Chanda Prescod-Weinstein on dark matter, the nature of the universe, and who gets to ask the biggest questions in science. She challenges assumptions about objectivity and identity—making the case that who does science shapes the science we get.
Molly Webster
Molly Webster is the senior correspondent at Radiolab. After completing a degree in biology, Molly pursued science journalism, writing for outlets such as Scientific American and National Geographic Adventure. Her ability to comprehend and totally immerse herself in complicated issues has helped Radiolab investigate international surrogacy, the price of a human life and an unexpected piece of ancient pottery. She has adapted her audio and written work for the stage, performing at venues ranging from BAM to TED. A frequent guest host on Radiolab, she developed, produced and hosted our first-ever special series, Gonads — a critically acclaimed podcast and live event series about the parts of us that make more of us.
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Cascade PBS Ideas Festival
THANK YOU FOR AN AMAZING YEAR
Cascade PBS Ideas Festival will return in 2027
KEEP CONNECTED - JOIN OUR NEWSLETTERABOUT THE 2026 FESTIVAL
The 2026 Cascade PBS Ideas Festival was a full-day celebration of ideas, journalism, and public discourse held on Saturday, June 6th, in Seattle's historic Fremont neighborhood. The event featured live podcast recordings and studio television tapings from major media outlets including The Atlantic, NPR, The New Yorker, CNN, PBS, and Pushkin, with programs such as Fresh Air, Radiolab, The Political Scene, Radio Atlantic, and Open to Debate live on stage. Speakers included Ibram X. Kendi, Nancy Pelosi, Monica Lewinsky, Laverne Cox, Kenny Mayne, Tonya Mosley, Adam Schiff, and others drawn from journalism, politics, culture, and the arts. Beyond the main sessions, the festival included community meetups, speaker meet-and-greets, food trucks, DJs, live music, happy hour - and surprises. The festival brought together more than a thousand PBS supporters for what has become a highly anticipated annual event that fosters intellectual discourse and expands understanding of the issues shaping our world.



2026 SPEAKERS
Laverne Cox
Emmy-winning actress, producer, LGBTQ+ advocate, and author
Nancy Pelosi
Speaker Emerita, United States Congress
Ibram X. Kendi
Author, Chain of Ideas: The Origins of Our Authoritarian Age
Monica Lewinsky
Activist, Writer, Producer
Tonya Mosley
Co-Host Fresh Air / Creator and Host of Truth Be Told
Kenny Mayne
Former ESPN Host, Podcast Host
Robby Hoffman
Emmy-winning writer, Emmy-nominated actor, and Comedian
Eddie S. Glaude Jr.
Author of America, U.S.A.: How Race Shadows the Nation's Anniversaries
Knute Berger
Host, Mossback's Northwest
Adam Schiff
U.S. Senator, California
Nick Zentner
Geologist, Host of Nick on the Rocks
Patricia Murphy
Host, Seattle Now / KUOW
Hanna Rosin
Host, Radio Atlantic
Tyler Foggatt
Host, The Political Scene
Danielle Pletka
Distinguished Senior Fellow, American Enterprise Institute
Kevin Sur
Host, KEXP's Sounds of Survivance
Paris Jackson
Host, The Newsfeed
David Rind
Host of CNN Podcast, "One Thing"
Girmay Zahilay
King County Executive
Rebecca Nagle
Writer and Host, First America
Laura Gibson
Musician / Writer
Daisy Hernández
Author, Citizenship: Notes on an American Myth
Molly Webster
Senior Correspondent, Radiolab Co-Host
Gene Tagaban
Storyteller, Speaker, Mentor, Teacher and Counselor of the Spirit
Julia Ioffe
Author, MOTHERLAND: A Feminist History of Modern Russia; Founding Partner, Washington Correspondent at Puck
Steve Phillips
Host of Democracy in Color podcast, Author, and Columnist at The Guardian, The Nation
Hozoji Matheson-Margullis
Musician, Helms Alee, Lozen, Tacos!, and Uukwuuk
John Donvan
Moderator-in-Chief
Brangien Davis
Cascade PBS, Arts and culture writer / television host
Chanda Prescod-Weinstein
Theoretical Physicist and Cosmologist, Author of The Edge of Space and Time