The Human Beat

It begins with an entirely volunteer effort called the North Coast Community Food Project and then pans out for a wider look at food insecurity with the Clatsop Community Action Regional Food Bank.

We’re talking today about emergency preparedness – being ready to cope, to survive and to assist your loved ones in a disaster. Our guests are Jen Munson, with the Clatsop County department of Emergency Management, and Norma Hernandez to share some lessons learned from the Big Blow here in 2007. You can find out more...

What would it be like to sail around the world on the wind?  Astorian Heidi Brown can tell us.  She is just back after working for 11 months and visiting 13 countries as a crew member in the 2026 Clipper Round the World Yacht Race. Heidi Brown is back at home in Astoria after 11...

Roger Rocka speaks with Kenny Hansen, longtime Astoria police officer, about his work with houseless people and Clatsop Community Action. Roger also revisits past interviews with houseless Astorians.

A discussion with Clatsop Community College President Jarrod Hogue and Board Chair Ed Johnson about the issues the college is facing, the adjustments they’re making, and their hopes for the college’s future. 

Roger Rocka interviews representatives with the North Coast Food Web to explore what the Food Web is, how it works, who does it, how someone can become involved and what the plans are for this year as the organization faces federal funding challenges.    

Roger Rocka speaks with Teresa Patterson and Bruce Williams, representatives of Indivisible on Oregon’s North Coast.

Roger Rocka speaks with Dan Turner, the board chair of the Cathlamet Public Library.

Roger speaks with two women experiencing homelessness on the streets of downtown Astoria– Mama Rain and her 33 year old daughter Shana – in the week after Christmas.

The Clatsop County Animal Shelter is overwhelmed right now with more dogs and cats than it can hold. But a non-profit, Clatsop Animal Assistance, is fostering some of the animals and helping all of them with its scores of volunteers. Roger talks with Executive Director of Clatsop Animal Assistance Lily Tollefsen.

Introducing new KMUN station manager Mari Bergeron: We talk about her history in Clatsop County, her family, her departure for school and work and international travel, her return home and of course, her initial impressions, hopes and plans for KMUN.

Part 2 of Roger Rocka speaking with Willis Van Dusen about Astoria history and his own transition from protesting citizen to Council member and long-time Astoria mayor. 

In this first part of a two-part series, Willis Van Dusen talks Astoria history and his own transition from protesting citizen to Council member and long-time Astoria mayor. Part two will air October 13.

Roger Rocka revisits a 2011 interview with the late Duncan Law, whose scientific discoveries at the OSU Seafood Lab in Astoria boosted the Oregon fishing industry and made hatcheries viable on the Columbia River.

Astoria’s population has hovered around 10,000 for a very long time. But it grew to 25 thousand during WW II. I wondered where all those thousands of extra people lived so I headed to the Clatsop County Historical Society at the Heritage Museum. I talked with Liisa Penner and Julie Burpee to learn about that,...

Part 2 of Roger Rocka’s conversation with Paul Benoit

Part One of Roger Rocka’s conversation with Paul Benoit

Roger Rocka speaks with Jeff Burright, who is leading development of the Offshore Wind Roadmap.

Through the magic of radio, we take you back to a Sunday evening in 1983 – high atop the Gunderson Building in downtown Astoria – when KMUN began it’s very first broadcast. Then, hear from Paxton Hoag, Doug Sweet, Susie McLerie, Carol Newman and Rebecca Rubens.

Our country is struggling over issues of diversity, equity and inclusion. It’s a struggle that recurs throughout our history. Here’s a look back at a Human Beat interview from 2011, the 50th anniversary of the Freedom Riders.  

We’re talking today with Steve Forrester, former editor and publisher of The Astorian and the former president and CEO of the family company, EO Media Group with its two dozen newspapers and magazines across Oregon and Washington. As of November 1, EO Media Group was sold to the larger Carpenter Media Group, which operates more...

A discussion of the continuing overload at the Clatsop County Animal Shelter with Justin Dersham, Clatsop County Animal Control Supervisor and Lily Tollefsen, Clatsop Animal Assistance.

Astoria Chief of Police Stacy Kelly and Communications Center Manager Jeremy Hipes discuss the years-long effort to fully staff the 911 center, and how its larger staff now includes 2 dogs from the Animal Shelter.

Roger Rocka speaks with North Coast Land Conservancy Executive Director Katie Voelke. 

Roger presents a panel on the Clatsop County Comprehensive Plan revisions.

Roger Rocka speaks with Liisa Penner and Julie Burpee at the Clatsop County Historical Society.  

Part two of a  program about the Habitat Conservation Plan in Oregon State Forests.    

Roger Rocka speaks with Oregon Department of Forestry division Chief Michael Wilson about the State Habitat Conservation Plan. 

Featuring the women managers of KMUN – Lisa Smith, Victoria Stoppiello, Joanne Rideout and Susan Peterson – as they were honored by the American Association of University Women.

Forest Poets Event featuring Reba Owen, Jim Dott, Lauren Mallett, Logan Garner, and Dr. Robert Michael Pyle

Roger Rocka speaks with Ed Johnson

Roger Rocka speaks with Lifeboat Services director Oz Orak.

Roger Rocka speaks with Pastor Bill Van Norstran about Copeland Commons, a project to provide affordable housing in Astoria.

Roger Rocka attends a public meeting for public comment on the issue of Astoria’s Heritage Square. Ed Overbay leads the conversation. 

Roger Rocka interviews staff and volunteers at the Clatsop County Animal Shelter

Roger Rocka speaks with Joseph Stevenson, who in August of 1961, at the age of 18, became a Freedom Rider. The text below was written by Joseph Stevenson in 2021: My name is Joseph Stevenson, I was born in New York City, grew up in California, and lived most of my life in Oregon. When...

Clatsop County's Drug Court

We discuss the Columbia Inn, which is being converted to provide housing for people who are homeless, particularly those especially at risk. We talk about when it will open, what it will be like, how it will be operated and managed, etc. The guests are: Monica Steele, Assistant Clatsop County Manager Viviana Matthews, Executive Director,...

To celebrate Women’s History month in March, the American Association of University Women in Clatsop County held a dinner at the Golden Star Restaurant to “Honor the Honorables.”   Judge Paula Brownhill was the first female judge in Clatsop County. She was later joined by Judge Cindy Matayas and Judge Dawn McIntosh to form the...

A discussion with Carrie Cantrell in Portland and Anna Kaufman in Astoria about clean water, community watersheds and how they are affected by forest practices in Oregon. Carrie and Anna are working with North Coast Communities for Watershed Protection.   They are collecting stories from people in Clatsop and Tillamook counties about personal experiences with...