the weekly seattle

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' Barnes - President of the Americas, Intrepid Travel:

Leigh has worked for Intrepid for the past 15 years and was named the President of the Americas about a year ago. He is also the Publisher of Adventure.com which is a adventure news platform.

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com

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!

Top Stories:

1. The business of museums

Seattle Times article and PSBJ article 

2. FIFA games in Seattle announced

Visit Seattle press release

3. Chateau Ste. Michelle has a new owner

Seattle Times article

About guest Scott Stulen - CEO, Seattle Art Museum:

Prior to coming to Seattle about a year and a half ago, Scott was the CEO of the Philbrook Museum in Tulsa and was a curator at the Indianapolis Museum of Art. Not only does he have a long history of working in leadership positions within the arts, he is also an artist and DJ himself!

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com

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 also hear the exclusive story of how she put a basketball court floor in her bar...

All of this along with your top news stories.

Top Stories

1. Rough & Tumble opens second location in Columbia City

Formidable article about Jen

2. Picklewood opens in SODO

PSBJ article

3. The Ink Drinker opens in Ballard (no article)

4. Pike Brewing closes locations in Pike Place & affordability issues for small businesses

Eater article & Seattle Times article

About guest Jen Barnes - Founder & Owner, Rough & Tumble:

Three years ago, Jen Barnes launched one of the world’s first sports bars dedicated to elevating both women’s and men’s sports. Since then, she has partnered with more than a dozen teams and leagues, become a part-owner of Seattle’s Salmon Bay FC women’s soccer team, and is now preparing to open Rough & Tumble’s second location. Before founding the bar, Jen built her career in the corporate startup and legal industry.

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com

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 (Perkins Coie)

4. Starbucks strike update

Seattle Times article

About guest Jean-Luc Pedanou - General Manager, Olympic Athletic Club:

Jean-Luc has been the General Manager for about a year and a half. Prior to this he was the General Manager at an Equinox in Northern California and held leadership roles at The Bay Club in San Francisco. He has also worked in leadership at many fitness clubs in New York.

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com

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

3. FRS Clipper partners with Seahawks

About guest Meghan Turner - General Manager, Seattle Torrent:

Meghan was a professionally player herself and built a career as a consultant for PricewaterhouseCoopers. She then became the Assistant General Manager of the Boston Fleet prior to landing this role at Seattle Torrent.

About guest Madi McNamara - Director of Business Operations, Seattle Torrent

Madi has a long history working in sports, specifically at Seattle Sports Commission for close to five years, as well as working at Visit Seattle our CVB before stepping into this role.

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com

Learn more about Top of the Tower Recording Studio: www.topofthetowerstudios.com

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, art rises from ashes as cremation gains popularity (Seattle Times)

Seattle funeral directors worry we’re running out of space to care for our dead (Seattle Times)

2. Crocodile closes 2 venues

Goodbye to Madame Lou’s and Here-After (The Stranger)

3. Urban Visions acquires Grand Central Block

Urban Visions buys Pioneer Square's Grand Central Block at steep discount (PSBJ)

About guest Katrina Spade - Founder & CEO, Recompose:

Recompose is a company that pioneered human composting as an alternative to burial and cremation. Katrina has her masters degree from UMass Amherst where she developed the concept that led to Washington becoming the first state to legalize this in 2019. Prior to this she was a co-founder of a design build company.

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com

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, Whatever She's Having podcast.

Linda has a long history of working in commercial real estate. She is on the board of Rainier Athletes, Bellevue Chamber, Eastrail Partners, and is the President-Elect for CREW. She is a 425 and PSBJ 40 Under 40 and a 425 Magazine Woman to Watch. She is also a former Mrs. Washington for the Mrs. America competition!

Watch Whatever She's Having podcast!

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com

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

4. Ceramics nonprofit moves into Amazon headquarters building

About guest Ben London - CEO, Sonic Guild:

Ben has been leading Sonic Guild, a non-profit organization that supports local musicians for the past 7 years. Prior to this role he was the Executive Director of the PNW chapter of The Recording Academy, he was on the board of KEXP, he was the first Chair of the Seattle Music Commission, and he was instrumental in developing what is now MoPop.

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com

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 Association
• Ziyan Huang, applied science leader, Amazon
• Elaine Chang, technical advisor to the chief communications officer, Microsoft

Learn more about Formidable: www.beformidable.com

Top Stories:

1. Seattle Children's gets new CEO and Seattle University President leaves

2. Microsoft donating AI tools for Washington state schools

3. More restaurants close including Mbar

About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com

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 in Seattle

3. Smartsheet layoffs and new CEO

4. KidsQuest Museum to buy Bellevue Arts Museum building

About guest Adam Karpenske - Founder & CEO, Hot Tub Boats:

Adam earned his degree in Maritime Studies and Marine Carpentry and has been working as a shipwright (a shipbuilder) ever since. In 2012 he started the company we know today here in Seattle as Hot Tub Boats.

Rachel's event for queer women:

Lesbian Chronicles LIVE

Saturday, October 18th

Reverie Ballroom

7pm: Social Hour

8pm: Show

9:30pm: After Party

Buy Tickets

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About host Rachel Horgan:

Rachel is an independent event producer, emcee and entrepreneur. She worked for the Business Journal for 5 years as their Director of Events interviewing business leaders on stage before launching the weekly podcast. She earned her communication degree from the University of San Diego.

Contact:

Email: [email protected]

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com