Here’s what we’re talking about on the GeekWire Podcast this week:

Just before the election, Joe Biden's campaign released a list of its top "bundlers," people who raise big donations to the campaign. Several well-known Seattle tech names were on the list. We look at who they are and why they were raising money for Biden.

Amazon released a Smart Shelf that can keep track of things like your toilet paper and then automatically reorder them when you start to run out. Another Seattle firm, Bottomless, has a similar gadget to keep you in fresh coffee beans. Cool concepts but ... do we really need these gizmos?
Robo-commerce: Amazon’s auto-reordering Dash Smart Shelf goes on sale for $19.99
Built to scale: Seattle startup weighs its own success as Amazon releases similar smart shelf

Valve's Gabe Newell announced this week that he has arranged to launch a garden gnome into space. The interesting part of the story is why he's doing it and, even more interesting, is where Newell has been since last March.

With GeekWire’s Todd Bishop and John Cook. Produced by Curt Milton. Theme music by Daniel L.K. Caldwell.

Here&rsquo;s what we&rsquo;re talking about on the GeekWire Podcast this week:
Just before the election, <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2020/joe-bidens-campaign-funding-bundlers-include-top-names-seattle-tech/">Joe Biden's campaign released a list of its top "bundlers," people who raise big donations to the campaign.</a> Several well-known Seattle tech names were on the list. We look at who they are and why they were raising money for Biden.
<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2020/robo-commerce-amazons-dash-smart-shelf-auto-reordering-scale-goes-sale-19-99/">Amazon released a Smart Shelf that can keep track of things like your toilet paper and then automatically reorder</a> them when you start to run out. Another Seattle firm, Bottomless, has a similar gadget to keep you in fresh coffee beans. Cool concepts but ... do we really need these gizmos?
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2020/robo-commerce-amazons-dash-smart-shelf-auto-reordering-scale-goes-sale-19-99/">Robo-commerce: Amazon&rsquo;s auto-reordering Dash Smart Shelf goes on sale for $19.99</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2020/built-scale-seattle-startup-weighs-success-amazon-releases-similar-smart-shelf/">Built to scale: Seattle startup weighs its own success as Amazon releases similar smart shelf</a></li>
</ul>
<a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2020/valves-gabe-newell-arranged-garden-gnome-launched-orbit/">Valve's Gabe Newell announced this week that he has arranged to launch a garden gnome into space.</a> The interesting part of the story is why he's doing it and, even more interesting, is where Newell has been since last March.
With GeekWire&rsquo;s Todd Bishop and John Cook. Produced by Curt Milton. Theme music by Daniel L.K. Caldwell.

GeekWire brings you the week's latest technology news, trends and insights, covering the world of technology from our home base in Seattle. Our regular news podcast features commentary and analysis from our editors and reporters, plus interviews with special guests.

GeekWire reporters John Cook, Todd Bishop and guests talk about the latest tech news and trends.

GeekWire

Biden's Seattle tech bundlers; Amazon's smart shelf; Where's Gabe Newell?

This week: Microsoft’s longtime communications chief, Frank X. Shaw, looks back on nearly three decades of telling the company’s story as he prepares to leave at the end of the year. Joined by veteran Microsoft reporter and GeekWire contributing writer Mary Jo Foley, Shaw talks about working for Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer and Satya Nadella, the mistakes he’d handle differently, and what companies of any size can learn about the evolution of communications and working with reporters.

Related Stories and Links
Microsoft comms chief Frank Shaw to exit after nearly three decades shaping the company’s message
Internal memos: Microsoft shakes up communications as Nadella makes a push to build in public
Microsoft’s ‘lost decade’: Vanity Fair piece accurate but incomplete
Frank X. Shaw: Things I’m Thinking About
Mary Jo Foley’s GeekWire stories

With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton. Music by Daniel L.K. Caldwell.

This week: Microsoft&rsquo;s longtime communications chief, Frank X. Shaw, looks back on nearly three decades of telling the company&rsquo;s story as he prepares to leave at the end of the year. Joined by veteran Microsoft reporter and GeekWire contributing writer Mary Jo Foley, Shaw talks about working for Bill Gates, Steve Ballmer and Satya Nadella, the mistakes he&rsquo;d handle differently, and what companies of any size can learn about the evolution of communications and working with reporters.
Related Stories and Links
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsoft-comms-chief-frank-shaw-to-exit-after-nearly-three-decades-shaping-the-companys-message/">Microsoft comms chief Frank Shaw to exit after nearly three decades shaping the company&rsquo;s message</a></li>
<li><a href="https://geekwire.com/2026/internal-memos-microsoft-shakes-up-communications-as-nadella-makes-a-push-to-build-in-public/">Internal memos: Microsoft shakes up communications as Nadella makes a push to build in public</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2012/microsofts-lost-decade-vanity-fair-piece-accurate-incomplete/">Microsoft&rsquo;s &lsquo;lost decade&rsquo;: Vanity Fair piece accurate but incomplete</a></li>
<li><a href="https://fxshaw.com">Frank X. Shaw: Things I&rsquo;m Thinking About</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/author/maryjofoley/">Mary Jo Foley&rsquo;s GeekWire stories</a></li>
</ul>
With GeekWire co-founder Todd Bishop. Edited by Curt Milton. Music by Daniel L.K. Caldwell.

Exit interview: Microsoft’s comms chief on CEOs, reporters, what he got wrong, and stories that stuck

We start this week's GeekWire Podcast by opening the listener mailbag, highlighting some recent comments and emails that set a new standard for critical feedback, in different ways.

We discuss Vayo, the AI travel venture Booking Holdings is launching in Seattle, home of its biggest rival, Expedia. Led by recent guest Mike Fridgen, Vayo uses AI agents to manage your trips. It's an example of the broader push to build personalized AI agents, even as more companies wall off their sites from rival agents.

Then we take on LinkedIn’s list of the top Seattle startups, where four of the top 10, including No. 1 Anthropic, aren’t headquartered in the region.

And in the final segment, we talk about Amazon’s new Bee AI wearables, which can turn things you say into shopping suggestions on Amazon.com if you opt in and pay $12 a month. That leads into the GeekWire Trivia Challenge, about an earlier Amazon wristband that listened to you.

Related links:
Booking Holdings unveils AI travel startup Vayo, based in Seattle, with a planned $100M investment
LinkedIn just released its list of the top 10 Seattle startups: One problem, nearly half aren’t based in the region
Amazon’s new AI devices can listen to conversations and suggest things to buy — if you opt in
Amazon’s Halo disappears: Tech giant discontinues health devices and service, promises refunds

Edited and produced by Curt Milton; Music by Daniel L.K. Caldwell. 

We start this week's GeekWire Podcast by opening the listener mailbag, highlighting some recent comments and emails that set a new standard for critical feedback, in different ways.
We discuss <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/booking-holdings-unveils-ai-travel-startup-vayo-based-in-seattle-with-a-planned-100m-investment/">Vayo</a>, the AI travel venture Booking Holdings is launching in Seattle, home of its biggest rival, Expedia. Led by <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/live-show-amazon-meta-and-the-fight-over-the-future-of-ai-plus-is-seattle-still-the-place-to-build/">recent guest</a> Mike Fridgen, Vayo uses AI agents to manage your trips. It's an example of the broader push to build personalized AI agents, even as more companies wall off their sites from rival agents.
Then we take on LinkedIn&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/linkedin-just-released-its-list-of-the-top-10-seattle-startups-one-problem-nearly-half-arent-based-in-the-region/">list of the top Seattle startups</a>, where four of the top 10, including No. 1 Anthropic, aren&rsquo;t headquartered in the region.
And in the final segment, we talk about Amazon&rsquo;s <a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/amazons-new-ai-devices-can-listen-to-conversations-and-suggest-things-to-buy-if-you-opt-in/">new Bee AI wearables</a>, which can turn things you say into shopping suggestions on Amazon.com if you opt in and pay $12 a month. That leads into the GeekWire Trivia Challenge, about an earlier Amazon wristband that listened to you.
Related links:
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/booking-holdings-unveils-ai-travel-startup-vayo-based-in-seattle-with-a-planned-100m-investment/">Booking Holdings unveils AI travel startup Vayo, based in Seattle, with a planned $100M investment</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/linkedin-just-released-its-list-of-the-top-10-seattle-startups-one-problem-nearly-half-arent-based-in-the-region/">LinkedIn just released its list of the top 10 Seattle startups: One problem, nearly half aren&rsquo;t based in the region</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/amazons-new-ai-devices-can-listen-to-conversations-and-suggest-things-to-buy-if-you-opt-in/">Amazon&rsquo;s new AI devices can listen to conversations and suggest things to buy &mdash; if you opt in</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2023/amazons-halo-disappears-tech-giant-discontinues-health-devices-and-service-promises-refunds/">Amazon&rsquo;s Halo disappears: Tech giant discontinues health devices and service, promises refunds</a></li>
</ul>
Edited and produced by Curt Milton; Music by Daniel L.K. Caldwell.&nbsp;

Amazon’s new AI wearable, Booking's return to Expedia's backyard, and LinkedIn’s not-so-Seattle startup list

This week, we take the GeekWire Podcast to Front Burner Studios near Pike Place Market, where our host is studio co-owner Seth Paul, who's also co-founder and CEO of the Seattle security startup Qinsay.

We discuss the White House crackdown on Microsoft’s green-card sponsorships, hours before President Trump honored Satya Nadella. We also talk about record Seattle startup funding and Shield AI’s plans to build AI-piloted fighter jets in Des Moines, Wash., where a city FAQ assures residents it’s not a data center.

Seth tells us about the vintage console he drove from Detroit, and how he brings a musician’s approach to the startup world. Plus, the return of the GeekWire Trivia Challenge.

Related links:
Microsoft responds to White House immigration crackdown as Trump honors Nadella
From H-1B to CEO: How Satya Nadella traveled the path the U.S. just cut off for Microsoft workers
Seattle-area startups raise a record $3.5B as national VC funding cools
Shield AI selects Seattle area to build X-BAT autonomous fighter jet
Shield AI lands $150M Navy contract for AI-piloted fighter jet

With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop.

This week, we take the GeekWire Podcast to <a href="https://www.sethpaulproductions.com/">Front Burner Studios</a> near Pike Place Market, where our host is studio co-owner Seth Paul, who's also co-founder and CEO of the Seattle security startup <a href="https://qinsay.com/">Qinsay</a>.
We discuss the White House crackdown on Microsoft&rsquo;s green-card sponsorships, hours before President Trump honored Satya Nadella. We also talk about record Seattle startup funding and Shield AI&rsquo;s plans to build AI-piloted fighter jets in Des Moines, Wash., where a city FAQ assures residents it&rsquo;s not a data center.
Seth tells us about the vintage console he drove from Detroit, and how he brings a musician&rsquo;s approach to the startup world. Plus, the return of the GeekWire Trivia Challenge.
Related links:
<ul dir="ltr">
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/microsoft-responds-to-trump-administration-accusation-that-it-abuses-foreign-worker-programs/">Microsoft responds to White House immigration crackdown as Trump honors Nadella</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/from-h-1b-to-ceo-how-satya-nadella-traveled-the-path-the-u-s-just-cut-off-for-microsoft-workers/">From H-1B to CEO: How Satya Nadella traveled the path the U.S. just cut off for Microsoft workers</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/rocket-fuel-seattle-area-startups-raise-a-record-3-5b-as-national-vc-funding-cools/">Seattle-area startups raise a record $3.5B as national VC funding cools</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/shield-ai-selects-seattle-area-to-build-x-bat-autonomous-fighter-jet-plans-to-add-4000-jobs-by-early-2030s/">Shield AI selects Seattle area to build X-BAT autonomous fighter jet</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.geekwire.com/2026/shield-ai-lands-150m-navy-contract-to-advance-ai-piloted-fighter-jet-that-will-be-built-south-of-seattle/">Shield AI lands $150M Navy contract for AI-piloted fighter jet</a></li>
</ul>
With GeekWire co-founders John Cook and Todd Bishop.

Biden's Seattle tech bundlers; Amazon's smart shelf; Where's Gabe Newell?

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