
Loading summary
Nick
This is Nick.
Jack
This is Jack.
Nick
Welcome back. It is Monday, August 11, 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
Jack, can I just celebrate a few wins to start the week for us over here?
Jack
Yes, please.
Nick
Okay, first, we just interviewed an incredible entrepreneur. That episode drops later this month.
Jack
Mm.
Nick
And you just went to the best concert of your life.
Jack
I felt like I was witnessing history.
Nick
And I was just in Santa Cruz where I saw other people surfing better than I do.
Jack
Well, isn't that just a standard Saturday for you?
Nick
So, Jack, can I just say one more thing, please? It's true. Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday. But we got three fantastic stories for today's show. Jack, what do we got on the T boy?
Jack
For our first story, Nobu is a Michelin starred restaurant with 56 locations and 42 hotels.
Nick
But wildest of all, this billion dollar restaurant, Nobu is now opening a Pilates studio.
Jack
For our second story, how the economy is doing is split between two types of consumers.
Nick
Those who own stocks and those who own crocs. Yeah, those Crocs.
Jack
And our third and final story is ChatGPT5, the Cinco. ChatGPT5 launched last week and it's being hailed as the biggest development in AI history.
Nick
For techies, it codes better, but for normies, it therapizes.
Jack
But yetis, before we hit that wonderful mix of stories.
Nick
Perfect mix of stories to kick off the week, Jack. Love the mix.
Jack
The hottest party this weekend. Nick, tell us what it was.
Nick
Labubu Raves. No joke.
Jack
The viral new Chinese doll everyone's talking about. It made it into the club.
Nick
We have told you besties about the Labubu doll. The Gen Z Beanie Baby. With a billion bucks in sales, it.
Jack
Looks like a Furby and Nutella Tubby had a baby together that was raised by trolls.
Nick
Jack, if this thing talked, it would kind of sound like Jack in the Box from elf. You know what I'm talking about here. Yeah, the one that goes now. Yeties. We've covered Labubu doll's business twice on this podcast.
Jack
But the Labubu virus is spreading so fast through our culture, there are new.
Nick
Variants like late night Labu Boo. Dance fests.
Jack
Get this, Yetis. According to Gothamist, parties are popping up across New York City with Labubu as the focus.
Nick
Over at the Monarch Club in Brooklyn, Leboo raves are going till 4am and.
Jack
The climax of the party is a mystery box unveiling at the center of the dance floor. Yeah.
Nick
It's Saturday night. 800 adults attended a late night Labubu fest for a mass unboxing ritual.
Jack
They drank, they dance, and they traded $28 Chinese dolls and the DJ plays K Pop.
Nick
The partiers clip Labubus on their pants. Hey, diploma. More Labubu Moss. Labubu Cebu Plain.
Jack
Now, Beanie Babies had an epic fever in the late 1990s.
Nick
But Jack, those Beanie Babies didn't make the beat drop, did they, Man?
Jack
No, they didn't. So yetis no judgment, but if you sweated it up at a Labubu rave until sunrise this weekend.
Nick
Well, no judgments. No judgments. We're calling it the next Labubu Launch. A dating app.
Jack
Is there going to be a mystery box in this dating app?
Nick
I think every dating app's kind of a mystery box. Check. Let's hit our three stories.
Unknown
Fifteen years before this song, two boys from the Northeast met in the dorm. They had an idea that caused 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
Airbnb Yetis.
Nick
Our show actually started as a side hustle over 10 years ago. It began in secret outside of our bank jobs.
Jack
We were worried we'd get fired, so we didn't tell our bosses and we even left our names off the website.
Nick
Now, that was our side hustle, a media startup. But there are other side hustles that are a lot less risky than that.
Jack
And that have 0% chance of getting you fired. Like being a host on Airbnb.
Nick
In this economy, it's a fun and rewarding way to make money off the thing you're already paying for your house or your apartment.
Jack
I've hosted two previous apartments and my current chalet on Airbnb.
Nick
And when no one's using it, why not welcome a family, a couple that just got engaged?
Jack
You already have an Airbnb. You just didn't realize it yet.
Nick
Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much@airbnb.com host and now a word from our sponsor, Netsuite.
Jack
Tariff and trade policies are dynamic, supply chains 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.
Jack
NetSuite brings accounting, financial management, inventory, HR into one suite. To help you know what's stuck, what it's costing you, and how to pivot.
Nick
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, Nobu, the fancy Japanese fusion restaurant, now also owns 42 hotels and.
Jack
They just launched a Pilates studio. We'll tell you how Nobu managed to scale the two hardest things in hospitality, food and fancy yetis.
Nick
Let's travel back to when I was in high school. My parents went out for a date and they came back with some leftovers and a tray with rock shrimp. Had you ever had rock shrimp, Jack?
Jack
So I went to Nobu once. Baird's dad brought me there.
Nick
Oh yeah, yeah. That's a good parent trip, Jack. Yeah.
Jack
And I did not order a single thing. I let him manage it all. Cause I had no clue.
Nick
That's a familial write off right there. Benny's. That was back in 2003. It was the Nobu in Tribeca.
Jack
Nobu is a very cool Japanese and Peruvian fusion restaurant. It's a Tokyo chef who studied in Lima.
Nick
And their sushi has got so much swagger, it needs its own talent agent. Hey, Uta.
Jack
Now, Nob began in Los Angeles in 1989. Robert De Niro dined there and was such a fan of the miso black cod, he asked for a New York location.
Nick
But Nobu Matsuhisa, the chef, patiently refused until 1994, when he got offered a lot of money.
Jack
He opened up a restaurant with De Niro's Dinero.
Nick
And that became the modern blueprint for the premium restaurant venture, the three C's.
Jack
Jack, you need a chef, you need a celebrity backer, and you need a cash money investor.
Nick
Well, now Nobu's a Michelin awarded restaurant brand worth 1.3 billion with a B dollars.
Jack
It's serving up some unicorn teriyaki, Jack.
Nick
The last time I walked by the Tribeca location before it closed, Russell Crowe walked out and fell on top of me.
Jack
So you're telling me that the gladiator tackled you on the streets of New York City?
Nick
I haven't showered since, Jack. But besties still. This headline, 31 years later is what we find fascinating.
Jack
Nobu just launched a Pilates retreat in Ibiza.
Nick
Record scratch. Excuse me, why is Nobu hosting retreats focused on Pilates on the biggest club and island in the ocean.
Jack
It's not just a retreat, Nick. Nobu already has a Pilates studio at their London hotel.
Nick
Pause the pot again. Did you just say Nobu had a hotel?
Jack
Yeah. Plot Twist. Nobu has 56 restaurants, but also 42 hotels, with plans to open 40 more.
Nick
From Tulum to Orlando, with a little bit in Saudi Arabia in between.
Jack
Nobu's also got condos and fitness centers. And a Nobu.
Nick
That's right. You could take a cruise with their yellowtail jalapeno poppers on the poop deck.
Jack
Nobu is a global luxury brand with restaurants, hotels, fitness centers, condos, and yachts.
Nick
But, Jack, let's add it all up for a sec and talk about the numbers.
Jack
Those 56 restaurants each make on average $10 million in revenue per year.
Nick
It's like half a billion dollars total in revenue on F and B food and beverage.
Jack
Now, we should point out Nobu doesn't own most of the restaurants. They license the them like McDonald's does.
Nick
But here's a wild the Nobu CEO says that each seat in their restaurants makes as much money as each room in their hotels.
Jack
Because each hotel room only serves one customer a day. But each restaurant chair changes over with six new customers each day.
Nick
So what we're saying is that Nobu has scaled luxury like Louis Vuitton, but in an industry with margins thinner than.
Jack
A French fry because the profits on a luxury handbag is like 90%.
Nick
But, Jack, the profit on a scallop flown in from Hokkaido overnight, Much slimmer. Yeah, way less. So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our. Oh, by the way, before our Chicago show, before your flight arrived, I did the omakase at Nobu.
Jack
Really?
Nick
Well, you said it was a write off.
Jack
I haven't done our quarterly accounting yet.
Nick
Okay, so, Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over at Nobu?
Jack
Be really good at not being bad.
Nick
Yeti's chef, Nobu, spoke to the Wall Street Journal and said the reason he's successful is that celebrities trust my food.
Jack
They return to Nobu not just for the taste. They return for the very high quality floor.
Nick
Basically, it's the same reason that McDonald's is so big. You know what you're getting? It's the consistency.
Jack
The same Big Macs are served at the same quality in Dallas to Detroit.
Nick
And the same Nobu toro tuna tartare is served in the same quality in Melbourne or in Malibu.
Jack
It's a reminder about an important consumer psychology. We fear downside more than we desire upside.
Nick
We fear loss more than we crave a win.
Jack
We're more worried about not losing something than we are about gaining something.
Nick
Well, McDonald's does it for a mass audience and Nobu does it for celebrities. They deliver consistency.
Jack
It's not about being good, it's about being really good at never being bad.
Nick
For our second story, the big question, in this economy, do you own Crocs or do you own stocks?
Jack
The answer determines whether you're spending more or less.
Nick
It's Crocs versus stocks. And that is how we can understand today's economy.
Jack
Nick, last week there were too many earnings reports for us to cover on the pot.
Nick
20% of the S&P 500 reported earnings last week. Not too shabby.
Jack
And the big theme Nick and I noticed is that CEOs were totally split down the middle on whether the US economy was doing well or not.
Nick
Jack, let's bring out group number one, Crocs, McDonald's and Under Armour each said that the American consumer is in rough shape right now.
Jack
Stocks in those three companies fell last week as their CEOs said customers cut spending in the second quarter.
Nick
Basically people are buying fewer sweat wicking Big Mac clogs right now.
Jack
And this simple quote from the McDonald's CEO sums up their challenge.
Nick
Here's what he said. I mean, we've got lower income consumers that remain under pressure. Their visits to fast food restaurants were down double digits again in quarter two.
Jack
The main reason? Same as it's been the last few years. Yep, high prices and inflation are squeezing consumers.
Nick
That monster is still roaring. So besties, companies that serve lower and middle income Americans are struggling. But Jack, what about the companies serving higher end Americans right now?
Jack
They're surging. It's a Dickensian tale of two economies.
Nick
Nick, because get this yetis comments from Disney, Uber and Shopify were the opposite of Kroc's, McDonald's and Under Armour.
Jack
Let's kick it off with Disney. They said, I know there's a lot of concern about the consumer in the United States right now, but we don't see it.
Nick
Jack, how about Uber? Their CEO said we're not seeing any signal of consumer weakness.
Jack
And Shopify said that tariff impacts have not materialized into lower e commerce activity.
Nick
So besties, when Jack and I whip out the whiteboard and look at the earnings from last week, here is the theme that we are really seeing.
Jack
People who get on an airplane to take a vacation to Disney World, people who take Ubers to work. And people who buy cute tops online are all feeling good right now.
Nick
But people who are tossing on some under armor and eating Big Macs and strutting around in Crocs, they are not feeling as good right now.
Jack
It's a Dickensian tale of two economies.
Nick
That also comes down to one wild hero stat. So Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies who are everyone in the in.
Jack
This economy, if you own stocks, you're feeling rich. But what about the other half of Americans?
Nick
Yetis the US economy overall is growing despite tariffs thanks to this stock market.
Jack
Stocks are at all time highs mainly because of AI hype driving big tech valuations into the trillions.
Nick
Now Jack and I have told you that the stock market is not the economy. But how the stock market is doing affects the economy.
Jack
Because if your stocks are up, you feel richer. And if you feel richer, you're gonna spend more.
Nick
Yeah. Get this. The top 20% of income earners are responsible for half the spending in this country.
Jack
That's a wild stat that I want to Repeat. The top 20% income earners in America are responsible for half of all consumer spending.
Nick
But Jack, I got another stat for you. Only half of Americans own stocks. So these all time high market records aren't getting them to open up their wallets.
Jack
Add it all up and companies catering to the bottom half of earners in America are struggling. But companies catering to the upper half are surging.
Nick
Or the way we see it, it's stocks versus Crocs. Because if you own the market, you're feeling rich. But if you don't, you're feeling squeezed. Now a quick word from our sponsor.
Jack
Audible Yetis.
Nick
You're looking for a summer getaway right now. How about a rich one? Literally.
Jack
Rich Girl Summer is the new Audible original from author Lily Chu.
Nick
It kicks off in Toronto's wealthy cot country, AKA the Hamptons of Canada.
Jack
I already am. Sold.
Nick
Double sold. Rich Girl Summer. It follows the story of Valerie, a down on her luck event planner posing as a socialite.
Jack
And she's piecing together secrets to a mystery while falling in love with an infuriatingly handsome family assistant.
Nick
Yeah. If you're looking for a break from business news, this would be it. Narrated by Philip Basu, the incredible voice of Angelica from Hamilton and her real life husband. It sounds as beautiful as the Hamptons of Canada looks.
Jack
So listen to Rich Girl Summer now on audible. Go to audible.com richgirlsommer we are supported.
Nick
By vital proteins, yeties, vital proteins, collagen, peptides, is A supplement that has four benefits all in one, helping support healthy hair, skin, nails, bones and joints.
Jack
And I'm a proud power user. I put the mocha or chocolate flavored vital proteins collagen in every mug of coffee I've drank so far this year.
Nick
I threw some into a pancake mix because, like, why the heck not?
Jack
Jack? By taking collagen peptides daily, you can help support your hair, skin, nail, bone and joint health.
Nick
So get 20% 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. For our third and final story, last week, Sam Altman launched ChatGPT 5 the Cinco. And he says it'll be like a PhD student in your pocket.
Jack
I really hope the cinco catches on.
Nick
OpenAI marketing team, you're welcome.
Jack
But the big question, do you want AI to be your colleague giving you yes, no answers, or do you want it to be your therapist?
Nick
But first, Jack, I guess we should begin with a little bit of congratulations for our buddies over at OpenAI.
Jack
Right? Man, OpenAI employees are able to sell their stock in the company right now at a $500 billion valuation.
Nick
Our buddy Peter, I'm seeing him this weekend.
Jack
Jack, he's buying me the drink. I already called it. Now, if it does sell at 500 billion, that would make OpenAI the most valuable start up in business history.
Nick
More than SpaceX, more than ByteDance, more than a couple TikToks.
Jack
And if you compare OpenAI to publicly traded companies, it's the 20th most valuable company on earth. Right now.
Nick
It's as big as Netflix, and the product isn't even three years old yet.
Jack
The product, by the way, ChatGPT, which has 700 million weekly users, and that number is two. Netflix's Jack OpenAI is setting financial and tech records. Like Shohei Ohtani, he can pitch and he can bat. And here's. Here's the news. ChatGPT5 launched on Thursday and it's free for all to use.
Nick
Sam Altman unwrapped it in front of us last week like a Christmas present.
Jack
If you're a free user, you can ask it up to 10 questions every five hours. If you want more than that, you gotta start paying now.
Nick
We'll explain everything you need to know. But first, this is not AGI. ChatGPT5 is not super intelligence.
Jack
No. Us humans still have a leg up on this thing for a little bit longer at least.
Nick
Sam Altman says it's like having a PhD student in your pocket.
Jack
Well, I don't have a PhD, so do I have a leg up on this thing?
Nick
ChatGPT 3, that was basically like a high school student. ChatGPT 4, that was kind of like a college student, but this one, it's as smart as a grad schooler.
Jack
This thing was on the dating apps. Everyone would be swiping, right.
Nick
Not a big partier. Not a big partier, though.
Jack
Now, at first, when Nick and I were reading about ChatGPT 5, we're like, okay, this is the iPhone 16. It's a little bit better in every metric than the previous version that was from our research.
Nick
But OpenAI says this is actually a bigger leap. They basically say it's like going from a Game boy to an N64, which.
Jack
Is a pretty big technological leap.
Nick
And we can kind of see that, like, the answers now arrive twice as fast than ChatGPT4, with 45% fewer factual errors.
Jack
So it's smarter, it's faster, it's less wrong and less annoying, but it still has hallucinations.
Nick
Jack, can you please explain that?
Jack
Less annoying, though, basically, it won't suck up to you as much. It'll be less sycophantic, and it's going to use fewer emojis.
Nick
Yeah, it did use a lot of emoji, actually. Actually, you can now make your ChatGPT bot more cynical or more nerdy. You can kind of like, you know.
Jack
You can choose your tone.
Nick
Yeah, no, still no sassy option.
Jack
But, yeah, Grok is the sassy option. I think.
Nick
Now, the biggest improvement here is if.
Jack
You'Re a coder, because developers with the paid version of ChatGPT now have the highest level of vibe coding.
Nick
Vibe coding. Basically, you can create an entire computer program from scratch.
Jack
Just describe to ChatGPT the app you want to, and it will give you that app.
Nick
But the biggest update for us consumers, us normies out there. What is it, Jack?
Jack
Next week, we'll be able to connect our ChatGPT accounts to our Gmail accounts and our Google Calendars.
Nick
That's right. So ChatGPT5 could become your personal assistant. It could proactively set up that meeting with Marcia over in marketing.
Jack
You could ask your chatGPT, hey, are there any important emails in my 68 unread emails, or can I just relax.
Nick
For the weekend and we'll tell you? You can relax for a moment.
Jack
I've read through all your 68 emails. Everything can wait till Monday and then.
Nick
It will judge you for requiring 143 emails just to plan that bachelorette party. So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over at ChatGPT5 the Cinco?
Jack
Do you want a colleague or do you want a therapist?
Nick
Yetis, there's one other chatgpt change from last week that didn't get attention and we think it's big. Hspds.
Jack
Hspds. High stakes personal decisions. Like stuff having to do with your romantic relationships, your personal health. Like, should I propose to my girlfriend? People are asking this to ChatGPT.
Nick
I mean, Jack, a critique from the past versions of ChatGPT was that it would give yes or no answers to huge life decisions.
Jack
Now, not only is that just ill advised because it doesn't have enough information to give you a yes or no, it also became a legal liability for OpenAI.
Nick
So now, instead of telling you what to do, ChatGPT will guide you with questions.
Jack
For example, if you say, should I break up with my partner? Instead of giving you a yes or no, it'll ask you questions like a therapist would.
Nick
Because OpenAI has realized that these high stakes personal decisions are a big use case, but big risk.
Jack
So the power of AI isn't just getting you an answer as quickly as possible, but it's helping you find the answer yourself.
Nick
That's why we think the future of AI may look less like a yes no colleague and more like a questioning therapist. Jack, could you whip up the takeaways for us to kick off the week?
Jack
Nobu is co owned by Robert De Niro and has become a global restaurant and hotel and pilates empire.
Nick
That's right. Black miso cod on the reformer. Yetis, they're not just good, they're really good at never being bad.
Jack
AKA they're consistent. For our second story, companies catering to high enders are surging. Companies catering to the bottom half are not.
Nick
Or as we call it, it's stocks versus crocs. Half of Americans own stocks, the other half feel squeezed.
Jack
And our third and final story, ChatGPT5 is here and free to use. And it's led to a $500 billion valuation for the parent company.
Nick
I want you to say Cinco, Jack.
Jack
ChatGPT5 the Cinco.
Nick
Because AI isn't just a yes, no colleague. This version is also a questioning therapist.
Jack
But yetis, this pod's not over yet. Here's what else you need to know today.
Nick
First, Sweetgreen stock sank 28% after announcing their first ever revenue decline.
Jack
To get customers back in the door, sweetgreen says they're boosting portions.
Nick
I bet this is protein maxing, Jack. We've always found their salads to be huge.
Jack
You never finish your salad.
Nick
I know, I'm a lightweight. I'm a lightweight.
Jack
Bigger portions could bring people back into the store, but also hurt problems profits. It's basically a salad 22 situation.
Nick
I see what you did there. And second, it's the final zucking. Instagram just added maps, which happens to be a Snapchat feature that they stole.
Jack
Instagram's map sharing feature will now show you where your friends are based on their posting and their tagging.
Nick
Oh, buddy.
Unknown
Timmy.
Nick
He's right over there.
Jack
Although it brings up safety concerns and privacy concerns. I mean, do you want to give Zuck that data or show every one of your friends where you are?
Nick
You can turn it off though. We should let you.
Jack
But it also means that everything about Snapchat has finally been copied by Instagram.
Nick
And finally, Apple just had its best week on the stock market in five years. Why?
Jack
The CEO Tim Cook gifted Donald Trump with pomp and ceremony a golden statue.
Nick
A golden statue that said made in America. Which is ironic though, because the iPhone is not made in America.
Jack
Although it was seen as enough of a public flattering of the President to keep the iPhone exempt of tariffs and.
Nick
Just the right quantity of gold. Now time for the best fact yet, which because it's Monday, means T boy trivia. Jack, what do we got this week?
Jack
Nick, what is the most popular dinner served at the International Space Station?
Nick
That's right. Which food has been re engineered for space and is now the most requested dish?
Jack
I think it's the most eaten dish, right?
Nick
Yeah, it really is. Okay, so Yetis, here are the four options and you can vote in our Spotify poll right now. Is it hamburgers, peanut butter pizza or ramen?
Jack
Drop us your comment on the most popular dinner at the International Space Station and vote on our Spotify poll.
Nick
And don't say dippin dots. That wasn't an option, although it was our first guess. Yetis, you look fittin. You hear that, Jack?
Jack
Oh, is that a Labubu rave?
Nick
I got a Labubu rave to guess. We gotta end the show. Yetis, you look fantastic. If you haven't yet, tap to follow us and that way you can hang out with T boy every Saturday.
Jack
Nick and I will see you tomorrow.
Nick
And before we go, a happy birthday to legendary Yeti Anthony Lewis down in Bethlehem, Georgia who's also fantastic husband.
Jack
Happy 30th birthday to Diana Yu in.
Nick
Beijing, China and Jonathan Davis turning 37 years old in Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey.
Jack
And happy birthday to Sam Mott from Virginia, the best euchre player on the east coast.
Nick
And a happy birthday to Yo Yo Chuang celebrating all the way over in Taipei.
Jack
Taiw Happy birthday to Rich Jafay in Powley, Pennsylvania. T boy gives him and his daughter a reason to connect daily. We're honored by that.
Nick
And a congratulations to Yeti Antonio nicad and the NG Cash team in Brazil who just raised 27 million bucks from Andreessen Endeavor and a whole bunch of.
Jack
VCs and happy 13 years together. To Sammy and Jaime Arteaga in Everett, Washington just outside Seattle.
Nick
And Joe and Emily Driano in Bellingham, Washington are first time parents to a real time human. Congratulations and happy five anniversary to Rahm.
Jack
And Prasanthi in Dallas, Texas.
Nick
And Steven and Michelle Scheck are buying a home in Colorado. Congratulations guys.
Jack
Congratulations to Chloe Boroff in Greenville, South Carolina for finishing that physical therapy class. This is Jack. Nick and I both own ETFs at the S&P 500 and we both own stock of Apple and Shopify. And I own stock in Disney and Netflix. And I own stock of Crocs. So I guess I'm both Dickensian Tails.
Nick
You're the Cinco Jack.
Jack
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 survey@wondery.com survey we want to get to know you.
Unknown
In the summer of 1925, a small Tennessee town became the battleground for the fight between science and faith in America's public schools. Hi, I'm Lindsey Graham, host of Wondry's podcast, American Historytellers. We take you to the events, times and people that shaped America and Americans, our values, our struggles and our dreams. In our latest series, when a young science teacher agrees to participate in a test case orchestrated by the ACLU to challenge Tennessee's ban on teaching evolution, he lands in the center of a raucous spectacle, the infamous Scopes monkey trial. Legendary attorneys Clarence Darrow and William Jennings Bryan face off in a sweltering Tennessee courtroom as the world watches fundamentalist Christianity clash with modern science, setting the stage for battles over education and religious freedom for decades to come. Follow American Historytellers on the Wondery app or wherever you get your podcasts. Experience all episodes ad free and be the first to binge the newest season only on Wondery. Join Wonder plus in the Wondery App, Apple Podcasts or Spotify. Start your free trial today.
Podcast Summary: The Best One Yet – Episode 🍣 “Miso Pilates”
Host: Nick & Jack Studios
Episode Title: 🍣 “Miso Pilates” — Nobu’s hospitality empire. ChatGPT-5’s therapist. Crocs vs Stocks. +Labubu Raves.
Release Date: August 11, 2025
Overview:
In the first segment, Nick and Jack delve into the impressive expansion of Nobu, the renowned Michelin-starred Japanese fusion restaurant. With 56 locations and 42 hotels worldwide, Nobu has recently ventured into the wellness industry by launching its very own Pilates studios.
Key Points:
Historical Growth:
Nick shares a personal anecdote from high school, reminiscing about his first visit to Nobu in Tribeca back in 2003, highlighting the restaurant's longstanding association with celebrities and high-quality cuisine.
Global Expansion:
Nobu's strategic growth includes not just restaurants but also hotels and fitness centers. The brand has plans to open 40 more hotels globally, spanning from Tulum to Orlando and even into Saudi Arabia.
Business Model:
Unlike many restaurant chains, Nobu licenses most of its locations, similar to McDonald’s. This approach has allowed rapid scaling while maintaining brand consistency.
Financial Insights:
Each of Nobu’s 56 restaurants generates an average of $10 million in annual revenue, totaling approximately $500 million from food and beverage alone. Interestingly, Nobu’s CEO revealed that each restaurant seat generates revenue comparable to each hotel room, emphasizing the high turnover and efficiency in their dining establishments.
Notable Quotes:
Takeaway:
Nobu’s success lies in its ability to maintain unwavering consistency across all its ventures, catering to high-end consumers who expect premium quality. By expanding into hotels and fitness, Nobu has effectively diversified its portfolio while reinforcing its luxury brand image.
Overview:
The second story explores the divide in the American economy between consumers who invest in the stock market and those who purchase everyday items like Crocs. This split highlights differing economic sentiments and spending behaviors across income levels.
Key Points:
Earnings Reports Insight:
Nick and Jack analyzed recent earnings reports, noting that 20% of the S&P 500 had reported, revealing a stark contrast in CEO perspectives.
Consumer Sentiment:
Low to Middle-Income Consumers:
Companies like Crocs, McDonald's, and Under Armour reported that consumers in these segments are downsizing or reducing spending due to ongoing inflation and high prices. McDonald's CEO noted a double-digit drop in visits during the second quarter (10:19).
High-Income Consumers:
Conversely, firms such as Disney, Uber, and Shopify reported positive consumer indicators, suggesting that higher-income individuals continue to spend freely. For instance, Disney and Uber did not observe signs of consumer weakness (11:00).
Economic Implications:
This divide creates a Dickensian tale of two economies, where the top 20% of income earners account for half of all consumer spending (13:25). However, since only half of Americans own stocks (13:43), the prosperity from the stock market boom isn't benefiting the entire population.
Notable Quotes:
Takeaway:
The current economic landscape reveals a significant disparity in consumer confidence and spending power. While the stock market's highs bolster the financial well-being of affluent investors, the broader population faces economic pressures, leading to decreased spending in essential and mid-tier sectors.
Overview:
The final major story focuses on the launch of ChatGPT-5 (the Cinco) by OpenAI, touted as the biggest development in AI. This latest iteration not only enhances coding capabilities but also introduces therapeutic functions, transforming AI from a simple tool into a more nuanced assistant.
Key Points:
Launch and Valuation:
Enhanced Features:
For Developers:
The updated version offers “vibe coding”, allowing users to describe an app concept, and ChatGPT-5 can generate the entire program from scratch (18:06).
For General Users:
Upcoming features include integration with Gmail and Google Calendars, enabling ChatGPT-5 to act as a personal assistant that can manage emails and schedule meetings proactively (18:54).
Therapeutic Capabilities:
Addressing past criticisms, ChatGPT-5 now functions more like a therapist for high-stakes personal decisions. Instead of providing direct answers to significant life choices, it engages users with therapeutic questioning to help them find their own resolutions (19:56).
User Experience:
Notable Quotes:
Takeaway:
ChatGPT-5 represents a significant leap in AI capabilities, bridging the gap between functional assistance and emotional support. By integrating therapeutic functions, OpenAI is positioning ChatGPT-5 not just as a tool for tasks but as a companion that aids in personal decision-making, thereby broadening its appeal and utility.
While not part of the main three stories, the hosts briefly touch upon the cultural phenomenon of Labubu Raves:
Notable Quotes:
Conclusion:
This episode of "The Best One Yet" offers a multifaceted look into the evolving landscapes of luxury hospitality, economic disparity, and cutting-edge AI technology. Through engaging discussions and insightful analysis, Nick and Jack provide listeners with a comprehensive understanding of these pivotal topics, enriched with their signature humor and relatable anecdotes.
Notable Quotes Recap:
Stay Tuned:
For those interested in staying updated with the latest in pop-business news, consider tuning into future episodes of "The Best One Yet" by Nick & Jack Studios.