Former World’s Strongest Man winner and Camas resident traveled world for feats of ‘Strength Unknown’

Two Local Filmmakers document the life of “America The Beautiful” creator, Katherine Lee Bates

KATHERINE LEE BATES' GREATEST HOPE IN LIFE WAS TO WRITE A POEM THAT PEOPLE WOULD REMEMBER AFTER SHE DIED. ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTY THREE YEARS LATER MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ACROSS THE UNITED STATES WILL SING “AMERICA THE BEAUTIFUL,” COMMEMORATING THE NATIONS’ 250TH ANNIVERSARY. HOWEVER, SOME OF THE SAME PROBLEMS AMERICA FACED AT THE TIME BATES WROTE HER POEM ARE STILL RELEVANT TODAY.   Filmmakers Laurence Cotton and John de Graaf join us to discuss their documentary “From Sea to Shining Sea,” which follows the life of Katherine Lee Bates, and the striking relevance of “America the Beautiful” today.

OSU pharmacy professor breaks down peptides, off-label drugs

NEXT MONTH, THE FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE WILL CONSIDER EASING RESTRICTIONS ON SOME PEPTIDES. SOME INFLUENCERS HAVE CLAIMED [https://www.npr.org/2026/02/23/nx-s1-5716162/peptides-science-muscle-growth-longevity-wellness] THESE INJECTABLES IMPROVE MUSCLE GROWTH, CREATE BETTER IMMUNE FUNCTION AND SLOW AGING, AMONG OTHER THINGS. HOWEVER, THERE IS VERY LITTLE EVIDENCE TO SUPPORT THE BENEFITS OF MANY OF THESE DRUGS IN HUMANS. AT THE SAME TIME, PRESCRIPTION PEPTIDES THAT ARE ALREADY ON THE MARKET, SUCH AS GLP-1S LIKE OZEMPIC, HAVE SEEN INCREASING DEMAND [https://www.columbiapsychiatry.org/news/rise-ozempic-sparks-ethical-concerns] FOR OFF-LABEL USE. DANIEL HARTUNG IS A PROFESSOR OF PHARMACY AT OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY. HE JOINS US TO SHARE MORE ON THE FDA PROCESSES AND OFF-LABEL PRESCRIPTIONS.

Federal court rules against industrial shellfish operation in WA

THIS WEEK, THE U.S. DISTRICT COURT FOR THE WESTERN DISTRICT OF WASHINGTON SIDED WITH THE CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY AND THE COALITION TO PROTECT PUGET SOUND HABITAT IN A SUIT AGAINST THE U.S. ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS. THE RULING MEANS THAT NINE INDUSTRIAL SHELLFISH OPERATIONS THAT WERE APPROVED BY THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS OFF OF WASHINGTON’S COAST ARE UNLAWFUL. THE PLAINTIFFS ARGUE THAT THE USACE VIOLATED THE LAW WHEN RELYING ON STREAMLINED PERMITTING PROCEDURES FOR THE SHELLFISH OPERATIONS. KRISTINA SINCLAIR IS THE STAFF ATTORNEY FOR THE CENTER FOR FOOD SAFETY. SHE JOINS US TO SHARE MORE.

Former World’s Strongest Man winner and Camas resident traveled world for feats of ‘Strength Unknown’

Four times a week, you’ll find Camas resident Martins Licis [https://www.instagram.com/martinslicis/] working out in his home garage. Like many people, he will lift repetitions of weights to build strength. But most people don’t do 600 to 900-pound deadlifts or 500 to 700-pound squats.     Licis is a professional strongman who is currently training to compete in the Giants Live Strongman Classic in London on July 4 and another international competition three weeks later. The Columbian [https://www.columbian.com/news/2026/apr/23/i-need-to-have-fun-stay-healthy-camas-strongman-lifts-heavy-weights-with-a-light-heart/] recently profiled Licis before his return to the World’s Strongest Man, which he won in 2019 and finished in sixth place this year. The four-day competition features grueling feats of strength like pulling a truck along a 100-foot course or throwing 30-pound sandbags over a 16-foot-high bar.     But it’s more traditional feats of strength that Licis is particularly interested in these days. In 2022, he launched with his friend and manager the YouTube series “Strength Unknown.” [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLRpuN4sizg_IRinmwgCdgO5shplEqMyyh] As host and co-producer, Licis has traveled to more than 15 countries to document and participate in ancient strength traditions, from sumo wrestling in Japan to stone lifting in Pakistan, and to meet the people who are keeping them alive.    Licis joins us to discuss the series, which is currently on hiatus, and how it’s expanded his understanding of strength.

Portland-born Menopunks movement advocates for better menopause care

The Menopunks [https://www.menopunks.com/] movement started as a documentary. The goal was to debunk claims [https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/hhs-advances-womens-health-removes-misleading-fda-warnings-hormone-replacement-therapy] about hormone replacement therapy through interviews with doctors and hear the stories of Portland musicians who have benefited from HRT. But it’s now grown into a broader effort to advocate for more comprehensive and accessible menopause care.    A benefit concert series [https://www.mcmenamins.com/events/276144-menopunkapalooza] this weekend aims to raise money for the documentary and awareness around hormonal therapy through a resource fair [https://www.etix.com/ticket/p/98917073/menopunks-perimeno-resource-fairlive-music-by-m%C3%A9nage-%C3%A1h-tw%C3%A1ts-portland-mcmenamins-lolas-room] and panel conversation with doctors and healthcare advocates.   Alicia J Rose is a musician, filmmaker and one of the founders of Menopunks. Gilly Ann Hanner is a participant in the documentary and a founding member of the band Calamity Jane [https://www.facebook.com/calamityjanepdx/], which will perform this weekend with both of its founding members for the first time in 35 years. They both join us with more details.