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Artwork for Focus: Adults in the Room

Focus: Adults in the Room

KUOW News and Information
Psychosis
Seattle
Mental Health Crisis
Homelessness
Garfield High School
Schizophrenia
Mental Health Care System
Mental Illness
Emergency Psychiatry
Community Care
Substance Use
Mental Health Policy
Tom Hudson
Substance Use Disorders
Involuntary Commitment
Patient Advocacy
History Of Mental Health Care
Jesse Lee Johnson
Oregon Public Broadcasting
Harriet Thompson

The production team behind the Peabody-nominated "Lost Patients" returns with a new investigative series: "Adults in the Room." Episodes will come out Tuesdays at midnight Pacific Time.

Seattle, 1999. At Garfield High School, Mr. Hudson is a legend. With a thundering voice and imposing stature, Mr. Hudson — or “Tom” as select students call him — teaches biology and leads an elite outdoors program... more

PublishesWeeklyEpisodes15Founded2 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
Society & CultureDocumentary

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Artwork for Focus: Adults in the Room

Latest Episodes

A surprise archival interview with a former Garfield High School principal reveals that the teacher abuse problem at the school extended beyond Tom Hudson. Isolde discovers that the district received numerous credible allegations of temper outbursts ... more

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As Isolde looks through records on Mr. Hudson from Seattle Public Schools, she comes across a document describing a photograph of Hudson and two students at a mountain lake near Seattle. All three of them are naked.

Isolde learns that back in 1994,... more

YouTube

As adults, Isolde and Ella start re-investigating the question of Mr. Hudson’s guilt. For years, they've wondered if they spread unfounded rumors that drove Mr. Hudson to take his own life.

Isolde digs out a brown manila envelope containing the sc... more

YouTube

The Garfield community -- and, it seems, the whole city of Seattle -- mourns Tom Hudson, remembering him as a great man and teacher. One of the students who was closest to him, Jonathan Hill, spends the weeks after Hudson's death trying to ensure his... more

YouTube

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Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

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Recent Guests

Tim Matsui
Local rock climber and documentarian who contributed archival tapes
Post 84 / Outdoors program (past)
Episode: Adults in the Room: Bad Apples
Rebecca Den
Reporter who covered Garfield story for the Seattle PI
Seattle Post-Intelligencer
Episode: Adults in the Room: Bad Apples
Aisha Beck
Editor-in-Chief of The Messenger during senior year
The Messenger (Garfield High School newspaper)
Episode: Adults in the Room: Bad Apples
Cheryl Chow
Former Garfield High School principal involved in the case
Garfield High School
Episode: Adults in the Room: Bad Apples
Jason Fox
Former Garfield High School student and survivor who later became a sea captain
Garfield High School, Navy (Naval Academy context in episode)
Episode: Adults in the Room: The Boy in the Photograph
Maria Coriel Martin
Former Garfield student and Post 84 member who reported abuse allegations
Garfield High School Outdoors program
Episode: Adults in the Room: The Boy in the Photograph
Ocean Mason
Garfield alum, former Post 84 member
Garfield High School Outdoors program
Episode: Adults in the Room: The Boy in the Photograph
Rosie Bancroft
Garfield alumna who spoke about abuse and protection efforts
Garfield High School Outdoors program
Episode: Adults in the Room: The Boy in the Photograph
Ella Hussagen
Friend and fellow reporter who helped report the allegations
Garfield High School journalism
Episode: Adults in the Room: The Boy in the Photograph

Hosts

Will James
Host and reporter with an investigative journalism background, focusing on mental health issues and personal stories.
Sydney Brownstone
Co-host and investigative reporter with expertise in social issues, contributing to coverage on mental health and community dynamics.
Esmy Jimenez
Collaborating journalist specializing in mental health narratives, sharing impactful stories and insights from those affected by mental illness.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 2.4k ratings
  • Great

    Good reporting, good storytelling. How did a school system and a community allow such an environment to exist in 1999 (season 2)?

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    PodcastListener-2020
    United States23 days ago
  • Thank you

    Powerful podcast hope there are some more episodes

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Kelly 🇮🇪🇵🇸
    United Kingdoma month ago
  • Compelling story is ruined by narrator who never advanced beyond a high school child’s mentality.

    .

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    Cointossed
    United Statesa month ago
  • People need to hear this

    This podcast is fantastic. It gets deep on so many levels and explores so many nuanced, important themes. Perhaps the most relevant theme for 2026 = it is dangerous and damaging when a group of people forms a hard, instant, intractable opinion before hearing the facts or even asking the questions. The gap between what folks thought of Tom in 2000 vs what they think of him now shows just how far we’ve come in understanding grooming. I wish I could say we’ve come as far when it comes to not making... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    schlitz n fritz
    United Statesa month ago
  • Incredible sourcing

    This podcast is a tough but important listen. The journalists have great sources, in part because they were part of the story in their youth. The victims are allowed to share their story with no judgment, and hopefully that allows them to heal after all this time.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    LidoMarin
    United Statesa month ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Several remarks admire the immersive narratives, citing them as moving and informative, with potential to influence public perception of mental health issues.
Listeners appreciate the compassionate and well-researched storytelling that offers deep insights into mental illness and its societal implications.
Audience feedback highlights the importance of the content for those involved in mental health services, motivating change and advocacy for better care systems.
Many find the series highly empathetic, providing a platform for understanding the complexities of mental health beyond surface-level perceptions.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Adults in the Room: The Boy in the Photograph
Q: Was there anything else I should know about the photo and the investigation?
The investigator pressed for full disclosure, and Jason ultimately shared the deeper context of the bets, the tent encounters, and the escalating boundary violations, which reframed the events as part of a broader grooming pattern rather than isolated incidents.
Opening
Q: What were the obstacles to creating that system of community care?
Evans states there was recognition of the need for change, but not a solid understanding of alternatives to large institutions.
Opening
Q: When you look back on that decision, what emotions does it bring up for you?
Evans reflects that it's probably a mix of pride, pain, and confusion, citing the era was a time of change with no clear alternatives for mental health care.
Disease Without Knowledge
Q: What did the hospitalization mean for Carolyn?
The hospitalization created the conditions for her insight into her situation despite being a flawed and risky experience overall, as she realized the importance of mental health support.
Lost Patients Live: First-Person Stories from Seattle's Mental Health Crisis
Q: How can you improve care for vulnerable communities?
We need to listen to people's stories and recognize that mental health is a time-oriented illness.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
Location
Interests
Professions
Age Range
Household Income
Social Media Reach

Frequently Asked Questions About Focus: Adults in the Room

What is Focus: Adults in the Room about and what kind of topics does it cover?

The content delves into the complexities of severe mental illness and the challenges associated with treating it, all framed through the experiences of individuals navigating their own mental health crises. Emphasizing empathy and understanding, the series takes listeners through immersive narratives that portray not only the internal struggles of those experiencing psychosis but also the broader societal implications of mental health issues, including homelessness and addiction. With a focus on Seattle's past and present, the podcast aims to foster a more compassionate dialogue around these pressing topics, making the episodes a riveting listen for anyone interested in the realities of mental health care and systemic failures in the U.S. more

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Which podcasts are similar to Focus: Adults in the Room?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Focus: Adults in the Room:

1. Love Trapped
2. The Idiot
3. Bridge of Lies
4. Betrayal Season 5
5. The Binge Cases: My Mother's Lies

How many episodes of Focus: Adults in the Room are there?

Focus: Adults in the Room launched 2 years ago and published 15 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Focus: Adults in the Room?

Recent guests on Focus: Adults in the Room include:

1. Tim Matsui
2. Rebecca Den
3. Aisha Beck
4. Cheryl Chow
5. Jason Fox
6. Maria Coriel Martin
7. Ocean Mason
8. Rosie Bancroft

To view more recent guests and their details, simply upgrade your Rephonic account. You'll also get access to a typical guest profile to help you decide if the show is worth pitching.

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