the weekly seattle
Every episode Rachel Horgan and her co-host will explain the top Seattle business news stories of the week in a casual yet informative way. They will discuss why it matters to you, what it could mean for the future, and other insights. This podcast is for anyone that wants to know what is going on in the local business community without having to read the entire newspaper.
business leaders press the mayor on jobs and public safety with Trish Murphy & Vaughan Jones - KUOW
We're getting back into business news! The host of KUOW's Seattle Now podcast Trish Murphy and producer Vaughan Jones break down the top stories with Rachel.
Seattle's business leaders are pressing Mayor Wilson on two fronts: a struggling business economy and public safety. The Puget Sound lost jobs in 2025 for the first time in decades, and unemployment sits above the national average at 5.2%. Challenge Seattle and the Seattle Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce are pushing the mayor on permitting, taxes, and gun violence.
Top Stories:
Seattle leaders fighting economic decline (KUOW, PSBJ, Seattle Times)Business...legal affairs and crisis management at Starbucks with Zabrina Jenkins
The former General Counsel and Executive Advisor to the CEO of Starbucks joins us to share the behind-the-scenes of her experience navigating the Philadelphia crisis of 2018, what it was like getting Howard Schultz ready to testify in front of Congress in 2023, and her advice for other businesses experiencing unionization. We also talk about lessons learned from starting her own business.
About guest Zabrina Jenkins: Co-founder & Principal, Sidas Strategic Advisors:
Prior to starting her own consulting business, Zabrina Jenkins spent nearly two decades at Starbucks, going from the most junior lawyer to General Counsel before later...
the impact of the shared micro-mobility industry with Hayden Harvey - Lime
During the World Cup a record high of 83,000 rides were made on a Lime device in Seattle. In this episode we talk to the Director of Government Relations for Lime on how his team prepared for this event, why Lime is able to be the sole provider in Seattle, and we address the serious safety concerns that comes along with this industry.
About guest: Hayden Harvey (he/him), Director, Government Relations, Lime:
Hayden is responsible for setting the policy strategy and leading Lime’s community engagement and partnership teams in eleven states across West. Hayden ha...
inside grocery stores with Derek Giles, Co-Owner of Ken's Market
We love our local markets, but what is it like operating them? This episode unpacks how a small operator competes against Amazon, Walmart, and Costco without competing on price. We talk about why Ken's walked away from Instacart, tariff pressure on imported wine, and the deliberate decision to skip self-checkout service.
Top Stories:
1. Tech layoffs (Zillow, Google, Salesforce)
2. Ex-Pokemon director charged for hiding cameras in bathrooms
3. Starbucks closes inside 999 Third building
4. Ballard Goodwill might be replaced by 300-unit mixed use development
About guest Derek Giles - Co-owner...
the business of writing a book with Laura Marie Meyers - THE MASH UP
How long does it take to publish a book? How much money do you actually make? Do you have any control over the marketing? On this special episode we go behind-the-scenes with Laura Marie Meyers who shares what it was like to publish her first novel THE MASH UP. We talk about the art of storytelling, real business advice for first time authors, and of course, our favorite memories at USD.
Thank you to Populus Seattle for hosting this week's episode!
About guest Laurie Marie Meyers, author of THE MASH UP:
Laura is...
the local politics episode with Erica C. Barnett - PubliCola/Seattle Nice
In this special episode Erica takes us behind the scenes of co-founding an independent political news outlet and podcast. Then dives into the state of Seattle's city council & Mayor, the fight over doubling the transportation tax, the stalled Ballard light rail line, and the collapse of the King County Regional Homelessness Authority. It's a lot to cover, but Erica breaks it all down so you're caught up in local politics.
About guest Erica Barnett, Co-Founder & Editor of PubliCola and Co-host of the Seattle Nice podcast:
PubliCola is Seattle’s independent, reader funded politics and policy si...
queer bar changes hands, bed bath & beyond returns, and a venue starts to sink
Joining Rachel in her living room is friend Sarah Donaldson, Director of Sales Planning at SkinnyDipped, back for her second appearance on the pod. They cover Queer/Bar's ownership change, Seattle's surpising decline in flights, a labor dispute at a beloved Seattle restaurant group, Bed Bath & Beyond's return, and a very eventful night on Lake Union.
Top Stories:
1. Queer Bar sells to The Cuff Complex
2. World Cup fever is up in Seattle, but flights are down 21% year-over-year (but everyone loves our stadium!)
3. Walrus and Carpenter employees strike, forcing a temporary closure<...
mid-year economic outlook with Matthew Gardner
In this special episode the former Chief Economist for Windermere comes back to the podcast to give us an update on our economy. He helps us make sense of an economy that's growing but "running a bit rough," what's really behind Seattle's wave of tech layoffs, and why buyers and sellers are at a standoff in today's housing market. We also get his take on Seattle's housing bill 1100, and his predictions for mortgage rates and the job market through the rest of the year.
About guest Matthew Gardner - Economist:
Matthew Gardner is a Seattle-based...
what's going on in fremont?
In this special episode we talk to Pete Hanning, Executive Director of the Fremont Chamber of Commerce, about the construction that has taken place over for the past year. We dig into the Route 40 project: what was promised, what went wrong, and how an afternoon getting beers resulted in a major change.
Thank you for hosting us Charlie's Queer Books!
About guest Pete Hanning - Executive Director, Fremont Chamber of Commerce:
Pete has been involved with the Fremont Chamber of Commerce for nearly 20 years, serving in board, president, and executive director roles. He...
ballard light rail delays, data center pushback, and Melinda joins kraken ownership group
Rachel is back on the mic! She recaps her recent work travels and, as always, updates you on the news of the week.
Top Stories:
1. Ben & Jerry's coming to the waterfront
2. Melinda French Gates joins Kraken ownership group
3. Data center potentially coming to Bed Bath & Beyond space downtown
4. Sound Transit pushes aside Ballard line
About host Rachel Horgan:
Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching...
secret mariners cocktails, james beard finalists, and the seattle restaurant scene with Zach Geballe, VinePair
Seattle’s restaurant scene has seen waves of changes as the local economy, legal landscape, and consumer tastes have evolved. This week, Nick Patri fills in as host while Rachel is traveling for work, and interviews Zach Geballe, writer and podcast co-host at VinePair. Zach was previously the wine director for Tom Douglas Restaurants and spent two decades in Seattle's hospitality industry, and brings insights on the recent history and current state of Seattle’s dining.
Top Stories:
Seattle Mariners Secret Cocktail DoorSeattle Chefs Named James Beard FinalistsJeffry's Replaces Bateau and Boat BarAre Monday Nights the New...the growing trades business with Rich Hart & Jess Passmore - Harts Plumbers, Electricians, & HVAC
With all these tech layoffs, should we get into the trades? We're pulling back the curtain on the trades industry with two leaders from one of the Pacific Northwest's fastest-growing home services companies. The CEO and COO share how they scaled Harts from a Gig Harbor garage to 150+ employees, why they built their own apprenticeship academy, and what tariffs and rising utility costs actually mean on the ground for tradespeople and homeowners.
Top Stories:
1. Inside the trades: workforce pipeline, women in the industry, and building a company academy (Seattle Times article)
2. Microsoft's first-ever...
inside nordstrom with Co-CEO Pete Nordstrom
Pete Nordstrom, Co-CEO of Nordstrom joins Rachel for a deep dive into the business behind one of Seattle's most iconic brands. They cover what it really takes to run a fourth-generation family business, the inside story of Nordstrom's long road to going private, and the future of retail. Pete also gets candid about the state of downtown Seattle retail, what Nordstrom is doing to stay invested in the city, and why the Rack's growth strategy is far from cannibalizing the flagship.
About guest Pete Nordstrom - Co-CEO, Nordstrom:
Pete Nordstrom is a fourth-generation member of...
LIVE: event wellness, agenda design, and the forgetting curve
If your conference agenda has back-to-back sessions with 10-minute breaks, you may be actively working against your own objectives. This week, Rachel sits down with event wellness strategist David T. Stevens live at the Northwest Event Show for a conversation on why wellness at events is actually business strategy.
David breaks down his Four M's framework: mindfulness, movement, meals, and meaning. He explains how what you feed attendees at 8am directly determines whether they can pay attention by 10:30. He shares Oxford research linking employee wellbeing to stock performance, makes the case for cutting sessions from 60 to 40 minutes...
millionaires tax explained, new light rail, and starbucks ai with Nick Patri
We're back!! After two weeks on the road, Rachel and friend of the pod Nick Patri are back in the studio to catch you up on what you've missed in the news cycle and in their personal lives.
Top Stories:
1. Millionaires Tax explained
2. New light rail: Crosslake Connection (Line 2)
3. Starbucks: Chatgpt partnership, layoffs, and employees going to Nashville
4. New Apple CEO
5. Tomboyx CEO reclaims ownership
6. Little Red Hen drama
7. New rooftop bar
About guest Nick Patri - Podcast Consultant
...
marketing, membership orgs, and roadside assistance with Heather Snavely - CEO, AAA Washington
This week we talk about why marketers often make better CEOs than CFOs, what companies get wrong when marketing to younger generations, and why focus groups can actually kill creative. We also talk about the future of membership organizations in both Seattle and nationally.
Top Stories:
1. AAA Washington - what actually is it?
2. Brooks Running to sponsor the Mariners salmon race
+Let Keta Run instagram
3. Rec Room shuts down and Columbia Tower Club closes after 41 years
About Heather Snavely — President & CEO, AAA Washington:
Heather has be...
the business of hospitals with Dr. Elizabeth Wako - CEO, Swedish Health Services
This week we pull back the curtain on the business side of healthcare: how hospitals actually make money, why our bills are high yet hospitals are doing layoffs, and what it was like to step into the CEO role as an interim first. Dr. Elizabeth Wako, President & CEO of Swedish Health Services, also shares how a simple idea in the delivery room dropped C-section rates for women of color from 44% to 27%.
Top stories this week:
1. The business of hospitals
2. Starbucks signs a lease in Nashville
3. Kraken takes majority ownership of Climate...
commercial banking, downtown office leases, and small business loans with Mary Knell - Vice Chair, Wells Fargo
This week we're talking all about the banking industry with former CEO and current Vice Chair of Wells Fargo Commercial Banking. Mary Knell shares a jaw-dropping fraud story that cost a local company millions mid-deal, gives her honest take on what small businesses are up against right now, and her opinion on the what the Sonics returning could do for our economy. All of this and your top news stories!
Top Stories:
1. Inside commercial banking: fraud, cybersecurity, and what banks wish you understood
2. Downtown Seattle office values decline
3. Blazing Bagels closes...
freelance life, the future of work, and blended teams with Brea Starmer - Lions & Tigers
We're talking about how the workforce is changing and what that means for Seattle. In this episode we talk about why 40% of the American workforce is now freelance and will be 50% by 2027. We talk about how to find your first clients, what companies get wrong about blended teams, and why the "stability" of a W-2 job might be a myth. We also dig into the data on women leaving the workforce and what organizations can actually do about it. All of this and your top news stories!
Top Stories:
1. Microsoft now requires 3 days a week...
downtown seattle revitalization, FIFA prep, and CCTVs with Jon Scholes - DSA
This week we're talking about everything happening in downtown Seattle with the President and CEO of the Downtown Seattle Association. Jon shares the latest data on downtown recovery, plus what's coming next, including a $50 million investment in parks and changes to 3rd Ave. We also dive into how Seattle is preparing for FIFA 2026 with 700,000 expected visitors, watch parties across downtown, and new flexible alcohol laws. And we dig into the controversial public safety camera debate and why Jon believes they're working.
Top Stories:
1a. Downtown Seattle recovery update: office workers, residents, and visitor numbers
<...100th episode (& 2yrs) with Seattle Times reporter Alex Halverson and friends
It's guys night at Rachel's house for the 100th episode AND 2 year anniversary! The very first episode was recorded at her house with Alex Halverson, so we felt it was only right to return to the living room with him. We recap the top business news stories and then at the end we bring in Nick Patri, audio engineer for the podcast and Rob Smith, the 3rd guest on the pod, to reflect on the past two years of the show.
Top Stories:
1. Seattle Seahawks are for sale
2. An old trolley might be...
tech journalism, selling your company, and black innovation with Sherrell Dorsey - Build for Good
We're talking about what it takes to build a media company from scratch, sell it, and figure out what comes next. We also dig into AI bias and why the data these tools are trained on matters, especially for underrepresented communities. Our guest Sherrell Dorsey founded The Plug, a tech news platform covering the Black innovation economy that became the first Black-owned publication syndicated on the Bloomberg terminal before being acquired by Impact Alpha. She shares what she would do differently, what she learned interviewing major CEOs on the TED Tech Podcast, and why storytelling is the most underrated...
inside the gaming industry with Jordan Weisman - Endless Adventures Inc.
The gaming industry is estimated to be over $200 billion, bigger than music and movies combined. Our guest is game designer Jordan Weisman who has had four exits including one to Microsoft and one to Disney. In this episode we talk about why we're seeing so many studios closing, how designers approach structuring games with monetization models in mind, and why VR is always almost the next best thing.
All of this and your top news stories!
Top Stories:
1. Seattle gaming software company buys market research group
2. Layoffs: Meta, Amazon, Eddie Bauer...
Light rail to Bellevue, James Beard semifinalists, Rainier Brewing building, and more!
This week host Rachel gives a quick update on the state of the show and what's to come for 2026. She also recaps on the top 5 business stories of the week including a new light rail, unique attraction in Denny Triangle project, tap-to-pay coming to busses and more!
Enjoy this short episode before we return with our regular programming next week.
Top Stories:
1. Rainier Brewing building might be apartments
2. Denny Triangle project makes progress
3. James Beard semifinalists
4. Light rail opens March 28
5. Tap to pay coming to...
creative agencies & commercials with Sam Farquharson - Creative Director, Ampersand
This week we're talking about the intersection of AI and creativity. Are copywriters still needed in corporations? We talk to Creative Director Sam Farquharson on her copywriting pet peeves, what some companies get wrong when designing a commercial, and her current tiktok spiral. All of this and your weekly news recap!
Top Stories:
1. Quick Update on Expedia voyeurism case
2. Uwajimaya expands to Tacoma
3. Blue Star Cafe closes
4. Cider updates: Locust Cider shuts down taprooms & Seattle Cider is acquired by Two Towns
5. Microsoft's response to AI data center...
audio visual production and succession planning with Niki McKay - Blue Danube Productions
The founder of one of the fastest-growing private companies in Washington shares her story of how she created this audio visual production company in her garage, her worst event horror story, and how she thought about succession planning as she sold her company last year. Niki McKay has over 20 years experience running large scale events around the world including clients like Macklemore, Alaska Airlines, and more. In this episode Rachel and Niki also discuss the price gouging happening in the industry due to a monopoly, and what needs to be done about it.
All of this and...
leadership coaching for 2026 with Suzanne Weller - Coach, Consultant, Speaker, Podcast Host
New year, new us! This is a special episode with Executive & Leadership Coach Suzanne who helps us identify our own poison riptides that might be creating a toxic workplace on accident! She gives advice for those looking to branch out into consulting as well as what leaders need to do when approaching a big change in 2026. If you're thinking of quitting your job, she also helps us figure out how and when to do that. All of this along with Rachel and Suzanne's highs and lows of 2025.
About Suzanne Weller - Founder, Coach, Consultant, Weller Collaboration:
<...week of dec 22: the business of travel with Leigh Barnes - Intrepid Travel
The holidays are a big time for travel, so we sat down with the President of the Americas of Intrepid Travel to talk all about this industry. We cover their latest partnership with REI, how travel has changed over the years, and the most popular countries to travel to. All of this and your weekly news update!
Top Stories:
1. REI brings back travel experiences with Intrepid Travel
2. New Alaska Airlines routes
3. Expedia to acquire online booking platforms
4. Wild Waves Theme Park to shut down
About guest Leigh...
week of dec 15: the business of museums with Scott Stulen - Seattle Art Museum
The CEO of SAM joins us for a conversation on the unexpected realities of running a major museum, the unique costs, and the bold changes coming to SAM including a full restaurant and bar, expanded hours, and a fresh approach to attracting repeat visitors.
We also talk FIFA coming to Seattle and how Scott plans to capitalize on the global spotlight. As the only art director of a major museum with a studio art background, Scott brings a radically different perspective. About a year and a half into the role, Scott is ready to shake things up!<...
week of dec 8: restaurants & women's sports with Jen Barnes - Rough & Tumble
Rough & Tumble JUST opened a new location in Columbia City so we brought back the Founder & Owner to fill us in on the behind-the-scenes of what it's like opening a second location of her iconic sports bar in Seattle. Jen Barnes shares what challenges she had to overcome to be able to stream women's sports in her restaurants and the legal battle she got into with HBO. We talk about how the minimum wage increase has impacted her business, why many restaurants are combining themes/entertainment with their brick and mortar, and how Seattle is preparing for FIFA! You'll...
week of nov 24: the business of gyms with Jean-Luc Pedanou - Olympic Athletic Club
We sit down with the General Manager for Olympic Athletic Club to learn all about how the gym industry has changed over the years and what makes this one so unique. We talk about the demand for amenities, their recent renovation, the importance of good talent, and much more. All of this along with your weekly business news roundup!
Top Stories:
1. The business of gyms
PSBJ article
2. Rad Power Bikes might shut down
GeekWire article
3. BECU merger & Perkins Coie merger
PSBJ article (BECU) & PSBJ article...
week of nov 17: inside the Seattle Torrent with Meghan Turner & Madi McNamara
We talk to the General Manager & the Director of Business Operations for the Seattle Torrent, the newest team added to the Professional Women's Hockey League (PWHL). In this episode, we discuss why the PWHL ownership is unique, why they are playing the first season without the new jerseys, why the head coach was chosen, and how they plan to collaborate with the other major sports teams here. All of this and your top business news stories!
Top Stories:
1. PWHL team: New name, new logo, and season starting!
2. Barnes & Noble returns to downtown
<...week of nov 10: the business of death with Katrina Spade - Recompose
We talk to the Founder & CEO of a company that pioneered human composting as an alternative to burial or cremation. Katrina shares how she went from architecture school to creating this company that ultimately allowed Washington to be the FIRST state to legalize this practice in 2019. Today 14 states have legalized this new option. In this episode we also talk about how the death industry is changing, how she plans to scale, and her biggest architecture fear.
All this and your top business stories!
Top Stories
1. The business of death
In Seattle...
week of nov 3: Linda Hoffner - Wright Runstad & Company
As the GM of The Spring District, Linda brings us the inside scoop on the commercial real estate industry as well as interesting details like how the retail shops were chosen for this neighborhood and how she partnered with the city of Bellevue for success. All this and your top stories!
Top Stories:
1. Update on The Spring District
2. Amazon (and Meta) layoffs
3. Heritage Distilling closes tasting rooms
4. Little Saigon landowner sues the city
About guest Linda Hoffner - General Manager, The Spring District, Wright Runstad & Company & Host...
week of oct 27: inside the music industry with Ben London - Sonic Guild
Washington's music sector directly contributes $6.4 billion annually to the state's GDP, six times more than spectator sports. We sit down with longtime music industry businessman and current CEO of Sonic Guild Ben London to discuss everything from ticket prices, why we can't go back to the 90's, what the city needs to do to help musicians thrive.
Top Stories
1. Census results about the music industry in Washington state
2. Live Nation CEO thinks ticket prices can be higher
3. Broadway actors and producers reach tentative labor deal, but musicians still threaten a strike<...
LIVE: Challenging Assumptions about AI
Rachel plays the audio from her panel discussion with prominent AI professionals in Seattle discussing our assumption in this space and the race to innovate. This event was held on October 3rd at World Trade Center by Emily Parkhurst of Formidable. It featured multiple panels during this half-day event. Your weekly business news roundup is still at the beginning of the episode!
The Race to Innovate
Speakers:
Arry Yu, managing director of Yellow Umbrella Ventures, chair of the Advanced Technologies Council for the Washington Technology Industry AssociationZiyan Huang, applied science leader, AmazonElaine Chang, technical...week of oct 13: Adam Karpenske - Hot Tub Boats
The Founder & CEO of Hot Tub Boats explains how he came up with this unique idea to create the first hot tub boat ever in Seattle, WA. Adam talks about how he funded the project, the lessons he learned along the way, and his recent expansion into California. We also talk about production challenges with the new tariffs, who he will sell his boats to, and so much more!
All this and your top business news stories.
Top Stories:
1. The business of hot tub boats
2. More emergency drones to be built...
week of oct 6: Mari Horita - Seattle Kraken & One Roof Foundation
We're on the hockey rink with the SVP of Social Impact & Civic Affairs for Seattle Kraken and Executive Director of the Kraken's nonprofit One Roof Foundation Mari Horita. This episode covers the behind-the-scenes of the Memorial Stadium renovation project, how one meeting changed her career from President of ArtsFund to her current position, and what conversations are being had in the boardroom of Seattle Credit Union. Lastly, we discuss her top takeaways from working in the arts industry.
All this and your weekly business news roundup!
Top Stories
1. Memorial Stadium update
2...
week of sept 29: Eliza Wilder - Reverie Ballroom
Eliza recently took over as CEO of this historic 1908 Capitol Hill venue from the former owner of Century Ballroom. In this episode we'll talk about how to balance executing your own vision, while still paying tribute to what made the venue successful before. We learn from her remodeling hiccups and why there were construction delays, we discuss the different business models for arts venue spaces, and finally we get vulnerable about how lonely being an entrepreneur can be. All this and your weekly top business news stories!
Top Stories:
1. Reverie Ballroom opens in Century Ballroom...
COMM338: Media & Conflict - Professor Esteban Del Rio, University of San Diego
In this special episode, Rachel visits her alma mater and interviews her former media professor to talk all things media. This episode will feel like you're right back in a college classroom trying to make sense of the world. They talk about how media consumption has changed over the years, why we are so divided and the role media plays, and when we stopped trusting media. They also discuss topics like the recent cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel and what that means for our democracy. Lastly, they discuss how we perceive the value of college now and whether it is...
