in anxiety and a decrease in productivity. The factors that contribute to this phenomenon can include almost every aspect of life from work and family dynamics to national politics. We sit down with Rubin to hear more, including her recommendations for getting relief - and take your calls. Our call-in number is 888-665-5865.