Booming
An economy podcast from a city that (almost) never stops growing.
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?
Look for new episodes of Booming every other Wednesday, wherever you get your podcasts.
Cover art by Alicia Villa.
Episodes
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There's no such thing as local and these Northwest industries prove it
In today's economy, is anything really local anymore? We dig into three iconic Northwest industries: salmon, craft breweries, and aerospace parts, to see how they could be affected by rising tariffs.
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Microsoft President Brad Smith on how to defend your job from AI
Monica sat down with Microsoft President Brad Smith to ask: is AI already taking our jobs? And if so, what can we do about it?
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Should social media have a bedtime?
Experts say kids are spinning out online. Can Washington lawmakers help by putting seatbelts on social media? Monica talks to social psychologist Ravi Iyer from the University of Southern California about what Senate Bill 5708 and its proposed social media regulations might mean - not just for kids, but parents and the companies themselves.
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Could layoffs lead to a startup baby boom?
For months, Seattle's tech industry has been reeling from layoffs. But could these layoffs lead to a startup baby boom? Monica sits down with Geekwire co-founder Todd Bishop to find out.
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Why you can't afford to ski anymore
Skiing has never been cheap, but it used to be accessible to families and casual skiers. Now the slopes seem to have turned into playgrounds for the rich. So can we find a way for everyone to access the mountains?
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REI and the steep climb to unionize retail
REI has been losing money for years, and that's put it at odds with its employees who want better wages and benefits. Could the next generation of workers revolutionize retail?
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How to avoid being tariffed out of business
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.
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Making six figures? You could qualify for affordable housing in Seattle
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What's behind Amazon's all-or-nothing return to office policy?
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Online retailers aren't the only ones digitally spying on you. Brick-and-mortar stores are, too
The holiday shopping season is in full swing and there’s lots of talk about how online shoppers are being tracked. If that creeps you out, you might be tempted to hit the mall instead. But artificial intelligence is tracking you there, too.
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How stores are spying on you
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Why are Seattle sports games so expensive? We looked into that and ways to save
Sports ticket prices have risen 50% faster than inflation, and prices in Seattle are higher than average. KUOW's Booming looked into why and what you can do about it.
