Dam!

Northwest RiverPartners
  • 5.0 (17)
  • SCIENCE
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

Welcome to the official podcast of Northwest hydropower! Yes, you read that right. We’ll be covering hydropower, plus energy and environmental issues, while sharing the stories of the most interesting folks you’ve probably never heard of—from salmon scientists and policymakers to the heroes of public power. Now fire up those water-powered devices and get to listening! Hosted by Austin Rohr. A Northwest RiverPartners production.

  1. 12/23/2025

    Ep.49 Fighting the Affordability Crisis

    Alan Walker is a hero. He's many other things, too (namely, the executive directer of the Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council and president of the Washington Community Action Partnership), but the work that he does is essential to help thousands of residents in the Northwest meet their basic needs. Unfortunately, the cost of those needs are growing dramatically and rapidly. Energy is among those needs, with prices in the Northwest climbing especially fast. In fact, 9 out of 10 surveyed in our own independent poll ranked cost as their largest energy concern. We felt it was an especially important time to host Alan on our podcast to learn more about the challenges he sees low income communities facing in our region, how the price of energy factors into those challenges, and why keeping energy prices low is non-negotiable for thousands.

    1h 1m

  2. 11/12/2025

    Ep.48 Inside scoop on AI

    What's the deal with all of this AI? From an energy perspective, our exposure to this emerging technology often comes in the form of the demand it places on the grid via data centers. However, it's rare that we hear about the technology side of AI development and the practical use cases for it. Luckily for Dam! listeners, we brought that conversation to life with the CTO and founder of Snapbar–an ai-centric startup–Patrick Ellis.

    1h 38m

  3. 09/16/2025

    Ep.47 Welcome to the team

    Meet the newest member of the Northwest RiverPartners team, Victor Valerio! On this episode, you’ll hear about Victor’s background before coming to the organization, the lessons he’s learned along his path in life and his career, eye-opening experiences since starting his new job, and the unique ways he’ll be helping us fulfill our mission. Enjoy!

    57 min

  4. 07/11/2025

    Ep.46 "POWERING ON" Grant PUD's history in the words of John Harrison

    On this very special episode of the podcast, we're joined by Grant PUD's senior manager of external affairs and communications, Chuck Allen. He shares the story of their recently released history book, "POWERING ON: The can-do legacy driving Grant PUD into the future by Grant PUD." While the history alone is fascinating, Chuck also wanted to celebrate the legacy and memory of it's author, John Harrison, who sadly passed away earlier this year. You can read the excellent book by following the link below: https://www.flipsnack.com/55A6559BDC9/powering-on-the-can-do-legacy-driving-grant-pud-into-the-future/full-view.html

    1h 15m

  5. 06/04/2025

    Ep.45 Not your average port

    Dam! heads to the mighty Palouse to get the scoop on the Port of Whitman County. Executive director Kara Riebold and commissioner Kristine Meyer make the perfect duo to tell the story of multi-modal transportation, recreation, improvements to the community, and of course, the value of the river system.

    44 min

  6. 04/03/2025

    Hydro 101: Lock in on locks

    Class is in session! The fifth episode of Hydro 101, a sub-series of the Dam! podcast, has arrived. Hydro 101 aims to provide you with a fundamental understanding of hydropower and how it interacts with energy and the environment–particularly in the Northwest. This episode explores the infrastructure responsible for solving vertical challenges on the water, the lock, from the historical development of the technology to an explanation of how a modern lock works like a water elevator.

    18 min

  7. 03/05/2025

    Ep. 44 Fight for the system

    The Columbia-Snake river system, that is. Neil Maunu, executive director at the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, gives us the rundown on the integrated system of infrastructure that makes the Columbia and Snake rivers navigable. From locks and dams to dredging and jetties, it's an all hands on deck operation that provides critical services well-beyond just the Northwest, and on this episode we cover it all.

    1h 2m

  8. 01/24/2025

    Ep.43 Wheat's the big deal?

    There's a unique relationship between agriculture and hydropower that we've yet to fully explore on the podcast. That all changes with this latest episode, as Michelle Hennings from the Washington Association of Wheat Growers–a farmer herself–joins the podcast to discuss the multitude of benefits the dams provide to rural communities.

    52 min
See All (55)

5
out of 5
17 Ratings

About

Welcome to the official podcast of Northwest hydropower! Yes, you read that right. We’ll be covering hydropower, plus energy and environmental issues, while sharing the stories of the most interesting folks you’ve probably never heard of—from salmon scientists and policymakers to the heroes of public power. Now fire up those water-powered devices and get to listening! Hosted by Austin Rohr. A Northwest RiverPartners production.

Information

  • Creator
    Northwest RiverPartners
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2025
  • Episodes
    55
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Northwest RiverPartners
  • Show Website
    Dam!

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