Podcast Episode Summary

Becker Private Equity & Business Podcast

Host: Scott Becker
Episode: SoundHound AI & Schadenfreude 10-20-25
Date: October 20, 2025

Overview

In this brief and candid episode, host Scott Becker explores the intersection of business performance, personal investing regrets, and the very human feeling of schadenfreude—taking pleasure in someone else’s misfortune. Using SoundHound AI (referred to as Soundtown AI in the episode) as a case study, Scott reflects on stock market volatility, his friends' investing wins, and his own emotional responses to missing out.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Connection to SoundHound AI [00:13]

• Scott introduces the main topic: tracking the progress of SoundHound AI, a company in which a close friend, a prominent Indiana personal injury lawyer, invested early.
• His friend's investment success becomes a reference point for Scott’s own feelings about missing out. Scott notes:

  "This is, of course, something I did not invest in, but he did. This Stock is up 265% in the last year."

2. Stock Performance and Volatility [00:35 – 01:10]

• Scott details the rollercoaster performance of SoundHound AI:
  • Despite an incredible 265% rise over the past year, the stock is down 3.6% year-to-date and has dropped 8% on the day of recording.
  • He puts the dip into context, noting:

    "So that you don't really worry about my friend. Even though it's down year to date, the stock is still up over the last six months, 145%. And it's up over the last 52 weeks, 266%."

3. Investment FOMO and Schadenfreude [01:12 – 01:48]

• Scott openly shares his emotional reaction—both envy and a bit of juvenile pleasure—over seeing the stock dip, which contrasts with his friend’s string of investment victories, including companies like Tempest AI.
  • Quote:

    "It is immature for me to be sort of like happy that it's down a little bit because my friend made so much money off of Soundtown AI."

• He acknowledges the fleeting nature of such feelings and expects his friend to emerge the winner in the long run:

  "My walk, the stock will end up up for the day and my friend will have the last laugh. There are going to be days like that."

4. Episode Close [01:50 – 02:10]

• Scott wraps up by reiterating the theme—SoundHound AI and the concept of schadenfreude—and extends thanks to his producer.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On personal investment FOMO:

  "The guy's invested in everything that's gone up 100, 200% this year. And I've invested in nothing like that." (Scott Becker, 00:51)

• On schadenfreude:

  "It is immature for me to be sort of like happy that it's down a little bit because my friend made so much money off of Soundtown AI." (Scott Becker, 01:18)

• On stock performance context:

  "Even though it's down year to date, the stock is still up over the last six months, 145%. And it's up over the last 52 weeks, 266%." (Scott Becker, 01:32)

• Perspective and humility:

  "My walk, the stock will end up up for the day and my friend will have the last laugh." (Scott Becker, 01:46)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [00:13] – Introduction of SoundHound AI and personal connection
• [00:35] – Stock’s past year and recent day performance
• [00:51] – Discussion of investment feelings, FOMO, and friend’s investing record
• [01:18] – Reflection on personal emotions (schadenfreude)
• [01:32] – Long-term perspective on stock performance
• [01:46] – Final thoughts on outcomes and humility
• [02:08] – Podcast close and producer thanks

Summary

This episode offers an honest, lighthearted look at professional envy and personal reactions in the business world. Scott Becker uses the case of SoundHound AI to discuss stock volatility, missed opportunities, and the universal temptation to feel a bit of schadenfreude—even when it comes at a friend’s expense. The tone is casual and self-aware, blending real portfolio numbers with relatable emotion and a dose of humility.