Bloodworks 101

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message What’s scarier than a blood shortage? Not much, but a haunted house in a real morgue might be up there. For the past 10 years, The Georgetown Morgue has offered a unique proposition: donate blood, skip the line. Owner Scott Kolling sat down with Bloodworks' Giselle Lehmann to talk about how the Morgue is making waves, in more ways th...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Hospitals, research institutions, and biopharma companies rely on blood and blood cells from Bloodworks Research Donor Program for groundbreaking scientific research. Just a few miles from Bloodworks’ headquarters, the Mitchell Lab at the University of Washington turns this blood into a better understanding of the mechanisms behind diseas...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Maia Gaiia is one of the talented young artists who brings her music, her poise, and her caring heart to Where the Heart Lives, our free one-hour hip hop performance for high schools and colleges. Bloodworks' Giselle Lehmann caught up with Maia to talk about music, community, and, in Maia's words, regulating your nervous system....

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Former Washington Governor Gary Locke has a long resume and a distinguished career in public service but did you know he was also an advocate for blood donation? For this special ENCORE EDITION of Bloodoworks 101, Locke sat down with contributor Juan Cotto.   Support the show

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message You probably know that blood donation is good for our community but did you know that it's actually good for your health? It's true and in ways you've probably never known. Bloodworks 101 Producer John Yeager spoke with someone who's done a lot of research on the topic, an engineer with Goodlabs, a new company providin...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, a time to shine a light on the importance of blood donation to the survival of kids fighting cancer. It's also a time to recognize "cancer moms" for the incredible support they give. Recently,  Producer John Yeager spoke with a couple of "cancer moms" for this edition...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message We’re coming to the tail end of Bloodworks' second Give Blood. Rescue a Human. campaign, which emphasizes the powerful connection between pet lovers and the compassionate act of giving blood. Today you’ll hear from two humans who pawsitively embody the spirit of this campaign: Ryan Henry Ward (aka Henry) and Lani Benavente. © 2026 Bl...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Most of us are old enough to remember September 11th, 2001. Vancouver's Chris Adams will never forget that day. That's because when tradegies like 9-11 happen, people can either feel helpless or do one of the only things that makes them feel like they're making a contribution, they give blood. Donors that day, poured into t...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message For most people, Tuesday, September 11th, 2001 is a day of unmatched terror, that played out right before our eyes on television sets around the world. Almost 3,000 people would die that day, including civilians, firefighters, police officers and passengers. Thousands more have died since then, of 9/11-related illnesses. But for two Blood...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Starting a new job is stressful, but starting a new job on the same day as the deadliest terrorist attack in American history? Dawn Walker sat down with Bloodworks 101 co-producer Helen Pitlick to reflect on the generosity she witnessed on her very first day at Bloodworks, 25 years ago. Support the show

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message If her husband is present, Adreinne Averett isn't allowed to sing in the bathroom. It has to do with the fact that according to Ken Averett, listening to his wife in a setting like that is like being near a "sonic boom." Bloodworks 101 Producer John Yeager got a chance to meet Adrienne a little while back and can attest to...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Imagine hearing the words, "I think you have cancer." Forest Grove Oregon's Lauren Quinsland doesn't have to use her imagination. For Lauren, it was real. But as she told Bloodworks 101 Producer, John Yeager, what happened next served as an example of superb medical care from her doctors, strong support from her co-wor...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message When you donate blood, you have no idea where your blood goes nor do you know who received it. This is a story about someone who received it. Her name is Natasha Erickson, a stay-at-home mom from the Portland area. Natasha was on hand for the Grand Opening of our new donor center in Beaverton. Why? Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager take...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message It's not everyday we feature a Canadian veterinarian and a rare blood procedure called xenotransfusion. But that's exactly what brought international media attention to the vet, Dr. Cameron Berg and the Toronto Wildlife Centre recently.  And that's how Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager found out about it.  In today's...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Did you know that people with Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes, on or off medication, can donate blood if their diabetes is under control and they meet the other eligibility criteria? Madi Johnson didn't know this until she started working for Bloodworks, and she's lived with diabetes since she was 12. Now, it's her job to help pe...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Are you curious about your health but just haven't taken the time to get your blood tested? Is the cost of getting your blood tested holding you back? Well, there's a new company called Goodlabs, partnering with Bloodworks Northwest that provides free blood testing to Bloodworks Northwest donors. Goodlabs is a nationwide company...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message On Sunday, July 26th, 2026, three people were killed and more than four people were injured in a shooting at the Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food and music festival. Many in the city feel sad and powerless in the aftermath of events like these. But the next day, as Bloodworks 101 Producer Helen Pitlick discovered, four peopl...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message We say "One More Time" a lot. The expression "One More Time" can apply to many things in life. Here in Seattle, if you're a football fan, you'd probably like the Seahawks to win the Super Bowl just "One More Time". But if you're a Bloodworks Northwest donor, we hope you take that expression to...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Tash Haynes is a storyteller and content creator based here in the Puget Sound Area. Tash says she loves to share people's stories but as Bloodworks 101 Producer John Yeager found out, it's her personal story that brought her in to the new Bloodworks Northwest Tacoma Donor Center. Wait til you hear it.  Support the show

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Bloodworks partners with The Residency on Where the Heart Lives, a free one-hour hip-hop show for high school and college students that makes blood donation more approachable. If you’ve seen a performance, you’ve probably seen Tazz Enrico. Tazz came into Bloodworks to talk with our own Giselle Lehmann. As you will hear, the relationship t...

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Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Content warning: this episode involves life-threatening bleeding during childbirth.  The strengths of motherhood are not often recognized or appreciated in the workplace. Seattle resident Dr. Laura Marie Rivera is very aware of this — her work focuses on the intersection between motherhood and leadership. But, 11 years ago as of this week...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message This week, Bloodworks issued a Code Red, an urgent appeal for blood donors: our region’s blood supply has reached emergency low levels. Bloodworks 101 co-producer Helen Pitlick talked with Harry Thomas, Vice President of Marketing and Community Engagement, to learn more about this urgent need.  Make your next appointment at bloodworksnw.o...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message On June 12, 2016, a gunman opened fire during Latin Night at Pulse, a popular gay nightclub in Orlando, FL. 49 people lost their lives, 58 were wounded, and countless worlds changed forever. Ten years later, Bloodworks 101 host John Yeager sat down with Bloodworks staff to reflect on the impact that The Pulse Nightclub has had on blood ba...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message In our episode yesterday, you met Steve Edmiston: lawyer, cancer survivor, filmmaker, microhistorian, and founder of one of the Men in Black Birthday Bash . As a special treat for Bloodworks 101 listeners, Steve shares all about his area of expertise: the Maury Island Incident of 1947. It gets weird. Support the show