Bloodworks 101

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The Music's in Our Blood campaign brings us together as a community. But it also offers Bloodworks Northwest an opportunity to discuss the importance of blood donation. One of those behind the campaign is Seattle's Mike Salvador. Recently, Mike sat down with Bloodworks 101 Producer John Yeager and took us behind the the scenes of this unconventional approach that few blood banks around the country have had the imagination to try

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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 than one.

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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 disease. Bloodworks 101 co-producer Helen Pitlick down with Dr. Patrick Mitchell to learn more.

More about the Mitchell Lab: mitchelllabuw.com

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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.

Intro music: "I am" by Maia Gaiia

More about Where the Heart Lives: wheretheheartlives.org

More about Maia: linktr...

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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.  

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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 providing free blood testing to any Bloodworks donor who books their appointment through Goodlabs. His name is Stephen Price.

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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 of Bloodworks 101. 

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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.

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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 the Bloodworks Northwest Donor Center where Chris was working. Recently, he spoke with Bloodworks 101 Producer John Yeager about what he remembered about that fateful day.

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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 Bloodworks Northwest blood collection specialists, what they would remember from that day, is how surprised they were, by the calm. 

Bloodworks 101 Producer John Yeager spoke to Jason Hess and Cheryl Sutherland about that day a...

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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.

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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 the strength of her voice and the importance of her mission at Bloodworks Northwest 

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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-workers and the kind of determination that comes with a smile. 

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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 takes it from here. 

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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 special ENCORE EPISODE, John shares the story of Dr. Cameron Berg and the Lucky Fox. Why's fox "lucky"? You're about to find out. 

Schedule a donation today:
https://donate.bloodworksnw.org/donor/schedules/geo/?gad_sou...

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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 people in all communities donate blood.

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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 that's just getting a foothold here in the Pacific Northwest. Recently, Bloodworks 101 Producer John Yeager got a chance to sit down with Goodlabs CEO Grant Brewster. 

If you're interested, go to g...

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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 people came forward and did what they could to respond in their own quiet way. Here's a special edition of Bloodworks 101 we're calling "Four Quiet Heroes on a Monday...

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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 heart in a different way that could save a life. Recently, Bloodworks 101 Producer John Yeager sat down for a frank discussion about "One More Time" with Juan Cotto, our Senior Government...

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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. 

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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 that Giselle and Tazz have built through Where the Heart Lives is truly something special. 

Find Tazz at: https://djten.my.canva.site/t-en-com

Where the Heart...

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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, Dr. Laura Marie almost lost her life while becoming a mom for the third and fourth time. 

More about Dr. Laura Marie:

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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.org or by calling 800-398-7888. 

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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 banking, the LGBTQIA+ community, and the country as a whole.

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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.

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It’s June 1947, and Bloodworks’ first donation center in Seattle has been open for six months. Roughly 20 miles southwest, Harold Dahl and his crew experience something strange near Maury Island in Puget Sound. What happens next will launch a mystery and a mythology that persists to this day. The truth is out there, and, nearly 80 years later, Steve Edmiston wants to find it. But, as Bloodworks 101 co-producer Helen Pitlick learned, there was a time that Steve was the star of a scary SciFi-esque story of his own...

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Western Washington expects an additional 350,000–600,000 visitors in June and July for to the upcoming World Cup tournament, the largest sporting event on the planet. It’s going to be great for the local economy — and a potential concern for the blood supply. Bloodworks 101 co-producer Helen Pitlick sat down with Kyle Boynton, Bloodworks' Product Strategy Manager, to learn more about what the beautiful game has to do with blood donation.

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Hello, Tacoma! On June 9, Bloodworks Northwest will hold the Grand Opening of our newest donor center in Tacoma. The Tacoma supervisor is someone Bloodworks 101 listeners are already familiar with: Jeremy Tanner from our Puyallup donor center. And, as producer John Yeager shares, Jeremy is no stranger to blood donation.

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The blood banking industry, hospitals and first reponders all over the nation refer to the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day as the "100 Deadliest Days." Today, on Bloodworks 101, our Co-Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kirsten Alcorn tells Producer John Yeager that this summer, the 100 Deadliest Days include a global sporting event that'll draw thousands to the Pacific Northwest - The World Cup. And while Bloodworks Northwest is hoping for the best, they're preparing for the worst - just in case.  

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The Seahawks are the reigning NFL champions! Three months after Super Bowl LX, we’re still riding that high here in the Pacific Northwest. Major events are fun but come with a potential impact to the local blood supply. With the world’s largest sporting event — the FIFA World Cup — coming to Seattle and 15 other cities in June, Bloodworks 101 co-producer Helen Pitlick sat down with a few of Bloodworks' friends at Stanford Blood Center to get insight into how they prepared for a Big Game.

Suppor...

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In the last five years, Bloodworks 101 has published more than 250 episodes. It's been downloaded more than 37,000 times. We've won six coveted Anthem Awards, beating out more than 2,000 entries from 42 countries. But we couldn't have done anything without you, our loyal listener. So for the last couple weeks, we've been republishing your Top Three favorite Bloodworks 101 podcast episodes. 

Here's Number One.

Do you have trypanophobia? It's the fear of needles and it's way more common than you think. In fact, it plays a h...

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In the last five years, Bloodworks 101 has published more than 250 episodes. It's been downloaded more than 37,000 times. We've won six coveted Anthem Awards, beating out more than 2,000 entries from 42 countries. But we couldn't have done anything without you, our loyal listener. So for the last couple weeks, we've been republishing your Top Three favorite Bloodworks 101 podcast episodes. 

Here's Number Two. We call it "Natasha's New Car."

We all have our reasons for donating blood that finally compel us to schedule an appointment. W...

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In the last five years, Bloodworks 101 has published more than 250 episodes. It's been downloaded more than 37,000 times. We've won six coveted Anthem Awards, beating out more than 2,000 entries from 42 countries. But we couldn't have done anything without you, our loyal listener. So for the next couple weeks, we'll be republishing your Top Three favorite Bloodworks 101 podcast episodes. 

Here's Number Three. It was the first podcast we ever published, back in January of 2020, just before the pandemic. 

Tom Newman is a courier for Se...

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When 11-year-old Brody Hamilton stood at home plate, ready to run the bases before the Mariner's Home Opener on Thursday, March 26th, it was the end of a long battle with cancer. But as thousands of Mariner's fans like Bloodworks 101 Producer John Yeager would find out, there was one more challenge Brody would face. It was the one down the first baseline. 

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During the pandemic, Bloodworks Northwest became keenly aware of the impact that a drop in blood donation from college students would have. Recently, we commissioned a study to look at that impact and how to do something about it. The woman in charge of the study, our own Claire Yang, sat down with Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager to discuss the study and take a hard look at the question, "Why Don't More College Students Donate Blood?"  

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Thursday, March 26th, marks Opening Day for the Seattle Mariners. Some say this season begins with more hope than any Mariners' fan can remember. And that includes Trevor Gooby, the Marines Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. But Trevor also has hope that more people will heed the call to become blood donors. That's because Gooby is the Chair of the Bloodworks Northwest Board of Trustees. Recently, Trevor sat down with Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager to talk about how he came to join the board...

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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 community connection of blood donation, and what cold case he'd most like to see solved. 

More from Josh:

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With the Oscars coming up this Sunday, we felt celebrating the movies was in order. So, in this ENCORE EDITION of Bloodworks 101, host Helen Pitlick spoke to Bloodworks co-workers John Yeager and Bill Harper, along with Donor Center Collections Strategist Kyle Boynton about the power of cinema to connect us. As Helen discovered, these three lost themselves in the magic of the movies - and, through this, found connection. 

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In an emergency, every second counts. Last week on Bloodworks 101, Chief Scoggins of Seattle Fire Department mentioned one way that first responders save lives: by carrying whole blood on board Medic One vehicles to administer transfusions at the scene of a bleeding event.

But before this, police officers like Greg Schmidt used to turn on their sirens to get patients lifesaving blood as quickly as possible. Bloodworks 101 co-producer Helen Pitlick sat down with Greg to learn more. 

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