Amazon challenges Spotify with deal to buy Wondery podcast company

COVID-19’s lasting impact on health tech | Jeff Bezos names rocket recovery ship after his mom | 2020 GeekWire news quiz ADVERTISEMENT [GeekWire]( SPONSOR MESSAGE: Become a GeekWire member: [Support independent journalism and join today!]( TODAY'S TOP STORIES Dr. Brad Younggren has a unique perspective on the COVID-19 crisis. He’s the chief medical officer at Seattle-based healthcare startup 98point6; emergency physician and medical director for emergency preparedness at EvergreenHealth Medical Center; and a former U.S. Army physician. So it was with a sense of hope and cautious optimism that he received his first dose of COVID-19 vaccine last week, along with his Evergreen colleagues. Younggren reflected on the past year, and talked about what’s next, in this conversation for GeekWire’s Health Tech Podcast. [Listen here](. Breaking News: Amazon [announced an agreement to acquire Wondery]( the Los Angeles-based podcast production company known for hit shows such as "Dirty John," "Dr. Death," and "Business Wars." Financial terms weren't disclosed, but a previous Wall Street Journal report valued the deal at more than $300 million. The acquisition promises to take Amazon further into original audio content, squaring off against Spotify, the streaming music service that has been on its own podcast acquisition spree. ‘I’ve felt perfectly healthy, very normal’: That’s Jennifer Haller, nearly 10 months after becoming the first person to receive a shot in the first U.S. clinical trial for Moderna’s coronavirus vaccine. With the distribution of vaccines now underway, Haller, a Seattle tech worker, is reflecting on the pandemic, her role in helping people, and the struggle many are facing. [Read more.]( In other COVID-19 news, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee announced Wednesday that he is [extending the state’s “Stay Safe-Stay Healthy” proclamation]( and the restrictions it imposes, by one week, until Jan. 11. Bezos names ship after his mom: SpaceX CEO Elon Musk named his rocket recovery vessels after science-fiction spaceships, but Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos stayed closer to home for the christening of the ship that his Blue Origin space venture will use for at-sea rocket landings. [See the surprise reveal](. Year in Space: Speaking of aerospace, it was another busy year for companies such as Blue Origin, SpaceX, Amazon, Microsoft, Spaceflight, OneWeb, and Boeing, which this week reached a milestone as the first U.S. passenger flight for a 737 MAX jet flew since the worldwide fleet was grounded. [Here are 2020’s top aerospace stories](. Uber hiking prices on Jan. 1: The cost of an Uber trip in Seattle will jump about 24% starting Friday as the ride-hailing company is raising its prices in response to a new law requiring drivers to be paid the city’s minimum wage. The Seattle City Council unanimously voted in September to adopt new regulations designed to ensure Uber and Lyft drivers earn the city’s $16.69 per hour minimum wage in 2021. [Read more.]( GeekWire’s 2020 news quiz: Test your knowledge of this year’s top headlines [with our 20-question test](. We had a lot of fun [taking it ourselves]( as GeekWire editor Todd Bishop faced off against GeekWire managing editor Taylor Soper — who do you think won? Take the quiz, and let us know how you did! What’s Richard Sherman playing? We caught up with the one-time Seattle Seahawks great and reliable geek who shared which video games he’s playing now (on which console) and how he feels about esports and more. [Read the quick Q&A](. Thanks for reading, and see our latest headlines below. — GeekWire managing editor Taylor Soper, taylor@geekwire.com, GeekWire editor Todd Bishop, editor@geekwire.com, and Geek Life reporter Kurt Schlosser, kurt@geekwire.com. SPONSOR MESSAGE [Figuring out 2021 Employee Benefits? Get a Quote from ALLtech]( Available exclusively through the [GeekWire Membership Program]( [ALLtech]( helps even the smallest startups offer health insurance plans and other benefits that rival larger companies. With exclusive pricing from preferred carriers like [Regence]( and [Delta Dental]( ALLtech provides the most competitive, cost-effective plans available, tailored specifically for small technology businesses. [Learn more today!]( LATEST HEADLINES [Podcast wars: Amazon to acquire Wondery, escalating competition with Spotify]( [Catching up with NFL great Richard Sherman on his favorite video games, esports ownership, and more]( [Uber raising trip prices 24% in new year in response to Seattle’s new minimum wage law for drivers]( [Baby Yoda’s real name and Bill Gates’ podcast pal: Test your geek smarts with our year-end news quiz]( [Seattle tech worker who got vaccine trial shot feels great — but she worries for those hurt by pandemic]( SPONSORED: GEEK HOME OF THE DAY [6 Condos That Will Have You Considering a Pied-a-Terre]( [Ahoy, Jacklyn! Jeff Bezos names Blue Origin’s rocket recovery ship after his mom]( [Year in Aerospace: The comeback begins for Boeing and for American spaceflight]( [A view from the front lines: COVID-19’s lasting impact on the technology and science of healthcare]( [Avalara’s acquisition spree continues: Seattle tax automation company to buy INPOSIA Solutions]( [Dept. of Justice credits Microsoft with identifying tech-support fraud scheme that targeted seniors]( [FlowPlay buys out investors as Seattle gaming startup sees revenue spike 50% amid pandemic]( GEEKWORK: TODAY'S TECH JOBS - [Level: Senior Software Engineer (Full Stack)]( - [Temporal Technologies: Sr. Solutions Architect]( - [Bean Box, Inc.: Principal Software Engineer]( - [INRIX: GM, Automotive Sales]( - [Flyhomes: Senior Front End Engineer]( - [GeekWire: GeekWire Technology and Business Reporter]( - [INRIX: Senior Front-End UI Developer]( - [INRIX: Senior Software Development Engineer]( - [GeekWire: Project and Membership Manager]( - [Temporal Technologies: Sr. Developer Advocate]( [FIND MORE JOBS ON GEEKWORK]( [HIRING? 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