ESPN icon Kenny Mayne on Seattle's NBA dream and a media industry he barely recognizes anymore—where algorithms and hot takes have replaced storytelling. Characteristically sharp, sardonic, and unfiltered.
Kendi discusses Chain of Ideas, his new history of how "great replacement theory" became the engine of our authoritarian age. He argues that fear of being replaced—racially, culturally, electorally—is what powers strongmen worldwide, and that naming the playbook is a first step toward defeating it.
Open to Debate is the nation’s leading nonpartisan, nonprofit media platform dedicated to bringing together people of multiple viewpoints for civil discourse. The Open to Debate podcast features debates that cover a variety of pressing topics—from politics to culture, and everything in between.
Tonya Mosley speaks with Eddie S. Glaude Jr. about race, democracy, and the moral tensions shaping America. They examine history's echoes in today's politics, and how honest storytelling can illuminate injustice while opening paths toward accountability and renewal.
Rebecca Nagle and Daisy Hernandez examine how citizenship has been granted, denied, and weaponized—and how both the Cherokee and Mexican American experience reveal the contradictions at the heart of who this country says belongs here.
Robby Hoffman on growing up Hasidic, leaving it all behind, and building a comedy career from queer identity and outsider life. From her Netflix special to her Emmy-nominated turn on Hacks—bracingly honest about belonging and why the best jokes still sting.
King County Executive Girmay Zahilay on his first months in office—blocking ICE from county property, tackling homelessness and addiction, restructuring county government for accountability, and what it takes to lead in an era of upheaval and uncertainty.
Senator Adam Schiff on Iran, AI, and the DOJ's drift toward political weaponization. He warns of efforts to suppress voters in 2026 and what it will take for Democrats to defend America's democratic institutions.
Monica Lewinsky and Laverne Cox on identity, resilience, and reclaiming their own narratives. They reflect on public scrutiny, the evolution of media, and how to challenge stigmas and build empathy in a polarized world.
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.
Nancy Pelosi speaks with Hanna Rosin about power, leadership, and women in politics. Reflecting on decades in public life, she offers insight into governing in a polarized era and the challenges shaping America's democratic future.
KEXP DJ, Kevin Sur, hosts a closing capstone where attendees can mix, mingle, debrief and decompress from a day that will surely leave us all with a lot to talk about. Enjoy libations and gyrations (if you're so inclined). Presented by Edward Jones
The Cascade PBS Ideas Festival is a full-day event featuring live podcast recordings and studio television tapings by The Atlantic, NPR, The New Yorker, CNN, PBS, Pushkin, and more. Watch live as journalists, newsmakers, and thought leaders -like Nancy Pelosi, Laverne Cox, Ibram X. Kendi, Tonya Mosley, and Robby Hoffman- take on compelling topics and headlines making the news. Plus, community meetups, speaker meet-and-greets, micro-sessions, food trucks, DJs, -and surprises. Join us on June 6th at Fremont Studios, The Picklr and Hidden Hall in the heart of Seattle's Fremont neighborhood.
