Bloodworks 101
Started in 2020, Bloodworks 101 is an Anthem Award-winning, weekly podcast produced by Bloodworks Northwest, a Seattle-based blood bank and research center. Episodes are designed to inspire and educate listeners to donate time, money or blood.
On Bloodworks 101 you'll meet experts who can discuss everything from the importance of blood donation to trypanophobia (fear of needles).
Emmy Award-winning producer John Yeager, is joined by a team of gifted storytellers Bill Harper, Helen Pitlick and Juan Cotto.
In 2024, Bloodworks 101 won its fourth coveted Anthem Award, beating out more than 2,000 entries from 43 nations.
Episodes
191 episodes
"A philatelic blood donor: Dennis Gelvin" (S6 E20)
Bloodworks 101 Co-Producer Helen Pitlick met up with Dennis Gelvin at Bloodworks’ Olympia Donor center to get a lesson in philately (fill-at-uh-lee): the study and collection of stamps and other items related to mail and postage. As it turns ou...
•
19:12
"Cold-stored Platelets: Dr. Moritz Stolla & Dr. Kirsten Alcorn" (S6 E19)
Most platelet donations are stored at room temperature, sacrificing shelf life for circulation time in a patient's body. But patients who are actively bleeding don't need platelets to last for a long time — they need them to get to work, fast. ...
•
20:55
"Music's In Our Blood: Sara Camille & Marshall Hugh" (S6 E18)
January is National Blood Donor Month, a time set aside to celebrate the importance of blood donation and the act of "giving back." So, we're recognizing two members of our community who live out those words by how they give back to our communi...
•
11:03
Best of 2024 "Two Babies Saved My Life" - Alexis Harris
In 2016, University of Washington sociology professor and mother of two, Alexes Harris was diagnosed with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), a type of cancer where the blood-producing cells in a patient’s bone marrow became abnormal and create blo...
•
18:17
Best of 2024 "Making Sickle Cell History" - Dr. Raymond Adili
In February of 2024, since it was Black History Month, we took a hard look at Sickle Cell Disease, a devastating genetic blood disorder that predominantly impacts people of African descent. In this Bloodworks 101 Best of 2024 episode, producer ...
•
21:11
Best of 2024 "The Chemistry Behind Clotting" - Dr. Moua Yang
Meet Bloodworks' newest Principal Investigator, Dr. Moua Yang. Dr. Yang sat down with Bloodworks 101 producer Helen Pitlick to discuss his research, what drives his work, and how Bloodworks Research Institute is changing how we think about more...
•
20:23
BEST OF 2024 "It Made the Biggest Difference" - Joshua Bell
When you walk into a Bloodworks Northwest Donor Center, mobile drive or pop-up center to donate blood, you never know the difference you can make. Ridgefield, Washington's Joshua Bell has first-hand knowledge of that. And as Bloodworks 101 prod...
•
7:38
BEST OF 2024 "An Epic History of Medicine and Commerce" - Professor Douglas Starr
Did you know that the history of blood transfusion goes back four centuries? There's a lot that we don't know about blood. January is National Blood Donor Month, a time set aside to raise awareness for the cause of blood donation because typica...
•
31:52
"Those Types of Accidents" - Juan Cotto State Blood Donor Day 2024 - (S6 E17)
Wednesday, December 18th is State Blood Donor Day in the State of Washington. Bloodworks Northwest' s Director for Government Affairs, Juan Cotto came up with the idea a few years ago to honor the state's first responders and to draw attention ...
•
17:25
"A Normal Morning" December 18th - State Blood Donor Day: Dan Konzelman (S6 E16)
December 18th is set aside each year in the State of Washington as State Blood Donor Day. Bloodworks Northwest has led the effort behind it in order to recognize the need for blood when emergencies hit but also to honor first responders who wer...
•
24:57
ENCORE "The New Era of Blood Donation: Dylan Smith & Juan Gonzalez" (S6 E15)
This is a special ENCORE edition of Bloodworks 101, we're calling, “The New Era of Blood Donation.” We’re re-publishing it this week because something very significant happened one year ago this week. After more than thirty years, the U.S. Food...
•
13:05
"Chris Cashman: One Thousand Thank You's - Thanksgiving 2024" (S6 E14)
Since it's Thanksgiving, it seemed like a good idea to thank the thousands of generous Bloodworks Northwest donors who come through our donor centers every single day. One of those donors is a guy who used to be, in his words, "a fainter." He's...
•
7:26
"Dogs, Dawgs, and 'an exclusively human resource': Bryn Ament" (S6 E13)
University of Washington senior Bryn Ament has a very cool job: she's a handler for one of the biggest celebrities in the state. She's also a blood donor, and the We Give Blood Drive with Big Ten and Abbott is an opportunity to bring both these...
•
24:39
"Stay Ahead of the Aircraft" Bloodworks Northwest President & CEO Curt Bailey: Veterans' Day 2024 (S6 E12)
Veterans' Day was set aside to honor those servicemen and women who put country first. Ask veterans what they got out of the experience and you'll probably get a wide variety of answers. Bloodworks Northwest President & CEO served as a chop...
•
19:02
"Human-Proofing the Workplace: Randy Pickett" (S6 E10)
How is workplace safety like steering an aircraft carrier? Randy Pickett will tell you. As manager of Bloodworks' Occupational Health and Safety program and a Navy veteran, he has plenty of experience in both.
•
20:28
"Some Peculiar Things: Unexplained Happenings at the Beaverton Donor Center" (S6 E9)
Do you believe in ghosts? Seems like a good question to ask since it's Halloween. Well, whatever you call them, something unexplained is happening at the new Bloodworks Donor Center in Beaverton, Oregon. And as producer John Yeager found out, t...
•
8:04
"We're Definitely Not Alone: Unexplained Happenings at the Eugene Donor Center" (S6 E8)
Do you believe in ghosts? Before you answer that question, it might be a good idea to listen to this edition of Bloodworks 101. Well, maybe not. Because if you do believe, this will send shivers up your spine. That's what happened to producer J...
•
20:17
"Walking and Talking with Randy Cantrell" (S6 E7)
As a fitness buff, Randy Cantrell knew he wanted to do something big to celebrate turning 70. And as a lifelong blood donor, he also wanted raise money for Bloodworks. Bloodworks 101 co-producer Helen Pitlick joined Randy for a walk ar...
•
13:45
"Seeing Taylor Swift: A Night to Remember" - Yosi Elison & Melissa Mason (S6 E6)
Overcoming a fear of needles can be a daunting task but consider the consequences, if you can do it - you can literally save a life. That's what Bloodworks Northwest donor Yosi Elison thought about when his long-time girlfriend, Melissa Maron f...
•
10:58
"It Made the Biggest Difference - Joshua Bell" (S6 E5)
When you walk into a Bloodworks Northwest Donor Center, mobile drive or pop-up center to donate, you never know the difference you can make. Ridgefield, Washington's Joshua Bell has first-hand knowledge of that. And as Bloodworks 101 producer J...
•
7:16
"Hispanic Heritage Month: Jose Iniguez - Encanto Arts & Seattle Opera" (S6 E4)
Growing up Mexican in Eastern Washington presented a lot of challenges for Jose Iniquez, especially since he wanted to be an opera singer. But as Bloodworks 101 contributor Juan Cotto discovered, Iniguez has made overcoming challenges his life'...
•
28:55
"Dr. Moua Yang: the Chemistry Behind Clotting" (S6 E3)
Meet Bloodworks' newest Principal Investigator, Dr. Moua Yang. Dr. Yang sat down recently with Bloodworks 101 producer Helen Pitlick to discuss his research, what drives his work, and how Bloodworks Research Institute is changing how w...
•
20:00
"Molly Donahue: Nonprofit Fundraising in the Land of the Millionaire" (S6 E2)
Recently, Seattle Times columnist Danny Westneat wrote a piece called, "In Seattle, It's the Millionaire Next Door." The piece highlighted the fact that there's tremendous wealth in the state's largest city. So, that must make fundraising in Se...
•
19:51
"The New Puyallup Donor Center - Jeremy Tanner" (S6 E1)
In a matter of weeks, Bloodworks Northwest will hold the Grand Opening of our newest donor center in Puyallup. No one knows the center like the guy who's going to run it - Supervisor Jeremy Tanner. And as Bloodworks 101 producer John Yeager Jer...
•
14:13
ENCORE EDITION "We Don't Have to Live in Fear Anymore: Stop The Bleed"- Maria Paulsen R.N. & Dr. Tiffany McDermott
September is National Preparedness Month. So, we can think of no better time to republish one of our favorite episodes entitled, "We Don't Have to Live in Fear." It's all about the Stop The Bleed program. The idea behind Stop The Bleed is to he...
•
19:15