Contrary to what Starbucks and Tinder would have you believe, innumerable choices might just be making you miserable. Now that the viaduct’s gone, what will you see in its place? What really goes on after you send your (improperly sorted) recycling to the facility? And finally, some true tall tales about Seattle.

Sooo, the FDA isn’t inspecting your food at the moment – easy on the salads? Farther from home, what are some ways to stay safe while you travel? We look inside the world of elite youth sports. And: Sephora wants to sell you $24 Kush Mascara. What a time to be alive.

The nation's parks are open for business, but largely unstaffed. Congestion pricing might make it harder to get into Seattle, and you might be able to relieve your own congestion with bionic plants in the home. Plus, the story of how Sub Pop put Seattle on the map.

We ask the governor about his proposal for a public option for health insurance. What would that mean for you? And does social media have to be toxic, or is there a better way?

It turns out all those fables might have been right after all: the witty animal is often the one that prospers. Also: how do you feel about further automating your grocery shopping? A Washington state senator wants to legalize corpse composting, and whatever happened to the town of Zenith, WA.

Tom Farrey, executive director at the Aspen Institute and Julie McCleery from the University of Washington Center for Leadership in Athletics talk about the big business of youth sports. We also examine what to watch for from special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation in 2019 and hear about more ailing orcas. Plus: Do you want to be composted when you're dead?

Dr. Fuki Hisama medical director of the UW Medicine Genetic Medicine Clinic tells us why you shouldn't necessarily trust your results. We also talk about why adults with developmental disabilities are being sheltered at the hospital, and we hear about how the Seahawks, Huskies and Cougars played. Plus: What will be the new sound of Seattle's NHL team?

We made around 200 shows for you in 2018. These were the segments that producers Amina Al-Sadi, Alison Bruzek, and Adwoa Gyimah-Brempong found most memorable.

Emotional and inspirational, we hear about your personal anthem of the year. We also take a look at the new Acting Secretary of Defense Patrick Shanahan, and his time at Boeing and the University of Washington. Plus, a conversation with historians Paul Dorpat and Jean Sherrard about their collaboration, "Seattle Now and Then."

We get sooo many listener questions that it's just not possible to fit every one in a SoundQs episode. So the podcast team ousted Bill Radke and took over The Record's airtime spot.