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Booming

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Booming is a weekly podcast about the economic forces shaping our lives here in the Pacific Northwest. 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 help listeners make sense of our ever-changing economy. We'll dig into what people are seeing or feeling and unpack the story behind it.

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34 episodes
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Avg 24 min
English

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June 17 · 17 min
Seattle banned data centers. Now what?
Seattle’s city council just approved a one-year moratorium on data centers within city limits – making the city the biggest in the country to ban them. The move comes after several big developers proposed data center projects that could use up to a third of the power that Seattle uses on an average day. On today's episode, what do data center companies want to be in Seattle for, anyway? And are we better off without them? Coming up: Sometimes it can feel like taking care of the planet will break the bank. What are your budget friendly hacks for being a good environmental steward? Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org. 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 Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg. Support the show: https://kuow.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 10 · 28 min
4-day work week or brain fry? How AI will change work
CEOs have been making some bold claims about how artificial intelligence will change work—that in the future, the work week will shrink to four days or fewer, or that a job will be as optional as growing vegetables at home instead of buying them from the grocery store. Whether AI makes us work more or less, there’s no question it’s already changing the way millions of people do their jobs. On today's episode, how is AI transforming the workplace now? And how can everyday workers prepare for the future? Coming up: We're looking into the "IRL Economy." Are there any real world experiences you've turned to because you're tired of using an app, or being online? We'd love to hear from you. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org. 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 Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg. Support the show: https://kuow.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
June 3 · 15 min
Would you buy a house with friends? Meet some people who did
Recent data show a record number of Americans are now sharing a home with people they’re not related to. Most of these roommates are renting, because living alone has gotten really expensive. But what if we made it easier for friends to own a place together instead? Could it be the game changer that allows them to live the American dream? More and more people are thinking about buying or building homes together with friends. These projects can be complicated to organize... and expensive to pay for. So how are people in Seattle making it happen? On today's episode, we explore two very different ways some creative Seattleites are making cohousing achievable. Coming up: Are you using AI agents? Do you have a task that you want an AI agent to complete for you? We'd love to hear from you. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org. 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 Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg. Support the show: https://kuow.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 27 · 23 min
From tech to the trades: One laid off worker's big career pivot
It’s a weird time to work in tech. Last year's tech layoffs in Washington state were the second highest in the country. That has some tech workers turning to fields they see as AI-proof. We sat down with Brett Burden, a laid off tech worker who did what a lot of people are advising: went into the trades. On today's episode, what’s it like to go from white collar to blue? And what can it tell us about where the workforce is headed? Coming up: Are you using AI agents? Do you have a task that you want an AI agent to complete for you? We'd love to hear from you. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org. 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 Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg. Support the show: https://kuow.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 20 · 13 min
Where's my tariff refund?
For the last year and a half, tariffs have been harder to predict than the weather in Seattle. And that’s created a volatile climate for businesses. Now that the Supreme Court has overturned some of President Trump's tariffs, there’s a storm front looming between companies and their customers over who gets to pocket tariff refunds. A lot of people are wondering – where's my refund? And when will rising prices finally level off? On today's episode, we checked with some local companies to find out how they're navigating the tariff turmoil. Coming up: Is AI causing you to work more or less? We'd love to hear about your experience with AI and how it's impacting your work. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org. 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 Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg. Support the show: https://kuow.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 13 · 28 min
What will it take to break Seattle's real estate standoff?
There’s a scene that shows up in just about every spaghetti Western movie: the showdown. Two guys at opposite ends of a dusty street... their hands are hovering near their holsters... but neither one wants to draw first. Welcome to Seattle's housing market. What does this standoff mean if you’re trying to buy or sell a home right now? And could it finally drive prices down? On today's episode, we check in on the spring real estate market with Daryl Fairweather, Redfin's chief economist and author of Hate the Game: Economic Cheat Codes for Life, Love, and Work. Do you have a story idea for us? We'd love to hear about it. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org. 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 Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg. Support the show: https://kuow.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 6 · 28 min
Is big business souring on Seattle?
There’s a lot of debate in Seattle right now over whether it's still a good place to do business. It's hard to tell whether recent high profile moves by companies are signs of a wider exodus, or if they’re outliers -- but there may be lessons from the past that provide clues to what the future will hold. On today's episode, is big business souring on Seattle? We look at one of the city's most infamous tax battles to learn more. Do you have a story idea for us? We'd love to hear about it. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org. 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 Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg. Support the show: https://kuow.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 29 · 25 min
How indie bookstores escaped Amazon's shadow
Remember when bookstores were an endangered species? Well not anymore. Thousands of independent bookstores across the country just celebrated Independent Bookstore Day. Brick-and-mortar places like Elliott Bay Book Company in Seattle didn't just survive the e-commerce revolution. They’re thriving ... by leaning into doing what online sellers can’t do. On today's episode, how did independent bookstores escape Amazon’s shadow? And what lessons could other businesses learn from their revival? Check out the KUOW Book Club. Do you have a story idea for us? We'd love to hear about it. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org. 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 Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg. Support the show: https://kuow.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 22 · 25 min
Will federal research cuts kill the innovation economy?
People everywhere followed along as Artemis astronauts made their historic mission around the moon. But what made that possible was research -- and that kind of scientific discovery is in jeopardy after ongoing cuts to federal research funding. For decades, the University of Washington has received more federal research money than almost any other public university. And the research that's come out of the institution has fed the growth of the region’s biggest employers… and its most innovative startups. On today's episode: What could cuts to federal research funding mean for Seattle’s future economy? Do you have a story idea for us? We'd love to hear about it. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org. 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 Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg. Support the show: https://kuow.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 15 · 47 min
Live: The risks and realities of AI chatbots
Warning: this episode mentions suicide. Artificial intelligence powered chatbots have become unavoidable. We use them to search, get advice, and even for companionship. But getting close to an AI comes with real and serious risks. Washington state leaders want to do something about that. Two new state laws passed this year that require AI-modified content to be traceable, and limits the kinds of conversations these bots can have with minors. On today's episode, Monica sits down with journalists Kashmir Hill from the New York Times and Jeff Horwitz from Reuters to talk about their reporting on AI chatbots, and whether these new state regulations can protect us from their risks. This episode was recorded at a recent live event put on by the University of Washington's Center for an Informed Public at the Seattle Public Library. GUESTS: Kashmir Hill, features writer on the business desk at The New York Times, covering technology and privacy Jeff Horwitz, technology reporter at Reuters Do you have a story idea for us? We'd love to hear about it. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org. 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 Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg. Support the show: https://kuow.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 8 · 53 min
Planet Money and the hidden laws that run our economy
Planet Money has been making economic news fun since 2008. And now it's the start of a new chapter for the beloved podcast... a whole book’s worth of chapters in fact. Their new book is called Planet Money: A guide to the economic forces that shape your life. On today's episode, Monica and Joshua sat down with Kenny Malone, host of Planet Money, and Alex Mayyasi, business reporter and author of the book, to talk about the hidden laws that control our economy, and how they’re affecting us here in Seattle. If you want to meet Alex and Kenny in person, they will be at Town Hall in Seattle on Monday, April 13th. You can grab your tickets here. Do you have a story idea for us? We'd love to hear about it. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org. 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 Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg. Support the show: https://kuow.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
April 1 · 17 min
Where have all the diners gone? The disappearing middle class economy
The middle class economy is quintessentially American. It’s a whole range of businesses that cropped up to serve the growing middle class after World War II. Think coffee and apple pie at your neighborhood diner. Or back-to- school shopping at Sears. But companies that cater to the middle class are cratering under the weight of the affordability crisis. On today's episode, why is the middle economy disappearing? And what does it mean for the businesses we love? Do you have a story idea for us? We'd love to hear about it. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org. 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 Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg. Support the show: https://kuow.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
March 25 · 18 min
Could light rail across Lake Washington turn Seattle into the new Copenhagen?
It’s taken 10 years and almost $4 billion, but at long last, light rail will run across Lake Washington. For people living near the new light rail, it’ll mean shorter commutes, and faster trips to the airport, sporting events, and public parks. But its impact will extend beyond those conveniences for riders. Some say it could lead to an economic renaissance in the region, creating new jobs and housing opportunities. And there's precedent for making that claim. Today, we find out what a bridge in Scandinavia can tell us about our own future -- and whether the Crosslake Connection could bring this region the economic boost it needs. 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 Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg. Support the show: https://kuow.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
March 18 · 17 min
Is 'millionaire migration' really a thing? Lessons from states that already tax the rich
Washington state just passed a tax on incomes above one million dollars a year. The so-called “millionaires tax” has critics warning we’re about to see an exodus of Washington’s wealthiest residents. So we wanted to know whether “millionaire migration” is really a thing. Today, what states that already have millionaire taxes can tell us about what to expect here in Washington. GUEST: Cristobal Young, Associate Professor in the Department of Sociology at Cornell University Coming up: Are you house hunting as a first-time home buyer? We'd love to hear from you about how it's going. Give us a call at (206) 221-7158 and leave a voicemail. You can also email us at booming@kuow.org. 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 Lucy Soucek and Alec Cowan. Our hosts are Joshua McNichols and Monica Nickelsburg. Support the show: https://kuow.org/donate See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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