Episodes

Friday May 23, 2025
Friday May 23, 2025
Episode 25: Washington State Library Part 3 - Sara White and Tien Triggs
Puyallup Public Library's Outreach Coordinator, Debi, interviews Sara White, Youth Services Consultant, and Tien Triggs, School and Digital Support Librarian, both from the Washington State Library, in part three of three special episodes.
Sara White and Tien Triggs work together to provide training, ideas, programming, and financial support to school libraries and their librarians across Washington. Their grants help fund learning initiatives, STEM events, and teen internship programs. They share insight into their important work and the impact it has on local communities.
Learn more about the Washington State Library:
https://www2.sos.wa.gov/library/

Friday May 09, 2025
Friday May 09, 2025
Episode 24: Washington State Library Part 2 Plus Special Guest Helena Caughlan
Puyallup Public Library's Outreach Coordinator, Debi, interviews more of the wonderful staff of the Washington State Library in part two of three special episodes.
The staff of the Washington State Library provide a stunning variety of historical, archival, reference, and public support services. They sort and organize cultural heritage information, provide access to unique and rare documents, and work to make knowledge and learning available to all Washingtonians. The staff members each share a small piece of what they do every day to bring value to everyone.
Plus, stay tuned for two bonus book reviews from Debi's good friend Helena Caughlan following the main interviews.
Visit the fabulous websites mentioned in this episode:
Washington State Library
https://www2.sos.wa.gov/library/
LinkedIn Learning (via our digital resources page)
https://www.cityofpuyallup.org/892/Apps-and-Online-Resources
Washington Digital Newspapers
https://www.washingtondigitalnewspapers.org
For the book titles mentioned in the reviews:
The Island of Missing Trees by Elif Shafak
Red Queen by Victoria Aveyard

Monday Apr 28, 2025
Monday Apr 28, 2025
Episode 23: Washington State Library Part 1
Puyallup Public Library's Outreach Coordinator, Debi, interviews some of the wonderful staff of the Washington State Library in part one of three special episodes.
The staff of the Washington State Library provide a stunning variety of historical, archival, reference, and public support services. They sort and organize cultural heritage information, provide access to unique and rare documents, and work to make knowledge and learning available to all Washingtonians. The staff members each share a small piece of what they do every day to bring value to everyone.
Visit the fabulous websites mentioned in this episode:
Washington State Library
https://www2.sos.wa.gov/library/
Digital Public Library of America
https://dp.la/
Washington Rural Heritage Archives
https://www.washingtonruralheritage.org/

Thursday Apr 03, 2025
Thursday Apr 03, 2025
Episode 22: Artist and Girl Scout Leader Meghan Darby
Puyallup Public Library's Outreach Coordinator, Debi, chats with artist and Girl Scout leader Meghan Darby. Meghan is a Puyallup artist who specializes in digital art and is the creator of Puyallup Library's mascot, Otter B. Reading.
Meghan has lifelong ties to scouting and shares stories of running a troop and her own time in the group as a child.
To learn more about the Puyallup Library and its programs, follow on social media:
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/puyalluplibrary/
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/PuyallupLibrary/

Tuesday Mar 11, 2025
Tuesday Mar 11, 2025
Episode 21: Pediatricians Dr. Pooja Tandon and Dr. Danette Glassy
Puyallup Public Library's Outreach Coordinator, Debi, interviews Dr. Pooja Tandon and Dr. Danette Glassy.
Doctors Tandon and Glassy are pediatricians and proponents of the value of outdoor time in the development and happiness of children and their caregivers. They discuss their book, Digging Into Nature: Outdoor Adventures for Happier and Healthier Kids, which covers the earliest stages of growth often missed by other works. The doctors and Debi share stories of the outdoors and naturing in the Pacific Northwest and talk about nature-centric solutions for busy families.
Visit their website, Project Nature, at this link:
https://www.projectnaturewa.com/
To learn more about their book and the American Academy of Pediatrics, visit this link:
https://tinyurl.com/AAPbooklink

Wednesday Jan 29, 2025
Wednesday Jan 29, 2025
Episode 20: Retired Union Rep and History Buff William "Bill" Johnston
Puyallup Public Library's Outreach Coordinator, Debi, speaks with retired union rep and history buff William "Bill" Johnston.
Bill recounts fascinating tales of his father's history in World War II, sharing letters written while he was stationed on a minesweeping vessel. He discusses his long ties to the Tacoma and Puyallup areas and his many years spent as a union rep. In his retirement, Bill works as an usher at the State Fair and he recalls colorful anecdotes about people watching.
To learn more about the Washington State Historical Society, mentioned in this podcast, click the link below:
https://www.washingtonhistory.org/

Tuesday Dec 31, 2024
Tuesday Dec 31, 2024
Episode 19: Retired Librarian and Teach Karen Chapman
Puyallup Public Library's Outreach Coordinator, Debi, speaks with retired librarian and teacher Karen Chapman.
Karen shares tales of growing up in the 1930s and 40s, attending a one-room school house, and childhood shenanigans. She fondly remembers the people who inspired her to become both a librarian and a teacher and a career dedicated to schools in the Puyallup area and support of the Puyallup Fair.
Learn more about careers with Puyallup Schools here:
https://www.puyallupsd.org/careers

Tuesday Nov 26, 2024
Tuesday Nov 26, 2024
Episode 18: Puyallup School District Social Worker Jane Upshaw
Puyallup Public Library's Outreach Coordinator, Debi, speaks with Puyallup School District Social Worker Jane Upshaw.
Jane talks about her family and community ties to the Puyallup area, discusses the virtues of patience and listening, and shares her experiences finding purpose in lifting up others.

Wednesday Oct 30, 2024
Wednesday Oct 30, 2024
Episode 17: Honorable Judge Andrea Beall, Puyallup Municipal Court
Puyallup Public Library's Outreach Coordinator, Debi, speaks with Honorable Judge Andrea Beall, Presiding Judge for Puyallup Municipal Court.
Judge Beall describes her journey from lawyer to judge and shares stories of family, her time in the Puyallup area, and her favorite book.
After the main interview, stay tuned for a fun chat with Library Assistant Emily, who dishes about her adorable cats and shares several of her favorite reads for fantasy and sci-fi enthusiasts.
Learn more about Puyallup Municipal Court:
https://www.cityofpuyallup.org/558/Court

Tuesday Sep 24, 2024
Tuesday Sep 24, 2024
Episode 16: Heritage Quest Library Volunteer Gordon Chisholm
Puyallup Public Library's Outreach Coordinator, Debi, speaks with Gordon Chisholm, volunteer for the Heritage Quest Research Library in Puyallup.
Gordon tells stories from his family's military history, discusses the importance of truth, and shares the harrowing trials and tribulations of the Heritage Quest Research Library over the years. Heritage Quest is a genealogical reference center where anyone can search through over 16,000 printed materials, access heritage databases, and receive live assistance from experienced researchers in discovering your own family history. It's conveniently located near downtown Puyallup, in the Wanna Cupcake Bakery plaza, at:
2102 E Main Ave #105, Puyallup, WA 98372
Learn more at: https://www.hqrl.com or by calling (253) 863-1806








