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 Orca transit

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: info@theweeklyseattle.com

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com

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 opposition

About Sam Farquharson - Creative Director/Lead Writer, Ampersand:

Sam is the Creative Director and Lead Writer for Ampersand as well as the Commercial Director for the production arm of Ampersand. She has a long history of working as a copywriter and creative director for a variety of well known companies including REI.

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: info@theweeklyseattle.com

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com

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 your top local business news stories!

Top Stories:

1. Inside the audio visual production industry

2. Publisher of Seattle Times passes the torch to his son

3. Seattle Ferries: wi-fi coming, new ferries, and ferries for sale!

4. Ross is closing its downtown location

About guest Niki McKay - Founder & former CEO of Blue Danube Productions:

Niki started her company in 2007 in her garage. She has successfully ran Blue Danube Productions until she sold it late last year. Blue Danube was recognized as the #1 fastest-growing woman-owned companies in the state in 2023 and again this year. It was also ranked ranked the second fastest-growing private company in the state by the Puget Sound Business Journal in 2023.

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: info@theweeklyseattle.com

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com

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:

Suzanne launched her consulting company in 2018 and worked as the Change Management & Organizational Effectiveness Consultant for Slalom. She runs private leadership coaching, group workshops, keynotes, and more! Prior to this, she held sales leadership roles at Getty Images before becoming their Senior Director of Organizational Change Management. Learn more at https://wellercollaboration.com/

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: info@theweeklyseattle.com

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com

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: info@theweeklyseattle.com

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: info@theweeklyseattle.com

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: info@theweeklyseattle.com

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: info@theweeklyseattle.com

Instagram: @theweeklyseattle

Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠www.theweeklyseattle.com