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Jack
This is Nick, this is Jack.
Nick
Welcome back. It is Tuesday, T Boy, Tuesday, May 27, and today's part is the best one yet. And this is a T boy, the.
Jack
Top three pop business news stories you need to know today.
Nick
I mean, Jack, what's the opposite of bon voyage? Because I'm back, baby.
Jack
You're back from France. How's your trip, man?
Nick
Actually, Jack, I got two other words for you. Merci beaucoup for the Google Maps you sent me of your Paris recommendations. Yeah, thank you, man.
Jack
Yeah, yeah, yeah. Everybody knows I went on a Paris trip last year, right?
Nick
Yeah, we heard it in multiple episodes.
Jack
Well, I shared with Nick all the Google Maps pins of the best spots in Patit.
Nick
You were like a digital rat tattooie. It was so helpful. More for that on another pod. In the meantime, Jack, three fantastic stories for today's show. What do we got on the T boy?
Jack
For our first story, the surprise movie winner of the summer, it may be.
Nick
Lilo and Stitch, because Stitch, a blue alien surfer stuffed animal thingy, has stealthily become Disney's top selling character.
Jack
For our second story, the House of Representatives passed President Trump's big beautiful bill last week.
Nick
So Jack and I are calling it now. This summer is gonna have big debt, energy.
Jack
And our third and final story is a wild new trend. Women are turning into monsters at night to look beautiful during the day.
Nick
And one podcast is powering the entire monster. Beauty, eye, mask, trend, movement.
Jack
A lot of nouns there. I like a lot of attitudes on.
Nick
We gotta throw those in.
Jack
But yetis, before we hit that wonderful mix of stories.
Nick
What a mix of stories to come back to. No one else is starting the week with this mix.
Jack
Jack, welcome back to the office.
Nick
But a quick work update. Before you sit at that cubicle, there.
Jack
Are two words you may not say.
Nick
Because it's Spotify, they have now banned two words from being said in any.
Jack
Meeting, later and offline.
Nick
Get this, every week, Spotify's top team holds a three hour meeting.
Jack
Quick side note, that is way too long a meeting.
Nick
Oh, yeah, A meeting over three hours is legally a corporate retreat.
Jack
Better have a private chef attending that meeting with like full three catered meals.
Nick
I'm out of there after 45 minutes, Jack. But back to our story. In these meetings, Spotify has banned later and offline from being said.
Jack
So you may not say, we'll figure that out later. And you can't say, let's take it.
Nick
Offline because you're in the meeting now, so why figure it out later? And you're already online. So why go offline?
Jack
They call this real time resolution and.
Nick
We call this an idea we love.
Jack
Because raise your hand if you're overwhelmed with follow up tasks.
Nick
Right now y' all got the f u f the follow up fatigue.
Jack
I have like four notes on my iPhone that are just various types of to do lists.
Nick
I actually have a note about your notes but we'll circle back on that. Jack so Yetis, if you do try to circle back today or if you.
Jack
Try to put a pin on that subject or if you try to tackle.
Nick
The low hanging fruit first and then take care of the other action items.
Jack
By eod, well Spotify will spank you true story.
Nick
Or Daniel Ek will hit you with the sweetest fish. Yetis we are all online now. So Jack, let's hit our three stories right now. 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. First, a quick word from our sponsor.
Jack
Airbnb. Nick, can you share that wonderful quote about hospitality we heard recently?
Nick
Jack I think I read this in the Danny Meyer book, but he said something like hospitality is anticipating someone's needs beyond expectations.
Jack
I love that quote. When I have a guest booked to stay at my place, I try to meet that hospitality standard and I do so by letting them know ahead of time events happening in the area.
Nick
Pro tip. Your favorite jam band is playing at your favorite burger place Wednesday night. Probably let your guests know about that one.
Jack
I also completed a full travel guide within my Airbnb listing, sharing my personal favorite recommendations and secret spots.
Nick
What kind of stuff's in that travel guy?
Jack
Jack that swimming hole is so remote you can definitely swim in the nude and you won't get any issues.
Nick
Hey, no George Costanza shrinkage that we know of. Yetis, your actual house, your apartment, your condo is just one part of the Airbnb hosting experience.
Jack
I've really enjoyed the soft parts of hospitality, anticipating my guests needs beyond their expectations.
Nick
If this sounds your style and you enjoy a naked jump into a stream, you can become an Airbnb host too. As long as you got a place.
Jack
I'm proud of my 4.92 rating and my wife is proud of the revenue we're generating with that rating.
Nick
Yetis, your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much@airbnb.com host we are.
Jack
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Nick
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Jack
Their chocolate flavored collagen powder turns a coffee into a mocha. It also adds 18 grams of protein and no sugar.
Nick
That's how I know you've been drinking this stuff. You caught that fact check right there, Jack. I'm a vanilla guy, though, and honestly, the vanilla flavor tastes like it was flown in from Tahiti on those beans.
Jack
Yetis, you don't want your body to fall into a collagen recession, especially after you hit 30.
Nick
No, you don't. Well, by taking collagen peptides daily, you can help support your hair, skin, nail, bone and joint health.
Jack
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Nick
That's vitalproteins.com promo code T Boy for 20% off.
Jack
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.
Nick
For our first story, the summer movie season just began this weekend, but one franchise is shockingly winning it all.
Jack
Not Mission Impossible. Lilo and Stitch. Yeah, it's stealthily become Disney's surprise profit puppy.
Nick
Simba? Moana? Elsa? No, thank ya.
Jack
We want the blue surfing alien from Hawaii.
Nick
That would be Stitch for the uninitiated. An adorably destructive alien pet who lands on the islands of Hawaii in a Disney movie.
Jack
Stitch befriends a girl named Lilo. Together, they surf, they laugh, they cuddle, they bond.
Nick
Stitch kind of looks like a mischievous rodent. French bulldog, if you will.
Jack
Yeah, he does. Kind of like a Pokemon, too. Now, the first Lilo and Stitch movie was way back in 2002, but Lilo and Stitch is making Disney rich today.
Nick
Get this. Stitch Merch sales are up 10x in the last five years to $2.6 billion.
Jack
It's now Disney's top toy, Stitch.
Nick
Jack, could you sprinkle on some context, please?
Jack
Lilo and Stitch's merch sales for Disney is bigger than Birkenstock, Allbirds and glossier sales combined. Are you kidding me?
Nick
I'm not kidding you, Jack. I mean, we dove in T boy style. Lilo and Stitch has the highest number of merch collapse of any Disney character.
Jack
Right now, Pet Smart sells a Lilo and Stitch dog pool with a built in canopy. And I just bought it.
Nick
Graceland, the estate of Elvis Presley, sells an entire Stitch collection.
Jack
Because apparently this little blue alien loves Elvis music.
Nick
In the last Disney earnings call, they mentioned Stitch six different times. Jack. Apparently Mick is getting jealous.
Jack
That's more than MUFAs.
Nick
Someone's getting sued. But besties. Here's what Jack and I found fascinating about this story. Stitch is now Disney's top IP winner. But there's a plot twist.
Jack
The first Lilo and Stitch movie was a financial disaster.
Nick
That's right. The Original Stitch movie 23 years ago got just $273 million worldwide at the box office.
Jack
Those aren't adorable numbers.
Nick
No, no, no, no, no, they're not.
Jack
Hollywood's not liking that at all.
Nick
Yeah, we'll sprinkle on a little more context to this movie story as well.
Jack
Frozen, Zootopia, Beauty and the Beast. They all brought in over a billion dollars at the box office. Lilo and Stitch barely covered their budget.
Nick
This is what's so shocking. Like we cannot emphasize enough how wrong Disney was about Stitch.
Jack
Back to the toys. Disney predicted Lilo and Stitch toy buyers would be 7 to 12 years old.
Nick
And they were totally wrong.
Jack
40% of fans are kidults.
Nick
That's right. 30 year old millennial Millie is living the Stitch lifestyle. With a Stitch handbag, a Stitch pajamas, and probably the six Stitch stings that Jack just put in his shopping cart.
Jack
Which brings us to the news. Over the weekend, the live action remake of Lilo and Stitch pulled off a Mission Impossible.
Nick
Because this new movie did an estimated 120 million to 150 million bucks in box office sales.
Jack
Which would beat Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible, which just did their last movie.
Nick
Stitch is more athletic than Tom Cruise. So Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over at Disney?
Jack
Everyone wants to see themselves in the mirror, mirror on the wall.
Nick
Yetis another reason this Stitch surge is such a surprise. Stitch is anti Disney.
Jack
Disney built its IP archive on blue blooded characters. We're talking old money, traditional. They got like mansions full of books.
Nick
It's aspirational. From Snow White to Simba to Yoda. These are elites.
Jack
But Stitch is a troublemaker who probably will break your washing machine and total your car.
Nick
But interestingly, Stitch is also a blank slate. Nationless, raceless, ageless.
Jack
I think he's a boy alien. But they never officially clarify in the movie.
Nick
No they don't, Jack. Stitch is not quite a hero. But Stitch is also not Quite a villain, in fact. Add it all up and this sounds like the most human Disney character of all.
Jack
This alien is so human.
Nick
And that key detail explains why Stitch has become Disney's top selling merch.
Jack
It's the relatability of Stitch. He's a hot mess, not a hot princess.
Nick
And right now, that relatability over aspiration is winning. For our second story, the U.S. house just passed Trump's Big Beautiful bill on Thursday.
Jack
If the Senate passes this and it becomes law, then prepare for big debt energy.
Nick
Yeti's in an absolute nail biter. Republicans passed a massive budget bill at 6am after an all nighter.
Jack
The score was 215 to 214.
Nick
That's the scoreboard.
Jack
Every Democrat voted against it. All but three Republicans voted for it.
Nick
And this is called the One Big Beautiful Bill act. And it includes all the policies that Trump campaigned on.
Jack
If this 1000 page bill passes the Senate and becomes law, it will add $4 trillion to America's debt. Now, we should point out, Yetis, $4.
Nick
Trillion could buy you every publicly traded company in Germany.
Jack
I think you could buy every publicly traded company in Germany and France.
Nick
Also, with $4 trillion, you could make 8 million do Avengers movies.
Jack
That is insane.
Nick
There are literally not enough plot lines for that. Yetis, for $4 trillion, we should point out, you could buy every public company in Germany.
Jack
Seriously? Yeah. With $4 trillion you could make 11,000 more Avengers movies.
Nick
Superman would be exhausted, but you could make 11,000 of those movies for this kind of money.
Jack
So what did we actually spend $4 trillion on with this bill?
Nick
All right, well, Jack and I got the receipts first. More military and border security by a combined 200 billion in this bill.
Jack
There's also an increase in the Salt deduction from $10,000 to $40,000, which is big for people who pay a lot in local and state taxes.
Nick
And there's the most viral part about this bill, the end of the tax on tips.
Jack
There's also an end of the tax on overtime and on car loan interest.
Nick
Payments, although that was going to end in 2028.
Jack
But Nick, what are we actually going to spend $4 trillion on with this bill?
Nick
Well, Jack, I got the receipts right here. First, we are spending more on the military and border security by a combined billion with a B dollars.
Jack
We would also increase the state and local taxes deduction from $10,000 to $40,000, which would be big for people who live in high tax states.
Nick
And there's the most viral part about this bill, which is the End of the tax on tips.
Jack
This bill also would end taxes on overtime income and end taxes on car.
Nick
Loan interest payments, although all those will end in 2028.
Jack
But the big one is that this Bill extends Trump's 2017 tax cuts, which were due to expire this year.
Nick
Now, the extension of Trump's 2017 tax cuts, which benefited corporations and wealthy people the most, cost more than the rest of the bill combined. This is the huge line item.
Jack
So the total cost of the big beautiful bill is $5 trillion, but it's offset by $1 trillion in savings, which.
Nick
Means add it all up, carry the one, add the three. This is a $4 trillion bill.
Jack
Some of the savings are the repeals of clean energy policies and passed during the Biden administration.
Nick
And it's also going to require states to create work requirements for low income people to receive Medicaid.
Jack
But overall, this is a wholesale Trumpification of the U.S. economy.
Nick
But Jack, before we go, let's go back to that $4 trillion price tag for a second.
Jack
How many zeros is that?
Nick
It's a bunch of Avengers movies worth of zeros, Jack. So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies who are everyone in the American economy this summer?
Jack
We're gonna have big debt energy Yetis.
Nick
This is the first time in a while investors are talking a lot about American debt levels, not just investors.
Jack
At a coffee shop. We weren't talking about the weekend concert you just saw. You were talking about the 10 year treasury yield.
Nick
Yeah, Jack, we were on a date the other night and like one couple at the table next to us was getting hot over the bond market because.
Jack
Global buyers of American debt don't like this bill at all.
Nick
No, they don't.
Jack
They sold their US Bonds again last week.
Nick
So the interest rate America pays on its 10 year government bonds is not now up one full percentage point since last September, even though the Fed, our.
Jack
Central bank, has cut interest rates by 1%.
Nick
Yeah, our interest rate on our national debt is still going up.
Jack
It's going up even though we're lowering the benchmark interest rate.
Nick
Now, why is this happening exactly, Jack?
Jack
Year after year, Democrat or Republican Congress is showing total disregard about our debt levels.
Nick
Spending more money with less tax revenue. That just makes the debt worse. Which is why we also got our debt downgraded from AAA last week.
Jack
Yes, this big beautif bill could stimulate the economy, but investors are more than ever worried about debt.
Nick
So debt, bonds, interest rates, treasuries, suddenly everyone is talking about all of them.
Jack
That's why we're calling this moment Hot Debt Summer.
Nick
Now a quick word from our sponsor, Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile. I don't know if you knew this, but anyone can get the same Premium Wireless for $15 a month plan that I've been enjoying. It's not just for celebrities. So do like I did and have one of your assistant's assistants switch you to Mint Mobile today. I'm told it's super easy to do@mintmobile.com.
Jack
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Nick
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Jack
Face masks, mouth tape. Here's why Women are monstering themselves for their night routine.
Nick
Women are experiencing it, men are observing it and children are freaking out about.
Jack
It because when they go to bed at night, girlfriends are transforming into monsters on purpose.
Nick
Get this. According to the Wall Street Journal, it is the monster beauty trend. And what does it mean? Jack?
Jack
You go to bed looking freaky so you can wake up looking.
Nick
We're talking face masks that make you look like a murderer, lips covered by.
Jack
Mouth tape all night, no heat, hair.
Nick
Curlers that honestly would give you nightmares.
Jack
It's like Mrs. Doubtfire.
Nick
Hello. Now the goal here is actually pretty.
Jack
Clear dew, your skin, clear breathing to sustain your sleep through the night and just beautification overall.
Nick
Basically high maintenance at night to be low maintenance, hot in the morning and do it all while looking like Jason from the Halloween movies.
Jack
Yeah, we've got data to back up this trend. Searches for mouth tape have 10X'd in the past three years.
Nick
And honestly, full disclosure, even Jack wears the occasional face mask as part of his 42 step nighttime skin routine.
Jack
It is so moist. It's like a blobby blanket for your face. Yeah, I've never bought one, but I've put the ones on that Alex has handed me.
Nick
I've seen the pictures and we cannot show them publicly, Jack. But yetis, this is what Jack and I found so fascinating. This nighttime monster beauty trend is so big, the Wall Street Journal did two epic stories on it last week.
Jack
But we found the one brand dominating this trend. And the business actually starts with a podcast.
Nick
That's right, the Skinny Confidential podcast.
Jack
Lauren Bostick's wellness empire pioneered these extreme beauty hacks that we're talking about.
Nick
This podcast is now the number one show in the education category on Apple Podcasts.
Jack
And along with her husband, they own Dear Media, a podcast network with 100 shows predominantly catering to wellness girlies.
Nick
Now, Lauren Bostick and her hubby affectionately refer to themselves as human guinea pigs with these health hacks that they've pioneered since 2011.
Jack
Raw milk makeovers, okay?
Nick
Castor oil body patches.
Jack
This is the real thing. Salmon sperm facials.
Nick
If you have to ask, you don't want to know anymore. We're talking scary beauty hacks right now.
Jack
And once she's tried them out and attested to them, her followers buy them on the Dear Media shop.
Nick
Yeah, we got the data on this, too. Her face rollers have done 16 million in sales, and her mouth tape just did 7 million in sales.
Jack
Have you ever rolled your face with a frozen face roller?
Nick
I did it with an ice cream pint, Jack, and I wasn't against it. I like it. Appreciate it.
Jack
It's like that Saratoga face bath that that guy went viral for. Yeah, but you don't even get wet.
Nick
Well, apparently, she's also pioneered this morning shed where your skin peels off your face. And let me tell you, you don't want to see that in the morning either. Are we becoming snakes now with pseudo scientific? These freaky products are achieving beautiful results.
Jack
We wouldn't be shocked if l' Oreal or another big beauty company buys Skinny Confidential and Dear Media because it's that powerful these days.
Nick
That's right. But, Jack, I got to go back to our original question. Why is monster beauty the new trend? Why this tension of opposites, of beauty and beast?
Jack
Yeah.
Nick
Yeah, that's what I'm thinking. So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies monstering over beauty?
Jack
The job to be done theory explains all of this.
Nick
Yeti's Harvard Business School professor, Clay Christensen came up with the concept that every product is for a job to be done.
Jack
In other words, people don't buy products. They hire products to do a specific job.
Nick
Think about it like this. I need to get A to B, so I hire Uber. I need to feel confident in the gym So I hire Lululemon.
Jack
I need to stop my skin from aging. I'm hiring this crazy face mask I'll wear every night.
Nick
Basically, we don't care how they look when we're sleeping in bed. Nobody's watching. We just need this job to be.
Jack
The job to be done is a reminder that customers focus on the outcomes. They hire a product for their function.
Nick
So, besties, it's the job to be done theory that explains why you'll look like a monster.
Jack
For beauty, the job to be done is look beautiful. Doesn't matter if you look like a monster at night.
Nick
Jack, could you whip up the takeaways for us for the four day work week?
Jack
Stitch from Lilo. And Stitch is the top merchandised character of all of Disney right now.
Nick
Because everyone wants to see themselves in the mirror, mirror.
Jack
For our second story, the house passed Trump's big beautiful bill, which would add an additional $4 trillion to our debt this summer.
Nick
It's got big debt energy. We're calling it Hot Debt Summer.
Jack
And our third and final story, monstering at night to look beautiful during the day. It's the trend pioneered by Skinny Confidential.
Nick
And the jobs to be done framework explains how you don't buy products, you hire products.
Jack
But yetis, this pod's not over yet. Here's what else you need to know today.
Nick
First wild update from Klarna. Remember last week we did that story on Klarna, the buy now, pay later company?
Jack
Yes.
Nick
Well, get this. Klarna just revealed its earnings were not delivered by its human CEO.
Jack
They tricked us. The video of their CEO reporting their earnings was an AI avatar, not the real CEO human being. Klarna.
Nick
They're not just replacing their customer service with AI bots, they're replacing their CEO too.
Jack
We told you, they're trying to rebrand. From buy now, pay later to an AI company.
Nick
And second, the hottest ticket in town this week is next to Timothee Chalamet over at msg, baby.
Jack
Because the Knicks are in the Eastern Conference finals. And if you want to sit next to timothee chameleon courtside, 60 grand is the ticket.
Nick
The Knicks haven't gone this far in the playoffs since I was in first grade in the late 90s. Go New York. Go New York, Go.
Jack
And for the third time in a row, the Knicks are in the Eastern Conference playoffs against the Pacers.
Nick
And finally, we have more details on the OpenAI. Jony, I've AI gadget coming next year.
Jack
All right, it's reportedly gonna be pocket sized. Contextually aware Screen free and not eyewear.
Nick
Yeah, it's according to a leak to the Wall Street Journal. Now, what does contextually aware mean, Jack?
Jack
I think it's gonna mean that it's listening to everything you're doing.
Nick
Mm.
Jack
So when you ask it a question, you don't have to provide context. It's already on the same page. It's right there with you.
Nick
Also, no screen. Do you think this means hologram? Are we like it in a Star wars hologram, it's either gonna be voice.
Jack
Only, like a really, really good series. Or maybe it has a projector on your hand. Or it could be a hologram.
Nick
Our money's on Princess Leia hologram. Now time for the best fact yet. And because it is T Boy Tuesday, it is tbiy trivia on Heinz ketchup.
Jack
It's officially summer, so you probably poured some ketchup onto a burger last weekend.
Nick
Actually, 100% sure that ketchup was Heinz ketchup.
Jack
But do you know why Heinz has the number 57 on the bottle hint?
Nick
It's not the 57th variety of ketchup or of any Heinz product.
Jack
So why do they call it number 57 on every Heinz product?
Nick
Well, we just did a whole deep dive episode in the Best Idea yet on Heinz, and we'll tell you the answer on this show tomorrow. Yetis, you look fantastic over there. Jack, I'm so glad we circled back to the takeaways at the very end, you know.
Jack
Are we going offline?
Nick
No, we kept things online.
Jack
Spotify's not gonna spank us another.
Nick
They're not gonna spank us. That's good. That's good. Yetis, you look fantastic. Remember to drop down and give us five stars and a review that helps us grow the show.
Jack
Do it right now so you don't have any follow ups.
Nick
Yeah, perfect. And then later, you can hyh. Tby.
Jack
Nick and I will see you tomorrow. Can't wait.
Nick
And before we go, a shout out to Saurav Bunya from Chicago doing logistics, who's joining McKinsey in San Francisco after graduating. Congrats, Saurav.
Jack
And happy birthday to Adam Ross in Seattle, a brand new T Boy fan.
Nick
Also, additional shout out. Saurav used a T Boy story as a case prep for their interviews for McKinsey. Pretty awesome.
Jack
And finally, a big shout out to Savor Travels. My travel agent actually hooked me up with that epic Paris Google Maps pinning situation.
Nick
Oh, that Google Maps Paris map was incredible. Savor Travels. Thanks for whipping that up for Jack. And now for me. And if you want a shout out on this show, we got a link in the episode description. Fill it out and we'll get you on the pod.
Jack
This is Jack. I own stock in Birkenstock and Disney and Nick and I both own stock in Spotify and Apple. 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.
C
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Podcast Summary: The Best One Yet Episode: 👺 “Nighttime Beast, Daytime Beauty” — The Ugly Beauty Trend. Hot Debt Summer. Lilo & Stitch’s Recipe.
Hosts: Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell
Release Date: May 27, 2025
Duration: 24:26
Overview:
Jack and Nick delve into the surprising resurgence of Disney’s beloved character, Stitch, highlighting how this once-overlooked character has surged to become Disney’s top-selling merchandise icon.
Key Points:
Stitch’s Popularity Surge:
Despite the original 2002 Lilo & Stitch movie's modest box office performance of $273 million, Stitch has become a merchandising phenomenon, with sales skyrocketing to $2.6 billion over the past five years.
"Stitch Merch sales are up 10x in the last five years to $2.6 billion." [06:05]
Shift in Disney’s Strategy:
Unlike traditional Disney characters that embody aspiration and elitism, Stitch represents relatability and imperfection, resonating deeply with the “kidult” demographic—adults who maintain childlike interests.
"Stitch is the most human Disney character—a hot mess, not a hot princess." [09:48]
Box Office Success of Remake:
The live-action remake of Lilo & Stitch outperformed major franchises like Mission Impossible, grossing between $120 million to $150 million, signaling a shift in Disney’s focus towards more relatable and unconventional characters.
"The live-action remake pulled off a Mission Impossible because Stitch is more athletic than Tom Cruise." [08:33]
Insights:
Cultural Resonance:
Stitch’s relatability over traditional aspirational characters signifies a broader trend in consumer preferences, favoring authenticity and imperfections over idealized figures.
Merchandising Strategy:
Disney’s misjudgment of Stitch’s potential initially allowed for a delayed but explosive success, emphasizing the importance of understanding and adapting to evolving audience demographics.
Overview:
The hosts discuss the recent passage of President Trump’s expansive budget bill, detailing its implications for the U.S. economy and national debt.
Key Points:
Legislative Passage:
The House of Representatives passed the bill with a narrow margin of 215 to 214, marking a significant legislative achievement.
"The score was 215 to 214. Every Democrat voted against it. All but three Republicans voted for it." [10:05]
Financial Implications:
If enacted, the bill will add $4 trillion to the national debt, exacerbating concerns among investors and leading to the downgrade of the U.S. debt rating from AAA.
"This summer is gonna have big debt energy. We're calling it Hot Debt Summer." [13:19]
Bill Provisions:
Key components include increased military and border security spending, enhanced state and local tax deductions, and the elimination of taxes on tips, overtime income, and car loan interest (effective until 2028).
"It will add $4 trillion to America's debt." [12:50]
Insights:
Economic Concerns:
The significant increase in national debt raises alarms about long-term economic stability, with rising interest rates and reduced investor confidence being immediate repercussions.
Policy Shifts:
The bill represents a “Trumpification” of the U.S. economy, undoing several Biden-era policies and reinstating tax cuts primarily benefiting corporations and wealthy individuals.
Investor Reaction:
Global buyers are resistant to the bill’s implications, leading to selling of U.S. bonds and increasing national interest rates despite the Federal Reserve’s rate cuts.
"Global buyers of American debt don't like this bill at all." [13:46]
Overview:
Exploring a novel beauty trend where women adopt monstrous appearances at night to achieve flawless beauty during the day, the hosts analyze its origins and business impact.
Key Points:
Trend Description:
The “monster beauty” trend involves using extreme beauty hacks—such as face masks that distort facial features, mouth tape, and night-time hair styling tools—to maintain impeccable daytime appearances.
"Women are monstering themselves for their night routine." [15:53]
Origins and Influence:
The trend is largely driven by the Skinny Confidential podcast, where Lauren Bostick and her husband experiment with avant-garde beauty techniques, significantly influencing their audience’s purchasing decisions.
"This podcast is now the number one show in the education category on Apple Podcasts." [17:39]
Sales Impact:
Products like face rollers and mouth tape have seen exponential sales growth, with face rollers generating $16 million and mouth tape $7 million in revenue.
"Her face rollers have done 16 million in sales, and her mouth tape just did 7 million in sales." [18:13]
Insights:
Consumer Behavior:
Utilizing the “Job to Be Done” theory, the trend illustrates how consumers prioritize functional outcomes (flawless appearance) over aesthetic preferences during specific contexts (daytime professionalism).
Market Potential:
The success of niche wellness and beauty brands like Skinny Confidential highlights opportunities for major beauty companies to acquire and integrate innovative trends into their product lines.
Cultural Reflection:
The juxtaposition of monstrous night-time transformations with daytime beauty standards reflects societal pressures to maintain perfection, driving the adoption of extreme beauty practices.
Nick Martell:
"Stitch is the most human Disney character—a hot mess, not a hot princess." [09:48]
Jack Crivici-Kramer:
"We gotta throw those in." [01:28]
"Everyone wants to see themselves in the mirror, mirror on the wall." [08:51]
Nick Martell:
"This is the first time in a while investors are talking a lot about American debt levels." [13:19]
Jack Crivici-Kramer:
"I'm proud of my 4.92 rating and my wife is proud of the revenue we're generating with that rating." [04:44]
Klarna’s AI-Driven Leadership:
Klarna has replaced its human CEO with an AI avatar for earnings reports, signaling a shift towards AI integration in corporate leadership.
"Klarna just revealed its earnings were not delivered by its human CEO." [20:50]
Upcoming OpenAI Gadget:
OpenAI is set to launch a pocket-sized, contextually aware, screen-free device next year, sparking speculation about its functionalities.
"It's gonna mean that it's listening to everything you're doing." [21:49]
Cultural Trivia:
The episode teased an upcoming discussion on why Heinz labels its products with the number 57, encouraging listeners to tune in for the reveal.
"Why do they call it number 57 on every Heinz product?" [22:40]
In this episode of The Best One Yet, Jack and Nick provide a compelling mix of cultural, economic, and beauty trend insights. From Disney’s strategic pivot with Stitch to the significant economic implications of the Big Beautiful Bill, and the rise of the unconventional monster beauty trend, the hosts deliver engaging content enriched with data and thoughtful analysis. This episode underscores the dynamic interplay between consumer behavior, corporate strategy, and broader economic policies shaping today's landscape.
For listeners who missed the episode, this summary offers a comprehensive overview of the key discussions and insights shared by Jack and Nick. Stay tuned for more updates and in-depth analyses in future episodes of The Best One Yet.