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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An engine of Seattle's innovation economy is running out of gas
What could cuts to federal research funding mean for Seattle’s future economy?
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Live: The risks and realities of AI chatbots
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.
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Planet Money and the hidden laws that run our economy
A conversation with Kenny Malone, host of Planet Money, and Alex Mayyasi, business reporter and author of the new Planet Money book, to talk about the hidden laws that control our economy, and how they’re affecting us here in Seattle.
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Where have all the diners gone? The disappearing middle class economy
Companies that cater to the middle class are cratering under the weight of the affordability crisis. What does that mean for the businesses we love?
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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. Aside from faster commutes, some are hopeful the new "crosslake connection" can revitalize the regional economy.
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Is 'millionaire migration' really a thing? Lessons from states that already tax the rich
Will the new millionaire's tax drive wealth out of Washington? We asked an expert on tax flight to find out.
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From software engineer to bus driver: Where laid off tech workers are now
Tech workers are on the frontlines of a major shift in our economy. Where have the laid off tech workers gone? And what can the rest of us learn from the first shock in the AI earthquake?
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From Control F: The weird way we decide who sits below the poverty line
A special episode brought to us by our friends at Control F: the surprising history of the federal poverty line.
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Will this summer's World Cup be an economic win for Seattle?
The World Cup is coming to Seattle this summer. Will the reward of hosting these games be worth the cost?
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Grocery sticker shock and the rise of the dollar-store dinner
Creative hacks for putting food on the table now that your dollar doesn’t go as far as it used to.
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This bill could let you downsize your way to home ownership in Washington
Washington state legislators want to let people live in tiny homes and RVs in backyards and driveways year round. If their bill passes, it could unlock the least expensive path to homeownership available. But critics worry about a "Cousin Eddie" problem.
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Could the hottest real estate market become... driveways?
State legislators want to make it legal to live in an RV in someone’s backyard or driveway year-round. Could that reduce the state's housing shortage?