Gratitude Reflections for Business in 2024 - Personal Stories of Gratitude.

Summary

Right About Now with Ryan Alford Episode: Gratitude Reflections for Business in 2024 - Personal Stories of Gratitude Release Date: November 29, 2024

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Episode Overview

In this heartfelt episode of Right About Now with Ryan Alford, host Ryan Alford, alongside co-hosts Chris Hanson and Brianna Hall, delves into the theme of gratitude, especially in the context of business and personal life. Released on November 29, 2024, this episode coincides with the Thanksgiving season, providing a reflective space for listeners to appreciate the lessons and blessings of the past year.

Thanksgiving and Gratitude Reflections

The episode kicks off with warm Thanksgiving greetings, setting a cozy and appreciative tone. Ryan expresses his gratitude towards the listeners, emphasizing the show's success and the community they've built together.

Notable Quote:

Ryan Alford [10:06]: "We are thankful for you. If you're listening, wherever you are, whenever, however you are, first and foremost, we don't do this without you. So thank you for listening and watching on YouTube."

Black Friday Shopping Stories

The hosts share personal anecdotes about their Black Friday experiences. Brianna reminisces about her early morning shopping traditions, while Ryan humorously admits to frequently visiting Harbor Freight, drawing parallels to his father’s love for hardware stores.

Notable Quote:

Ryan Alford [08:37]: "This is the strange life that I live now."

Health and Personal Gratitude

A significant portion of the discussion centers around health, with Ryan sharing a personal story about his wife's battle with cancer and her successful recovery. Both Ryan and Chris highlight the paramount importance of health and well-being, not just personally but also in the entrepreneurial journey.

Notable Quote:

Ryan Alford [11:43]: "I had a wife that was diagnosed with cancer in January and she's cancer free now, so first and foremost, thankful for that."

Marketing and Branding Insights: The $6 Million Banana

Transitioning to a more business-centric topic, the hosts analyze the viral news of a cryptocurrency investor purchasing a banana duct-taped to a wall for $6.2 million. They dissect this event as a case study in modern marketing and branding, drawing parallels to the NFT boom and the evolving perception of value in art.

Notable Quote:

Ryan Alford [14:36]: "This is a lesson in marketing and branding more than anything."

Music Industry Controversy: Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar

The episode also touches on the contentious lawsuit filed by Drake against UMG and Spotify. Drake alleges that these platforms artificially inflated Kendrick Lamar's song rankings using bots, sparking a debate about authenticity and competition in the music streaming industry.

Notable Quote:

Chris Hanson [23:15]: "Every musician I know uses bots on their music. So I would be very careful."

Business News: General Motors' Entry into Formula 1

In a segment dedicated to business news, the team discusses General Motors' strategic move to enter Formula 1 racing through its Cadillac brand. Producer Sawyer provides insights into GM's goals to enhance brand recognition internationally and the challenges faced during the entry process, including antitrust investigations.

Notable Quote:

Sawyer [25:32]: "Formula One is trying to expand more into America. So having an American car manufacturer brand is good for them."

Conclusion and Sponsor Mentions

Wrapping up the episode, the hosts extend their gratitude to sponsors such as Branded Bills, Drink Exponent, and Independence Center. They also share festive greetings, celebrating the holiday season with their audience.

Notable Quote:

Brianna Hall [35:48]: "Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Holidays, and Merry Christmas."

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Key Takeaways

• Gratitude as a Foundation: Emphasizing the importance of appreciating both personal and professional blessings enhances resilience and fosters a positive community.

• Evolving Marketing Strategies: The $6 million banana incident illustrates the shifting landscape of marketing, where perceived value and brand narrative can drive unprecedented interest and financial investment.

• Authenticity in the Digital Age: The Drake vs. Kendrick Lamar lawsuit highlights the ongoing struggle for authenticity in an era dominated by digital metrics and streaming platforms.

• Strategic Business Moves: General Motors' foray into Formula 1 underscores the significance of global brand positioning and the complexities of entering highly competitive industries.

Final Thoughts

This episode of Right About Now with Ryan Alford masterfully blends personal reflections with insightful business analysis, providing listeners with both emotional resonance and intellectual stimulation. Whether you're an entrepreneur seeking inspiration or a business enthusiast eager to understand contemporary marketing trends, this episode offers valuable perspectives grounded in genuine gratitude and strategic thinking.

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Stay Connected: For more insights and updates, visit www.RyanIsRight.com or follow @rightaboutnowshow and @ryanalford on Instagram.

Transcript

[Ryan Alford]

Struggling to grow or start your business or drowning in an ocean of urgency? You're not alone. I'm Matt Reynolds and my brother Chris and I have been in the trenches of entrepreneurship for nearly 40 years. Combined. We've built successful companies from the ground up. We're sharing our hard earning lessons and practical strategies on the Build you'd Business podcast. And I'm excited to say that the Build your business podcast is the newest addition to the Radcast Network. Learn more at Turnkey Coach Build or subscribe on your favorite podcast platform. Meet Claude Anthropic's AI Assistant Ready to transform how your organization works. Empower every person in your organization with AI that thinks like a teammate, not a tool. Securely upload your company knowledge and watch as Claude helps every department from engineering to marketing produce their best work faster. Your data stays protected while your teams reach new heights. Discover Enterprise grade [e-mail] Enterprise I'm Stephanie Wong.

[Stephanie Wong]

I'm the host of where the Internet Lives, a podcast from Google about the unseen world of data centers. In past seasons, we've taken you inside data centers, unveiling a world very few people get to see. And in our new season, we'll hear stories about the researchers, technologists and activists who use those data centers to make the world a more resilient place. We'll explore wildfire prediction, fixing the aging electric grid, eliminating waste, fighting heat waves, and more. Listen to where the Internet lives Wherever you get your shows.

[Ryan Alford]

Gifting is hard. But here's a hint. Give the gift of connection from US Cellular. Not sure what that means. Here's a slightly more specific hint. You can choose four free phones and get four lines for $90 a month from US Cellular. Your family wants new phones? How do we know? They told us. The good news is that compared to wrapping presents, you're great at getting hints. So take the hint and get them four free phones and four lines for $90 a month US Cellular built for us. This is right about now with Ryan Alford a Radcast Network production. We are the number one business show on the planet with over 1 million downloads a month, taking the BS out of business for over 6 years in over 400 episodes. You ready to start snapping next and cashing ch. Well it starts right about now.

Happy Thanksgiving and welcome to right about now. It is November 29, 2024 here. Closing out the holiday editions here of Right About Now. It's your weekly business and marketing news of the week. And we'll just say our our thank yous Our thankful fours, all the above, joined as always by Brianna hall here at studio. Hey, Chris Hanson down in Miami. Hey. Chris is down to. Is it his parents house, I think. Is that right, Chris?

[Chris Hanson]

Yeah, that's right. I'm at my folks house for the holiday. There it is. Makeshift studio going on here.

[Ryan Alford]

I like it. I like the lamp and the bong. Oh no, that's whatever that is in the back.

[Brianna Hall]

That's the nut.

[Ryan Alford]

It's a nutcracker. Yeah. It looked like a bong from the other angle. Yeah.

[Chris Hanson]

I gotta give a shout out to Copenhagen Imports for your furniture needs.

[Ryan Alford]

Hey there. Yes. Get that again. Where are the deets on that, Chris? Give this some love.

[Chris Hanson]

Copenhagen Imports, Sarasota, Florida. Minimalist, modern Scandinavian design furniture. Tamiami trail tap in.

[Ryan Alford]

There you go. Get it, get it, get it. I might be a 12 year old boy in a 47 year old man's body, but even just today saying nutcracker kind of makes me laugh. Is that just. Am I so juvenile? I can't say those things without like, oh, it's a nutcracker. And my boys do the same thing. I live with, you know, four juveniles.

[Chris Hanson]

I think you, dude, you're living with four guys. I think that's just your product, the environment.

[Brianna Hall]

I, yeah, and I live with lots of boys as well. And you know, my four year old is very into all sorts of things right now.

[Chris Hanson]

You guys have a lot of nutcracker jokes too this time?

[Brianna Hall]

I don't have a lot of nutcracker jokes yet, but it's like, you know, potty talk.

[Ryan Alford]

Oh yeah, yeah, Potty talk.

[Chris Hanson]

Classic.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah, that never goes away. You just layer onto the potty talk. That's what it is. Yes. We are thankful for you. If you're listening, wherever you are, whenever, however you are, first and foremost, we don't do this without you. So thank you for listening and watching on YouTube. If you're not watching, you need to go watch it. You know, you get to see the sights and sounds of right about now, especially the sights. You get to see our wonderful sponsors here in the front. Always of me. If it's a physical product, that is. And then you never know what fancy outfits Chris might have on. You know, we had the Hollywood flare last week, or Chris Vegas, as I called him. We're all more a little more casual today here on the holiday, getting you. We're. You're after turkey. You know, we're gonna keep it pretty light today. I'll just go ahead and give you that. We're not Gonna. It's the day after Thanksgiving. We're thankful. You're hopefully out supporting the economy, spending way too much money and all the Black Friday sales. So Brian, that brings me to. And I'll ask you next, Chris, because they got you and I've talked about this but Brianna, that I've talked to you like, are you a Black Friday person?

[Brianna Hall]

I love Black Friday. I would prefer to go out and do all of my shopping on Black Friday. I used to go like, you know, the crack of dawn and go stand in line and all that stuff. Now a little bit more online shopping, but trying to get back to supporting the local shops.

[Ryan Alford]

So you're what you. Are you gonna get up at 5am then?

[Brianna Hall]

No, absolutely not.

[Ryan Alford]

All right.

[Brianna Hall]

Not this year. No. No, not anymore.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah. I, I will be at early Black Friday shopping though at a hopefully sponsor to be soon. Sawyer had this idea. You will be hearing from our producer Sawyer today. We talk about him a lot. I call him out a lot. So you're actually going to hear from today because we're getting to one of his favorite subjects and he's a way bigger expert than I am. But Harbor Freight will be getting. You know, we record, we pre record this. It's on Wednesday this week. It's typically on Wednesday, sometimes Thursdays for Friday's episodes and it's Wednesday for us. So I will be Black Friday shopping early to hopefully beat the crowd at Harbor Freight, one of my favorite stores. I'm not a big shopper. I mean that. I'm online when I need stuff. I have my brands. Okay. T shirt, top black T shirt, ordering time. My favorite pair of jeans. My, my noble tennis shoes are no longer as white as they need to be. I. I'm pretty simple shopper, but I like some Harbor Freight. I am turning into my dad. Like I remember as a kid, like literally, you know, he'd go to the hardware store, do whatever and I was like, God, this is so boring. And like why does he like to do this? And now I find myself at Harbor Freight three to four times a month and I don't even need anything. I'm just there because there might be some zip ties or some kind of new.

[Brianna Hall]

Like my, my husband is turning into an old man too. He like, he likes to get the, the newspaper on Thanksgiving Day that has all the deals and then he'll go through and he'll like read every single page and be like, oh look, Home Depot is having a whatever sale.

[Ryan Alford]

Yes, look, that 9,500 watt generator that you don't need is on sale for. It's $500 off. It's usually like 2,200, which is really cheap anyway. 17 Hundo at Harbor Freight.

[Brianna Hall]

You need it if, if a storm like Helene comes back through.

[Ryan Alford]

That's true, that's true. And you know, like more random lights and it's some random stuff in there.

[Chris Hanson]

Maybe some Bluetooth speakers if you're lucky, like work, construction site, Bluetooth speaker. I could see.

[Ryan Alford]

Oh yeah. Oh, lots of rollable parts for your, for your like garage. Like little carts you can put stuff on and like little tables and chairs and like rollable toolboxes. Oh, Dewalt.

[Chris Hanson]

Rollable toolbox.

[Ryan Alford]

Oh, Dr. Walt. This is Harbor Freight. Now this is value. This is all straight from China, I think, but it's the best quality cheap stuff you can find. Anyway enough for a non sponsor there. But I do. That is my guilty pleasure now is Harbor Freight. So we'll be there. I'm thankful for them.

[Brianna Hall]

I don't know that anybody's put those two things in a guilty pleasure sentence before.

[Ryan Alford]

This is the strange life that I live now.

[Chris Hanson]

Only a man would have harbor fate as a guilty pleasure. I can promise you that.

[Brianna Hall]

Yes.

[Ryan Alford]

Most, most purists, like Mike. Mike. My dad. My dad's a true master carpenter. And like, they don't really like Harbor Freight because they think it's cheap shit. Like, and it's. But it does the job if you're a casual kind of workshop guy. And that's me, I'm a casual workshop guy. Like I do little projects and little things and I'm not completely helpless. Handy enough is what that should be their tagline. If you're handy enough, come to Harvard Freight. Oh, man. Chris, any big weekend plans for the, for Thanksgiving?

[Chris Hanson]

Just hanging out with the family to be nice. Nice chill weekend with some family and friends.

[Ryan Alford]

Nice.

[Chris Hanson]

Go take Storm to get a, get a little bath and get his. His paws trimmed. That's on the agenda.

[Ryan Alford]

That sounds great, Brianna. What are you guys up to?

[Brianna Hall]

Not a whole lot. It's our first Thanksgiving in the upstate, so we're gonna go to a neighbor's and that'll be nice, but I think it'll be relatively quiet. I have some work cooking. I'm not cooking.

[Ryan Alford]

Not. Oh, okay.

[Brianna Hall]

No, I have some projects I'm going to work on though.

[Ryan Alford]

Okay. Like around the house or just like.

[Brianna Hall]

No, like social house marketing.

[Ryan Alford]

Oh. Oh, good. I like you already. I mean, I tell you what, I like these projects, you know.

[Brianna Hall]

Yeah.

[Ryan Alford]

All right. I'll have to buy you something better than I was going to get you. Yes. Sawyer, what are your plans?

[Sawyer]

We go up to Asheville to hang out with my family.

[Ryan Alford]

There we go. And is. How's. What's the recovery like up there?

[Sawyer]

I think they're doing a little better. They got the. The boil notice for water was just recently rescinded, so they should have drinkable water now. So I think they're getting. Getting back on their feet.

[Ryan Alford]

It's hard to believe how long the recovery has been. That's what you figured. This. The news cycle makes you forget stuff unless you're around it every day. Yeah, but it's crazy that. So be thankful for that and, you know, just be thankful that for if you live where places where you don't have to deal with that stuff or haven't had to deal with it, you know, be. We forget to be thankful for, like, the simple things. It sort of makes me sad, but it also, you know, reminds me of how well we have it living in this country and being American and, you know, some of our freedoms and some of, you know, the abilities to take care of ourselves and get after things. And I, you know, I don't know. I think we lose sight of that sometimes.

[Brianna Hall]

I think for both you and Chris, as entrepreneurs, it's a good, like, time to reflect on, like, the. The business year and what, you know, went well and things that you learned and, you know, lessons to be thankful for. But I think ultimately, and I think everybody will have this sentiment. Health, right? Our health is a big one. I'm super happy to be sitting here and be healthy and have healthy kids and healthy family.

[Ryan Alford]

Amen to that. I mean, I had a wife that was diagnosed with cancer in January and she's cancer free now, so first and foremost, thankful for that and then. But I do have four boys and we seem to have a sprain every other day, but, you know, but nothing serious to date and so can't lose sight of it and definitely appreciative. Chris, what are you thankful for? My friend?

[Chris Hanson]

Always thankful for my friends and family, community. Thankful for health. Thankful for myself for putting my health more importantly in my life.

[Ryan Alford]

Yep. Part of, you know, the wellness journey, I think. You know, Chris and I do another show called Vibe Science where we're trying to empower people to take control of their own health. And I think, you know, when I think of, you know, things that you can control and things that are, you know, within your power, and I think that comes top of mind and doing what you can because we always know like, and I've lived this, this year firsthand when things are going to strike that are out of your control. So if you can mitigate that by doing what you can do, that's the best. And if I could stop eating gummy candy, I would really get on fire. That's my weakness, man. I had some good, good gummy candy bears last night.

[Brianna Hall]

They have anything in them or.

[Chris Hanson]

You got to. You got to get the organic fruit snacks. That's what I. That's my like, gummy replacement. I went with the organic fruit snacks to kind of fill the cravings.

[Brianna Hall]

Not where I go when I want something sweet.

[Ryan Alford]

I just go, your chocolate rich person. Yeah, See, I can. I'm not that guy. I. There's. Is that a time and a place for it? But it's just not all the time. I'm all like, if you put like the right kind of gummy candy in front of me right here, it would be all day, all night. Like. Yeah, no, there's never a time that wouldn't be okay for me.

[Brianna Hall]

No, I like, like the even, like the really bitter chocolates.

[Ryan Alford]

Oh, no, no. I could. If I could kick that a mile.

[Chris Hanson]

Away from like the 80 cacao. Yeah, I. It's good for you.

[Ryan Alford]

My wife and I use this expression about certain things because we're both health conscious enough and take care of ourselves for the most part. We're not perfect, but like both fairly in shape and what we use is not worth the calories. That's kind of like what we'll say because there's certain things that we both know that we. It's worth the calories. Dark chocolate that's bitter. I'd rather not have the calories, you know, like, not worth the calories to me. Gummy slam, that energy. Absolutely. Don't even count the calories. Just give them to me.

[Brianna Hall]

Subject them.

[Ryan Alford]

I know it's totally subjective, everybody. Different strokes for different folks.

[Brianna Hall]

Well, speaking about eating things, our first article of the day is about a $6 million banana that the crypto investor who paid $6 million for it plans to eat it.

[Ryan Alford]

You know, before we go to the fact that he's going to eat it, it really shows you. Is that a banana in your mouth or. Anyway, sorry, the marketing and branding. This is a story of marketing and branding. Because this guy, the artist, had made his. Made his brand. Artist. Maurizio Catalan. Catalan.

[Brianna Hall]

Catalan.

[Ryan Alford]

An Italian artist. I just, I'm telling you, like, that you can sort of make people. It's back to the guy, the artist that does like the, like the most random, like, drawings or something, and he did, like, he shredded it like, like when someone bought it. Anyway, all the marketing and branding, when you can create this halo of thought and belief in what you're creating and it having this value I respect now, whether or not I personally would apply that value to it is a whole nother thing. But this is a, this is a lesson in marketing and branding more than anything. Now we can talk about the fact that the guy's going to eat it, but that's.

[Brianna Hall]

So crypto investor Justin sun purchased a banana duct taped to a wall titled comedian for $6.2 million. Ownership details include that what he received for his 6.2 million was a roll of duct tape, installation instructions and a certificate of authenticity. But no banana, because it would rotate. So, I mean, it's interesting that it's a crypto investor, I think, like, you know, there's a lot of crypto stuff happening in the world that Chris, you know, can speak to. But what do we think about this?

[Ryan Alford]

Says the banana's value parallels that of NFTs, as the certificate holds the true value, not the physical object. So it's the fact that he bought it. It's kind of like the cred, you know, he bought the cred of the certificate that he bought Maurizio Catalan's art. Right. And I guess that has the value.

[Chris Hanson]

Yeah, essentially the certificate, because you're not paying $6 million for a roll of duct tape and instructions that had a duct tape, a banana to a wall.

[Ryan Alford]

No, but it's still.

[Chris Hanson]

And dude, the crypto space has a lot of. You got a lot of guys making a lot of money and it's. I feel like they're almost making a joke in a way of the whole art scene in the. The old elite wealth society. Right. It's like a mockery of it in a way. Right. But there is. It's kind of like anything, right? The NFTs, there's only value because there's a big group of people that believe there's value in it and that's it.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah. And I do think that crypto. And even what happened, like, right around or during with all the money in the market with it's. It's both. It's devalued some things and also made it almost like Monopoly money in a way, where you're buying and spending it in a way that most people would never think about it. You like this way, like the way that this guy, because he's rolling in money so much thinks about $6 million is the equivalent of probably your average person's thinking about $60 or $6, maybe 6, but, but like, like, ah, you think about it and it's not. But it's quick. And I think it's more a sign of that. And then, and then there's like you said, Chris, this sort of mockery almost that I'm so wealthy that I can do this. And also the cachet. And yeah, he could say it's about, you know, the NFT certificate and it kind of is, but I just, I feel like it's, it's kind of like its own encapsulation of a metaverse that's not real because it's not normal or attainable for a lot of people.

[Brianna Hall]

I thought this was an interesting quote. So Justin sun, the purchaser of the art, said it is not just an artwork, it represents a cultural phenomenon that bridges the worlds of art memes and the crypto community.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah, I could see that. And the reality that there are upshots in crypto that make people that haven't had money have so much money that they devalue it in a way or, you know, who's to. It's not my job to tell you what you value or not value, but when someone that doesn't necessarily have a legacy of money, and I have no idea who this person is, but generally speaking can generate a hundred million dollars or something in six months, you know, which some of these crypto dudes have done. And hey, I give him credit, not, not hating on them. It creates a false sense of money value concept, I think that's going on here as well. Would you agree, Chris?

[Chris Hanson]

Yeah. Then I'm sure part of it's like ego, right? Like I don't know who this guy is, but maybe he could probably know. He might be one of these big Twitter crypto influencers.

[Brianna Hall]

Yeah, He's a Chinese born cryptocurrency entrepreneur and business executive. He's only 34. I mean he was born in 1990.

[Ryan Alford]

And it's like, I'm going to eat the banana. I think it's back to the ego. That's the, like, I was going to eat this, I don't care because it's 6 million. No big deal. I'll make that tomorrow.

[Brianna Hall]

Listen to his quote on eating the banana. On the act of eating the banana. I plan to eat the banana as a part of this unique artistic experience honoring its place in both art history and popular culture.

[Ryan Alford]

If he believes that he's a fruitcake and if he's what I'm thinking he is. He doesn't mean it. He's just flaunting. It's. This is like, this is the ultimate. Pulling up to your first date in a Ferrari.

[Chris Hanson]

Yeah, he's like, he's like trolling.

[Brianna Hall]

I feel like, you know, he's like peeling the banana.

[Ryan Alford]

He's like, oh yeah. And yeah, I can see it like on this six mil right here. See this one? See this one side? That's. That's at least 500 thou, you know, back to the IOUs and dumb and dumber. You know, like, hey, that's, that's a Ferrari. You might want to. Want to throw away that one. The piece of paper.

[Brianna Hall]

I'm not a big banana fan, so it would be hard for me to like see the value in eating a six million dollar banana.

[Ryan Alford]

I mean, he should, he should pay like a supermodel to eat it.

[Brianna Hall]

Yeah.

[Ryan Alford]

So that way it's like seductive or something.

[Brianna Hall]

It's an ad.

[Ryan Alford]

Exactly. See? And start his own company behind it. See, like now we're getting something like this six million dollar banana was eaten and high end production. Like Sawyer filming it. Like he's filming it. It's a produced commercial and just super artistic. And she's eating the six million dollar banana. And then. But then they're called actions like crypto.com.

[Brianna Hall]

You know, I could see that.

[Ryan Alford]

See, that's how he should have done. Ah, there we go.

[Brianna Hall]

Add mine in overdrive.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah, there we go. It's. It's Thanksgiving, people. I'm. I'm drunk on turkey early.

[Brianna Hall]

I'm so excited to eat turkey.

[Ryan Alford]

What we got next?

[Brianna Hall]

This is funny. Drake filed a lawsuit against UMG and Spotify because he is accusing them of artificial, actually inflating his rival. Kendrick Lamar's not like us. So on Monday, November 25, he filed a. A lawsuit against them. And I don't know if it's just that he got his feelings hurt or if he has anything to back up this lawsuit.

[Chris Hanson]

Every musician I know uses bots on their music. So I would be very careful. I was Drake. Because someone could come back and do the same thing and prove he's doing the same thing.

[Brianna Hall]

Yeah. So he's basically saying that they, that they paid currently unknown parties to use bots to artificially inflate Kendrick's new song.

[Chris Hanson]

But you also saw it going viral over the Internet, right? Like people doing dances and tick tock and stuff. I think he's in his feelings.

[Brianna Hall]

Yeah.

[Ryan Alford]

These guys both have a lot of money and it's just like. And it's like, why do you figure.

[Chris Hanson]

This out in private?

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah, I need a feud. Like, come on. I just. I'm sorry, I just don't have many.

[Chris Hanson]

Because it keeps their name in the press, that's why.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah, yeah. Like, this is PR stupid. And maybe both.

[Brianna Hall]

Yeah, right.

[Chris Hanson]

And like, do I give a? Yeah, Like, I either like music or I don't like the music. I don't give a if it's inflated or not.

[Ryan Alford]

No. I mean, I listened to Nicki Minaj all morning working out today. Like.

[Chris Hanson]

How 2014 of you.

[Ryan Alford]

I know. See her re released album, you know, like, it's good, you know, at least.

[Brianna Hall]

It wasn't Taylor Swift.

[Ryan Alford]

Absolutely not. Yes. Oh, good. All right, Our final topic today. Yeah, I'm not. I am not. This is not my topic. I'm staying out of this one. Other than like weighing in on my plans moving forward. So I'll let you tee it up.

[Brianna Hall]

All right. General Motors agrees to a deal to enter Formula 1F1 in 2026. So General Motors, through Cadillac brand is going to be emerging on the scene of F1 starting in 2026. Um, so we thought this, this would be interesting kind of for some of our younger listeners. F1 is, you know, really big in the 25 to 35 age range. I'm not an expert on it either. I know my husband's super into it. He talks about it sometimes while I'm making dinner and I tune out what he's talking about. But our producer Sawyer is a fan. Sawyer, hop in.

[Sawyer]

Yeah, I mean, I'm busy side of this. Formula one is trying to expand more into America. So having an American car manufacturer brand is good for them. They've been expanding their American audience for the past four or five years, really successfully. They added the Las Vegas Grand Prix, which happens in Las Vegas with the cars racing on the strip. That was a big part of that big investment there. And then this is a play for GM to get more recognition overseas. They're one of the largest car manufacturers in America, but overseas European international recognition isn't. Isn't as popular. So they're trying to get their name out there to get more car export sales.

[Brianna Hall]

And then they're using Cadillac as their high end.

[Sawyer]

Yeah, exactly. I mean, that's a lot of brands do that where they'll have the manufacturer support, but they'll put the name of kind of their luxury car brand on it. So Alpeen is one that does that. I'm not sure who they're Owned by. But Alpine is a French luxury car brand. They're in, they're a team in Formula One, but they're owned by a bigger manufacturer. So I think Renault, I think they're owned by Renault. So it's the same thing. Gm, they take one of their nicer car brands, Cadillac put that on there, but so it'll be Cadillac Racing. There's actually a lot of controversy. Getting this team into the sport was a real challenge. A lot of other teams don't want another team because there's a prize pool. And so the more teams there are, the more diluted that prize pool gets. So there's a, there's kind of a pushback against getting this team on there. And it ended up, the Department of Justice ended up doing like an investigation about antitrust monopoly laws because they were blocking a team from getting in. And then shortly after, they kind of reorganized the deal and, and they got them in this, this past week.

[Chris Hanson]

Great analysis.

[Ryan Alford]

Yes, I like it. Yes, one analysis here. I like it. I need to, I'm going to spend the next month. I've, I've made this because I, you know, I do not want to be outside the trend box looking in. I, I refuse to be outside. So I'm going to go watch the Netflix special and see if I can get my arms and look, I like fast cars. I, I just have never gotten and have owned probably almost every brand you can name, but I just have never gotten into F1.

[Sawyer]

So here's some, here's some bonus news. F1 has been making an F1 move for this exact reason, Ryan. Trying to get more people into the F1 ecosystem.

[Ryan Alford]

Yes.

[Sawyer]

They've been making a movie for the last year. It's going to be called just F1. It is the director of the newest, that Top Gun, Maverick. It's the same director. And they have been for the past two years, since 2023, they've been on the grid with a car. It's not, it's like a, it's a, it's a lower grade car that they've made look like an F1 car. And so like they've been going around like on the formation laps when all the cars are lining up. They're out there driving it on track to get footage. Just recently at the Las Vegas F1 race, they filmed a scene where they had the crash version of the car they brought on track. They had their actor get out of the car and he's walking, there's all this smoke. And they asked the crowd to react in the background, like, there was a big crash. So they've been filming the movie at real F1 races. It's got Brad Pitt and some other big actors.

[Ryan Alford]

That's cool.

[Sawyer]

So we'll see how that turns out. It's supposed to be coming out in 2025, so hopefully that'll be sick.

[Ryan Alford]

Hey, I like it. I need applause, you know, for the F1 insights here. And I. I like that. That Maverick movie is good.

[Sawyer]

Yeah. So the trailer is out. You can look. It's got. It's. It's similar, you know, the way Maverick had those shots of the actors in the jets for, like, really flying the Jets. They've got similar type of F1 shots of Brad Pitt and everything. And they were really at the track, driving. Driving fast cars around the track. So I thought that was cool.

[Ryan Alford]

I mean, look, as a business and marketing show, no one respects the fact that there isn't much more, bigger, as far as sponsorship goes, than what this is. NASCAR was hot, like, 10 years ago. And before everybody rolls their eyes, they did have a moment, like, 10 or 15 years ago. That has definitely passed, by the way. You know, I don't. I don't know how they're going to get that thunder back. Pun intended. But F1, it definitely feels like the more sophisticated, you know, version. Yeah, yeah.

[Sawyer]

It's the most complex.

[Ryan Alford]

Right.

[Sawyer]

It's like a. Those cars are basically like airplanes. Upside down, they are so aerodynamic that, you know, airplane uses lift to go up. F1 cars use lift to push themselves in the track, giving them insane amounts of grip and being able to go around corners like no other car.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah. I mean, driving Chris's Ferrari, I could attest the same thing down the freeway in Miami. It's. The sound of those cars alone is kind of worth the price, you know, like the cars that drive, you know, especially in South Carolina, you know, you got these kids that drive around, like, with the Honda with the bad muffler or whatever, and you're just like, oh, my God. And versus hearing, like, a real rumble. And my. My Audi has a pretty ballsy little rumble itself. But I'm just saying, like, the difference when you hear those machines is there's a certain. I don't know. Yeah, I. I don't know. It's a guy thing. I don't know if it's. But it's. There's a sound that's like. Yeah, I don't know.

[Brianna Hall]

I'm surprised they have Brad Pitt playing in this. He seems a little old to be racing.

[Sawyer]

That's Part of the. That's part of it. He's an old. He's an old retired racing driver who's come back to a new team. They needed an experience. So he's. That's part of the. That's part of the story.

[Brianna Hall]

Tale as old as time, right?

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah. I. I will say this. I see the new Cadillacs do look definitely more. Yeah. Like, if you one goes by you. Even me, like, used to always know the difference. Okay. There's a. There's a Cadillac versus a Ferrari or whatever. Now one goes. They have that exotic look. And I give him credit for that because it's. They're pretty badass if, if you didn't. If you took all the emblems off of it, you wouldn't know. Yeah. Especially I mean, once you know the look, of course. But I'm just saying in general, like, if you line them up like three or four years ago, you would not go, oh, there's. That's the, you know, definitive gm.

[Brianna Hall]

Yeah.

[Ryan Alford]

Chevy.

[Brianna Hall]

So they all look the same to me.

[Ryan Alford]

You don't notice the nuance? Come on.

[Brianna Hall]

We, like in my house, we watch a lot of those, like, car flipping shows. So like borderland Customs, Rust Valley, like all of those types of shows I really enjoy.

[Ryan Alford]

At first I thought you meant like jumping, like flipping. I was like, wow, I've seen that yet. And then I'm like, oh, like flipping, like selling.

[Brianna Hall]

Okay. Yeah. So I was like, damn, I want.

[Ryan Alford]

To see some cars living.

[Brianna Hall]

No, they're all rusty. Then they fix them up and sell them. Yeah, I love 50, 60 grand.

[Ryan Alford]

My father in law fixes up car. He has like a 65 Mustang that's like immaculate. He has. You wouldn't believe what Broncos anybody you've ever priced an old Ford Bronco figures, easy. Oh, yeah, he. He's got one. He has the original Jeep. Stars. Like stars and stripes. Like the CJ5. That's like got the stars on it. There's a name, something. Yeah, but it's like stars. He had a guy and he's owned it. It's all original paint and it's not in perfect condition. I mean, it's in good condition, but it's not perfect. He was at a gas station and what looked to be a well to do guy that was in a really nice car came up and told them and offered him 50 grand on the spot for that Jeep. Like it. And he literally, he gave him a card, was like, I mean, yeah, until the money's in your hand, you don't know. But Pretty freaking legit. Often I'm like, for that Jeep. And like, if you looked at this Jeep, you'd be like, maybe 15 grand, you know? But I mean, it's crazy what some of these classic cars are worth and what people pay for them. But I couldn't believe the Broncos. Like 200 grand.

[Brianna Hall]

Like, they're so pretty, though. I love an old Bronco.

[Ryan Alford]

A Bronco, Mustang, Jeeps, all that stuff. So anyway, now F1 coming to America and 47 year olds like me, I gotta get in it. I could get into this. This is something I could. I've always felt like I should be into this, but I watch a race and I'd kind of fall asleep.

[Sawyer]

You need to go. They got the race in Miami. You need to go down, you and Chris do a little content shoot. Go to the F1 race, see all the fancy cars. I bet that. I bet that would get you into it.

[Chris Hanson]

I think that'll get you into it real quick.

[Ryan Alford]

Yeah, Yeah. I mean, this feels like me. It's bougie. It's just.

[Chris Hanson]

Wait till you get one. When you get one episode in the Netflix series, you're gonna be like, I.

[Ryan Alford]

Do have some Ferrari gear. You know, you're gonna be like, you know what?

[Chris Hanson]

I think I'm gonna trade an Audi and get something else now.

[Sawyer]

Yeah, Audi actually is joining the sport. They bought a team. They're enjoying the sport. So Ryan's gonna show up with a.

[Chris Hanson]

New exhaust system, pull it up to the office.

[Ryan Alford]

I think I'm. Maybe I've been protecting myself from myself, like not getting into this because my wallet gets protected, like for the gear and the going to it and then the cars and then the, you know, oh, we're gonna helicopter into our private island where F1's going on or whatever happens. When you get into this whole, I don't even know what I need to focus on business, get making some more money if we're gonna get into this. Yes, I love it. All right, F1 it is. Any final thoughts, final thank yous. I do want to spend a. Send a thank you out to all of our sponsors. Branded bills, the best custom merch in the business. Brandedbills.com Drink Exponent. Exponent. All the good stuff, none of the bad stuff. And ultimately the energy I need to keep things moving. And of course, Independent center, they are leading the charge for giving you the news and information you need without the bias. Independence Center. Final thoughts from the team here.

[Brianna Hall]

Happy Thanksgiving, Happy Holidays, and Merry Christmas.

[Ryan Alford]

There you go.

[Brianna Hall]

It's officially Christmas.

[Ryan Alford]

Now, after Thanksgiving. Yes.

[Chris Hanson]

Cheers.

[Ryan Alford]

It's been Christmas at the offers for a month now. We got six, seven trees up. Everything else. Hey, we're ready for the the holiday party. Christine, come up for the holiday party December 7th.

[Chris Hanson]

I would love to, but I cannot that weekend.

[Ryan Alford]

Oh, come on.

[Chris Hanson]

I got to go to Houston, remember?

[Ryan Alford]

Oh, yeah, that's right. Yeah. Well, we appreciate everyone out there for listening more than anything. We're thankful for you. So we have the show and you can find everything you want@riot is right.com highlight clips, full links to all the episodes and more info on our sponsors and all the all the social media channels we want to thank you. I thank the team. I'm thankful for everyone. Brianna, Chris Sawyer, thankful for you. We'll see you next time right about now.

This has been Right about now with Ryan Alford, a Radcast network production. Visit ryanisright.com for full audio and video versions of the show or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities. Thanks for listening.

[Stephanie Wong]

I'm Stephanie Wong. I'm the host of where the Internet Lives, a podcast from Google about the unseen world of data centers. In past seasons, we've taken you inside data centers, unveiling a world very few people get to see. And in our new season, we'll hear stories about the researchers, technologists, and activists who use those data centers to make the world a more resilient place. We'll explore wildfire prediction, fixing the aging electric grid, eliminating waste, fighting heat waves, and more. Listen to where the Internet lives wherever you get your shows.

[Chris Hanson]

If you could hear love, what would it sound like?

[Ryan Alford]

Son, can we talk about your drinking? Yeah, Dad, I think we should.

[Chris Hanson]

Helping those closest to you think about their excessive drinking. Maybe that's what love sounds like. [e-mail] An OHA initiative.

[Ryan Alford]

Gifting is hard, but here's a Give the gift of connection from US Cellular. Not sure what that means. Here's a slightly more specific hint. You can choose four free phones and get four lines for $90 a month from US Cellular. Your family wants new phones. How do we know? They told us. The good news is that compared to wrapping presents, you're great at getting hints. So take the hint and get them. Four free phones and four lines for $90 a month. US Cellular built for us.