Think Out Loud

Some might argue that pie is the quintessential American dessert. Certainly Stacey Mei Yan Fong makes that argument in her cookbook. Fong’s “50 pies, 50 states” is an “immigrant’s love letter” to this country as told through pie. OPB’s Crystal Ligori talked to Fong at the 2023 Portland Book Festival.

Indigenous author, botanist and professor Robin Wall Kimmerer is best known for her  book “Braiding Sweetgrass,” which was published in 2013 and is about the reciprocal relationships between humans and the land. Her first book, “Gathering Moss,” was published a decade earlier by Oregon State University Press. Kimmerer is in Corvallis to accept Oregon State University’s 2024 Stone Award for Literary Achievement. She will give a lecture on Friday, May 17th at 7pm.

In 2019, Isabeau Waia’u Walker quit her job as a teacher with the aim of becoming a full-time musician. Despite the disruptions of the pandemic, Waia’u Walker has succeeded.  Waia’u Walker, who sometimes sings in her native Hawaiian, released her second album, “Heavyweight,” last month. Waia’u Walker joins us in the studio for a conversation and performance.

Over the last eight years, Oregon has seen growth in the number of primary care providers, but according to experts, the state will need more than a 40% increase in practitioners to meet growing demand in the next decade.

Betsy Boyd-Flynn is the CEO of the Oregon Academy of Family Physicians. Jane Akpamgbo is a family physician for Kaiser Permanente and president-elect of OAFP. Eva McCarthy is a core faculty physician for Samaritan Health Services’ Family Medicine Residency Program and current president of the organization. They join us to share more about the challenges physicians are facing in the state and what could be done to change that.

Just a couple of years ago, agricultural and public health officials were hopeful that they could keep avian flu from thriving in Oregon. But thrive it did, and some Oregonians’ so-called backyard bird farms have been devastated by infections, as the birds must be euthanized if the virus is detected. It wasn’t too long before the bird flu jumped to dairy cows, whose milk must be dumped if infected. Commercial farms are eligible for payments from the the USDA to compensate for those losses, but smaller operations get no such help.

Just last month, Washington saw its first case of the virus taking hold in humans. A month later, Oregon had its first case, reported Nov. 15. The symptoms are mild in humans. Testing is relatively robust in states like Colorado, but Oregon and Washington are significantly behind what public health officials say is needed to monitor and maintain a healthy environment. We learn more about bird flu in Oregon and the Pacific Northwest from investigative reporter Rachel Spacek of InvestigateWest.

Thanksgiving cooking could mean hours in the kitchen -- and it can be stressful, managing timing or different dietary needs. Do you have menu questions? Or tips for pulling off a successful meal for family and friends? OPB “Superabundant” contributor and food writer Heather Arndt Anderson joins us to answer your questions

The Native American Youth and Family Center has hosted a series of events throughout November that celebrate survival and solidarity with the Portland Native community. The tending days at NAYA’s gardens at the Neerchokikoo Campus allow people to connect with the land and honor indigenous resilience. We learn more about the events from Lucy Suppah, Indigenous Food Sovereignty Coordinator for NAYA.  

The tune you hum along to from your favorite podcast may come from the Portland band Wonderly. The duo, made up of Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk, have recorded theme music for many podcasts, including the New York Times’ “The Daily.” They have also recently released a new album called "Wolves." Brunberg and Landsverk join us in studio for a performance and conversation.

Adults who decide to not have children have faced criticism for being “selfish” or derided as “childless cat ladies.”

The term DINK has been used to describe people who have dual incomes and no kids. 

In the Portland metro area, Erika Abdelatif and Kristen Myers have created “Dinky,” a podcast which takes a lighthearted approach about their lifestyle and features other guests who are similarly childfree.

The show covers news and pop culture, with past episodes featuring a range of topics, including discussions on feminism, traveling without kids and artificial intelligence.  

Dinky has generated a sizable following on social media, including TikTok and Instagram.  

Abdelatif and Myers join us to talk about their show and why it’s resonating with audiences. 

For some Oregonians, their medical needs are too high to be discharged from a hospital, but they also don’t need the emergency care that hospitals provide. They remain at the hospital while waiting for space at another facility that can provide the appropriate level of care. Oregon lawmakers created the Joint Task Force on Hospital Discharge Challenges to address the issue. Earlier this month, the task force approved its recommendations, after studying the issue for more than a year, according to reporting by the Oregon Capital Chronicle. We learn more about the proposed solutions from Jimmy Jones, the executive director of the  Mid-Willamette Valley Community Action Agency who chairs the task force.