🇮🇹 “Bezos Da Vinci” — Venice’s Amazonian history. Nike’s Snoafer bet. NYC’s Socialist (Maybe) Mayor.

Summary

Podcast Summary: "🇮🇹 “Bezos Da Vinci” — Venice’s Amazonian history. Nike’s Snowfur bet. NYC’s Socialist (Maybe) Mayor"

Release Date: June 27, 2025
Hosted by Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell
Podcast: The Best One Yet by Nick & Jack Studios

---

1. Jeff Bezos’ Venice Wedding and the Amazonian Legacy of Venice

Nick and Jack kick off the episode by discussing Jeff Bezos' upcoming wedding in Venice, drawing a fascinating parallel between Venice’s historical role as a trade powerhouse and Amazon’s modern-day dominance.

• Venice as the Renaissance Amazon:
  Nick (05:18): “Venice was the Amazon.com of the Renaissance.”
  The hosts highlight how Venice, with its intricate network of canals, functioned similarly to Amazon’s fulfillment centers, controlling the spice trade and luxury goods in Europe.

• Historical Trade Practices:
  Jack (07:00): “Venice was one of the oldest. It was a republic, actually, and it was built for shipping and trade.”
  They delve into Venice’s sophisticated banking systems, including early forms of credit cards and double-entry bookkeeping, which parallels Amazon’s financial innovations today.

• Bezos’ Extravagant Wedding:
  Jack (05:31): “I solemnly swear to love you in sickness and intelli health, in bull markets and in bear in prime do us part.”
  Nick (05:58): The guest list features high-profile names like Oprah, Bill Gates, Ivanka Trump, Tom Brady, and several Kardashians, underscoring the event’s exclusivity and high stakes.

• Public Reaction:
  Nick (06:13): “But there are protests across the canals because a billionaire basically rented the entire city for a day.”
  The hosts discuss the backlash and the symbolic significance of choosing Venice, a city synonymous with trade and luxury, as the wedding venue.

Takeaway: The Bezos wedding in Venice serves as a modern homage to the city’s rich trading history, positioning Bezos as a contemporary trade magnate akin to Venice’s historical leaders.

---

2. NYC Democrats Nominate Socialist Candidate for Mayor

The second story explores the surprising nomination of Zoran Mamdani, a self-proclaimed socialist, as the Democratic candidate for New York City Mayor, and its potential implications for the world’s most capitalist city.

• Background of Zoran Mamdani:
  Jack (10:35): “Zoran Mamdani is 33 years old, he's a Muslim, and he immigrated to the US at the age of seven and became a citizen after graduating from Bowdoin.”
  Nick (10:43): Endorsed by Bernie Sanders, Mamdani brings a progressive agenda focused on affordability.

• Campaign Focus on Affordability:
  Nick (11:31): “Mamdani's website leads with this simple sentence, New York is too expensive.”
  Key policies include freezing rents for 2 million rent-stabilized tenants, providing free childcare, and implementing free public transportation.

• Economic Implications:
  Nick (12:05): “But Jack, the status quo in New York isn't working either.”
  The discussion centers on how these policies might be funded, primarily through increased taxes on the wealthy and corporations, and the potential economic ripple effects.

• Potential Outcomes:
  Jack (14:10): “Or will the benefits of all those progressive policies be a net positive and counteract any wealth exodus.”
  They contemplate whether New York can sustain these progressive policies without driving away its affluent residents and businesses to lower-tax states like Florida and Texas.

Takeaway: Mamdani’s nomination signals a bold shift towards progressive policies in NYC, setting the stage for a significant economic experiment that could redefine the city’s financial landscape.

---

3. Nike Bets on 'Snowfur' to Revive Its Brand

The final major story delves into Nike’s strategic pivot to introduce the 'Snowfur,' a hybrid sneaker-loafer designed to rejuvenate its faltering brand amidst stiff competition and declining sales.

• Current Challenges for Nike:
  Nick (16:38): “Nike stock. It's still on the disabled list, down 65% from its all-time high.”
  The hosts discuss Nike’s lost market share to Adidas and New Balance, attributing it to strategic missteps and a lack of innovation.

• Introduction of Snowfur:
  Jack (17:38): “Because snowfur. Or at least our eyes were on the snow fur.”
  The 'Snowfur' combines the sleek appearance of loafers with the functionality of athletic sneakers, aiming to cater to both fashion-conscious and performance-driven consumers.

• Market Hype and Reception:
  Nick (19:03): “Now, technically the shoe drops today, but leaked photos already have people bidding up on the potential shoes to $500, three times the retail price.”
  Initial reactions show a mix of curiosity and high demand, with the potential for 'Snowfur' to become a coveted item despite its unconventional design.

• Competitive Landscape:
  Nick (18:11): “Nike calls their snowfur the Air Max phenomena, which is hilarious.”
  The discussion touches on how other brands like New Balance and Puma have already ventured into similar hybrid footwear, positioning Nike as a latecomer but with a strong brand presence.

Takeaway: Nike’s 'Snowfur' represents a daring attempt to innovate and capture a niche market segment, embodying the brand’s commitment to blending style with functionality in a bid to reclaim its market leadership.

---

Conclusion and Key Takeaways

• Historical Parallels Inform Modern Business:
  The comparison of Venice’s trade dominance to Amazon’s modern operations provides a rich context for understanding Bezos’ influence and the enduring legacy of strategic trade practices.

• Progressive Policies in Capitalist Hubs:
  Zoran Mamdani’s mayoral campaign highlights the tension between progressive economic policies and traditional capitalist structures, posing critical questions about fiscal sustainability and urban economic health.

• Innovation as a Lifeline for Legacy Brands:
  Nike’s introduction of the 'Snowfur' underscores the necessity of continuous innovation for established brands to stay relevant and competitive in evolving markets.

Notable Quotes:

• Nick (05:18): “Venice was the Amazon.com of the Renaissance.”
• Nick (11:31): “Mamdani's website leads with this simple sentence, New York is too expensive.”
• Nick (16:38): “Nike stock. It's still on the disabled list, down 65% from its all-time high.”
• Nick (19:50): “This isn't a throwback, it's a flow forward. And we're for it.”

---

This episode of The Best One Yet masterfully weaves together historical insights, political analysis, and business strategy, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of significant contemporary issues.

Transcript

[Nick]

This is Nick, this is Jack. It's Friday. The real Friday, June 27th. And today's pod is the best one yet. This is a T boy.

[Jack]

The top three pop business news stories you need to know today.

[Nick]

All right, let me get this straight, Jack. We're still in a trade war. We're kind of in a real world. Yeah. And yet stocks are near all time highs.

[Jack]

We'll make sense at the historic Wall street bull market on Monday's pod.

[Nick]

But in the meantime, we got three fantastic stories that'll make you the most interesting person in the room. Jack, what do we got on today's.

[Jack]

T boy for story? Jeff Bezos is getting married this weekend in Venice, Italy. And we've got an angle you won't hear anywhere else.

[Nick]

Because 500 years ago, Venice was the Amazon.com of the world.

[Jack]

For our second story, New York City Democrats just nominated a self proclaimed socialist for mayor.

[Nick]

The most capitalist place in the country could be led by a socialist. We had to jump in T boy style to this.

[Jack]

And our third and final story. Nike just reported earnings, but all eyes are on one thing. The snowfur.

[Nick]

Can you please repeat that word, Jack?

[Jack]

The snowfur.

[Nick]

Ah, snow fur. Can Nike's sneaker loafer save Nike but.

[Jack]

Yetis before we hit that wonderful mix of stories.

[Nick]

Oh, what a fantastic mix before the weekend, Jack. Love the mix.

[Jack]

The hottest new startup right now is a tech wearable for cows.

[Nick]

Excmuse me? What was that, Jack?

[Jack]

Literally, a wearable that cows wear.

[Nick]

Yeah, a whoop for your wagyu.

[Jack]

Yeah, get this. The company's called Halter, and it just hit a $1 billion valuation for a new thing that we're calling cow tech.

[Nick]

So ironically, this cow company is now a unicorn.

[Jack]

Can you toss on some chaps, Nick, and sprinkle on some context for us?

[Nick]

I already had them on, Jack. The one of the costliest parts of running a ranch is herding the cattle.

[Jack]

Yeah, Bessie's eating over there. Buttercup is grazing over here. Oh, hey, honey.

[Nick]

Angus the calf just escaped from the barn. One second.

[Jack]

So Halter created a smart collar that geo fences cows to where they're supposed to be with vibrations and noises.

[Nick]

Ipso facto, a rancher can move cows with an iPhone app. Swipe.

[Jack]

No need to jump on a horse and lasso those cattle like a cowboy.

[Nick]

Okay. Pretty cool. Kind of eliminates the need for fences too, right, man?

[Jack]

Yeah, that's a big deal. Ranchers have to rotate fields so that the grass doesn't all die.

[Nick]

But now they can rotate where the cattle Graze without building new fences just.

[Jack]

By opening an app and telling the caller where to tend the cattle.

[Nick]

Since America is the biggest producer and.

[Jack]

Consumer of beef, Silicon Valley thinks this cow startup is worth $1 billion.

[Nick]

But Jack, I got some sad news to sprinkle on here. Because this cow collar deal, it's gonna put some shepherds out of work.

[Jack]

Shepherd dogs, that is.

[Nick]

Yeah, because for herding cattle, farm dogs are the ones who help with that.

[Jack]

Sorry, Lassie, don't bark at us.

[Nick]

Uh huh.

[Jack]

Bark at vc.

[Nick]

Welcome besties, to the age of cow tech.

[Jack]

Now if only I could get one of these collars for my kids. Keep them in the playpen, keep them in the backyard, open up my iPhone, get them inside for dinner.

[Nick]

Sounds like the kind of product extension that gets a visit from social services. Jack, let's hit our 13 years before this song Two boys from the northeast met in the dorm they had an idea to cause a cultural storm. It's the best one yet but the best is a norm. Jack. Nick, that's it. I don't even think they need to practice. 50%. That's a fat tip. T boy city on your at Liz if you know, you know. Cause we read to go we can't wait no more so just start the show, start the show, start the first A quick word from our sponsor.

[Jack]

IBM yet.

[Nick]

He's bigger. Isn't always better, especially with AI. Super sized models can drain your budget fast.

[Jack]

Smaller ones are smart and can help cut AI costs by up to 90%. So right size your [e-mail] the AI built for business. IBM Airbnb now.

[Nick]

Yeah, it is. Jack mentioned his favorite skinny dipping spot. Where was that again?

[Jack]

I did a bunch of people ask me about that. But Nick, there's nothing better than swimming in mother Nature with the outfit mother gave you.

[Nick]

I mean, you know what they say. It's not the summer unless you're outside naked at some point and nobody knows it.

[Jack]

Now another way to do that is an outdoor shower. And I should mention, my place has one of those too.

[Nick]

And how is it possible you have an outdoor shower, Jack?

[Jack]

Because I'm an Airbnb host. True. Now, I usually spend my Airbnb hosting income on travel for the family, but this time we earmarked it for a home upgrade.

[Nick]

Now Jack, I should point out I'm no carpenter, but out there shower, it ain't cheap. You got the cedar wood install, you got the copper pipes, the French drains.

[Jack]

But with the money we're making on Airbnb, it was affordable. We Put it in last year.

[Nick]

Well played, Yetis.

[Jack]

I'm an Airbnb host. With my current chalet, and with two previous apartments, I can tell you it's.

[Nick]

Very easy to use besties. Millions don't realize their space could be an Airbnb. You already have an Airbnb. You could be yodeling naked outdoors with fresh shampoo in your hair in the.

[Jack]

Outdoor shower paid for by your guests.

[Nick]

Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how [e-mail] host for our first story this weekend, Jeff Bezos is getting married in Venice, Italy. And everyone is talking about the drama.

[Jack]

But we think Venice as the venue is perfectly poetic.

[Nick]

Yes, we do.

[Jack]

Because 500 years ago, Venice. Venice was the Amazon.com of the world.

[Nick]

Now, Yetis, remember when we told you we got that leaked copy of Jeff Bezos wedding vows? The only one of them.

[Jack]

We posted a video of those vows on our Instagram.

[Nick]

I solemnly swear to love you in sickness and intelli health, in bull markets and in bear in prime do us part.

[Jack]

I don't just love you. I subscribe to you.

[Nick]

The Bezos wedding. It's Davos for hot people.

[Jack]

Yeah, there's more security right now in Venice than the G7 summit.

[Nick]

Yeah, and the private jets, they're all landing today for the festivities.

[Jack]

Guess who's on the invite list?

[Nick]

Talk to me, Jack.

[Jack]

Oprah, Bill Gates, Ivanka, Tom Brady, and half a dozen Kardashians.

[Nick]

Okay, but, Jack, get this. They kicked off the wedding celebrations with a foam party on Jeff's $500 million yacht.

[Jack]

I think Jeff hired the paparazzi to take more pictures of his packs.

[Nick]

Apparently, the theme is spring break. And, yes, we are referring to him as first name Jeff.

[Jack]

Now, there are protests across the canals because a billionaire basically rented the entire city for a day.

[Nick]

But here's what Jack and I found fascinating. While Venice is the controversial choice, we actually think it's the perfect choice because.

[Jack]

Venice is the OG Amazon.

[Nick]

Follow us on this one, besties. Because 500 years ago, Venice was the trade capital of the world.

[Jack]

Venice was the Amazon.com of the Renaissance.

[Nick]

Exactly. In the old world, Venice represented the same values and structure that we see today in the e commerce giant Amazon.

[Jack]

To sprinkle on some context, please, Jack. Italy only became a country in the 1870s. Before that, it was a collection of separate kingdoms.

[Nick]

Good point. Venice was one of the oldest. It was a republic, actually, and it was built for shipping and trade.

[Jack]

And think about it. What are Venice's 150 canals well, Jack.

[Nick]

I'm thinking about it and they're basically a fulfillment network for the distribution of goods.

[Jack]

Not basically. That's what they are.

[Nick]

In fact, get this. 500 years before Henry Ford, Venice pioneered an assembly line for manufacturing.

[Jack]

At its peak, the Venice Arsenal built one ship per day with 16,000 workers.

[Nick]

Eat your heart out, Andy Jassy.

[Jack]

Oh, how about next day delivery? Venice didn't do next day delivery, but kind of.

[Nick]

But they kind of got close because Venice operated a shipping system that they called the mud.

[Jack]

It was a merchant fleet on a fixed schedule. Four times per year it would travel from Venice to Constantinople and to London.

[Nick]

But Jack, what about credit cards? No way. Venice was doing credit cards back in the Renaissance, right?

[Jack]

Venice established one of the world's first banks with lending accounts.

[Nick]

That's right. When you were in Venice hanging out with Marco Polo, you could be buying Venetian glass on credit.

[Jack]

And if you're an accountant, thank Venice for inventing double entry bookkeeping too.

[Nick]

The result, Besties. Just like Amazon, Venice got a monopoly.

[Jack]

The state of Venice controlled 80% of European spice trade.

[Nick]

Okay, but it wasn't just coconut and nutmeg commodities. Venice also controlled luxury goods too.

[Jack]

Half of the silk and carpets coming from Asia entered Europe through Amazon.

[Nick]

I mean, Venice. So yet he's added all up. And just like Amazon shareholders today, Venice got rich.

[Jack]

By 1500, Venice was the wealthiest city in Europe.

[Nick]

Holy gondola. So Jack, can you tell us please, what's the takeaway for our buddies partying for the Bezos wedding Over in Venice?

[Jack]

The most important product traded and controlled by old Venice was salt.

[Nick]

Salt. Amazon, pay attention to this one. Salt had universal value. In the pre refrigeration days, salt was the key to preserving food.

[Jack]

So a block of salt 500 years ago was like a block of gold today.

[Nick]

Yeah, Jack, having a salt shaker was like an OG status symbol in the Renaissance days. In fact, Jack, do you know where the word salary comes from?

[Jack]

From the word salt.

[Nick]

Celery comes from salt. You are worth your weight in salt, by the way.

[Jack]

Yeah. Does Nick read a book called Salt? Yeah, that's why he knows all of this.

[Nick]

That's why I was de. So to bring it back to our Amazon story, the state of Venice created a salt office to control the salt supply.

[Jack]

And at one point, 15% of all of Venice's revenue came from this salt trade and the associated salt tax.

[Nick]

Yeah, Jack and I were thinking about it. Salt was basically Venice's Amazon web services.

[Jack]

Yeah, not flashy, but essential and highly profitable.

[Nick]

So Besties, this weekend you're gonna see Jeff partying in a gilded marble palace over in Venice.

[Jack]

And from our perspective, it actually makes.

[Nick]

A lot of sense because 500 years ago, the city of Venice was the Amazon.com of the world. For our second story, Zoran Mamdani's victory in New York City is the biggest win ever by a self proclaimed socialist in America.

[Jack]

So what would happen if a socialist runs America's capital of capitalism?

[Nick]

Well, yetis, every headline on Wednesday morning was Mamdani stuns New York with a primary win.

[Jack]

But we weren't stunned at all.

[Nick]

No, we weren't. And why is that, Jack?

[Jack]

Because the number one thing Mamdani talked about on the campaign was the a word.

[Nick]

Affordability. More on that in a minute.

[Jack]

Zoran Mamdani is 33 years old, he's a Muslim, and he immigrated to the US at the age of seven and became a citizen after graduating from Bowdoin.

[Nick]

And he's been endorsed by Bernie Sanders and like Bernie, is a self proclaimed democratic socialist.

[Jack]

And on Tuesday he defeated Andrew Cuomo, the former New York governor who resigned a few years ago after sexual harassment allegations.

[Nick]

Now, yetis, keep this in mind. Mamdani won the primary to be the Democrat nominee, but that doesn't mean he's going to win the November general election.

[Jack]

No, in November he'll have to face a Republican nominee, of course, and he's.

[Nick]

Gonna face the current mayor, Eric Adams, who's running as an independent.

[Jack]

Plus he might have to face Andrew Cuomo again, who could run as another independent.

[Nick]

But in the meantime, Yetis, this primary win is shaking the most capitalist city in the world to its core.

[Jack]

But first, here's the theme of politics right now. In the presidential election, Trump focused on inflation. Mamdani similarly focused on affordability.

[Nick]

Mamdani's website leads with this simple sentence, New York is too expensive.

[Jack]

It's hard to argue with that.

[Nick]

He's talking about the rent, by the way. He's not talking about your sweetgreen salad. No.

[Jack]

Although I bet you he doesn't go to sweet green.

[Nick]

But there were three policy proposals to lower costs for New Yorkers that he focused on.

[Jack]

Zoran's number one policy was to freeze rents for all New York City's rent stabilized tenants, which is 2 million New Yorkers now besties.

[Nick]

The economic textbooks we've read say this kind of thing doesn't work. You need to incentivize construction of new apartments instead of capping how much you can make as a landlord.

[Jack]

But Nick, the status quo In New York isn't working either.

[Nick]

That's true.

[Jack]

After all, the average Manhattan rent is $5,000 a month for a one bedroom apartment.

[Nick]

Honestly, we wish we could just build, baby, build more. Because there's also just worldwide demand to own a pied a terre in the west village of Manhattan.

[Jack]

New York is truly a one of a kind city.

[Nick]

There's a lot of demand.

[Jack]

Now, policies number two and number three for Zoron are free childcare and free buses for all New Yorkers.

[Nick]

Because like most of the country, most New Yorkers actually live paycheck to paycheck.

[Jack]

It was these policies to lower the cost of living that resonated on Tuesday. That's the winning political formula for both parties right now.

[Nick]

But we know what you're thinking. Yetis, who's gonna pay for all this? Well, it would be paid for by the wealthy and corporations. And this is what leads to our takeaway.

[Jack]

For the wealthy and corporations, these policies won't lower costs, they'll raise costs.

[Nick]

So, Jack, what's the takeaway for all our buddies who are looking at the New York mayoral primary with a socialist?

[Jack]

What happens when you make the rich in corporations who already pay the most pay even more?

[Nick]

Yetis, some critical context to sprinkle onto this story. Florida and Texas are booming right now because of low taxes.

[Jack]

It's politically popular to cut taxes, but Zoron wants to raise taxes on the rich and on corporations.

[Nick]

Now, remember, New York already has the highest taxes in the country. We got a state and a city income tax in New York City.

[Jack]

Dallas and Miami have neither a state nor a city income tax.

[Nick]

We just did a whole story on how Florida is winning Stanley Cups in hockey because they don't have a state income tax. They're getting free agents.

[Jack]

And sorry, Nick, but the Rangers haven't won since 94.

[Nick]

Well, hedge funder Bill Hackman tweeted, good luck, New York City. Florida is about to experience a population boom.

[Jack]

And he's got a point. During the pandemic, New York already experienced an exodus of wealthy and conservative New Yorkers who moved to Florida and to Texas.

[Nick]

Now, since the pandemic, New York City has bounced back more than any other city. And the proof is right there in the record high rents and the real estate prices.

[Jack]

But another tax hike. That's a test of New York's resilience even further.

[Nick]

Will more people leave, resulting in a net negative for the city with a smaller tax base?

[Jack]

Or will the benefits of all those progressive policies be a net positive and counteract any wealth exodus.

[Nick]

So Basties, when you add it all up, here's what we're what this election really sets up is an economic experiment we rarely see in modern times.

[Jack]

What happens when you make the rich in corporations who already pay the most pay even more.

[Nick]

Now a quick word from our sponsor. We are supported by Vital Proteins.

[Jack]

Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides is a supplement that has four benefits all in one helping support healthy hair, skin, nails, bones and joints.

[Nick]

Now, Yetis, you may be wondering why Jack's face is dewy like an Amazonian melon.

[Jack]

Or how Nick is strong enough to hold like 73 podcast mics.

[Nick]

Well, it's actually thanks to the most delicious part of our day.

[Jack]

My morning coffee. I mix in a Vital Proteins Collagen chocolate powder. It is delicious.

[Nick]

Jack actually just used our promo code again for himself to buy another tub. He's got a problem with this stuff.

[Jack]

By taking Collagen Peptides daily, you can support your hair, skin, nail, bone and joint health.

[Nick]

Get 20% off by going to vitalproteins.com and entering promo code T Boy at checkout.

[Jack]

That's vitalproteins.com promo code T Boy for 20% off.

[Nick]

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or Prevent any disease. ZipRecruiter yeah, it is the hardest role to hire for this summer.

[Jack]

Restaurant workers Every one of my favorite restaurants is short on staff. Yeah, the burrito rolling role. It's the hardest role to fill.

[Nick]

Yes it is. So this summer, whether you're hiring for a burrito roller role or an Investment Banker, use ZipRecruiter.

[Jack]

Because how do you find top talent before the competition gets to them? With ZipRecruiter.

[Nick]

That's right. And you can try ZipRecruiter for free at ZipRecruiter.com tboy ZipRecruiter has powerful matching.

[Jack]

Technology that does a deep dive to identify top talent for your roles.

[Nick]

Immediately after you post the role. Boom. ZipRecruiter finds qualified candidates and puts you a role at the top of their feed.

[Jack]

If you see a candidate who shines, ZipRecruiter lets you connect with the MESA app with an Invite to apply feature.

[Nick]

So gear up for the summer with ZipRecruiter's high speed hiring tools and see.

[Jack]

Why 4 out of 5 employers who post on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day.

[Nick]

Just go to this exclusive web address right now to try ZipRecruiter for free.

[Jack]

@Ziprecruiter.Com tboy Again, that's ZipRecruiter.com tboy ZipRecruiter.

[Nick]

The smartest way to hire. For our third and final story before the weekend, Nike is hoping for a turnaround. And it's betting it all on one concept. The Snofer.

[Jack]

Can a hybrid sneaker loafer save the biggest shoe brand on earth?

[Nick]

It's come down to this. Call the trainer Jack. Nike stock. It's still on the disabled list, down 65% from its all time high.

[Jack]

The Swoosh is slipping because Nike is facing competition from above. Adidas and from below.

[Nick]

On and from your dad. New Balance.

[Jack]

First, Nike made the strategic mistakes.

[Nick]

Nike pulled out a footlocker, so Hoka swooped on in.

[Jack]

Then they made design mistakes.

[Nick]

Nike stopped innovating, so run clubs switched over to Brooks.

[Jack]

Just look at the NBA right now. Yeah, Dick the MVP is wearing Converse. And the number one draft pick, Cooper Flagg is wearing New Balance.

[Nick]

Trigger warning, Michael Jordan.

[Jack]

Sorry, Nike does own Converse. But still the swoosh just isn't doing it.

[Nick]

And here's the latest. Nike just announced earnings, but all eyes were not on their sales, which fell.

[Jack]

12% by the way.

[Nick]

The eyes were on the snowfur.

[Jack]

Or at least our eyes were on the snow.

[Nick]

We may have been the only ones, but our eyes were on the snow fur.

[Jack]

Because snowfur. At first I thought this was a snow loafer and I was really excited. Loafers for the snow. But then we realized it's a real thing.

[Nick]

It is.

[Jack]

Half sneaker, half loafer.

[Nick]

Man, bear, pig.

[Jack]

Exactly.

[Nick]

Check. Now, earlier this week. Perfect. Tim, we told you yetis about the turducken fashion styles out there.

[Jack]

It's when two clothings get combined into one.

[Nick]

You got jorts, you got jeggings, you got skorts, you got cardigans.

[Jack]

The snowfur is the same kind of idea, but for footwear. And guess what? It could actually save Nike.

[Nick]

You know what, Jack? For something as ridiculous as a snowfur, can you please sprinkle on some visual context for us over there?

[Jack]

All right, it looks like a loafer on top, but it's got a swoosh logo instead of the little spot. You put a penny in the penny loafers, but then on the bottom, it's not a loafer. It's like a full athletic tread with visible air bubbles.

[Nick]

Okay, Jack, let me sum this up. It's Brooks Brothers on the top and then LeBron on the bottom.

[Jack]

Exactly. It's Frankenstein on your feet. From the bottom. It Looks like a basketball court. From the top, it looks like a boardroom.

[Nick]

Interestingly, Yeti Snowfurs were invented a year ago by New Balance and Puma. And now about every single brand out there has one.

[Jack]

So Nike is actually late to the Snowfur game, but they've got a big flashy name to compensate for their tardiness.

[Nick]

Nike calls their snowfur the Air Max phenomena, which is hilarious.

[Jack]

I think that's a ridiculous name for a ridiculous shoe.

[Nick]

Now, technically the shoe drops today, but leaked photos already have people bidding up on the potential shoes to $500, three times the retail price.

[Jack]

Now, who is this snow for? Targeting Nick?

[Nick]

It's for the pro bros, Jack.

[Jack]

Right, the guys that have already been wearing Lululemon casual khakis to the office for years but have had nothing to pair them with.

[Nick]

But Jack, I guess Snovers could also be targeting women too, right?

[Jack]

Yeah. When I was working at a bank, women kept sneakers under their desk.

[Nick]

Yeah, for their commute home in a ludicrously capacious handbag. So, besties, Nike is now betting its entire turnaround on a sneaker style that did not even exist a year ago.

[Jack]

Yeah, Michael Jordan's rolling over on his.

[Nick]

Basketball court, said Jack. What's the takeaway for our buddies with Nike's Snowfur?

[Jack]

This isn't a throwback, it's a flow.

[Nick]

Forward and we're for it. Yeti's nostalgia dominates right now. McDonald's brought Grimace back from the 1980s and Y2K, it is trending these days.

[Jack]

Look at the movie theater. Every blockbuster this Summer is a 20 year old sequel.

[Nick]

Nostalgia is so reliable that every company did it to avoid risk. But for Nike, recycling old styles just became a crutch.

[Jack]

Yeah, it's like I'm not impressed by your Nike Air Max dunk. 17.

[Nick]

So, Jack, this enthusiasm for a silly sounding unprecedented style of shoe, a concept.

[Jack]

Of footwear that's only a year old.

[Nick]

It is a refreshing pivot to see from Nike.

[Jack]

It's nice to see Nike try something new.

[Nick]

A heads up that you know to remix Glennon Doyle. We can do new things.

[Jack]

You can't just rely on throwbacks. Take a risk on a flow forward.

[Nick]

Jack, could you whip up the takeaways for us for the real Friday, the.

[Jack]

Bezos wedding is happening this weekend in Venice, which is the Amazon of the old world.

[Nick]

And the most important product traded and controlled by old Venice was salt.

[Jack]

For our second story, Zoran Madani's victory in New York has progressives excited Wall street concerned.

[Nick]

What happens when you make the rich in corporations who already pay the most pay more.

[Jack]

And our third and final story is Nike's earnings highlight. It was their new Snowfur. Funny looking even funnier to say the.

[Nick]

Snowfur, it ain't a throwback. It's a flow for. And we're for the flow forward.

[Jack]

But yetis, this pod's not over yet. Here's what else you need to know today.

[Nick]

First, Jack, can we call up Zuck because the Social Network, the movie, is getting a sequel.

[Jack]

Yeah, we're gonna poke Zuck because it's been 15 years since Jesse Eisenberg portrayed Zuckerberg's dark origin story.

[Nick]

I think he's gonna poke us, actually.

[Jack]

But now director Aaron Sorkin is working on another the Social Network Part two.

[Nick]

Actually, his lawyers are probably gonna poke us.

[Jack]

The sequel is based on the Facebook files when the Wall Street Journal uncovered a bunch of. Yeah, it's gonna be a dark one.

[Nick]

Unless we poke their lawyers first. And second, here's the headline we couldn't have predicted. Two prediction companies just raised money at the same time.

[Jack]

Kalshi and Polymarket both let you bet on pretty much anything in the world from elections to stocks to sports.

[Nick]

Well, Kalshi and Polymarket both just raised venture capital money at a $2 billion valuation and $1 billion valuation respectively.

[Jack]

Both announced the news one day after another. What are the odds of that, Nick?

[Nick]

What are the odds, Jack? And finally, we might as well call up Mugatu as well because Anna Wintour is stepping down from her role at Vogue.

[Jack]

For 37 years, Anna Wintour has determined fashion as the editor in chief of Vogue magazine.

[Nick]

Now, Anna will stay on at the magazine owned by Conde Nast, but she will no longer be the editor in chief.

[Jack]

What do you call her haircut?

[Nick]

You call it fantastic, Jack? Oh, yeah, Just call it fantastic and you walk away. It's fantastic. Now, time for the best fact yet. This one sent in by Stephen Bessett from the great state of Connecticut.

[Jack]

Last week we did a story on how income tax free states attract top pro athletes.

[Nick]

Well, the jock tax is a little nuance here. Pro athletes don't just pay taxes where they live, they pay taxes wherever they play based on the number of days they played in those states.

[Jack]

So even if an NBA player lives in a no tax state like Florida, they probably play like 30 games in states that do have an income tax.

[Nick]

But again, it's only for the days they're playing away games in those states.

[Jack]

The big winner here is H and R Block. Cause they have to file like 30 tax returns.

[Nick]

Yetis, you look fantastic today. And if you haven't yet, check out our episode this weekend on the best idea yet about the origin story of Dr. Pepper.

[Jack]

Pepper's not one of the 23 ingredients, is it? I don't think pepper dissolves in liquid.

[Nick]

So I'm gonna say, no, not yet, Jack. Not yet. But, Jack, before we go, by the way, let's celebrate the wins over here. We interviewed the co founder of Poppy this week. We gotta drop the episode pretty soon.

[Jack]

Yeah, when are we gonna drop that?

[Nick]

Okay, we haven't decided yet. But yetis, thanks for sending us your questions. It's an amazing interview. Alison was fantastic. Oh, it was so. It was the best one yet. So celebrate the wins this weekend. Tell a buddy Hyh. TBY drop and give us five stars. And Jack and I will see you Monday. And before we go, a happy birthday to my fantastic dad, Michael Martell from SC Schenectady, NY. Legendary city and living in the great New York City.

[Jack]

And a big happy birthday to Meg Dwyer, who just finished a knee surgery. Nick. I hear she's trotting already, Jack.

[Nick]

Half marathon. I think she just did a half marathon. And our buddy, Nick Marino. Happy birthday. The jouster of Jeopardy. Nick, you got this, buddy.

[Jack]

Don't tell the irs, but Nick Marino got a meal paid for with the T boy company card. I don't know how that worked out.

[Nick]

It worked out well. And Paula Howard grabbed Captain Wisconsin. Happy birthday up in the Midwest.

[Jack]

Happy 36th birthday to Andrew Zamski in Waltham, Mass.

[Nick]

And Hugo Van Der Waals from Columbus, Ohio. Happy birthday, Hugo.

[Jack]

Happy 18th birthday to Lola Ray Ben Shahar pike in New York City.

[Nick]

And Tegan Knudsen is turning 32 years old in Townsend, Montana. Happy birthday, Teagan.

[Jack]

And happy birthday to Jennifer Wang in New Jersey, who we hear is simply the cutest girlfriend ever.

[Nick]

And a happy 23rd anniversary to Ken and lan. Wow, more than two decades. Congratulations, guys.

[Jack]

Congratulations to Cedric Fenn, Abby Johnson in Louisville, Kentucky, who are getting married.

[Nick]

Let's see some pics. And Paul Raymond Dubois is graduating with a PhD in math in Toulouse, France.

[Jack]

Possible happy anniversary to Matt and Aaron, AKA Marin in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

[Nick]

And Shannon Cushing's got a promotion from partial to full product manager over in Chicago.

[Jack]

By the way, Matt, Aaron and Shannon, you gotta come to our Chicago show on July 23rd.

[Nick]

Oh, we better see you guys there. Oh, and the offbeat collaboration team is relaunching the business in Dallas, Texas. Congratulations, guys.

[Jack]

And a happy birthday to Jim Smart in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

[Nick]

His bestie Brittany has a special request. So Jack, here's her request. Would you sprinkle on some Happy birthday sprinkles?

[Jack]

This is the best birthday yet.

[Nick]

If you know, you know.

[Jack]

This is Jack, I own stock of Amazon and Nick owns stock of Nike. If you like the best one yet, you can listen ad free right now by joining Wondery and the Wondery app or on Apple Podcasts.

[Nick]

Prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music.

[Jack]

And before you go, tell us a little bit about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey we want to.

[Nick]

Get to know you. It's time to turn your daydream into your dream job. Wix gives you the power to turn your passion into a money maker with a website that fits your unique vision and drives you towards your goals. Let your ideas flow with AI tools that guide you but give you full control and flexibility. Manage your business from one dashboard and keep it growing with built in marketing features. Get everything you need to turn your part time passion into a full time business. Go to wix. Com.