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Jack
This is Nick, this is Jack.
Nick
Welcome back. It is Monday, July 14, and today's pod is the best one yet. This is a T boy, the top.
Jack
Three pop business news stories you need to know today.
Nick
All right, Yetis, I gotta give Jack some credit here. He just got off a six hour electric car drive.
Jack
We drove with the family down to the south coast of Massachusetts just outside Boston. It's actually South Dartmouth, but yeah, dude, six hour drive from Burlington, Vermont.
Nick
And Jack, I just got off a plane that was six hours long. The longest continuous flight within the United States.
Jack
Oh, yeah. Boston to San Francisco.
Nick
Yeah, Boston, San Francisco. It is 6 hours 11 minutes without a kid. It's 9 hours 11 minutes if you do have a kid.
Jack
Well, dude, I prepped this pod in that car with three boys in the backseat. It was not easy. Let's say I'm glad I had my noise canceling headphones.
Nick
Gotta love self driving mode. Yeah, these stocks fell last week. They're probably going to fall today too.
Jack
Oh yeah. Trump announced big tariffs on our biggest trading partners, all starting Aug. 1.
Nick
More on that in a minute. But in the meant. Jack, we got three fantastic stories for today's pod. What do we got on the T.
Jack
Boy for our first story? Love island season 7 finale was last night. It's been so popular, people watch at bars like it's the super bowl.
Nick
Because like the Super Bowl, Love island is a live sport and that is the greatest asset in media.
Jack
For our second story, get this. On every seat they sell. Airlines only make $4 of profit. So Delta has a new plan.
Nick
Delta is launching super business class plus a first class section within the first class section.
Jack
And our third and final story, Bitcoin hit a record high price of $118,000.
Nick
On Friday, which makes the tiny Himalayan kingdom of Bhutan the happiest place on earth.
Jack
But yetis, before we hit that wonderful.
Nick
Mix of stories, no one else is doing that mix. Love the mix of stories today, Jack.
Jack
Chicago. Yes, the capital of the Midwest. It's the venue of our T boy live show next week.
Nick
Now Basties, we've told you the date, the venue and the run of the show.
Jack
Reminder, it's July 23rd at the Vic in Chicag. And it's basically this show times like 5.
Nick
Plus. Our guest is the CEO of the Coolest new electric car company, Slate Auto.
Jack
The Jeff Bezos backed EV company that's taking on Elon Musk.
Nick
And she will be our guest live on stage.
Jack
But in addition to us doing a live performance, three stories, an interview And a T boy earnings report.
Nick
Jack, we should tell the Yetis our favorite part about the live show.
Jack
We meet each and every one who comes to the show.
Nick
We meet everybody.
Jack
We literally stay on stage after the show until we meet everyone who wants to meet us.
Nick
I mean, Jack, last time we were in New York, we got to meet hundreds of Yetis. We stayed for, like, two hours. I think it was like 10:30pm we left the venue. The staff gets a little annoyed with us. Yeah, we did.
Jack
We got to. We think it's worth it because you are our favorite people.
Nick
Honestly, besties, we will be there as long as we have to to get to hear from you, what you do, what you love doing, where you're from. We want to get to know it.
Jack
Because we spend so much time with you through this podcast. We finally want to meet you in real life.
Nick
And here's the funny thing about Jack and I being podcasters. As a host, it's just us talking into two mics with each other.
Jack
We feel like we're friends with you, but we never get to hear from you.
Nick
So come to our show, our live show in Chicago. Come hang out. It is a wonderfully rewarding experience for everyone.
Jack
Nick and I are going to be on stage in front of you all, pouring our hearts and souls out in our most entertaining possible show.
Nick
And we promise to stay until we met each and every one of you.
Jack
We still got tickets for the last second Sandys out there, so check out the link in the episode description.
Nick
Check out that link. Grab your tickets. And, Jack, what do you say we hit our three stories?
Jack
Our three stories.
Nick
Let's hit them, baby.
Unknown
Fifteen 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 the 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 list. If you know, you know. Cause we read to go. We can't wait no more.
Nick
So just start the show.
Unknown
Start the show.
Nick
Start the show. First, a quick word from our sponsor.
Jack
Airbnb Yetis.
Nick
There is nothing more powerful in life or in business than the double dip.
Jack
Dip that chip twice and don't end.
Nick
It with the ultimate money. Double dip. Hosting on Airbnb, Jack's talked so much about being a host, his friends are asking him about it. I'm getting asked about it all the time.
Jack
One buddy is about to get married. He has no kids. Yet he wants to travel the country dink style with his new wife. How is he gonna pay for it? He's gonna list his house on Airbnb.
Nick
So, Basties, if you're going on vacation this summer, join the millions who host on Airbnb.
Jack
Host your whole space. Host your extra space. Host any space.
Nick
The income from putting your home on Airbnb could pay for your whole vacay.
Jack
I've been doing it for three different properties now.
Nick
Yeah, and it's easy to set booking availability and then when the booking comes in, Jack, you always say it just shows up in your Google calendar.
Jack
And if you're not sure what to price your place at, check Airbnb and look at similar listings. It's very easy.
Nick
You can double dip that chip.
Jack
Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much@airbnb.com host and now.
Nick
A word from our sponsor, Netsuite.
Jack
Tariff and trade policies are dynamic, supply chain squeezed and cash flow tighter than ever.
Nick
You need total visibility from global shipments to tariff impacts to real time cash flow. And that's NetSuite by Oracle, your AI powered business management suite. Trusted by over 42,000 businesses, NetSuite brings.
Jack
Accounting, financial management, inventory, HR into one suite to help you know what's stuck, what it's costing you, and how to.
Nick
Pivot fast if your revenues are at least in the seven figures. Download the free ebook Navigating Global Trade. Three insights for leaders@netuite.com tboy for our first story, Love Island Season 7 ended last night and it was so popular. Bars were hosting watch parties, the economy got a boost and it's got the number one app in entertainment.
Jack
Love island proves once again the financial power of live sports.
Nick
That's right, we called Love Island a sport. But Jack, let's talk numbers here. 24, seven filming, 70 cameras, 20 something singles with 12 pack abs and about 4,000 raging hormones.
Jack
And they're stuck on an island in Fiji.
Nick
There's nothing to do but hook up for six more weeks. Everything's on camera. Everyone's on camera. Except for the bathroom.
Jack
Love Island. It's Lord of the Flies meets the the Bachelor with more memes than a Bravo show.
Nick
You get paired up on day one, you recouple throughout the show, and then the singles get booted off.
Jack
You have to couple up or else you're out of the show.
Nick
If you survive though, you could win $100,000.
Jack
Now, this show started in the UK in 2015 and it literally boosted the United Kingdom's economy One plastic surgeon told the sun that the number of tweakments they perform is up 31% because of love Island.
Nick
Yeah, you want Botox like Kyra, it's understandable.
Jack
Now, there's three keys to Love Island's fomo. First, it's baby. They produce episodes every day, and they publish the day after.
Nick
Second, unlike most reality shows, the new episodes drop daily on weekdays.
Jack
And finally, fans get to vote on who wins.
Nick
More on that in a bit because that's a key growth hack.
Jack
And the finale was last night. Did Sierra get snubbed?
Nick
Was Hannah deserving?
Jack
Pepe And Will we all miss Miguel's pancakes?
Nick
Trick question. Of course, the answer is yes. But besties. Seven years ago, Love island came to the United States. And season seven is causing a surprise boom across our economy, too.
Jack
First of all, for Peacock, which owns this show, this was a breakout season. Yeah.
Nick
Searches for Love island on Roku tripled this season, and 39% of the viewers are new. That's key.
Jack
But bigger than that corporate boost for Peacock is the cultural boost for our.
Nick
Economy because Love island watch parties have been taking over neighborhoods. One sec, Jack. Can you guys keep it down over there?
Jack
400 Love island faithful are squeezing into a local bar to watch it live together. CNBC spoke with half a dozen bar owners whose patrons treat Love island like the Super Bowl.
Nick
Because the numbers are as big as the super bowl, we're talking a 5x jump in business on weekdays for these bars.
Jack
Bars across the country that host Love island viewing shows are breaking records for the month of June. Like, best month of June ever for these bars.
Nick
And here's what Jack and I find fascinating. There's also an interesting gender twist here, too.
Jack
Traditionally, it's guys who pack bars on Sunday to watch football together.
Nick
But with last night's season finale of Love island, women were filling those same bars.
Jack
Sports bars became Vibe bars, and Vibe.
Nick
Bars became profit puppies. So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies who are everyone curious about Love Island?
Jack
Love island proves that live sports are the most valuable media.
Nick
Now, yetis, Jack and I have told you that live sports are the holy grail of streaming. They're the only thing that our entire nation watches together.
Jack
That's why Amazon and Netflix have splurged billions to acquire the rights to NFL games.
Nick
So we don't see Love island as just a reality show. We see it as a competition that is basically taped live. It is a live sports show.
Jack
And like the latest NFL game, you watch it live on television, then you Chat about it the next morning in the office, and then you share clips on social media with your buddies about it all week.
Nick
Because I'm a mommy. Jack's a mommy. Sita. Maybe we're both mommies.
Jack
But unlike sports, the viewers get to select the winners. And Nick, the Love island app is number one in the entertainment category in the app Store right now, ahead of TikTok.
Nick
That's their growth hack, their cross platform top app and entertainment. They're beating Netflix and Peacock's apps.
Jack
And it's all created a FOMO effect as strong as the super bowl because.
Nick
Besties add it all up and Love island is a sport. And it proves that live competition is truly media's holy grail. For our second story, bitcoin just hit a record high price of $118,000. And the big winner is the tiny kingdom of Bhutan.
Jack
One reason why more investors, companies and even countries are going all in like Bhutan, the surprise capital of crypto yetis.
Nick
Deep in the Himalayan mountains between China and India lies a mountainous kingdom nestled in the countryside. Bhutan.
Jack
It's a Buddhist nation of monks, villagers and climbers. There are no traffic lights, there's not a single McDonald's. And climbing is the number one recreation.
Nick
Doordash isn't going to work there. To sprinkle on some more context, you've got 800,000 people in Bhutan, which is.
Jack
A tad larger than Vermont.
Nick
And it's only 14,000 square miles, which.
Jack
Is a tad larger than Switzerland.
Nick
However, poor, tiny Bhutan actually owns more bitcoin than any European nation.
Jack
It's the third largest government holder of bitcoin besties.
Nick
Bhutan hasn't confirmed this, but is believed to own $1.5 billion of Bitcoin.
Jack
That's according to the Wall Street Journal. And that would be half of the country's gdp.
Nick
So Jack and I had to jump in t boy style here. How did Bhutan, little Bhutan, get so bitcoin rich?
Jack
It's natural geography, that's how.
Nick
Get this yetis Bhutan. It is the first country to mine all of its bitcoin. It's using mother earth. It is homemade bitcoin, Jack.
Jack
Now we should sprinkle on some cont. A few years ago, El Salvador famously adopted bitcoin as their legal currency. They had big plans to become the bitcoin capital of the world. They were going to use their volcanoes.
Nick
Oh, yeah, the volcano was excited about that, man. The lava.
Jack
But they haven't followed through.
Nick
And the US government has a big bitcoin holding. But that's mostly from Buying it in the market or seizing it from criminal activity.
Jack
Bhutan has mined all of its bitcoin.
Nick
That's the key.
Jack
And it sells its holdings to pay its civil servants.
Nick
Now, quickly, quick reminder, Yetis. But bitcoin is a scarce digital currency that lives on the blockchain. And it must be mined in order for new ones to exist.
Jack
The number of bitcoin is capped at 21 million. And a million are still left to be mined. But mining requires supercomputers to solve complex problems, which requires giant amounts of electricity.
Nick
Well, funny thing you should say giant amounts of electricity, Jack, because Bhutan's nickname, I believe, is the Thunder Dragon because thunderstorms flood their valleys and that flooding becomes hydropower. So Bhutan uses that excess electricity to mine bitcoin.
Jack
And it's so cold in Bhutan, it naturally cools the supercomputers from overheating.
Nick
The results? Bhutan has transformed its excess electricity into $1.5 billion a homegrown Bitcoin. We're talking 100,000 coins.
Jack
And they periodically sell their bitcoin to fund their government. Government, basically, instead of taxes, they just use their bitcoin that they mined themselves with their hydroelectricity from their Thunder Dragon.
Nick
They're harvesting it like a natural resource. It's like if Idaho use their potatoes as a currency. Bhutan has its bitcoin.
Jack
Yeah. Iowa uses its wind to create revenue through electricity.
Nick
Yes.
Jack
Bhutan uses its rain to generate electricity. And bitcoin, by the way, do you know what the head of state in Bhutan is known as?
Nick
What's their name? What's the name, Jack?
Jack
Official title, Dragon King. I'm not kidding. The Dragon King. I mean, at that point, George R.R. martin owes them a lot of royalties.
Nick
So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our bitcoin loving buddies over in Bhutan? And anyone curious about bitcoin?
Jack
One reason that bitcoin keeps rising is institutions going all in Yetis.
Nick
You can never really be sure why bitcoin prices are going up and down. You could say it's inflation, trade, war. Honestly, it could be so many things.
Jack
Could be correlation with the stock market too.
Nick
Totally, totally.
Jack
But rising prices means there's more buyers than sellers. And you know what we've seen a lot of lately?
Nick
Talk to me, Jack.
Jack
Large institutions going all in on bitcoin.
Nick
For example, on the government side you have El Salvador and Bhutan, which continue to buy bitcoin. They've gone all in on buying bitcoin.
Jack
On the corporate side you got Microstrategy and Gamestop. They've pivoted from software and retail to buying bitcoin.
Nick
And of course you got many retail investors who have gone all in betting on bitcoin as the best chance of getting rich the fastest.
Jack
Bitcoin has made many people rich. Many people have lost money too. But each time there's a new bitcoin all time high, it tempts another institution to put all their assets into bitcoin.
Nick
So the one reason we think bitcoin keeps rising right now, institutions going all in. Now a quick word from our sponsor.
Jack
ZipRecruiter.
Nick
Ah, speed and quality. Not typically a combo you get together.
Jack
I mean, Nick, you can get a fast food hit, hamburger, but we hope you like it well done.
Nick
Or Jack, you can get a 10 second haircut, but we hope you like bangs.
Jack
Well, there is an exception to this unwritten rule. If you're hiring, you can find candidates fast who are also extremely qualified for your job.
Nick
Just use ZipRecruiter and right now you can try ZipRecruiter for free at ZipRecruiter.com tboy.
Jack
They've got an advanced resume database so you can proactively go in and find Someone.
Nick
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Jack
That's the population of Cleveland experience, hiring, speed and quality. With ZipRecruiter, four out of five employers.
Nick
Who post on ZipRecruiter get a quality candidate within the first day.
Jack
And if you go to ziprecruiter.com T boy right now you can try it out for free again. That's ZipRecruiter.com tboy ZipRecruiter, the smartest way to hire.
Nick
Yes, it is.
Jack
Now a quick break. Switching topics to one of our favorite sponsors, vital proteins.
Nick
All right, Yeti, so Jack has become an extreme collagen user. This guy's adding vital proteins collagen to each morning coffee. And Jack drinks a lot of morning coffee, I should point out.
Jack
Yeah, I have three cups a day. I have a tub of mocha and a tub of chocolate. Both make my coffee taste chocolatey.
Nick
So Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides is a supplement that has four benefits all in 1. Helping support healthy hair, skin, nails, bones and joints.
Jack
That is how my face got dewier than a donut.
Nick
Mix it into your coffee, to your smoothie or just go straight to your face.
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. And entering promo code tboy 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. For our third and final story. According to new data, US airlines make just $4 a profit on a $400 ticket.
Jack
And that explains why Delta Air Lines is adding a premium section to the already premium section.
Nick
Jack and I call this Super Business Class Plus.
Jack
Super Business Class Plus.
Nick
Super Business Class Plus. But besties, some shocking information we should sprinkle on for you here. 18.5 million passengers flew through American airports over the 4th of July weekend.
Jack
The average fare, 400 bucks. The average profit on that ticket, just $4.
Nick
Okay, Jack, am I wrong? Is that just a 1% profit margin?
Jack
It is. Despite the relatively low compet, the big four control 80% of the industry. It has always been tough to make profits in airlines.
Nick
Airplanes. Not a profit, puppy. And the reason the airline industry is so tough. You got expensive airplanes and volatile fuel prices.
Jack
Plus, the FAA is understaffed, our airports are outdated, and there's pilot and flight crew unions you have to deal with.
Nick
Plus, the person in 16B has got a peanut allergy. And then the person in 16A is mad about having that peanut allergy.
Jack
Flights are basically like just babysitting for 234 souls on board.
Nick
What do you mean I can't open arena?
Jack
I have pretty Reese's jack. But the $4 of profit per ticket, it hides the real profit puppy of airlines, which is upcharges. Ah, the upcharges. They are everywhere. Besties, checked bags, seat upgrades, early boarding privileges in flight, Wi fi. The privilege to merely select your seat is now an upcharge.
Nick
You wanted a Biscoff cookie? We're gonna have to see your credit card, please.
Jack
All of those things we just mentioned have zero associated costs. So every dollar spent by Flyers is pure profit for the airline.
Nick
So yetis. That's why Jack and I were not shocked when Delta announced that last quarter they earned a $2 billion profit and the stock jumped 11%.
Jack
The $400 ticket you selected becomes $650 by the time you reach the checkout.
Nick
But besties, here's the part that did shock us.
Jack
Delta is reportedly launching Business Class Plus.
Nick
Business Class Super Premium Extra Plus.
Jack
Delta is working on building a even more first class section within the existing first class section. What does Super Business Class plus look like? Well, according to CNBC reporting, they're going to have business class seats with an extra spot for A visitor to come sit down in your ticketed section.
Nick
Okay, so here's how I'm picturing it, Jack. It's like your boss gets the business class super premium plus ticket, which is.
Jack
Like a fully reclining, luxury, you know, recliner seat.
Nick
But you are allowed to join them for part of the flight. So you can, like, prepare for a big meeting or something. And then you go back to your seat.
Jack
There's like a little bench for your analysts to come and sit down and, like, brief you on your next meeting.
Nick
Come sit in my lap and have a cookie.
Jack
There's also something called a retreat suite the airlines are working on, which is an enclosed private cabin with space for four people to eat dinner together on the airplane.
Nick
You could have, like, your whole family in business class together, but, like, you wouldn't have to be worrying about anyone else.
Jack
Or you could have a business meeting meeting 35,000ft up and, like, provide a PowerPoint presentation on a projector screen.
Nick
Potentially, as one executive put it, besties. We already segmented economy class. The next opportunity is segmenting business class.
Jack
Side note, we should mention Delta also makes a billion dollars per quarter from their American Express credit card partnership in the meantime.
Nick
One second, Jack. Excuse me. We're sitting in the retreat suites. I ordered this chardonnay, slightly chilled.
Jack
Dude, you can have a yoga flow class on the airplane in the retreat suite.
Nick
Jack, stick a peloton in there. So what's the takeaway for our buddies over in the airline industry?
Jack
Segmenting is how you snag maximum profits. Yetis.
Nick
Economists talk about the upper middle and lower class of America, but airline executives, they demand way more than just three classes.
Jack
Oh, they want a million classes? Yeah, they got like, 12 classes. That's why the gate agent reads through 12 different boarding zones.
Nick
Because the average American may be willing to pay pay $400 for a flight.
Jack
But there are several classes of flyers willing to pay various amounts more than that. And airlines want to capture each willingness to pay tier, so they create 12 tiers worth of tickets.
Nick
That is why the main cabin at Delta only contributes just 37% to the company's revenue.
Jack
The other two thirds of revenue are from fees, credit card points, premium offerings like business class plus because besties segmenting.
Nick
Customers is how to snag maximum profit. Jack, could you whip up the takeaways for us to kick off the week?
Jack
Love island was so popular, it got bar viewing parties, and their app is ahead of TikTok and Netflix in the App Store.
Nick
It's an economic boost. Love island proves that live sports are the most valuable media.
Jack
For our second story, Bhutan is the third largest government holder of bitcoin. They mine it, sell it, and fund their government with it.
Nick
And one reason that bitcoin's up, more institutions going all in.
Jack
And our third and final story, Because a regular ticket only makes $4 of profit, Delta is reportedly working on Super Business Class Plus.
Nick
Super Business Class Plus. Because segmenting customers, that's how you maximize profits.
Jack
But yetis, this pod's not over yet. Here's what else you need to know today.
Nick
First, why did stocks fall last week? Because President Trump went full maximalist on tariffs.
Jack
First, he announced 50% tariffs on copper and 200% tariffs on pharmaceutical and 50% tariffs on Brazil.
Nick
Okay. And then on Friday, he announced 35% tariffs on Canada beginning on August 1st.
Jack
And then on Saturday, he announced 30% tariffs on the European Union and Mexico starting August 1st.
Nick
At this point, it is just getting hard for investors to ignore the trade war. You can't just shrug it off and think it's not real.
Jack
Second, the next battle in the AI wars is over your Internet browsing. Literally.
Nick
Get this. Perplexity just launched a web browser fueled by AI called COMET.
Jack
And OpenAI is reportedly about to launch its own web browser this week or next week.
Nick
That's right, the biggest moves yet to attack Google search are the AI browser.
Jack
And finally, last week we told you that the original Birkin bag made for Jane Birkin herself was up for auction.
Nick
Do we have a number, Jack? We got a final sale.
Jack
It sold for $10 million.
Nick
Now, we gotta point out, Jack, the previous handbag record was $450,000 for the Himalayan crocodile Aramaze Birkin hand pack.
Jack
To be clear, there's no crocodiles living in the Himalayan mountains.
Nick
No, just bitcoin.
Jack
But they bleached the crocodile, I think to make it look snowy and Himalayan.
Nick
But last week, Sotheby's sold the first ever Birkin, like the first Birkin ever made, for 10 million bucks.
Jack
It's the most expensive handbag of all time, beating the previous record by more than 20x.
Nick
So now you know what to get me for my birthday, Jack. Now time for the best fact yet, which because it's Monday, means T Boy trivia. What do we got, Jack?
Jack
The Michelin star is the ultimate rating system in the world.
Nick
The Michelin Star. It awards the world's top restaurants with a one, two or three stars.
Jack
And the most expensive three star Michelin restaurant in the world costs $2,130 per person.
Nick
Sit down, stand up and yes, we'll have another again. Yeti's one meal, 12 courses over two. $2,000.
Jack
So here's our trivia in what city is that $2,000 per person restaurant?
Nick
Okay, is that restaurant in Paris, New York, Tokyo, Singapore or Dubai?
Jack
Bonus points if you know the name of the restaurant.
Nick
Hint they're famous for their crap.
Jack
What city is the home of the $2,000 per plate restaurant? Paris, New York, Tokyo, Singapore or Dubai? Bonus bonus points if you've dined there.
Nick
It'S right I Yetis, you look fantastic to kick off the week. Jack, you are glowing as the dragon king himself.
Jack
I just want to go to the beach so I'm really glowing with some sun.
Nick
Yetis, Jack and I can't wait to see you at the live show. Literally, we can't wait to meet you at our live show.
Jack
And we have more tickets available, so check out the link in the episode description.
Nick
Grab those tickets and Jack and I will see you tomorrow for T Boy Tuesday. And before we go, a happy 27th birthday to Yeti Jenna Marshall down in Tampa, who celebrated at Disney World and just closed on a house.
Jack
Happy birthday to Owen and Evan Klein, twins turning nine years old in Dallas, Texas.
Nick
Happy birthday. Happy birthday. And Joe Teal down in Scranton, Pennsylvania is tall, extremely built, and the future anesthesiologist is one year older.
Jack
And happy birthday to Jing Shu in Sunnyvale, California, who's also celebrating a new job at a law firm.
Nick
Legal and a belated happy birthday to the legendary bestie Kelsey Black down in.
Jack
Lovely Austin, Texas, who in our humble opinion, owns the best bookstore in the Lone Star State.
Nick
We voted for it. And Tommy, the yeti I ran into on the flight to San Francisco, he caught it just in the nick of time. Jack, this is a yeti who can sprinkle. And finally, to all of our French yetis out there, happy Bastille Day. They said storming the Bastille was not possible, but it was possible.
Jack
And to anyone else who's celebrating something today, make it a T boy.
Nick
Celebrate the wins.
Jack
This is Jack. I own stock of Amazon and Netflix. And Nick and I both own stock of Peloton as well as some bitcoin.
Nick
A bitcoins named Ben if you like.
Jack
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 survey@wondery.com survey we want to.
Nick
Get to know you.
Unknown
Ben hadn't had a decent night's sleep in a month. So during one of his restless nights, he booked a package triple broad on Expedia. When he arrived at his beachside hotel, he discovered a miraculous bed slung between two trees and fell into the best sleep of his life. You were made to be rechargeable. We were made to package flights and hotels and hammocks for less. Expedia. Made to travel.
Podcast Summary: The Best One Yet
Hosted by Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell
Episode: 🍑 “Bombshell Bump” — Love Island’s Economy. Delta’s Super Biz Class+. Bhutan’s Bitcoin Win
Release Date: July 14, 2025
In this engaging episode of "The Best One Yet," hosts Jack Crivici-Kramer and Nick Martell delve into three compelling business stories that blend pop culture, aviation innovation, and cryptocurrency advancements. Skipping over the usual advertisements and introductory banter, the duo dives straight into the heart of their top stories, offering insightful analysis and witty commentary throughout.
Timestamp: [06:11] – [09:57]
Overview:
The season 7 finale of Love Island captivated audiences nationwide, drawing parallels to the Super Bowl in terms of viewership and economic stimulation. Jack and Nick explore how the show has transcended traditional reality TV, becoming a live sports equivalent that boosts local economies and customer engagement for streaming platforms.
Key Points:
Popularity and Viewing Parties: Love Island's finale became a major event, with bars hosting live watch parties akin to Super Bowl gatherings. Jack remarks, "Love Island proves that live sports are the most valuable media." [06:16]
Economic Boost: The show significantly impacts the economy, particularly for streaming service Peacock, whose viewership surged. Nick highlights, "Searches for Love Island on Roku tripled this season, and 39% of the viewers are new." [07:47]
Cultural Shift in Viewing Demographics: Traditionally male-dominated sports bars saw an influx of female viewers during Love Island finales, transforming them into "Vibe bars." Nick notes, "Women were filling those same bars, turning sports bars into Vibe bars." [08:37]
Growth Strategies: The Love Island app topped the entertainment category on the App Store, outpacing giants like TikTok and Netflix. Jack attributes this success to the show's FOMO-inducing format, with daily episode releases and audience voting. "It's all created a FOMO effect as strong as the Super Bowl." [09:22]
Notable Quote:
Jack encapsulates the phenomenon: "Love Island is a live sports show that engages viewers in real-time competition, making it a powerhouse in the media landscape." [09:32]
Timestamp: [16:42] – [22:14]
Overview:
Delta Air Lines is revolutionizing its premium offerings with the introduction of Super Business Class Plus, a new tier within its existing first-class section. Jack and Nick dissect the airline's strategy to maximize profits amid an industry notorious for slim margins.
Key Points:
Profit Margins in Aviation: The hosts reveal startling statistics: US airlines only make $4 profit per $400 ticket, highlighting a mere 1% profit margin. "The airlines have always been tough to make profits in." [17:28]
Revenue Through Upcharges: Delta capitalizes on ancillary fees such as checked bags, seat upgrades, and Wi-Fi, which contribute significantly to their revenue. "Every dollar spent by flyers is pure profit for the airline." [18:35]
Introducing Super Business Class Plus: This new offering includes enhanced seating with additional space for a companion and exclusive amenities like retreat suites for private meetings or family gatherings. "Delta is reportedly launching Business Class Plus, which includes luxury recliner seats and private cabins." [19:02]
Strategic Customer Segmentation: By creating multiple tiers within business class, Delta aims to capture various customer segments willing to pay premium prices, thereby increasing overall profitability. "Segmenting customers is how you snag maximum profits." [20:35]
Notable Quote:
Nick summarizes the strategy: "Segmenting customers is the key to maximizing profits, allowing airlines like Delta to cater to different willingness-to-pay tiers." [21:10]
Timestamp: [09:57] – [14:43]
Overview:
Bhutan, a small Himalayan kingdom, has emerged as a surprising heavyweight in the cryptocurrency arena. Jack and Nick explore how Bhutan became the third-largest government holder of Bitcoin by leveraging its unique geographical and economic advantages.
Key Points:
Bitcoin Holdings: Bhutan reportedly holds $1.5 billion in Bitcoin, amounting to half of its GDP. This positions it as a major player compared to larger European nations. "Bhutan owns more Bitcoin than any European nation." [11:07]
Sustainable Mining Practices: The country utilizes its abundant hydropower from thunderstorms, known locally as the Thunder Dragon, to power Bitcoin mining operations. The cool Himalayan climate aids in preventing supercomputers from overheating. "Bhutan uses excess electricity to mine Bitcoin, transforming natural resources into digital currency." [12:08]
Economic Integration: Unlike other nations that have struggled with Bitcoin adoption, Bhutan seamlessly integrates its Bitcoin holdings into government funding, using mined coins to pay civil servants. "They're harvesting it like a natural resource." [13:17]
Institutional Investment: The surge in Bitcoin prices is attributed to substantial investments from both governmental bodies like El Salvador and Bhutan, as well as corporations such as MicroStrategy and GameStop. "Institutions going all in is a key reason Bitcoin keeps rising." [14:43]
Notable Quote:
Jack explains Bhutan’s innovative approach: "Bhutan transforms its excess hydropower into Bitcoin, funding its government operations sustainably." [13:39]
Timestamp: [16:42] – [26:33]
While the episode primarily focuses on the three main stories, Jack and Nick also touch upon additional noteworthy topics:
Trump’s Tariffs: Recent announcements by President Trump on escalating tariffs against major trading partners are causing investor uncertainty and stock market declines. "President Trump went full maximalist on tariffs." [22:24]
AI-Powered Web Browsers: The launch of AI-driven browsers like Perplexity’s COMET and the anticipated release from OpenAI signals a new front in the battle against Google Search dominance. "AI browsers are the biggest move yet to attack Google search." [22:54]
Record-Breaking Birkin Bags: Sotheby's auctioned the original Birkin bag for a staggering $10 million, setting a new record and overshadowing previous sales by more than 20 times. "The first Birkin ever made sold for $10 million." [23:18]
T Boy Trivia: The hosts engage listeners with trivia questions, exemplifying their interactive and community-driven approach to podcasting.
In wrapping up the episode, Jack and Nick distill the essence of their stories into actionable insights:
Love Island as a Media Powerhouse: The show's ability to engage audiences in real-time, combined with strategic app deployment, underscores the value of live competition formats in media.
Aviation Profit Maximization: Delta’s introduction of Super Business Class Plus highlights the importance of customer segmentation and ancillary revenue streams in industries with thin profit margins.
Innovative Cryptocurrency Strategies: Bhutan’s successful integration of Bitcoin mining into its national economy demonstrates the potential for small nations to leverage unique resources for significant financial gains.
Final Notable Quote: Nick encapsulates the economic narratives: "Love Island proves that live competition is truly media's holy grail, Bhutan shows innovative use of cryptocurrency for national funding, and Delta’s segmentation strategy is a masterclass in maximizing airline profits." [21:55]
This episode of "The Best One Yet" offers a fascinating blend of pop culture insights, economic analysis, and forward-thinking business strategies, making it a must-listen for enthusiasts eager to stay informed and entertained.