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Invisible Histories

Invisible Histories

By: Cari Simson Elke Hautala
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Cari Simson and Elke Hautala formed Invisible Histories to visually and viscerally connect the public to experiences from the past. Their Invisible Histories podcast unearths diverse local stories and forgotten places. www.invisible-histories.com


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Our Instagram account shares images from each episode, @invisiblehistoriesPNW


We are always looking for “invisible histories” of the Pacific NW so if you have a good story idea please reach out at invisiblehistoriespnw@gmail.com.


Edited by Elke Hautala

2026

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Cari Simson Elke Hautala Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Bothell Pioneer Cemetery: Uncovering the Civil War Veterans and Community Heroes

    Bothell Pioneer Cemetery: Uncovering the Civil War Veterans and Community Heroes
    23 Oct 2026

    By the late 19th century, thousands of Civil War veterans migrated west to King County, bringing with them a vision of reconstruction, labor, and growth. In our latest podcast episode, we joined historian Richard Heisler (founder of Civil War Seattle) for a walking tour through Bothell Pioneer Cemetery, established in 1889.


    Behind the many moss-covered headstones lie astonishing, forgotten stories:

    • George Bothell: Survived brutal conditions and scurvy at the Confederate-run Andersonville Prison before moving west to found the Bothell Brothers shingle mill and serve as the town's first mayor.
    • John Keener: Wounded severely on a Virginia battlefield in 1864, he was rescued from the snow and sheltered from Confederate raiders by an escaped Black man who rode him into Union lines.
    • Dr. Reuben Chase: Bothell's first doctor, who arrived following a typhoid outbreak after the Great Seattle Fire of 1889 and built a clinic that still stands on the UW Bothell campus today.


    Featured Guests:

    • Richard Heisler: Historian, Founder of Civil War Seattle and Seattle History Tours.
    • Sue Kienast: Preservationist, former 40-year President of the Bothell Historical Museum.
    • Deborah "Pippin" Sardo: Museum volunteer, historic educator, costumer, and member of the International Thespian Society.
    • McMenamins History Pub presentation on October 27, 2026 at 7pm: Discover the mysteries of Bothell's Pioneer Cemetery, founded in 1889, as we unearth lost stories and their connections to Western Washington. A portion of this special presentation includes a theatrical séance! Costumes welcome!


    Credits:

    Episode recorded in Bothell, WA

    Edited by Elke Hautala

    Music: Broomstick Polka by Vocalista from Uppbeatio.com and Funeral March of a Marionette Charles Gounod

    Cover art design by Cari Simson; A seance scene from the 1922 film Dr. Mabuse the Gambler

    Cari Simson and Elke Hautala formed Invisible Histories to visually and viscerally connect the public to experiences from the past. Their Invisible Histories podcast unearths diverse local stories and forgotten places. www.invisible-histories.com

    Cari Simson and Elke Hautala formed Invisible Histories to visually and viscerally connect the public to experiences from the past. Their Invisible Histories podcast unearths diverse local stories and forgotten places. www.invisible-histories.com

    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    42 min
  • Exploring Seattle's Sephardic Roots & Stories

    Exploring Seattle's Sephardic Roots & Stories
    26 Sep 2026
    In this special episode of Invisible Histories, we explore the rich history, culture, and enduring legacy of Seattle's Sephardic Jewish community—the third-largest Sephardic population in the United States. Guests Cynthia Flash Hemphill (President of the Seattle Sephardic Network), Hannah Peters (Director at the Washington State Jewish Historical Society), and community members share personal narratives and historical insights.Guests:Stuart Eskenazi, Sephardic Seattle Tour guide with family ties to SeattleAl DeJaen, Sephardic Seattle Tour guide who grew up in the Central DistrictCynthia Flash Hemphill, President of the Seattle Sephardic NetworkSylvia Azose Angel, octogenarian tri-athlete who grew up in the Central DistrictHannah Peters, Director of the WA Jewish Historical SocietyThe episode shares:The historic migration of Sephardic Jews from the Mediterranean (Rhodes, Tekirdağ/Rodosto, Istanbul) to Seattle's Central District starting in 1902, and their subsequent displacement/migration to Seward Park and the Eastside of King County, WA.The distinct religious and social structures of Sephardic synagogues, redlining in Seattle, and solidarity/shared experiences with Black and Asian communities.Efforts to preserve Ladino (Judeo-Spanish), including classes at the University of Washington and the monthly "Los Ladinadas" meetup group.Traditional Sephardic culinary heritage, Mediterranean flavors, and community baking traditions.Personal family histories, including family research, community establishment in Seattle, and Sylvia Assos Angel's childhood memories on 21st and Yesler and empowerment through B'nai B'rith Girls.Upcoming Community Events & Projects:Seattle Sephardic Network: Cultural and historical programming for Sephardic Jews and allies. Take the Seattle Sephardic Network Tour! It happens in the Central District, in the summer or as requested.Oct 11: Seattle Sephardic Network Fundraiser! Catch comedian Ariel Elias live in South Lake Union for an evening of comedy, Sephardic music, and fun! Search "Ariel Elias in Seattle" on Eventbrite for tickets ($36+). Ariel Elias has been featured on Marvelous Ms. Maisel, Stephen Colbert & Jimmy Kimmel Live.Be sure to check out the amazing digital offerings online at the Washington State Jewish Historical MuseumWashington State Jewish Historical Society (WSJHS): Digital museum, oral history archives, and upcoming interactive map project launching December 2026.UW Sephardic Studies Program: University of Washington Libraries Special Collections and Ladino language courses.Jewish Federation of Greater Seattle: Heritage tour to Greece and Rhodes (March 2027; registration closes November 2026).Dec 2026: WSJHS launches an interactive global map pinning 500+ locations from oral history transcripts.Subscribe, share, and leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts!Support our work through Ko-fi.com.Credits:Episode recorded in Edmonds, WAEdited by Elke HautalaMusic: Three songs by Isaac Azose: La Roza Enflorese, Alta Alta es la Luna, and Mama Yo No TengoCover art design by Cari Simson; Image uses a portion of a Jewish marriage contract. Esther Benezra and David DeFunes. Ottoman Empire, 1888 (ST01600, courtesy Albert Maimon/Henry Benezra Collection), and photo of a Ladino theatre group that performed for Sephardic audiences at Washington Hall (1920) Courtesy of UW Special Collections.Cari Simson and Elke Hautala formed Invisible Histories to visually and viscerally connect the public to experiences from the past. Their Invisible Histories podcast unearths diverse local stories and forgotten places. www.invisible-histories.comCari Simson and Elke Hautala formed Invisible Histories to visually and viscerally connect the public to experiences from the past. Their Invisible Histories podcast unearths diverse local stories and forgotten places. www.invisible-histories.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    53 min
  • Monorail! Monorail! Monorail!

    Monorail! Monorail! Monorail!
    23 Sep 2026
    In part two of their monorail retrospective, hosts Cari Simson and Elke Hautala dive into the grassroots effort that nearly brought an expanded monorail system to Seattle.If you missed it, go back and listen to Part 1 to get the deep dive into Seattle Monorail politics and advocacy!In this episode, we are joined by former campaign staffer Michael Taylor-Judd, transit advocate Rodney Rutherford, and Seattle Department of Transportation staff Brian Dougherty. The episode explores the ground-level advocacy, creative campaign tactics, and complex local politics surrounding Seattle’s monorail movement. The second half of the episode was recorded in the field with Rodney and Brian at 1st Avenue South and South Lander Street, which would have been the Lander Monorail station across from the old Sears flagship location.We would love to hear from you about your own Seattle memories, so please email us or send a message through our Facebook or Instagram Direct Messages. Images can be found at our social media: Facebook or Instagram, including the plans for the Monorail station in SODO!Topics:Grassroots Campaign Tactics: How volunteers used plastic-wrapped A-frame petition boards left on city sidewalks and carried a PVC-and-canvas monorail float on foot from Ballard to West Seattle.Unforgettable Fundraisers: The 4th of July monorail train rental where supporters watched fireworks over Elliott Bay and Lake Union while tilted on a curved track.Why the Monorail Failed: Financial shortfalls tied to car tab motor vehicle excise tax projections, procurement bidding hurdles, political pushback, and friction regarding automated driverless transit.Lasting Legacy: How campaign organizers handed over the Transit Riders Union domain to future Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson, and how monorail train designs created for Seattle eventually made their way to cities like Cairo, Egypt and São Paulo, Brazil.Links:Seattle Monorail Project WikipediaFor the Monorail: A 1997 Op-Ed by Walt CrowleySeattle Municipal Archives - Monorail documents:USCG final environmental impact statement for Seattle Monorail Project Green Line and contains Appendix LL.Seattle monorail project / final staff recommendation for alignment and stations and includes a small amount about the Lander station and other stations.The Monorail Society: Hall of Famehttps://seattlechannel.org/videos?videoid=x28624Peter Dibble: How Seattle rejected the Monorail (youtube)The Seattle Channel City Inside/Out: Monorail MeasurePerson of Interest: Dick Falkenbury (2016)Youtube clip of The Simpson’s Season 4: Episode 12’s Monorail songMarge vs the MonorailSubscribe to or Follow our podcast on whatever platform you listen, and please share this episode with a friend!Leave us a review wherever you listen to podcasts!Learn more about Invisible Histories.If you are able, please support our podcast with a Tip through Ko-Fi.comCredits:Episode recorded in Seattle, WAEdited by Elke HautalaMusic - MONORAIL - The New Concert Orchestra - Dennis Farnon (Archive.org)Newsreel audio - World of Tomorrow: Monorail by King TV (1962) https://archive.org/details/SMA_12807Courtesy of the Seattle Municipal ArchiveCover art design by Cari SimsonCari Simson and Elke Hautala formed Invisible Histories to visually and viscerally connect the public to experiences from the past. Their Invisible Histories podcast unearths diverse local stories and forgotten places. 2026 www.invisible-histories.comCari Simson and Elke Hautala formed Invisible Histories to visually and viscerally connect the public to experiences from the past. Their Invisible Histories podcast unearths diverse local stories and forgotten places. www.invisible-histories.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr and 6 min
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