🎮 “Mario Hits Puberty” — Nintendo’s Switch 2 sellout. Our 401K password trick. AI Traffic Lights.

Summary

Episode Summary: “Mario Hits Puberty” — Nintendo’s Switch 2 Sellout, Our 401K Password Trick, AI Traffic Lights

Podcast Information:
Title: The Best One Yet
Host: Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell (Nick & Jack Studios)
Description: Feel brighter every day with our 20-minute pop-biz news podcast. The 3 business stories you need, with fresh takes you can pretend you came up with — Pairs perfectly with your morning oatmeal ritual.
Episode Title: 🎮 “Mario Hits Puberty” — Nintendo’s Switch 2 Sellout, Our 401K Password Trick, AI Traffic Lights
Release Date: June 6, 2025

---

1. Nintendo's Switch 2 Launch and Its Impact

Overview:
Jack and Nick dive into the highly anticipated release of Nintendo's Switch 2, highlighting its immediate global sellout and the shifting demographics of video game players.

Key Points:

• Launch Success: The Nintendo Switch 2 became sold out worldwide within a day of its release across major retailers like Best Buy, Walmart, GameStop, and Target.

  • Nick (05:18): "Nintendo Switch went on sale yesterday and it's already sold out worldwide."

• Target Audience Evolution: Contrary to traditional stereotypes of gamers, data reveals that the median video gamer in America is 36 years old with a nearly even gender split (53% male, 47% female), closely mirroring the general population's demographics.

  • Jack (08:47): "The typical video gamer in America looks like the typical American."
  • Nick (09:02): "The median video gamer is actually 36 years old and the ratio is 53% male to 47% female."

• Marketing Strategy: Nintendo has historically evolved its marketing to target broader audiences, from children in the 1980s to families with the Wii. The Switch 2 continues this trend by aiming to appeal to everyone, emphasizing inclusive and cross-generational gaming experiences.

  • Nick (08:17): "Nintendo's evolution in marketing over the last 30, 40 years shows it."
  • Jack (08:23): "And the new Switch, it's for everyone."

• Stock Market Impact: The hype around the Switch 2 has positively influenced Nintendo's stock, which has risen by 31% this year, indicative of strong investor confidence.

  • Jack (07:27): "Nintendo Stock is up 31% this year."

Insights:

• The successful launch of the Switch 2 underscores Nintendo's ability to maintain relevance and adapt to changing consumer bases.
• The broadened demographic appeal signifies a shift in the gaming industry, moving away from niche markets to mainstream acceptance.

Conclusion: Nintendo's strategic release and inclusive marketing have not only led to a sold-out Switch 2 but also positioned the company favorably in both the consumer market and the stock market. This marks a significant milestone in redefining the image of video gamers.

---

2. Record High Contributions to 401Ks: The “Forget Your Password” Strategy

Overview:
The hosts discuss the rising trend of Americans contributing more to their 401K retirement accounts, driven by both TikTok trends and changes in automatic enrollment policies.

Key Points:

• Surge in Savings Rates: Americans are saving a record 14.3% of their income into 401Ks, surpassing previous benchmarks. Boomers are saving 17%, while millennials are contributing 13.5%.

  • Nick (10:03): "Forget your Account password on purpose."
  • Jack (10:47): "Americans are contributing a record 14.3% of their paycheck to 401ks."

• Psychological Strategies: The “forget your password” trick involves not actively managing or frequently checking retirement accounts, thereby reducing the temptation to withdraw funds early and allowing investments to grow through compounding.

  • Nick (13:37): "Forget your password on purpose."
  • Jack (13:41): "Because your retirement account is living its best life right now."

• Policy Changes and Defaults: The 2006 auto-enrollment policy and subsequent increases in default contribution rates from 3% to 5% have significantly boosted participation and savings rates among employees.

  • Jack (12:30): "In 2006, Congress passed a bill encouraging companies to auto enroll their employees in 401ks."
  • Nick (12:39): "They required them to opt out of a retirement account."

• Educational Insights: The hosts break down key financial terms to help listeners understand the benefits of different retirement accounts:

  • 401K: Allows pre-tax contributions up to $23,000, often with employer matching.
    • Nick (11:05): "A 401k lets you save up to $23,000 of your paycheck pre tax..."
  • IRA and Roth IRA: Explains the differences between traditional and Roth IRAs regarding tax payments.
    • Jack (11:02): "A 401k lets you save..."
    • Nick (11:00): "Unless you have a Roth IRA, where you pay taxes first."

Insights:

• Automatic enrollment and higher default contribution rates have been pivotal in increasing retirement savings.
• Reducing active management of retirement accounts can help individuals avoid unnecessary withdrawals and benefit from long-term growth.

Conclusion: The combination of policy-driven default settings and savvy psychological strategies like “forgetting your password” has led to unprecedented savings rates in 401Ks, positioning Americans on a stronger financial footing for retirement.

---

3. AI-Driven Reinvention of Traffic Lights

Overview:
Jack and Nick explore the inefficiencies of traditional traffic lights and how AI startups are revolutionizing traffic management to reduce emissions, improve safety, and save time.

Key Points:

• Historical Context: Traffic lights have remained largely unchanged for the past 70 years, leading to inefficiencies and increased congestion.

  • Nick (17:20): "Traffic lights are the dumbest technology with the biggest impact on our lives."
  • Jack (18:03): "We’ve done the research and that’s it. No change in traffic light technology for the last 70 years."

• Startup Innovations:

  • Avvio: Raised $22 million to deploy solar-powered AI traffic cameras that monitor and penalize traffic violations automatically.
    • Nick (18:45): "Avvio just raised $22 million for solar powered AI traffic cameras."
  • No Traffic: Secured $50 million to develop systems that sync traffic lights with real-time traffic conditions, minimizing unnecessary stops and reducing congestion.
    • Jack (18:57): "No Traffic... synchronization with the reality of the traffic on the ground."

• Economic and Environmental Impact: Improved traffic light technology can significantly reduce carbon emissions from idling cars, decrease wear and tear on vehicles, and cut down the 43 hours Americans waste annually in traffic.

  • Nick (20:12): "Environmental idling actually contributes 5 to 10% of carbon emissions of cars."
  • Jack (20:44): "The average American wastes 43 hours a year sitting in traffic."

• Future Outlook: The rise of self-driving cars could render traffic lights obsolete, as autonomous vehicles communicate directly to manage traffic flow efficiently without the need for traditional signals.

  • Nick (19:53): "If 100% of cars are robot cars, then do we even need traffic lights at all?"
  • Jack (19:59): "A robot car is going to tell another robot car, you go ahead, I’ll wait for you."

Insights:

• There is a significant unmet need for innovation in traffic management systems, presenting lucrative opportunities for startups.
• The integration of AI can lead to more responsive and efficient traffic systems, ultimately benefiting urban environments and reducing ecological footprints.

Conclusion: AI-driven advancements in traffic light technology hold the potential to transform urban mobility, enhance safety, and reduce environmental impact. As startups like Avvio and No Traffic lead the charge, the future may even see the obsolescence of traditional traffic signals in a world dominated by autonomous vehicles.

---

Additional Highlights

• NBA Finals Prediction: Jack and Nick predict a victory for the Oklahoma City Thunder over the Indiana Pacers, citing GM Sam Presti's strategic trades akin to stock market principles.

  • Nick (02:03): "Sam Presti uses a strategy from investing for his basketball team."
  • Jack (02:23): "He drafted Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden in consecutive years."

• Recent Business News:

  • Circle's IPO: Circle, the stablecoin company, saw its stock jump 168% on its first day of trading.
    • Nick (21:51): "The stock, priced at $31 on its IPO day, but finished the day at $83 per share."
  • Tesla's Decline: Tesla shares fell 14% amid public disputes between Elon Musk and President Trump.
    • Jack (22:21): "Elon pivoted from trolling the big beautiful bill to trolling the president on X yesterday."
  • Hamilton's Success: The original cast of Hamilton reunited for a performance at the Tony Awards, celebrating the show's milestone achievements.
    • Nick (22:32): "Hamilton, by the way, just surpassed $1 billion in revenue from the show."

Conclusion of Episode: Jack and Nick wrap up the episode by celebrating various personal milestones of their listeners and emphasizing the importance of staying informed and engaged with the latest business trends.

---

Notable Quotes:

• Nick (05:18): "Nintendo Switch went on sale yesterday and it's already sold out worldwide."
• Jack (10:47): "Americans are contributing a record 14.3% of their paycheck to 401ks."
• Jack (20:16): "Traffic lights are the dumbest technology with the biggest impact on our lives."

This episode of The Best One Yet offers insightful analyses of current business trends, blending engaging discussions with actionable advice. Whether you're a gamer, a saver, or someone interested in urban tech innovations, Jack and Nick provide valuable perspectives to keep you informed and empowered.

Transcript

[Jack]

This is Nick, this is Jack.

[Nick]

It's Friday, The Real Friday, June 6, 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, we're celebrating the wins over here. Are you keeping track over there, Jack?

[Jack]

I have a list of accomplishments for this week. Can I read some off? Hey.

[Nick]

Alright, you got a list. What do you got?

[Jack]

Our social media channels, tboypod are buzzing. Our show hit top 50 overall podcasts on Apple.

[Nick]

I like it.

[Jack]

We're interviewing two CEOs in the next two weeks. Check, check, check. We soft launched so something this week that's going very well. It's in stealth mode and every show we've dropped on the feed has been a T boy.

[Nick]

Plus you're coming to San Francisco next week and your flight just got upgraded. I don't know about that last part. I was manifesting the last one, Jack. In the meantime, besties, hope you're celebrating some wins. Jack, three stories for today's T boy. What do we got on the pod?

[Jack]

For our first story, Nintendo's Switch 2 went on sale yesterday. It's Nintendo's first new console in eight years.

[Nick]

But Jack and I are jumping into the video game industry because gamers ain't who you think they are.

[Jack]

For our second story, Americans are prudent poly when it comes to retirement plans.

[Nick]

Yes, we are.

[Jack]

We're putting a record percentage of our income into our 401ks.

[Nick]

So our savings advice, forget your account password on purpose.

[Jack]

And our third and final story. Each and every one of us spends 43 hours a year on average, not moving, just stuck in traffic.

[Nick]

But now AI is reinventing the traffic light and we are thrilled about it.

[Jack]

But yetis, before we hit that wonderful.

[Nick]

Mix of stories, disrupting the traffic light. Never thought we'd do that story. Wonderful mix, Jack.

[Jack]

The NBA finals tipped off last night. We got the Oklahoma City Thunder versus the Indiana Pacers, the besties.

[Nick]

Jack and I ran the numbers and we already have a winner. Ding, ding, ding. Oklahoma City Thunder.

[Jack]

Because OKC's general manager Sam Presti uses a strategy from investing for his basketball team.

[Nick]

Buy low, sell high. It's a stock market play call on the basketball court.

[Jack]

Here's the context. Oklahoma City, it's a small market team.

[Nick]

Yeah. By our calculations, Oklahoma City has the most wins per local citizen of any team in the league.

[Jack]

But even OKC gets draft picks. And the draft is the cheapest place to find talent.

[Nick]

And Jack, in three consecutive years, Sam Presti drafted future MVPs.

[Jack]

He drafted Kevin Durant, Russell Westbrook and James Harden in consecutive years, each became.

[Nick]

An mvp, all drafted by this man. Besties. That's the buy low part, the NBA draft. But Sam Presti also sold high.

[Jack]

Get this. He traded each of those players when they were All Stars. When they were at the peak of.

[Nick]

Their game, fans were so shocked they spat out their barbecue.

[Jack]

But the way he sees it, he sells talents when they're at the top.

[Nick]

Like Warren Buffet sold Apple stock last.

[Jack]

Year so that he could buy low.

[Nick]

Like snagging Bitcoin at 100 bucks, which none of us did.

[Jack]

Case in point, his best trade ever. In 2017, OKC traded their first team All Pro, Paul George and got seven.

[Nick]

Young no Namers in return.

[Jack]

One of those randoms, though, was Shea.

[Nick]

Gilgeous Alexander sga, also known as this year's mvp.

[Jack]

He sold Paul George high so he could buy sga.

[Nick]

And now he and Oklahoma City are back in the NBA Finals.

[Jack]

That is some basketball arbitrage.

[Nick]

Oklahoma City. That would make Blackstone blush.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Jack 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 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 show.

[Nick]

First, a quick word from our sponsor.

[Jack]

This podcast is sponsored by Northwestern Mutual yeti.

[Nick]

Lots of financial companies want to talk to you, but Northwestern Mutual wants to listen to you.

[Jack]

Some companies say they have all the answers, but Northwestern Mutual has better questions.

[Nick]

Yeah, the financial pros. They are going to ask you questions about your financial situation that honestly, you never asked yourself a big one.

[Jack]

What's your ideal retirement? It's half therapy session, half financial conversation. Half therapy session.

[Nick]

Because that's how Northwestern Mutual designs a strategy that'll be uniquely yours. So come lie down on the couch. Find a better way to [e-mail] that's.

[Jack]

Nm.Com the Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance Company, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

[Misha Brown]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying Big wireless Way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just 15 doll. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying, no judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment. Anyway, give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront.

[Unknown]

Payment of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required. Intro rate, first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail] for our first story.

[Nick]

Nintendo Switch went on sale yesterday and it's already sold out worldwide. Who are the people who waited in.

[Jack]

Line for hours at Best Buy to buy the Nintendo Switch 2?

[Nick]

They're not kids, that's for sure. They're actually you. We'll explain. We got the data. But first, Yeti's, Apple, they launch a new iPhone every single year on the dot like clockwork.

[Jack]

On the other hand, Nintendo launches a new product every eight years.

[Nick]

Yeah, Apple's like the Super Bowl. Nintendo's like the Olympics back when Greece ran it in ancient Greece.

[Jack]

So yesterday was the biggest deal for Nintendo since, like Donkey Kong.

[Nick]

Now, remember, the first Nintendo Switch portable gaming device sold 150 million consoles over the last eight years.

[Jack]

And finally yesterday, you could buy the Switch 2, Nintendo's first gaming device since 2017. Or if you're like me, you couldn't buy it.

[Nick]

Yeah, Jack, I tried and someone threw a banana at me.

[Jack]

It was sold out on all four websites. It was supposed to be available.

[Nick]

We're talking Best Buy, Walmart, GameStop, Target, all of them sold out within a day.

[Jack]

Now, Nintendo actually knew demand was gonna be insane, so they actually limited pre orders to just super fans in a really clever way.

[Nick]

Okay, Like Luigi couldn't even get one. Only people who owned a Switch one and had logged 50 hours playing on that device could pre order the new Switch 2.

[Jack]

And guess what? 2.2 million people did that.

[Nick]

It's like if Erin May said, you can't buy anything from us unless you already owned the Birkin bag, isn't that.

[Jack]

Actually kind of what Iron man is?

[Nick]

Actually, that is what it is like Jack. Now a reminder. Economically w. This is so crazy. Nintendo didn't reveal a launch date or a final price because of Trump's trade war.

[Jack]

They actually unveiled the Switch 2 on Trump's liberation day, which is a big problem because the Switch 2 was made in Japan.

[Nick]

But ultimately they launched the device at the same price as originally advertised, 499 bucks with no tariff tax.

[Jack]

And it comes with Mario Kart included. Nintendo Stock is up 31% this year. So far. Like Koopa Troopa, they're at an all time high on the Switch 2 hype.

[Nick]

Now, unfortunately, Jack has been crying in my arms about not having a chance of getting a Switch on launch. Day.

[Jack]

Only the people who shopped in person did. And I was too busy prepping this podcast.

[Nick]

Okay, so Jack and I were curious, like who exactly are these people who are able to get these devices who are video game players in general?

[Jack]

Perfect timing. The New York Times just did a deep dive on the history of Nintendo's customers.

[Nick]

And the journey here isn't what you'd expect. It begins in the early 1980s when the original Nintendo was focused only on targeting young boys.

[Jack]

Picture the kids from Stranger Things that was who was buying a Nintendo?

[Nick]

Youths. They adopted video games first with the spare quarters from the Arcade.

[Jack]

By the 1990s, teens were the target. And then in the 2000s, Nintendo introduced Wii, which entire families could play together.

[Nick]

So it's been interesting tracking Nintendo's strategy here. Like Nintendo grew its advertising as you.

[Jack]

Grew up, the marketing matured with us.

[Nick]

But this latest Nintendo device, who does this one target, Jack?

[Jack]

Everyone. That's right, everyone with the intern. Because the whole idea is that you can play together alone.

[Nick]

In the commercial for the new Nintendo Switch 2, Paul Rudd, the oldest young man ever by the way, is playing the device with a whole bunch of friends and his little niece.

[Jack]

They're all playing together even though they're all alone in their own separate living rooms.

[Nick]

So Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over at Nintendo?

[Jack]

The typical video gamer in America looks like the typical American and that's not what you'd expect.

[Nick]

Yetis, the median video gamer is actually 36 years old and the ratio is 53% male to 47% female.

[Jack]

That's very close to the general population whose median age is 39 and a 5050 gender split.

[Nick]

And that median video gamer, they're playing an hour and a half per day.

[Jack]

Now you might have had an outdated picture of a stereotype in your head when you thought of a video gamer.

[Nick]

Yeah, like a 25 year old dude who still lives in his parents basement. He's the one who's playing video games.

[Jack]

That's not everyone who's playing video games.

[Nick]

And Nintendo's evolution in marketing over the last 30, 40 years shows it.

[Jack]

The original Nintendo was for kids, Super Nintendo was for teens. And Wii was for entire families.

[Nick]

But the new Switch, it's for everyone.

[Jack]

Because when you look at the data, everyone plays video games and they play.

[Nick]

Those games a lot. For our second story, the hottest new trend on TikTok, it's retirement accounts.

[Jack]

401Ks have gone viral. So we have to share with you our favorite savings advice. Here it is. Forget your Account password.

[Nick]

Just forget your password on purpose. But yetis, Nick and Jack here with you. Go ahead this weekend, order another avocado toast and double digit latte.

[Jack]

You've earned it. Yep, because your retirement account is living its best life right now.

[Nick]

Here's the wild update. More Americans than ever are saving what they're supposed to be saving for retirement.

[Jack]

According to Fidelity wealth management experts, 401k savings rates should be 15% of your income.

[Nick]

And right now, boomers are saving 17% of their income. And millennials are impressively saving 13.5% of their income.

[Jack]

In fact, Americans are saving a record high percent for their IRAs and their HSA accounts too.

[Nick]

Basically, when it comes to retirement accounts, you are saving like Nana down in Sarasota.

[Jack]

All right, now, Nick, I just noticed we've done like five highly jargony things. Like we said, 401k HSA, IRA.

[Nick]

Oh, yeah.

[Jack]

Can we sprinkle on some context, please?

[Nick]

FYI, I was going to say we should sprinkle on some Context, Jack.

[Jack]

A 401k lets you save up to $23,000 of your paycheck pre tax and invest it in the stock market for your retirement.

[Nick]

And then you can withdraw that money from the stock market when you're 59 and only pay taxes on the gains.

[Jack]

A lot of times the company matches 401k contributions, which is like free money.

[Nick]

Now, if a company doesn't offer 401k, you could set up an IRA account.

[Jack]

With an IRA, you can save up to $7,000 a year and withdraw it when you turn 59.

[Nick]

Now, there's also a Roth IRA in which you pay the taxes first as the income from your paycheck, but then you don't pay taxes when you withdraw that money from the stock market.

[Jack]

Unlike a regular ira, where you don't pay taxes at the beginning, but you do pay taxes when you withdraw.

[Nick]

So add up all those acronyms. The reason we like retirement accounts is they let you skip a tax payment, and that's huge.

[Jack]

If you just take your paycheck and invest it in a regular brokerage account, you pay taxes twice. First you pay taxes with your paycheck, and then you pay taxes on any gains when you withdraw.

[Nick]

And that's like, one of the reasons why retirement accounts are suddenly going viral. Like frappuccinos out there.

[Jack]

Everyone's figuring out on TikTok that they can pay less taxes if they use a retirement account.

[Nick]

Roth IRA has 800 million views on TikTok.

[Jack]

Yeah, but it's not TikTok that has putting a record 14.3% of their paycheck into a 401k.

[Nick]

No, it's the default that made them do it, Jack.

[Jack]

We'll explain Yetis. In 2006, Congress passed a bill encouraging companies to auto enroll their employees in 401ks.

[Nick]

Basically, instead of requiring workers to opt in to a retirement account, they required them to opt out of a retirement account.

[Jack]

And that change in the default boosted enrollment just as millennials were entering the job market.

[Nick]

Another interesting change, the default contribution, the percentage of your paycheck that was defaulted into a retirement account, was 3%, but now it's 5%. So basically, they nudged you to save a little bit more money.

[Jack]

And those nudges resulted in more millennials on pace to become 401k millionaires.

[Nick]

Honestly, we are just blown away by the average American savings right now when you see these numbers.

[Jack]

When I had a 401k, I started with just 3% because I felt like I needed every dollar. Eventually, I got to 5%. I finished with 10%. I never contributed 15% of my income to savings.

[Nick]

No, but these psychological tweaks have changed the game, Jack. I mean, now if you start saving 15% of your income, your future shuffleboard court is gonna be paved in gold.

[Jack]

Boca del Vista, baby.

[Nick]

So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies? Saving for retirement.

[Jack]

The best saving strategy is to forget your password.

[Nick]

Yeah. Yet he's a funny thing, but I had an IRA account that began when I worked at a bank. I carried it through three different jobs. But conf. I haven't signed into that account in three years.

[Jack]

Because you purposely forgot your password.

[Nick]

Yeah, I really did, Jack.

[Jack]

You didn't want to think about your retirement account because you're still decades from retiring.

[Nick]

Yeah, I mean, I should point out, Jack, I check my other money daily. You know, I check my checking, my savings, my brokerage, my crypto, my. And we do the monthly brunch with Molly. But retirement account, I don't want to touch it, so I don't want to look at it. So I forgot the password.

[Jack]

Now I check my retirement accounts monthly like all my other accounts. But I respect this forget your password policy, Jack.

[Nick]

Ahead of this episode, I did check the account for the first time in three years. It's got $200,000 in it. After a decade of contributions, I haven't been paying attention.

[Jack]

Congrats. And the power of compounding gains after a long period of time is wild.

[Nick]

Okay, so, Jack, if the stock market continues to gain on average 8% a year like it has. And I don't touch that 200,000 bucks. It'll be worth $2 million in 30 years when I retire.

[Jack]

That's right. Gaining 8% per year. Your money will 10x in 30 years.

[Nick]

So, yes, besties check your finances frequently. But your retirement account, maybe you forget.

[Jack]

That password when you finally do check it might have an extra zero at the end of it.

[Nick]

Now a quick word from our sponsor.

[Jack]

The best one yet is sponsored by BetterHelp.

[Nick]

All right, Jack, let me set the scene for you. My birthday dinner. We did a pizza party. I rented out a whole spot called the Dough Room in San Francisco. You mess with the pizza dough while you make it.

[Jack]

I know. And then what comes next is the most San Francisco thing ever. Basically, group therapy over dinner.

[Nick]

So all three people on my side of the table were in therapy and all of us were talking about each other's therapy. You know, like, one person was saying how their therapist helped them through a co worker battle. Another was talking about, like, the future of fatherhood with their therapist. They were stressed about becoming a dad.

[Jack]

It's not just San Francisco. Society's views on therapy have changed across the world. True, it's evolved to the point where you had a birthday dinner. Learning from each other's therapy sessions.

[Nick]

Well, BetterHelp is an easy way to take that leap and find the therapist.

[Jack]

For you because BetterHelp has over 10 years of experience matching people like your friends with therapists.

[Nick]

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[Jack]

Talk it out with BetterHelp, our listeners.

[Nick]

Get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com tboy that's BetterHelp.

[Jack]

H-E-L-P.com t Boy, every big moment starts.

[Unknown]

With a big dream. But what happens when that big dream turns out to be a big flop? From Wondery and Elmedia, I'm Misha Brown, and this is the big flop. Every week, comedians join me to chronicle the biggest flubs, fails, and blunders of all time. Like Quibi.

[Nick]

It's kind of like when you give yourself your own nickname and you try to, like, get other people to do it.

[Unknown]

And the 2019 movie adaptation of Cats.

[Jack]

Like, if I'm watching the dancing and.

[Nick]

I'm noticing the feet aren't touching the ground, there's something wrong with the movie.

[Unknown]

Find out what happens when massive hype turns into major fiasco. Enjoy the big flop on the Wondery app Or wherever you get your podcasts. You can listen to the big flop early and ad free on Wondery Plus. Get started with your free trial at wondery.complus.

[Nick]

For our third and final story before the weekend. Traffic lights. They are the dumbest technology with the biggest impact on our lives.

[Jack]

The number one thing we hope AI replaces. It's the traffic light.

[Nick]

Totally.

[Jack]

And it's happening right now.

[Nick]

But Yetis, in order to tell this story, let's travel back in time to New York City. 1914. Union Square is a mix of cars, pedestrians, horses, bikes, trolleys and. One sec, Jack, I think I see a cow.

[Jack]

A police officer had to stand on a podium trying to maintain some semblance of order.

[Nick]

Besties. With the rise of the car, intersections in cities became chaos. So police had to manually conduct traffic like. Like maestros in an Orchestra.

[Jack]

Until 1914, when a police officer in Cleveland got tired of all the chaos, quit his job, and invented the first electric traffic signal.

[Nick]

Pretty simple. Just green. Green for go.

[Jack]

In 1920, a police officer in Detroit invented the three color system that we know today.

[Nick]

Red, green, and yellow for slow.

[Jack]

And then in the 1950s, traffic signs became automated. They were controlled by the Municipal Circuit Board.

[Nick]

But. But honestly, we've done the research and that's it. No change in traffic light technology for the last 70 years.

[Jack]

Which is why odds are you're listening to this podcast while waiting at a red light right now. Yeah.

[Nick]

And a trucker just blasted his horn at you at the 18th time. I know, I'm trying to get out of the way. You're worried about gridlock. It's stressful.

[Jack]

And that's why we're excited for the rise in startups who are reinventing the traffic signal.

[Nick]

Yeah. The new trend is the disruption of the traffic light. Get this. Avvio just raised $22 million for solar powered AI traffic cameras.

[Jack]

Their goal is to catch the non stoppers.

[Nick]

Yeah. Also if you're making an illegal turn, a rolling stop, AI will identify all the types of traffic violations and then.

[Jack]

Send an email with a photo of the evidence to the police so that you get a ticket.

[Nick]

Yeah. Interesting business model here. They actually give this technology to the city for free, but then they take a portion of the citation as their revenue.

[Jack]

A more interesting startup is one called no Traffic, which raised $50 million last year to make there be no traffic.

[Nick]

Yeah, I'm trying to think about. Explain this, Jack. But basically it's hardware and software to sync up traffic lights with the reality of the traffic on the ground.

[Jack]

Because right now the lights are just programmed to be red for however long and then green for however long, regardless of the actual traffic on the road.

[Nick]

Yeah, you look for those synchronized light avenues that speed you along, but otherwise you're stopping every eight blocks in Manhattan. Although Jack, we should point out there is an existential risk to the traffic light disrupting startups out there, right?

[Jack]

Ah, self driving cars.

[Nick]

That's right. If 100% of cars are robot cars, then do we even need traffic lights at all?

[Jack]

A robot car is going to tell another robot car, you go ahead, I'll wait for you. You don't need traffic lights.

[Nick]

Think about that one, besties. So Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over in the traffic light disruption industry?

[Jack]

Traffic lights may be the dumbest tech with the biggest impact on our lives.

[Nick]

Yetis, pause the pod for a sec. Let's just take a moment to realize how years without innovation in traffic lights has affected us.

[Jack]

Look, we appreciate the order and safety that traffic lights bring.

[Nick]

We respect you.

[Jack]

But the inefficiency of modern traffic lights have a major cost on society and the economy.

[Nick]

Okay, Jack, one is environmental idling actually contributes 5 to 10% of carbon emissions of cars.

[Jack]

Plus the unnecessary wearing down of brake pads and the unnecessary fuel from stopping and going.

[Nick]

But the biggest issue may be time because the average American wastes 43 hours a year sitting in traffic.

[Jack]

Better traffic lights could reduce that.

[Nick]

So Bastille's added up. And the traffic light is a funny example of a lack of innovation in an obscure product with some major upside.

[Jack]

It's the dumbest tech with the biggest impact.

[Nick]

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

[Jack]

Nintendo launched the Switch. Two sold out yesterday and the stock is at an all time high because.

[Nick]

The typical video gamer in America looks like the typical American.

[Jack]

For our second story, Americans are contributing a record 14.3% of their paycheck to 401ks.

[Nick]

Forget your password on purpose. When you finally do log in, you are going to be thrilled with the number you see.

[Jack]

And our third and final story. We found two companies that raised VC money to use AI to disrupt the traffic light.

[Nick]

Because traffic lights are the the dumbest technology with the hugest impact on our lives.

[Jack]

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

[Nick]

First stock in circle, the stablecoin company we covered on Monday, jumped 168% on its first day of trading.

[Jack]

The stock, priced at $31 on its IPO day, but finished the day at $83 per share.

[Nick]

Now what do they actually do? Well, they digitized the United States dollar.

[Jack]

With the blockchain, but Wall street thinks Coinbase might acquire circle someday.

[Nick]

Second, Tesla shares fell 14% yesterday as Elon's divorce with President Trump got really dirty and nasty.

[Jack]

Elon pivoted from trolling the big beautiful bill to trolling the president on X yesterday.

[Nick]

So then the president went public and began insulting Elon and threatened to end government contracts with Elon's companies.

[Jack]

Tesla's brand has already soured with progressing. Now it could lose maga too.

[Nick]

And finally, the original cast of Hamilton is reuniting to perform one song at the Tony Awards this Sunday.

[Jack]

Lin Manuel Miranda will be there. Leslie Odom Jr. Will be there. And that baritone who played George Washington, that big guy, he'll be there, too.

[Nick]

There's the whole OG cast. Hamilton, by the way, just surpassed $1 billion in revenue from the show tickets, the merch, and the Disney streaming deal.

[Jack]

And they're celebrating 10 years since the first show at the Tonys this Sunday.

[Nick]

Now time for the best fact yet. This one sent in by legendary Yeti Khaled from Kuwait.

[Jack]

This week, Muslims around the world are observing Eid Al Adha, which also marks the time of the annual Islamic pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, that's known as Hajj.

[Nick]

And the numbers are huge. 1.8 million Muslims made the pilgrimage last year, which you only have to do once in your life, ending at the Great Mosque.

[Jack]

And the Great Mosque goes back to 638 AD. It's huge. It has a capacity to hold 2 million observers at once.

[Nick]

All the numbers we're talking about here are just huge numbers. So to all the yetis making the pilgrimage right now, Hajj Mubarak.

[Jack]

And to those observing Eid Al Adha. Eid Al Adha, Mubarak.

[Nick]

Yetis, you look fantastic over there. You look fantastic all week, Jack. I can't wait to see you in just a few days. Thank you for coming out. We're coming.

[Jack]

Yeah, I'm gonna give Maxi his early birthday present.

[Nick]

Oh, very excited about that. Very excited about it. So Yetis, if you haven't yet, drop down to give us five stars and a five star review. We love reading them every week.

[Jack]

If you do, we'll add it to our wins list for the week.

[Nick]

And after that, check out our weekly show, the best idea yet. Cause we did a whole episode on.

[Jack]

Tommy Bahama, specifically their beach chair. And Nick and I will see you Monday.

[Nick]

Can't wait. And before we go, a happy birthday and happy middle school graduation to Alessandro Montoya down in Charlotte, North Carolina.

[Jack]

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

[Nick]

Just outside Boston. And Maddy King in Phoenix, Arizona is a Gonzaga grad with the best birthday yet.

[Jack]

Happy year and a half birthday to Amelia in Orlando. She's 18 months old and she's beauty.

[Nick]

And a congratulations to Seth and Felicia on the birth of their daughter Sloan Giada down in DeBary, Florida.

[Jack]

Happy 40th birthday to Ryan Suet in Las Vegas, who's doing a gender reveal of baby number one over in Maui.

[Nick]

And Mugo Jeguna, the little league baseball coach is celebrating the best birthday yet in Brookline, Mass. Getting dunked at the games just outside.

[Jack]

Pasta. And a big shout out to Maneesh Apoorva, Alana, Genevieve, Constance, Zelda and Atticus, who all attended the salt and straw event that Nick was the host for. Is host right?

[Nick]

The word I got to host it, Jack. I mean, amazing to meet all these yetis. And Atticus, you've got fantastic parents.

[Jack]

Big shout out to Christine Bacino from Florusa, who's got a promotion and is a run club junkie.

[Nick]

And congratulations to Andrea and Tom Clousky in Gulfport, Florida for celebrating 10 years together with another fantastic wristband.

[Jack]

A big shout out to Andrew Castro in San Mateo, California, graduating 8th grade, headed to high school.

[Nick]

And Anthony Tran in Henderson, Nevada. Congrats on the new job at Clark County Aviation and closing on that home baby.

[Jack]

And congrats to Anglis for getting a Berkeley executive mba. That's a huge accomplishment. And to anyone else celebrating something today, make it a T, boy.

[Nick]

Celebrate the wins.

[Jack]

This is Jack. I own stock of Disney. Nick and I both own stock of Apple and we both own some bitcoin.

[Nick]

A bitcoin 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 at wondery. Com. Survey.

[Nick]

We want to get to know you.