Booming
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.
Cover art by Alicia Villa.
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Episodes
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How a bad bet built the internet: a short history of bubbles
Sometimes, an economic crash leaves something good behind that we may not appreciate for years. This week, we look at bubbles from the past and ask: When the money burns away, what’s left?
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Austin built a lot of housing fast. Rents fell. What could Seattle learn?
While rents kept rising in many big cities, including Seattle, rents in Austin, Texas, have been on the decline for the last three years. That raises a simple question: Why is Austin an outlier? And is there anything Seattle could copy?
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Housing costs dropped in Austin. How they did the impossible
Over the last few years, Austin's average rent fell. So what is Austin doing right? And what could Seattle learn from it?
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How stores are spying on you (encore)
How AI is being used by some of your favorite retailers to get better at... selling you stuff. This story originally aired in December 2024.
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How does Seattle's cost of living stack up to other cities?
Today, we’re bringing you the best from another KUOW show, Booming. The cost of living is really high in Seattle. Whether it's housing or groceries, this town is a tough place to make ends meet. Joshua McNichols and Monica Nicholsberg of KUOW’s Booming podcast talked to a researcher who sends armies of shoppers to find out why… And he gives some tips for making your dollar stretch as far as possible in this very expensive city.
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The climate migrants seeking refuge in the PNW
The recent flooding in Washington is a reminder of the extreme weather impacts of climate change. But the Northwest has become a destination for people seeking a more livable climate.
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What happens to Seattle if the AI bubble pops?
Companies are spending hundreds of billions of dollars to build the AI infrastructure of the future. But companies are struggling to make a profit on the AI of today. So, is that future real, or just a mirage?
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BONUS: The future of Seattle's highways
Live event recorded at the Seattle Public Library hosted by Joshua McNichols and Ian Coss about the future of Seattle's State Route 99.
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Can the power of a star lower our electric bills?
Electric bills are rising. AI data centers are gobbling up power. In Everett, two fusion companies are racing to invent the world’s first economically viable nuclear fusion reactor. And investors are opening up their wallets to fund it.
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Is coding dead? This professor doesn't think so
Companies appear to be making big bets that AI can replace huge chunks of their workforces. But this computer science professor says the outlook isn’t so bleak for kids who still want a career in tech.
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Is AI fueling a trade school boom?
When it comes to the white-collar workforce, warning signals are blinking red. That uncertainty has more kids going blue collar -- trade schools are booming.
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9 families, 1 roof: Urban cohousing in Seattle
Seattle’s housing scene is defined by high prices and shrinking apartments, leaving many people feeling both financially squeezed and socially disconnected. Cohousing offers an alternative.