Shows
BoomingThe plan to boost Black homeownershipIn Seattle's Central District, the number of Black homeowners has reached a historic low. And across Seattle, less than half as many Black households own homes as white families. But there's a new law that could help turn that around. The law expands the Covenant Home Ownership program, a state program that helps first-time Black and other marginalized home buyers cover their down payments and closing costs. In today's episode, Joshua explains why Black homeownership has plummeted and what lawmakers are doing to boost it. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you...2025-04-3018 minBoomingThere's no such thing as local and these Northwest industries prove itIf you've got tariff whiplash, you're not alone. The Trump administration's on-again, off-again tariffs are meant to protect domestic businesses and bring industry back to the US. So tariffs should be good for the iconic local industries we're so proud of here in the Pacific Northwest...right? On today's episode we'll dig into three of these Northwest industries: salmon, craft breweries, and aerospace parts, to see how they could be affected by rising tariffs. In today's economy, is anything really local anymore? Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help ma...2025-04-1620 min
SoundsideMicrosoft at 50: AI, job security, and the future of the tech industry50 years ago, on Friday, April 4th 1975, two guys from Seattle launched a software company in a strip mall in Albuquerque NM.. That business would soon relocate to Redmond, Washington… and those Lakeside kids, Bill Gates and Paul Allen, did all right. The Windows operating system would go on to dominate the personal computer industry. Today, Microsoft is one of the most profitable companies in the world. And its presence laid the groundwork for the Puget Sound region as a hub for engineering and technical talent. The path to where we are now had some...2025-04-0318 minBoomingMicrosoft President Brad Smith on how to defend your job from AIWhen it comes to the white-collar workforce, alarm bells are starting to go off. The tech industry is seeing widespread layoffs, and a lot of those laid off workers are struggling to find new gigs. Some experts speculate that these are early signs of AI moving into the workforce and replacing jobs. Microsoft is one company at the center of this debate, so Monica sat down with its president Brad Smith to ask: is AI already taking our jobs? And if so, what can we do about it? Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you...2025-04-0230 minBoomingShould social media have a bedtime?Experts say kids are spinning out online. Can Washington lawmakers help by putting seatbelts on social media? Parents, tech workers and even kids are asking for social media regulation, and there’s a bill moving through the Washington State Legislature that could make it happen. Senate Bill 5708 would block apps like Instagram and Snapchat from using addictive algorithms to keep kids scrolling. It would also require apps to stop sending push notifications late at night and during school hours. Monica talked to social psychologist Ravi Iyer from the University of Southern California about what these re...2025-03-2621 minBoomingAn inside look into Seattle's AI startup sceneThere’s an invisible startup boom happening in Seattle right now. Tons of artificial intelligence companies have cropped up in the area – rivaling sectors like health tech and computer software. Seattle’s secret AI startup scene could transform our economy, but are we in a bubble, or is it here to stay? Joshua sits down with insider Kirby Winfield to find out. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes. Do you have a question about the econ...2025-03-1220 minBoomingCould layoffs lead to a startup baby boom?For months, Seattle's tech industry has been reeling from layoffs. Microsoft, Amazon, Expedia and Starbucks are just a few of the companies who've recently let corporate employees go. And that's left many tech workers in a tough spot. But could there be a silver lining? With so many people suddenly out of a job, could these layoffs lead to a startup baby boom? On today's episode, Monica sits down with Geekwire co-founder Todd Bishop to find out. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help...2025-03-0517 minBoomingWhy you can't afford to ski anymoreSkiing has never been cheap, but it used to be accessible to families and casual skiers. Now the slopes seem to have turned into a playground for the rich. Tickets are costly...and large companies are buying out smaller ski hills. On today's episode, why is it so expensive? And is there a way for everyone to access the mountains? Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes. Do you have a question about the economy th...2025-02-2615 minBoomingREI and the steep climb to unionize retailWashington's iconic outdoor retailer, REI, has gotten a little too far out over its skis. The member-owned co-op has been losing money for years. And that's put it at odds with its employees who want better wages and benefits. On today's episode, workers in the service industry are organizing at companies that used to seem immune from unionization. So, could the next generation of workers revolutionize retail? Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes. Do yo...2025-02-1914 minBoomingHow to avoid being tariffed out of businessSeattle’s economy relies heavily on trade. So all this talk about tariffs on goods from Mexico, Canada and China? It's got a lot of local companies concerned. But how businesses respond to tariffs may depend on if they’re big companies or small ones. On today's episode, Joshua talks to Seattle outdoor clothing company KAVU to learn more about what they're doing to prepare for potential tariffs. And we dig into the techniques some companies use to engineer their way out of tariffs. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show...2025-02-0517 minBoomingMaking six figures? You could qualify for affordable housing in SeattleSeattle has one of the worst housing shortages in the country. Nearly half the households in and around Seattle pay more than they can afford for a place to live. That’s why some housing advocates are promoting a big idea – called Social Housing - that would let even people with six-figure incomes qualify for public housing. In February, voters will decide how to pay for it. On this episode of Booming, the debate over social housing is raising a big question: Who are we building affordable housing for? Thank you to the supporters of KUOW...2025-01-2214 minBoomingWhat's behind Amazon's all-or-nothing return to office policy?It’s been a week since Amazon’s corporate employees ditched their slippers for commuter shoes and started heading into the office every day. Amazon says the five-day return to office policy is about strengthening its culture, but some employees and experts have a different theory for why the company is rolling back its pandemic-era work from home policy. On this episode of Booming, what's really behind Amazon's push to come back to the office? And does this signal the end of the work-from-home era? Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this...2025-01-0816 minBoomingHow stores are spying on youShopping online can be creepy. Suggested products, targeted ads...it feels like your phone is listening to you. You might be tempted to hit the mall instead. But actually, AI is tracking you there too. Many brick-and-mortar stores depend on holiday sales to stay alive. And increasingly they’re borrowing tricks from the online world to get us to buy stuff – lots of stuff. So in the age of Artificial Intelligence, is there any way to stop being tracked when you shop? Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If y...2024-12-1125 minBoomingSports ticket prices have skyrocketed. Here's whyTickets to pro sports in Seattle will put a dent in your budget. A seat at a Seahawks game could cost you $260. So why do they cost so much? The ticket selling business is a complex system with lots of players driving up the prices. On this episode of Booming, we’ll find out how the pricing works and hear about ways to see sports games without breaking the bank. Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes. 2024-11-2721 minBoomingIf free trade isn't free, what's next for Washington's economy?The free trade era that has defined the U.S. economy for decades made clear winners and losers. It tanked the Rust Belt, but sent the Pacific Northwest’s global economy to new heights. Washington state has always benefited from its international companies and the free flow of talent across borders. So what does the potential end of the free trade era mean for our economy? Monica sat down with University of Washington historian Margaret O'Mara to talk about her predictions for how a second Trump term will affect Washington's economy - and the people who live he...2024-11-1323 minBoomingWashington's plan to make billionaires share the wealthWashington is a wealthy state.... that needs more money. So a couple years ago, it tried a new way to tax rich people. It’s called the capital gains tax, but an initiative on the ballot could kill it this November. On this week’s episode of Booming, we dig into Initiative 2109. Is the capital gains tax doing what it's supposed to do? What would a fair tax system actually look like here in Washington? Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to k...2024-10-3024 minBoomingDowntown countdown: Top 5 notes Seattle could take from other citiesWhat would it take to put the shine back on our cities? Seattle used to be a superstar city...a technopolis by the sea. Companies, and their employees, wanted to move here. But for several years now, it’s felt like some of that glitter has gone. And it’s not just Seattle – downtowns across the country are struggling. On this episode of Booming, Joshua heads to the International Downtown Association Conference to meet with city leaders from all over the country. We'll find out what they're doing that actually works to save their downtowns and wha...2024-10-1628 minBoomingCould paying more for gas save you money?Washington's gas prices are among the highest in the country. Some blame the state’s efforts to reduce climate change for the extra cost at the pump. This November, they’ve put those concerns on the ballot. Initiative 2117 aims to cut prices at the pump by cutting the state's plan to reduce fossil fuels. But would killing that plan -- known as the Climate Commitment Act -- result in even higher prices? In this episode of Booming, we look at the economics and hidden costs of our addiction to fossil fuel... and the surprising lesson we c...2024-10-0221 minBoomingCan historic transpo levy fix Seattle's traffic problems?Maybe you’ve noticed: Seattle traffic is back. And not just during rush hour. It’s busy all the time. But there's a transportation levy on the ballot in Seattle this November, and it's the biggest one we’ve ever seen. So, will $1.55 billion buy us better commutes? Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/boomingnotes. Booming is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is Carol Smith. Our producers are Jen...2024-09-1826 minBoomingAre we on the brink of a tax revolt?There’s something unusual happening to property values in Seattle right now. As housing prices continue to climb, the value of commercial property is taking a big plunge. The County Assessor warns office buildings will be worth 30-40% less next year. This is a historic shift. And it will have impacts on the cost of living for all of us. That might not sit well with people who are already feeling the effects of inflation and high prices. Joshua looks at the downstream effects of plunging commercial real estate values, and what might happen at th...2024-07-2424 minBoomingA robot took his job. And he's happy about itLike it or not, "smart robots" enabled with artificial intelligence are taking on jobs that only humans used to do - maybe even yours. Whether that's something to fear or embrace depends on whether the robot could replace you, or actually make you smarter. In this episode, Joshua tags along with a robot "inspector" on an apartment tower construction site. The robot makes the rounds each day, helping its human counterparts detect construction defects and safety violations. Its use marks a new era for robots, which typically toil in highly controlled and predictable environments. But construction sites...2024-07-1034 minBoomingCan buildings learn?Seattle is littered with buildings that seem obsolete in our post-pandemic economy. Now an unprecedented number of them are going up for sale and selling at deep discounts. Some of those new owners will renovate to retain the history or character of a building. Others will tear them down and start again. In a Booming city like Seattle, we need to use every square foot of space. So how do we build for the future without demolishing our past? To find out, Joshua revisits a lost neighborhood karaoke bar and a renovated Elk’s Temple in Tacoma. An...2024-06-2631 minBoomingThe risky business of airplanesIn the months following Boeing’s now-infamous door panel blowout, speculation has swirled that the company’s troubles can be traced back to its decision to outsource so much of its manufacturing. It’s easy to accuse Boeing of putting profits above all else, but economy reporter Monica Nickelsburg wanted to understand what went into that decision and why the economics of building airplanes are so weird. She didn’t have to go very far to find answers. Listen to Booming's special Father's Day episode. A special thanks to all you listeners out ther...2024-06-1219 minBoomingThe solution to our struggling power grid could be hiding in your closetCities around the country are facing down a catch-22. In just a few short years, they need to somehow get off of fossil fuels while meeting surging electricity demand. The crisis is especially acute in the Seattle area, where demand for power is expected to increase by up to 50% and new energy-hungry datacenters are cropping up all the time. On this episode of Booming, we uncover a surprising solution that's hiding in plain sight. Will it be enough to keep the lights on? A special thanks to all you listeners out there who financially support...2024-05-1532 minBoomingWhat's sending first gen electric cars to an early graveThis week on Booming, can electric vehicles really save us from our fossil fuel addiction? Economy reporter Monica Nickelsburg went searching for a "Tesla Graveyard." What she found reveals how complicated our transition to a greener transportation future will be. Plus, our growth reporter Joshua McNichols takes us to opening day of the light rail that could transform one of the most car-centric parts of our region, and our hosts try to guess the wacky animal names carmakers are giving their new EVs. A special thanks to all you listeners out there who financially support...2024-05-0123 minBoomingThe campground crunchWe know Washington's cities are booming, attracting thousands of newcomers each year. But did you know demand for Pacific Northwest campgrounds and trails is growing even faster?This week on Booming: why landing a good spot outdoors can feel harder than scoring Taylor Swift tickets, and what you can do to get around the campground crunch.Plus, we'll put our new campsite hunting tools to the test in a race to reserve a spot on one of the hottest weekends of the summer -- and take you inside Seattle's 'ghost mall.' A...2024-04-1734 minBoomingBoeing at the glass cliffBoeing's hiring of its new CEO of Commercial Airplanes is the latest in a series of women who finally break through the glass ceiling at male-dominated companies, but only when there's a crisis to solve. Researchers call this the glass cliff. It can be a once-in-a-career opportunity for women, but it can also be a huge professional liability.This week on Booming, we ask an expert why the glass cliff exists, and what the future looks like for the first woman to lead Boeing's Seattle-based jet manufacturing department.Plus, the Department of Justice goes after...2024-04-0326 minBoomingSeattle's 15-minute makeoverWho killed the 15-minute city? And what will it take to get it back? Seattle leaders have a plan to turn NIMBYs into YIMBYs. They're betting they can get residents to say "yes in my back yard" to growth if Seattle becomes a 15-minute city. That means changing laws so that everything you need is a 15-minute walk, bike, or bus ride from your home. This week on Booming, we travel to Georgetown, which could become a 15-minute neighborhood under Seattle's new Comprehensive Plan. Plus, local content creators are sounding off on federal lawmakers' plan...2024-03-2032 minBoomingThe new mommy trackMore American women with young children are working than ever before, thanks in part to the rise of remote work. That has clear benefits for the economy and individuals. But hybrid work may not be a golden ticket to career advancement and satisfaction we think it is.Plus, Seattle leaders unveil their long awaited 20-year plan for the city, and we go back in time to see what housing and child care cost previous generations. "Booming" is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. Our editor is...2024-03-0632 minBoomingCould a broken ferry system help fix our cities?The Washington State ferry system is down by a third of its fleet. That’s leaving people up and down Puget Sound stranded, intermittently severing them from their jobs, schools and doctors. But out of this crisis, a solution is gaining steam: “mosquito fleets” of smaller, more efficient passenger-only ferries. And they’re helping shape downtowns like Bremerton into more walkable communities. Plus: Adult dancers in Washington fight for a 'Strippers' Bill of Rights' that could set the standard for workplace protections in their industry. And can you guess which movies these iconic PNW ferry scenes c...2024-02-2126 minBoomingWhatever happened to hustle?Gen Z and millennial workers have become a punchline for media pundits and TikTok comedians. Young people get a bad rap for refusing to go above and beyond at work. Is this just the latest battle in an endless generational war, or do young people really have less work ethic? And if so, what's driving the shift? KUOW's economy reporters Monica Nickelsburg and Joshua McNichols have answers in this episode of Booming.Plus, Seattle's urban ghost town sees sparks of life. See if you can guess which artists, makers, and pop-up businesses are moving into vacant storefronts...2024-02-0722 minBoomingDorms for adultsSeattle is running out of room. Could tiny, Tokyo-style apartments be part of the solution? How much space do we really need? Residents of a new Seattle-area micro-apartment building say not much. Units go for less than studios in the same neighborhood, allowing barbers, seniors, and other folks on low incomes to live in an expensive tech hub. State lawmakers think micro-apartments could be one solution to the region’s affordable housing crisis. The catch? Rooms are about the size of a single dorm, and residents share kitchens and common spaces. In this episode of Booming, KUOW ec...2024-01-2423 minBoomingKUOW's Booming: Coming January 24 (TRAILER)The Seattle area's been home to many booms over the years. It’s brought jobs, people and wealth to the region, but also real growing pains that people here feel every day. In Booming, KUOW economy reporters Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg explore hidden connections between technology, cities, work and our day-to-day experiences. We’ll ask the important question: how can more of us benefit from the booms and weather the busts? New episodes every other week, starting January 24.Support the show: https://kuow.org/donateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.2024-01-1101 min
Week In ReviewYear in Review: Seattle's economy, politics, arts, and so much moreBill Radke looks back at the stories from 2023 with KUOW’s Monica Nickelsburg, Cat Smith, and Mike Davis, and Wing Luke Museum Executive Director Joël Barraquiel Tan, sports journalist and author Art Thiel, and author and podcaster Lindy West.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.2023-12-151h 14
Week In ReviewWeek in Review: crime, off-duty pilot, and mountain snowfallBill Radke discusses the week’s news with Dyer Oxley, Mike Davis, and Monica Nickelsburg.We can only make Week in Review because listeners support us. You have the power! Make the show happen by making a gift to KUOW: https://www.kuow.org/donate/weekinreview See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.2023-10-2752 min
Week In ReviewWeek in Review: King County Metro, City Council, and AmazonGuest host Mike Lewis discusses the week’s news with Seattle Times David Kroman, host, writer, and producer Angela Poe Russell, and KUOW’s Monica Nickelsburg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.2023-07-2852 min
Week In ReviewWeek in Review: gas prices, Starbucks, and an activation planBill Radke discusses the week’s news with Seattle Times Isabella Breda, Puget Sound Business Journal’s Alex Halverson, and KUOW’s Monica Nickelsburg.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.2023-06-3050 min
Congressional Dish219: Oversights of CARESCOVID still rages, CARES Act provisions have expired, and Congress is on another vacation. In this episode, by piecing together information discovered in six CARES Act oversight hearings, find out what problems weren’t solved by the CARES Act, what happened to the CARES Act money, and get an idea of what is possible in the next COVID relief bill... If there is one. Please Support Congressional Dish – Quick Links to contribute monthly or a lump sum via to support Congressional Dish via Patreon (donations per episode) Send payments to: Send payments to: @Jennifer-Briney Send payments to: $CongressionalDish or Use your...2020-08-161h 46
Gigging: Everything & Sharing EconomyEp 23 - Gigging News Ftg Elle Tucker - We discuss Globe, ClockedIn, TRVL.com, Instacart, Cooperatives and Airbnb.Episode 23 is a Gigging News show and it features Elle Tucker, our new co-host! During Gigging News Episode, Elle and I will discuss the Top Six news stories impacting the Sharing Economy. In this episode, we discuss the following news stories:1. Globe turns private homes into WeWorks; SF says that may be a no-noBy Carolyn Said, San Francisco Chronicle on May 29, 2020.2. 10,000 Hosts: Airbnb Converted $2 Billion in Host Payouts for Its Own Purposes & Airbnb Hosts are Fighting Back By PRNewsire, June 11, 2020https://finance.yahoo.com/news/10-000-hosts-airbnb-converted-123000592.html 3. ClockedIn Wants to...2020-07-211h 17
GeekWire Health TechThe Quest for MasksOn this episode: FindTheMasks.com,GetUsPPE.org and Masks 4 WA. The coronavirus outbreak in Washington state has not yet reached the "peak" some public health officials anticipate but already ICU physicians like Mike Holmes are grappling with a dearth of necessary supplies. Holmes described an "extreme shortage" of masks he and his colleagues at Swedish Medical Center in Seattle need to treat COVID-19 patients. "We are now reusing single-use masks over and over and over again," he said. It's a challenge facing healthcare workers across Washington, who are asking the general public to...2020-03-2614 min
CrosscutTECH AND THE CITYIn less than a decade, Amazon has rewoven Seattle's urban fabric. The e-commerce giant is adding jobs at a breakneck pace, redeveloping an entire section of the city center, and drawing new people to the city by the thousands. While Amazon has helped bring a new wave of prosperity to Seattle, it has become emblematic of the city's growth and its challenges. As the company seeks a second city to accommodate its dramatic expansion, we'll examine Amazon's impacts, for better and for worse, here in its hometown.
Panelists:
Monica Nickelsburg (Moderator)
Nikkita Oliver
Heather Redman
Aaron Terrazas
Recorded live during...2018-02-0937 min
The Kindle ChroniclesTKC 467 Jennifer CastVice President, Amazon Books stores Interview starts at 10:48 and ends at 42:54 “We would like people who want physical books to walk out with a book, but if you walk out of our store, and you found three things to put on your wish list and two books that you want to buy for your Kindle, then we’re very, very happy.” Intro Agents of Change conference in Portland, Maine September 15, 2017 hosted by Rich Brooks, founder of Flyte New Media News “Dear Amazon, We Picked Your New Headquarters for You”...2017-09-1544 min
The Kindle ChroniclesTKC 420 Jessica Tripler on RomanceBookRiot contributor who writes about romance novels Interview starts at 10:59 and ends at 42:21 We’re sort of worshipping at the temple of love, the same way that religion can help us make sense of human experience and help us to feel there's good in the world—there's a structure that is bending towards the good. Romance can impart that feeling and help you feel like you're participating in the goodness of the fabric of the world. And I think that’s a real draw. News “Mysterious ‘Project X’ points to Amazon drive-up groce...2016-08-2044 min