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Artwork for Focus: We Keep Us Safe

Focus: We Keep Us Safe

KUOW News and Information
Psychosis
Seattle
Mental Health Crisis
Homelessness
Garfield High School
Schizophrenia
Tom Hudson
Mental Health Care System
Mental Illness
Substance Use
Community Care
Mental Health Policy
Emergency Psychiatry
Jesse Lee Johnson
Oregon Public Broadcasting
Harriet Thompson
North Little Rock, Arkansas
Salem, Oregon
Death Row
Drug Addiction

New Season "We Keep Us Safe" starting September 21, 2026.

In the summer of 2020, sixteen-year-old Antonio Mays Jr. traveled a thousand miles to join the racial justice movement of his generation. He arrived in Seattle during the Capitol Hill Occupied Protest, known as CHOP. Less than a week later, he was shot and killed there. The case remains unsolved. In this eight-part series, first published ... more

PublishesMonthlyEpisodes18Founded3 years ago
Number of ListenersCategories
DocumentarySociety & Culture

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Artwork for Focus: We Keep Us Safe

Latest Episodes

When 16-year-old Antonio Mays Jr. was shot and killed inside Seattle's CHOP protest zone in 2020, protesters claimed self-defense. For years, that version of events went unchallenged. Reporters Sydney Brownstone, Will James and David Gutman investiga... more

“You let Tom Hudson off the hook."

That was one of the first things Paul (not his real name) said to host Isolde Raftery during their first conversation earlier this year. He wanted her to know about his own experience with Hudson, which included y... more

YouTube

The team behind Adults in the Room is hard at work on an Epilogue episode, set to release later this summer.

In the meantime, the team recently gathered for a live event to discuss behind-the-scenes moments and decisions from the series—including i... more

YouTube

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

YouTube

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Recent Guests

Ella Hushagen
Isolde's childhood friend and today an attorney
Independent
Episode: Adults in the Room Live: A behind-the-scenes look at an investigation 25 years in the making
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
Jonathan Hill
Former Post 84 president
Post 84 Outdoors program
Episode: Adults in the Room: The Boy in the Photograph

Host

Isolde Raftery
Host of immersive investigative documentaries and investigative journalist focused on long-form storytelling and accountability.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 3.1k ratings
  • Highly Recommend

    Extremely well researched, structured and written. Thoughtful. Balanced. Compassionate. Highly recommend.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Heux
    Canada14 days ago
  • Excellent Journalisim

    This was a tragic and mind blowing story, but it was flawlessly told. I binged the first 8 episodes at the beginning of the summer and been eagerly waiting for the final episode..and wow. My heart goes out to all the survivors of his abuse and those involved

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    Fayth Starr
    Canada18 days ago
  • A tough listen but a worthy one

    Podcast Addict
    5
    slatersli@hotmail.com
    a month ago
  • Eye Opening

    A bit difficult to listen to at times (topic) but this was well done and insightful.

    Audible
    5
    Katie
    United Statesa month ago
  • 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 States5 months ago

Listeners Say

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

Narration can feel overbearing for some listeners.
The reporting is strong and stories are deeply engaging.
Powerful, thought-provoking exploration of accountability and survivor voices.
High-quality sourcing and interviews that add credibility and depth.
Commentary on surrounding institutions is insightful and nuanced.

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 Live: A behind-the-scenes look at an investigation 25 years in the making
Q: How do you avoid sensationalizing a difficult story?
The team emphasizes honoring survivors, presenting complex humans rather than reducing them to a stereotype, avoiding dazzling details, and maintaining rigorous fact-checking to protect the subjects.
Adults in the Room Live: A behind-the-scenes look at an investigation 25 years in the making
Q: What can you tell us about episode eight and what's next?
Episode eight centers on one individual's story, dating back to the 1980s, connecting Tom Hudson and his death, with only limited detail shared to build anticipation for the finale.
Adults in the Room Live: A behind-the-scenes look at an investigation 25 years in the making
Q: Why dredge this up now?
The team explains the ongoing relevance, the present-day impact, and the desire to understand what happened beyond the initial reporting, including how abuse and institutional responses ripple through time.
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.

Audience Metrics

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Frequently Asked Questions About Focus: We Keep Us Safe

What is Focus: We Keep Us Safe about and what kind of topics does it cover?

A rigorous investigative series that revisits a decades-old high school abuse case, examining how rumors escalated into formal inquiries and how the community, administration, and journalism interacted in the face of survivor testimony. Through archival recordings, survivor accounts, and contemporary perspective, it weighs accountability, due process, and the long shadow such events cast on students, families, and the school community. Notable themes include the tension between protecting students and protecting institutions, the role of journalism in truth-telling, and the enduring need for safeguards against predatory behavior in schools. The narrative relies on first-person testimonies and careful sourcing, offering a nuanced look at how... more

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Which podcasts are similar to Focus: We Keep Us Safe?

These podcasts share a similar audience with Focus: We Keep Us Safe:

1. Love Trapped
2. Trace of Suspicion
3. The Binge Cases: What She Buried
4. The Binge Crimes: What Happened to the Harrisons?
5. Betrayal Season 6

How many episodes of Focus: We Keep Us Safe are there?

Focus: We Keep Us Safe launched 3 years ago and published 18 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: We Keep Us Safe?

Recent guests on Focus: We Keep Us Safe include:

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

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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