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. It is the nation’s only regularly scheduled podcast in the blood banking industry. 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; Helen Pitlick and Juan Cotto.
In 2025, Bloodworks 101 won its sixth coveted Anthem Award, beating out more than 2,500 entries from 43 nations.
Episodes
274 episodes
"Grant Brewster - Goodlabs" - (S6 E40)
Are you curious about your health but just haven't taken the time to get your blood tested? Is the cost of getting your blood tested holding you back? Well, there's a new company called Goodlabs, partnering with Bloodworks Northwest that provid...
"Four Quiet Heroes on a Monday Morning - The Seattle Center Shooting 2026 (S7 E39)
On Sunday, July 26th, 2026, three people were killed and more than four people were injured in a shooting at the Seattle Center during the Bite of Seattle food and music festival. Many in the city feel sad and powerless in the aftermath of even...
Juan Cotto - One More Time 2026 (S7 E38)
We say "One More Time" a lot. The expression "One More Time" can apply to many things in life. Here in Seattle, if you're a football fan, you'd probably like the Seahawks to win the Super Bowl just "One More Time". But if you're a Bloodworks No...
"Tash Haynes: A Trusted Voice Online" - (S7 E37)
Tash Haynes is a storyteller and content creator based here in the Puget Sound Area. Tash says she loves to share people's stories but as Bloodworks 101 Producer John Yeager found out, it's her personal story that brought her in to the new Bloo...
“The importance of having something to say” — Tazz Enrico & Where the Heart Lives (S7 E36)
Bloodworks partners with The Residency on Where the Heart Lives, a free one-hour hip-hop show for high school and college students that makes blood donation more approachable. If you’ve seen a performance, you’ve probably seen Tazz Enrico. Tazz...
"Almost a statistic" — Dr. Laura Marie Rivera (S7 E34)
Content warning: this episode involves life-threatening bleeding during childbirth. The strengths of motherhood are not often recognized or appreciated in the workplace. Seattle resident Dr. Laura Marie Rivera is very aware of this ...
Urgent: Bloodworks issues Code Red
This week, Bloodworks issued a Code Red, an urgent appeal for blood donors: our region’s blood supply has reached emergency low levels. Bloodworks 101 co-producer Helen Pitlick talked with Harry Thomas, Vice President of Marketing and ...
"We have to keep dancing" — Remembering the Pulse Nightclub shooting (S7 E33)
On June 12, 2016, a gunman opened fire during Latin Night at Pulse, a popular gay nightclub in Orlando, FL. 49 people lost their lives, 58 were wounded, and countless worlds changed forever. Ten years later, Bloodworks 101 host John Ye...
"We haven't even gotten to the weird parts yet" — Steve Edmiston & The Maury Island Incident (BONUS)
In our episode yesterday, you met Steve Edmiston: lawyer, cancer survivor, filmmaker, microhistorian, and founder of one of the Men in Black Birthday Bash. As a special treat for Bloodworks 1...
"Just like in science fiction" — Steve Edmiston (S7 E32)
It’s June 1947, and Bloodworks’ first donation center in Seattle has been open for six months. Roughly 20 miles southwest, Harold Dahl and his crew experience something strange near Maury Island in Puget Sound. What happens next will launch a m...
"Soccer is a big deal" — Kyle Boynton and the World Cup (S7 E31)
Western Washington expects an additional 350,000–600,000 visitors in June and July for to the upcoming World Cup tournament, the largest sporting event on the planet. It’s going to be great for the local economy — and a potential concern for th...
ENCORE: "The New Puyallup Donor Center - Jeremy Tanner"
Hello, Tacoma! On June 9, Bloodworks Northwest will hold the Grand Opening of our newest donor center in Tacoma. The Tacoma supervisor is someone Bloodworks 101 listeners are already familiar with: Jeremy Tanner from our Puyallup donor...
100 Deadliest Days Dr. Kirsten Alcorn (S7 E30)
The blood banking industry, hospitals and first reponders all over the nation refer to the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day as the "100 Deadliest Days." Today, on Bloodworks 101, our Co-Chief Medical Officer Dr. Kirsten Alcorn tells Pr...
"Ahead of the Curve" — Stanford Blood Center and Super Bowl LX (S7 E30)
The Seahawks are the reigning NFL champions! Three months after Super Bowl LX, we’re still riding that high here in the Pacific Northwest. Major events are fun but come with a potential impact to the local blood supply. With the world’s largest...
FAN FAVORITE #1 "Fear of Needles I Want to Donate But"
In the last five years, Bloodworks 101 has published more than 250 episodes. It's been downloaded more than 37,000 times. We've won six coveted Anthem Awards, beating out more than 2,000 entries from 42 countries. But we couldn't have done anyt...
FAN FAVORITE #2 "Natasha's New Car"
In the last five years, Bloodworks 101 has published more than 250 episodes. It's been downloaded more than 37,000 times. We've won six coveted Anthem Awards, beating out more than 2,000 entries from 42 countries. But we couldn't have done anyt...
FAN FAVORITE #3 "Paying It Forward with Tommy Newman"
In the last five years, Bloodworks 101 has published more than 250 episodes. It's been downloaded more than 37,000 times. We've won six coveted Anthem Awards, beating out more than 2,000 entries from 42 countries. But we couldn't have done anyt...
"Brody Hamilton’s Long Run" (S7 E29)
When 11-year-old Brody Hamilton stood at home plate, ready to run the bases before the Mariner's Home Opener on Thursday, March 26th, it was the end of a long battle with cancer. But as thousands of Mariner's fans like Bloodworks 101 Producer J...
"Why Don't More College Students Donate Blood?" - Claire Yang Bloodworks Northwest (S7 E28)
During the pandemic, Bloodworks Northwest became keenly aware of the impact that a drop in blood donation from college students would have. Recently, we commissioned a study to look at that impact and how to do something about it. The woman in ...
"My Favorite Time of Year" - Trevor Gooby Seattle Mariners & Bloodworks Board Chair (S7 E27)
Thursday, March 26th, marks Opening Day for the Seattle Mariners. Some say this season begins with more hope than any Mariners' fan can remember. And that includes Trevor Gooby, the Marines Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. ...
ENCORE EDITION "If I Hadn't Broken My Toe... - Josh McCullough"
For most of us, breaking a toe is a painful inconvenience. For Josh McCullough, co-host of podcasts Murder in the Rain and Always Be My Sisters, it might have saved his life—along with Bloodworks donors and the cardiac surgery team at Legacy Em...
ENCORE EDITION "Beginning of a Beautiful Friendship" - Classic Quarantine Cinema
With the Oscars coming up this Sunday, we felt celebrating the movies was in order. So, in this ENCORE EDITION of Bloodworks 101, host Helen Pitlick spoke to Bloodworks co-workers John Yeager and Bill Harper, along with Donor Center Collections...
"That was Code Red" — Retired police officer Greg Schmidt (S7 E26)
In an emergency, every second counts. Last week on Bloodworks 101, Chief Scoggins of Seattle Fire Department mentioned one way that first responders save lives: by carrying whole blood on board Medic One vehicles to administer transfus...
"When the Need is There" Seattle Fire Chief Harold Scoggins (S7 E25)
February is Black History Month, a time set aside to honor the contributions Blacks have made in our community. But it's also a time to look ahead at the challenges before us. One prominent Black Seattlite is Harold Scoggins, Seattle's Fire Chi...