kathryn fink

audio journalist & writer based in washington, dc

podcast highlights

NPR •

Wildfires are getting more extreme. And so is the need for more firefighters : Consider This from NPR

Extreme wildfires doubled worldwide over the last two decades, according to a new study of NASA satellite data.You'd think, if the wildfire crisis is getting worse, there'd be more and more firefighters in place to meet that demand. But at agencies like the U.S. Forest Service, adequate staffing has been a huge challenge.But as organizations like the Forest Service raise alarm about firefighter shortages, there's also a whole group of people who are trained to fight fires and are struggling to g...
NPR •

He has cancer — so he made an AI version of himself for his wife after he dies : Consider This from

He has cancer — so he made an AI version of himself for his wife after he dies

Michael Bommer likely only has a few weeks left to live.

A couple of years ago, he was diagnosed with colon cancer. The doctors told him it was terminal.

"A year ago, I sat with my wife in one of these more teary-eyed exercises, talking about what comes. And my wife said, 'Hey, one of the things I will miss most is being able to come to you, ask you a question, and you will sit there and calmly explain the world to
Slate •

Mexico Is Full Of American Guns. So the Country’s Suing.

The international lawsuit over firearms is getting a second chance after a federal appeals court decision.

How Mexico’s $10 billion lawsuit against American gun manufacturers and distributors could pave the way for new gun control tactics in the U.S. and abroad. If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Amicus—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on Wha
Slate •

Who’s Left to Help Migrants?

The migrant crisis has come to Denver. With no federal help on the way and temperatures dropping well below freezing, a local church tries to pick up the slack.

If you enjoy this show, please consider signing up for Slate Plus. Slate Plus members get benefits like zero ads on any Slate podcast, bonus episodes of shows like Slow Burn and Dear Prudence—and you’ll be supporting the work we do here on What Next. Sign up now at slate.com/whatnextplus to help support our work.

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Bloomberg News •

Despite Recession Fears, Small Businesses Keep Opening: Big Take Podcast

Even with a looming recession, high interest rates and a tight labor market, small businesses have been opening at record rates over the last few years, surpassing pre-pandemic levels. They’ve also been the primary driver of job creation in the US. Bloomberg reporter Enda Curran dug into why small businesses are having a moment—and the challenges owners are facing in this uncertain economy. Plus, meet the owners of a bakery and a microbrewery who discuss how they’ve been keeping their businesses afloat.
Bloomberg News •

Millions of Americans Are Getting Broadband Internet: Big Take Podcast

Seven percent of US households and businesses lack basic broadband internet. The Biden administration plans to remedy that with $42 billion in federal broadband infrastructure grants. Bloomberg telecommunications reporter Todd Shields joins this episode to discuss how local governments will spend this money and what it will take to bridge the so-called digital divide. Christine Hallquist, executive director of the Vermont Community Broadband Board, describes the challenges of bringing internet access to rural America.
Bloomberg News •

What is Exascale Computing And What Problems Can It Solve? Big Take Podcast

Last May, the Oak Ridge National Lab, run by the US Department of Energy, unveiled Frontier. It’s the world’s fastest supercomputer and is capable of performing a quintillion calculations per second, breaking what’s called the exascale barrier.

The system requires its own power plant, 6,000 gallons of water to keep it cool, and a highly trained staff to operate. So what can it do? And who gets to use it?

We set out for Knoxville, Tennessee to try to wrap our brains around Frontier’s limitless potential.

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