Rich Habits Podcast: 50-Year Mortgage, Hims & Hers "Labs," & Uber's New Skiing Partnership
Hosts: Austin Hankwitz & Robert Croke
Date: November 14, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of the Rich Habits Podcast delivers an engaging rundown of the week’s most significant financial headlines, practical financial guidance, and thoughtful Q&A for entrepreneurs. The main topics include analysis of the prolonged U.S. government shutdown, Disney’s costly streaming blackout with YouTube TV, the controversial introduction of a 50-year mortgage, highlights on ETF performance, plus rapid-fire takes on the latest business news such as Hims & Hers Labs and Uber’s new partnership with Vail Resorts. The hosts wrap up with actionable advice for small business owners on buying a business, outsourcing, and handling entrepreneurial decision fatigue.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. End of the Longest U.S. Government Shutdown

[01:47–03:33]

• The government shutdown lasted 43 days — the longest in U.S. history.
• Consequences:
  • Millions of federal workers missed paychecks
  • Major government agencies halted operations
  • Essential economic data (jobs, inflation, GDP) was delayed, causing investor uncertainty.
• Economic Impact:
  • Ernst & Young estimated a 0.08% cut in annualized GDP
  • The Congressional Budget Office cited $11 billion in permanent GDP loss.

Quotes:

• Robert: “Given the backlog of muddy economic data, the markets are just more volatile than normal. So expect continued swings in your 401k and your traditional investment accounts.” [03:00]
• Austin: “Now we’re heading into a period where all this missing economic data rushes back in at once, creating a lot of noise and some confusion for the stock market.” [02:30]

2. Disney vs. YouTube TV: The Streaming Blackout

[03:33–06:26]

• Disney’s channels (including ESPN, ABC) went dark on YouTube TV due to a contract dispute over distribution fees.
• Wall Street estimates Disney is losing $30 million per week ($4.3 million per day) during the blackout.
• YouTube TV offered customers a $20 credit in response.
• Consumer impact: If YouTube caves and pays Disney, prices for subscribers will likely increase; if Disney absorbs the loss, other Disney services may rise in price instead.

Quotes:

• Austin: “I’m already paying, like, 90-something dollars a month for my YouTube TV and I don’t get any ESPN anymore, so I can’t watch my college football. It’s just—it’s a lot.” [04:56]
• Robert: “Disney’s profits so far in the fiscal year 2025 are $10 billion and they’re already in this situation where they’re blocking out YouTube TV… and the consumers are going to have to eat this increase again. It’s crazy. It’s not fair.” [06:00]

3. The 50-Year Mortgage: Affordable or Trap?

[06:26–09:37]

• The proposal to introduce a 50-year mortgage aims to make home ownership more affordable via lower monthly payments.
• However, dramatically slows equity growth and results in exponentially higher interest payments over time.
• Robert computed that on a $400,000 mortgage, after 10 years a 30-year loan pays down $47,000 of principal versus just $14,000 for a 50-year loan.
• Longer-term loans may push home prices even higher as buyers can “afford” bigger loans, potentially worsening the affordability crisis.

Quotes:

• Robert: “Your equity builds much slower because early on the payments are almost entirely interest… I think it’s a bad idea to even consider these 50-year mortgages.” [07:02]
• Austin: “If I got a 50-year mortgage, I wouldn’t pay it off until I’m 79. That would be crazy.” [08:06]

4. ETF Movers & Shakers

[10:36–12:55]

• Top Performers:
  • Life sciences (+9.5%)
  • Precious metals (excluding gold) (+7.2%)
  • Oncology/weight loss/biotech sector (+6.8%)
• Worst Performers:
  • Blockchain (-6.5%)
  • Space and deep sea research (-3%)
  • Volatility ETFs (-2.5%)
• Takeaway: Rise in non-gold precious metals (palladium, silver, copper) due to market volatility and their broader use in technology.

Quotes:

• Austin: “Think palladium, think silver, think copper… as we see more volatility in the markets, we should expect to see precious metals, when you exclude gold, continue to trend up.” [12:03]
• Robert: “I do see a lot of continued growth in the precious metals market… silver obviously has all of its use cases in EV and phones and solar and everything else.” [12:32]

5. Rapid Fire News: Emerging Trends & Hot Takes

A. Hims & Hers “Labs” Product
[12:55–15:37]

• Hims & Hers launches “Labs”, a health-testing service directly competing with Function Health; offers annual blood draws testing over 120 biomarkers, with plans starting at $199/year.
• Opportunity: Capture market share in preventative health, significant revenue potential.

B. Anthropic’s Massive AI Investment

• Anthropic to invest $50 billion in AI infrastructure, partnering with FluidStack for data centers in Texas and New York.
• Expected to reach profitability ahead of OpenAI.

C. Uber’s New Skiing Partnership

• Uber and Vail Resorts launch “Uber Ski” — book ski-friendly rides and Epic Passes directly via the Uber app.

Quotes:

• Robert: “For someone like me that cares about my blood work and I get it done a lot, that’s incredibly affordable… I’m sure they’re just going to send us a packet right to our house.” [15:37]

D. Michael Saylor’s Bitcoin Bet
[15:37–19:19]

• Michael Saylor predicts Bitcoin “will be bigger than gold within a decade,” which would mean Bitcoin hitting $1.4 million per coin (currently $2T market cap vs. gold's $29T).
• Robert is bullish on both, but skeptical about that pace of growth.

E. Fannie Mae Loosens Credit Requirement

• Fannie Mae drops its 620-minimum credit score for loan eligibility, instead focusing on broader payment history (rent, utilities).

F. Michael Burry Shuts Down Scion Asset Management

• After a series of high-profile short bets on the AI sector, Burry closes his hedge fund, likely due to investor pressure following “too many wrong moves.”

Quotes:

• Robert: “I’m not sure about these numbers, but I’m an investor in bitcoin and gold. I assume we’re going to see substantial growth in both.” [15:37]
• “Michael Burry’s claim to fame was that he accurately predicted the housing market crash of 2008… but it hasn’t been all rainbows and unicorns for Michael Burry as of recent.” [17:40]

Q&A: Entrepreneurship & Small Business Advice

[19:29–31:29]

• Buying a Small Business (Paul):

  • Look for owner/seller financing; ensure you have reliable mechanics if it's an auto repair shop.
  • Validate financials with real, register-based numbers (not just claimed “cash”).
  • Drive around target neighborhoods and negotiate thoughtfully.

• Bookkeeping for Creatives (Charles):

  • Use QuickBooks or similar, and don’t hesitate to hire a bookkeeper.
  • “Hire to your weaknesses”; focus on creativity and growth rather than draining administrative tasks.

• Decision Fatigue for Owners (Patricia):

  • Delegation is essential; don’t micromanage, and hire partners or staff aligned with your vision.
  • Write down 3–5 big decisions per day; brain-dump the rest.
  • Equity-sharing with key staff/partners can help distribute responsibility and loyalty.

Quotes:

• Robert: “You can hire the best employees in the world, but if they don’t have skin in the game, you’re not going to get the same output.” [30:41]
• Austin: “If you’re over here spending… to hire a part time bookkeeper, but… you’re able to focus 100% of your time on creativity… you’ll make more money having a bookkeeper than not having one.” [24:13]

Memorable Moments & Notable Quotes

• “I’d rather see you go get a side hustle—one shift a week to pay the difference [than get a 50-year mortgage].” — Robert [09:37]
• “Don’t buy to what they’ll loan you. Buy to what works within your budget.” — Robert [09:37]
• “Go increase your income. Go get more money in your bank account.” — Austin [19:29]
• “If you want something done right, do it yourself. The problem is, if you’re a control freak and you can’t delegate, you can’t scale either.” — Robert [27:49]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:57 – Main episode intro, top headlines preview
• 01:47 – Government shutdown recap and impact
• 03:33 – Disney/YouTube TV contract breakdown
• 06:26 – 50-Year mortgage trend discussion
• 10:36 – ETF “Movers and Shakers” segment
• 12:55 – Rapid fire: Hims & Hers, Anthropic, Uber partnership
• 15:37 – More rapid fire: Michael Saylor on Bitcoin, Fannie Mae update, Michael Burry shuts down fund
• 19:29 – Q&A: Buying a business, creative entrepreneurship bookkeeping, decision fatigue

Overall Tone & Takeaways

The conversation is practical, fast-paced, and peppered with real-life numbers, candid takes, and mutual banter. Robert brings the perspective of a seasoned entrepreneur, while Austin offers relatable energy, enthusiasm, and curiosity tailored to younger listeners and aspiring business owners. The hosts emphasize personal financial responsibility, the importance of strategy over impulse, and the need to invest thoughtfully both in business and personal growth.

This episode provides a compact, highly engaging blend of timely headlines and actionable advice for anyone eager to upgrade their financial habits.