This story originally aired on May 25, 2019. In the mid-1960s, there was a number that loomed large for many American men: 26. That was the cutoff age for the draft. If you were antiwar, or just didn’t fancy going off to combat, it could be a race to stall the process long enough to hit that birthday, before being hauled in front of the draft board. Fred Lonidier was very much antiwar . He was a student in San Francisco during this period , and he realized at some point that graduation was

This story originally aired on May 25, 2019. When most of us see scientific data presented on graphs and spreadsheets, the meaning behind the numbers can get lost pretty fast — even when they are explained by an expert. One woman whose personal mission is to make this kind of information more accessible is Judy Twedt , a doctoral student at the University of Washington . She is so enthusiastic about communicating scientific information in an understandable way that she wears it for everyone to

This story originally aired on May 25, 2019. Laura Michalek is an auctioneer. She lives in Tacoma and does mostly fundraising work, and she’s been at it for a couple of decades. But this story is about one of the first times Laura was in the spotlight, and it actually comes way before her auctioneer career. This all starts in the year 1979. Laura’s in high school in Berwyn, Illinois — just outside Chicago. And she’s running on the cross-country team. There are a few numbers to pay attention to

This story originally aired on May 25, 2019. For almost five years, Seattle drag queen Sylvia O'Stayformore has been hosting Rainbow Bingo at Ballard Northwest Senior Center. There are colorful decorations, themed prizes, and a bar for beer and wine. And, of course, O'Stayformore performs a number or two. Carlye Teel, director of the center, says they first heard about Rainbow Bingo through one of their groups at the center, A.B.L.E. (Aging Ballard Lesbian Exchange) and immediately thought, "yes

This story originally aired on May 25, 2019. Thomas Kyle-Milward wears a tie to work, but deep down he’s still a farm boy. Kyle-Milward grew up on a small family farm outside Portland, Oregon. The farm had its own rhythm: morning and evening chores, planting, harvest. And every year — the Columbia County Fair. Kyle-Milward is building a life in urban Tacoma now, but he still makes it out for the fair each summer. And, as he’ll proudly share, he brings along bragging rights as the 2014 wild cow

Joy, for Jonah, is simple. “That flies are in the room,” says the 6-year-old from Tacoma. “And I get to squish them.” For his mom, Emily Wickman, these difficult times still harbor moments of joy, too. Only, they’re more complicated, laced with the frustrations and anxieties of coping and raising kids during the pandemic.

There is a lot to worry about right now: our jobs and our health. How will we be able to make next month’s rent or mortgage payment? Then there is the bigger question — will life ever be the same again? But, even though we are living in unprecedented and scary times, there is still room for laughter. There is still a lot to smile about and be grateful for. What are your moments of joy? This is the question we are asking today on Transmission. From parents who are making the most of their time at

This show originally aired on April 2, 2019. We start by meeting a scientist who is trying to create a way for people to have the sensation of touch through their prosthetic limbs. Then, a man considers himself “lucky” after having his legs amputated . Also, an essay about the challenges of finding the right medication for mental health. Next, a philanthropist who invests in research on the potential benefits of psychedelic drugs . We meet a man who wants to use augmented reality and artificial

This story originally aired on April 27, 2019. I’ve been on and off drugs for decades — the pharmaceutical kind, for my brain. When I was 13 or 14 years old, and before my doctors looked too closely, the diagnosis was garden-variety depression and generalized anxiety disorder, aka “you have a lot of panic attacks and we’re not entirely sure why.”

This story originally aired on April 27, 2019. How does a research study get funded? The most common way is to apply for a grant from the government. But what if what you’re studying is so controversial that government funders won't touch it? That’s where people like Cody Swift come in.