Bloodworks 101

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message For most of us, breaking a toe is a painful inconvenience. For Josh McCullough, co-host of podcasts Murder in the Rain and Always Be My Sisters, it might have saved his life—along with Bloodworks donors and the cardiac surgery team at Legacy Emanuel Medical Center in Portland. We sat down with Josh to talk about his heart surgery, the com...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message You'd think a simple thing like how to train a blood collection specialist wouldn't take any effort to change. Think again. In this episode of Bloodworks 101, producer John Yeager sits down with two specialists; Juan Cotto and Lisa Ballinger from Bloodworks Northwest as they unpack how they cut through the red tape, and in the p...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Since the early 1980's, there has been a ban on gay and bisexual men donating blood. Until now. In just a matter of weeks, Bloodworks Northwest will implement new guidelines set down by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, allowing gay and bisexual men to donate.  At the Vancouver Donor Center in the the Portland Metro area, Dylan...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Even though an aggressive form of leukemia took his life at age 6, Declan Reagan’s story is about living with cancer, not dying from it. In this ENCORE EDITION of Bloodworks 101, his mom, Lauren describes Declan’s penchant for pushing limits and breaking rules, and her determination to find a way for him to see the new Jurassic World movi...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message We've all heard news stories about the impact of Articial Intelligence. Many of them highlight the dark side of machines controlling our lives. But as Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager discovered, there's another side of machone learning and AI that promises to save lives. And it all starts with a unique partnership between tw...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Long-time Seattle radio news host and loyal Bloodwork Northwest donor, Gregg Hersholt discusses "Life After Morning Drive" and the importance of donating blood on a regular basis. But before he can donate, he needs to get his iron level up. In this episode, Hersholt tells tells Bloodworks 101 host John Yeager the story of how he...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Global health care company, Fresenius Kabi announced last fall, the 12 newest inductees into their Blood Donation Hall of Fame. For nearly a quarter century, the Donation Hall of Fame has recognized the unique stories of those who are passionate about and committed to blood donation. On this episode of Bloodworks 101, producer John Yeager...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message We all have our reasons for donating blood that finally compel us to schedule an appointment. Whidbey Island's Natasha Vanderlinden had to overcome her significant fear of needles but as host John Yeager tells us in this ENCORE episode of "Bloodworks 101," once she overcame that fear, you'll never guess what happened....

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Originally released in October 2021, with several important updates: this is the story of two remarkable two women -- Henrietta Lacks and Sonya Chris Ellis -- separated by decades but immortal to those who carry on their legacies, as told by two remarkable women -- Lacks' great-granddaughter Victoria Baptiste and Dr. Ashley Ellis --...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message By day, Olympia's Lynette Manning sets up blood drives for Bloodworks Northwest. By night, she's a promising standup comedian with a loyal following. And as Lynette tells Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager, her work with Bloodworks has helped her on stage but as John found out, there's another reason why she's inspire...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message As of January, Bloodworks Northwest now has access to as many as one thousand new donors in the Pacific Northwest simply because an FDA deferral is being lifted. As Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager tells us, that's because new evidence has led the FDA to remove the deferral requirement associated with time spent in the U.K., F...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Ever heard of a lactaided ringer? Do you know the difference between blunt and pentrating trauma? Today, on a special ENCORE EDITION of Bloodworks 101, entitled, "Transfusions in the Field,"  Lieutenant Michael Barokas, a Medical Services Officer for Seattle's Medic One answers those questions as we take you behind-the-scen...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message In May of 2009, Seattle's Drea Mizer was diagnosed with Stage 4 Ovarian Cancer. She faced weeks of grueling cancer treatment, including 8 chemo treatments, 5 blood transfusions and 2 surgeries. But thanks to the fact that there was enough blood on hand - by December of that year, she was declared NED, No Evidence of Disease.  Today,...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message The remarkable true story of how Seattle's Sue Nixon owes her life to the quick response of genuine Good Samaritans and paramedics at Medic One, the tireless research of scientists at Bloodworks Northwest's Research Institute, and the blood donations of people she may never meet. But it all started The Day a Heart Stood Still. W...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message You’ve probably heard about the connection between heart disease and high cholesterol for years, but did you know how they tie together? That’s something that Principal Investigator Dominic Chung, PhD, of Bloodworks Research Institute is examining. As contributor Helen Pitlick tells us, it's in the blood. Support the show

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message The Intentionalist makes it easy to find and support local small businesses and the diverse people behind them through everyday decisions about where we eat, drink, and shop. They say, "spend like it matters," because small businesses are important to the social and economic fabric of our communities. Local businesses bring cult...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Do you have trypanophobia? It's the fear of needles and it's way more common than you think. In fact, it plays a huge role in whether you donate blood or not. In this premiere edition of the Second Season of "Bloodworks 101," John Yeager talks to those who suffer from a fear of needles, a phlebotomist who tries to calm...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message 26-year-old Cal Raleigh is a catcher for the Seattle Mariners, 24-year-old Tariq Wollen is a corner back with the Seattle Seahawks and at 17, midfielder Olivia Moultrie from the Portland Thorns is one of the youngest female professional soccer players in the United States. All three have promising careers ahead but there's something...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message In an effort to reach out to young and BIPOC donors, Bloodworks Northwest is teaming up with The Residency, a local nonprofit seeking to build a powerful community of young hip-hop artists equipped with the artistic and leadership skills, business acumen, and mentorship necessary to become professional artists and cultural change makers....

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Sunday is Mother's Day, a day set aside to honor moms everywhere. But if your life was saved because one day, a mom decided to donate her cord blood stem cells, Mother's Day has a whole new meaning. Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager spoke with two moms, one who oversees the cord blood program at Bloodworks Bio and the other, w...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message We used to say that you can save three lives with each donation because whole blood can be divided into red cells, platelets, and plasma. This just isn’t the case anymore, and that’s actually a good thing for local patients and non-profit blood centers like Bloodworks. That’s because we now collect 100% of our platelets from apheresis. Vi...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Bloodworks 101 is designed to inspire you to donate either time, money or blood. Since April is National Volunteer Month, we wanted to devote one episode to lifting up the 3,000 volunteers who donate their time to the mission here at Bloodworks Northwest. On this edition, you'll meet three of our finest volunteers and who knows? You...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message It's that time of year again - tax time. So, it's top of mind, right? But did you know there's an easy way to donate to nonprofits like Bloodworks Northwest and get a tax deduction without all the headaches of gathering receipts? On this edition of Bloodworks 101, John Yeager speaks with Gene Farrell, President & CEO of...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message March is Women's History Month, a time set aside to honor the contributions of women in this nation. But with spring in the air, it's also time for baseball, since today is Opening Day at T-Mobile Park for the Seattle Mariners.  Bloodworks 101 contributor Juan Cotto spoke with Ingrid Russell-Narcise from the Mariners front offic...

Got a story idea for Bloodworks 101? Send us a text message Why did Dr. Reheman (Raymond) Adili join Bloodworks Research Institute? "Simple answer is: Bloodworks saves lives." But, like the blood clotting mechanisms he studies, there isn't just one, simple explanation. Learn more about our newest Principal Investigator at https://www.bloodworksnw.org/researchers/adili. Support the s...