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Nick
This is Nick.
Jack
This is Jack.
Nick
It's Wednesday ceviche Wednesday, June 25th. And today's pod is the best one yet. And this is a T boy.
Jack
The top three pop business news stories you need to know today. Yetis.
Nick
Do you remember when we covered Poppy on the pod? Poppy, the prebiotic soda brand that sold to Pepsi for 2 billion bucks.
Jack
Guess what? We're getting the Poppy co founder on the pot.
Nick
Yeah, we're gonna interview Poppy's creator, Alison Ellsworth on this show.
Jack
So if you got a question for Poppy, ask us on Instagram and we'll ask her in the interview.
Nick
But Jack, in the meantime, we've prepared a fantastic T boy for today's pod. What do we got on the show.
Jack
For our first story? The big IPO right now is America's biggest cement business, the king of concrete has gone public.
Nick
Perfect timing, Jack. Cause what was your favorite case study in business school, my friend?
Jack
It was about cement.
Nick
Yes.
Jack
And we're gonna tell it in the takeaway for our second story. It's the perfume Pop. Gen Z, generally, and teen boys in particular are splurging on fragrances.
Nick
But another driver of cologne, Sal. Right now, it's Ozempic users. And they're doing it for a concerning reason.
Jack
And our third and final story, Father's Day was 10 days ago, but we just discovered something wild about it.
Nick
This year's Father's Day was taken over by AI.
Jack
This story is about Father's Day.
Nick
I.
Jack
You see what I did there?
Nick
He gets me every time I look at it.
Jack
But Yetis, before we hit that wonderful mix of stories.
Nick
Whoa. What a fantastic mix. No one else is doing that mix, Jack.
Jack
The biggest new fashion trend is also the most offensive.
Nick
Jorts have gone from cringe to cool. And Jack and I got the data to back it up.
Jack
Shorts. Jean shorts. Yep. It's the most awkward combo since the merman.
Nick
Picture a pair of Levi's and then cut them off at the knee.
Jack
Now, when I was 12, my cousin ripped on me for wearing jorts.
Nick
Really?
Jack
He publicly humiliated me, and I've stashed mine in the attic ever since.
Nick
But yeah, good news. The jorts have moved out of the ick. This is the mullet of fashion, baby.
Jack
Get this, Yetis. Google searches for jorts are up 5x in the last three years, and sales of jorts have just hit an all time high.
Nick
GQ just named denim shorts the fashion look of 2025.
Jack
Even Gwyneth Paltrow is wearing jorts these days.
Nick
But that pair actually cost her 4,125 bucks. No joke. Got the receipts.
Jack
Now, what we love about jorts the most, besides the PTSD Nick just gave me, is that jorts also fit in a long line of hybrid clothing combos.
Nick
Or as Jack and I like to call it, turducken fashion.
Jack
Turducken fashion.
Nick
Yeah. Because you've got jorts jean shorts and you've got jeggings jean leggings. You've got skorts skirt shorts and you've got shackets shirt jackets. Although our personal favorite is the cardigan.
Jack
Is that half cardigan, half gown?
Nick
Actually, it's half gown, half cardigan, Jack.
Jack
But the most lucrative of all was crocodile socks, aka Crocs. That portmanteau is now worth 6 billion.
Nick
If you know, you know. And now you know.
Jack
Isn't a velvetini a velvet bikini, Jack?
Nick
That's a sh. Food. But I think, yes, you can wear it in some occasions. Yeti salute your jorts and Jack, let's hit our three stories.
C
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.
Jack
Start the show.
Nick
First, a quick word from our sponsor.
Jack
IBM.
Nick
Jack. Remember dongles, like each piece of tech had its own plug and none of it worked together.
Jack
That's where a lot of businesses are with AI.
Nick
Discover AI that can work seamlessly across your data and applications. @IBM.com the AI built for business.
Jack
IBM, Airbnb now.
Nick
Yeah, it is. Jack mentioned his favorite skinny dipping spot. Where was that again?
Jack
I did a bunch of people ask me about that. But, Nick, there's nothing better than swimming in mother Nature with the outfit mother gave you.
Nick
I mean, you know what they say. It's not the summer unless you're outside naked at some point and nobody knows it.
Jack
Now, another way to do that is an outdoor shower. And I should mention, my place has one of those, too.
Nick
And how is it possible you have an outdoor shower, Jack?
Jack
Because I'm an Airbnb host.
Nick
True.
Jack
Now, I usually spend my Airbnb hosting income on travel for the family, but this time we earmarked it for a home upgrade.
Nick
Now, Jack, I should point out I'm no carpenter. But out there shower, it ain't cheap. You got the cedar wood install. You got the copper pipes, the French drains.
Jack
But with the money we're making on Airbnb, it was affordable. We put it in last year.
Nick
Well played, Yetis.
Jack
I'm an Airbnb host. With my current chalet and with two previous apartments, I can tell you it's.
Nick
Very easy to use besties. Millions don't realize their space could be an Airbnb. You already have an Airbnb. You could be yodeling naked outdoors with fresh shampoo in your hair in the.
Jack
Outdoor shower, paid for by your guests.
Nick
Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how much@airbnb.com host for our first story. The newest IPO on Wall street is the biggest cement company in America.
Jack
Because the cement industry is bigger than you realize. Yes, it is, but don't call it a commodity.
Nick
All right, Jack, let's kick things off with a hero stat. What is the most used substance on earth after.
Jack
After water? It's cement. According to mit.
Nick
Get this. Every second, the world uses enough cement to fill a 10 story building.
Jack
Glass can't do that.
Nick
No, it can't. And cement, it is not a modern invention. Is it not?
Jack
It goes all the way back to ancient Greece and Rome. Lava based cement is the reason why the Roman Colosseum is still standing.
Nick
If you're listening to this pod in the Pantheon, you can thank cement now.
Jack
Since the 1800s, the cement has been a mixture of limestone, clay and water. We don't need lava anymore.
Nick
We swapped it for the limestone. But today, cement is really the quiet MVP of modern life.
Jack
And the biggest producer of cement in America is a company called Amrise.
Nick
Which leads to the news. The Swiss parent company of Amrise separated the company and spun it out onto the New York Stock Exchange on Monday.
Jack
It's a brand new publicly traded company. After Monday's IPO, it's got $11 billion.
Nick
In revenue, $1 billion in profit, and is worth 30 billion DOL. That's like 5, 6 lifts.
Jack
This is the Coca Cola of concrete.
Nick
It is the Disney of drywall. It is the Procter and Gamble.
Jack
Nick. I know there's some carpenters listening. Drywall is not concrete.
Nick
Of pavement. I was thinking pavement. That's the word I was looking for.
Jack
It's a little better.
Nick
I had some more, Jack, but I've run dry.
Jack
What about asphalt? The Amazon of asphalt.
Nick
We're pushing the Alphabet right now, Jack. We're pushing it. But here was our surprise Besties. The biggest driver of concrete growth is shockingly, AI.
Jack
Here's the context. Yetis cement is the most local business we've ever covered.
Nick
Because cement is so heavy, you have to have local plants sprinkled throughout the country.
Jack
You gotta have a nearby concrete plant or you're not getting concrete.
Nick
You can't ship cement from a central hub in Missouri to New York City. It's too heavy. It'll be dry by Tennessee.
Jack
So Amrise has done hundreds of acquisitions, and they now have 1,000 locations across all 50 states.
Nick
Basically, mom and pop concrete shops sold to Amerise and it became Big Concrete.
Jack
But here's the key. Big tech needs AI. AI needs data centers, and you can't.
Nick
Build a data center without cement.
Jack
So the reason this old school cement company is growing as fast as Snapchat. Yeah, it's AI.
Nick
Yeah. Concrete slabs are like mattresses for the servers. They keep them cool.
Jack
Like we've said, everything digital comes back to something physical.
Nick
Amri's doc jumped on its IPO because cement is piggybacking on the top trend in tech.
Jack
That's right. Cement is related to AI.
Nick
So, Jack, could you please pour on a takeaway for us for our buddies over in cement?
Jack
Commodities only exist in the mind of the inept.
Nick
All right, Yetis incredible business school case study that Jack did at Michigan that is, like, burned into his memory. You want to share it with us, Jack?
Jack
Nick, cement is a commodity, right? And with commodities, the lowest price wins because every product is the same.
Nick
Wrong. Even cement can be branded and sold for a higher price because people can trust it.
Jack
And we've got proof in Amerise's IPO paperwork.
Nick
We do.
Jack
They mentioned the word brand 57 times even though they're in the concrete business.
Nick
Because this concrete company has an eco brand with a lower carbon footprint. They've got recycled brands. They sell climate resistant brands. Different price points for their different brands.
Jack
Bottom line builders and homeowners are willing to pay more for a brand they perceive as higher quality.
Nick
That is how Amrise turned 11 billion bucks in revenue into an impressive $1 billion in profit.
Jack
Sy, it is the same product in Indiana as in India. But don't call it a commodity, because.
Nick
Commodities only exist in the mind of the inept. For our second story, the fragrance industry is booming right now. It is the perfume pop, especially for the luxury house Gucci.
Jack
Who's driving the perfume surge, though it's teens, boys, and Ozempic users.
Nick
Now, Yetis, we have told you about.
Jack
The luxury lull in this Moment of economic uncertainty. You're holding off on buying that $15,000 Birkin bag.
Nick
That's a next year purchase. But in the meantime, the parent company of Gucci saw its sales shrink 14% last quarter.
Jack
But the one division that actually grew was their fragrance division.
Nick
That's right. Gucci's fragrance sales jumped 6% last quarter to 71 million euros.
Jack
People are going gaga for Eau de Gooch now, over.
Nick
Overall, fragrance sales in America actually rose 12% in 2024.
Jack
And for the most expensive type of perfume, sales rose 43% last year.
Nick
But things get even wilder because it turns out every part of your body is getting spritzed with scents these days.
Jack
Body spray sales are up 95% last year. Hair fragrance sales are up 32% last year.
Nick
It's like winter, Jack. We're layering, but we're doing with colognes right now.
Jack
Fragrance has become a full body industry.
Nick
One sec, Jack. Something's in the air, and I think it's the fragrance business.
Jack
It smells like pint spearmint. And is that profit, Jack?
Nick
That is odd. The profit.
Jack
Now, what's so wild about the boom in perfumes, colognes, and fragrances? It's the people who are driving it.
Nick
Because Gen Z Overall is into fragrances.
Jack
Yeah. For them, how you smell is just as important as how you look.
Nick
83% of Gen Zers are using fragrances, according to Circana.
Jack
But a New York Times article from last year is titled this. When did Teen boys get a nose for a $300 cologne?
Nick
Now, to sprinkle on. Sorry, Spritz on some context here. When Jack and I, Melissa Millennials, were teens, we applied a little Old Spice to your armpits and you were done.
Jack
But high school boys today are spritzing the fancy stuff.
Nick
That's right. The new male status symbol is a bottle of something you can't pronounce.
Jack
There's a billion views on TikTok for the hashtag smellmaxing. As teen boys trade out Axe Body Spray for Acqua di Parma.
Nick
Head over to the locker room. And the football team has ditched deodorant for Christian Dior.
Jack
But, Nick, we haven't even gotten to the biggest surprise of this fragrance story.
Nick
No, no, no, we haven't. Jack, do you want to reveal besties out there?
Jack
Yeah, Ozempic.
Nick
That's right. Ozempic.
Jack
GLP1 is driving fragrance sales, too.
Nick
Yeah, get this, Besties. But according to Nielsen, perfume use among weight loss drug users is up 23% since last year.
Jack
You start using WeGovy, you start buying Calvin Klein. Yeah.
Nick
If it smells, it sells. First the Brotox, now the Ozempic perfume. Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies looking at the perfume?
Jack
Pop? If you suppress one sense, you must compensate with another.
Nick
Now, Yetis, Jack and I were surprised that teen boys are driving fragrance sales, but we were more surprised than Ozempic users did.
Jack
So what's the connection between this weight loss drug and perfume? It's sense compensation.
Nick
Yeah. Follow us on this one. GLPs dull your cravings for food so you eat less, and that is why you lose weight.
Jack
But users are now seeking sensory inputs they no longer get from food.
Nick
Basically, even though your appetite for food is gone, your appetite for satisfaction is not.
Jack
So weight loss drug users are getting a high on cologne since they don't get a high on cake anymore.
Nick
Exactly. And the way Jack and I see it, that's actually a big issue for the future of this weight loss drug.
Jack
Yeah, people derive satisfaction from eating delicious foods, but with Ozempic, that satisfaction goes away.
Nick
So Ozempic users are spritzing themselves with perfume to make up for it.
Jack
Because if you suppress one sense, you must compensate with another.
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 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 for you.
Jack
Because BetterHelp has over 10 years of experience matching people like your friends with therapists.
Nick
As the largest online therapy provider in the world, BetterHelp can provide access to mental health professionals with a diverse variety of expert.
Jack
Check it out.
Nick
With BetterHelp, our listeners get 10% off their first month at betterhelp.com tboy that's BetterHelp.
Jack
H-E-L-P.com tboy monarch money.
Nick
All right, Jack, can I tell you about my smh? What is that? That stands for my stupid money habit. You ready for this? I just realized I spent $412 last month on taxis.
Jack
Nick, that's a car payment.
Nick
I know. I could have probably just bought another car at this point.
Jack
Now Nick only realized how much he spent on Uber's, Lyfts and Yellow Cabs thanks to Monarch Money.
Nick
Monarch. It isn't just a budget. It is like a personal cfo.
Jack
Now I'm using Monarch Money, too. My favorite part.
Nick
Yes, Jack.
Jack
I've actually retired my net worth spreadsheet. Seriously?
Nick
Really?
Jack
Because I have every single financial account I own linked to Monarch Money.
Nick
You can immediately see your net worth because Monarch Money refreshes all your account balances instantly.
Jack
So to help you track and build your net worth, Monarch Money is offering 50% off your first year for listeners of this pod.
Nick
And it's not just us. Over a million households already use Monarch Money.
Jack
The Wall Street Journal already named it the best budgeting app of 2025. Yeah, we're not even halfway through the year.
Nick
No, we're not. And I think I just spent 10 more dollars on a taxi. So, besties, get control of your overall finances with Monarch Money.
Jack
Even though Nick apparently can't use code.
Nick
T Boy@monimalmoney.com in your browser for half off your first year.
Jack
That's 50% off your first year if you go to monarchmoney.com and use code T Boy.
Nick
For our third and final story, something strange happened a little over a week ago on Father's Day, everyone wrote the same Father's Day message.
Jack
We call it Father's Day Eye because with AI, blandness can replace creativity.
Nick
Now, Yetis, Jack and I told you in May that the two biggest days of the year for phone calls are.
Jack
Mother's Day and Father's Day.
Nick
Well, turns out those days are also the top days for Facebook posts as well.
Jack
But did you notice the Father's Day posts this year were more eloquent than ever?
Nick
Jack. Like, your buddy Travis dropped out of high school, but he wrote a whole poem about his dad this year.
Jack
When did Travis learn iambic pentameter?
Nick
How did Travis figure out how to make a haiku?
Jack
It's not just you, Yetis. It's part of a broader trend that we call Father's Day Eye.
Nick
Father's Day Eye.
Jack
All the Father's Day messages were written.
Nick
By AI Jack, did Travis just reference a stanza from Maya Angelou how is that possible?
Jack
We found the culprit. The source of this viral trend of similar sounding Father's Day captions is Microsoft.
Nick
And we found the smoking gun too, because on May 20th Microsoft published this.
Jack
Specific blog plan a Father's Day celebration with AI.
Nick
Now in the post, Microsoft suggests a handful of prompts to enter into AI to help you for Father's Day.
Jack
Provide ideas for a short and sweet message I can write in my Dad's.
Nick
Father's Day card Create an outline for a sentimental Father's Day message How should.
Jack
I end a Father's Day note?
Nick
Now, anecdotally, Jack and I can tell you that a lot of people use this. And how do we know that Jack?
Jack
Because every Father's Day post last week smiled similar to my wonderful dad.
Nick
Thank you for always being there with your guidance and your big heart.
Jack
Your love has been my steady rock through everything with all my heart your son.
Nick
Now funny thing besties. Apparently TikTok noticed this trend as well.
Jack
Yeah, viral videos of others pointing out Father's Day messages that sounded similar because.
Nick
That one page poem might have impressed your dad who doesn't realize it was written by AI.
Jack
But eventually a tidal wave of AI written blandness will be noticeable to all.
Nick
How did my 8 year old learn Shakespeare? And how did his 8 year old learn Shakespeare? So Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies staring into the AI Father's Day abyss?
Jack
AI is neither good nor bad. It depends how you use it.
Nick
Now yetis, we're not saying you shouldn't use AI to help you write or come up with ideas.
Jack
But we are saying that lazy use of AI will result in blandness.
Nick
Now in our research we found some examples that are awesome of using AI to be creative.
Jack
One son created a 12 month calendar to give to his dad, with each month showing an AI generated image of his dad doing something he loves during that month of the year.
Nick
I love that example Jack because it took effort, thoughtfulness, iteration and lots of inputs to tell AI precisely what to do that was unique.
Jack
Generic inputs will result in generic outputs. Unique inputs will result in unique outputs.
Nick
So Father's Day I teaches us this Yetis if nothing else at all, AI is neither good nor bad. It depends how you use it. Jack, could you whip up the takeaways for us for Ceviche Wednesday?
Jack
America's biggest cement company is now publicly traded after Monday's ipo.
Nick
But don't call it a commodity because commodities only exist in the mind of the inept.
Jack
For our second story. It's the perfume pop. Gen Z is driving a boom in fragrance sales. And Ozempic users are too.
Nick
Yeah, teen dudes. Because if you suppress one sense, you must compensate with another.
Jack
And our third and final story is Father's Day Eye. A flood of similar sounding Father's Day posts were written by AI.
Nick
Remember Yetis, AI is neither good nor bad. It depends on how you use it.
Jack
But Yetis, this pod's not over yet. Here's what else you need to know today.
Nick
First, President Trump may have had a mission accomplished moment because late Monday he.
Jack
Posted that he brokered a historic ceasefire between Iran and Israel.
Nick
But within 12 hours, both sides had staged attacks on each other. To Trump's frustration, he actually cursed about it on tv.
Jack
Still, stocks rose Tuesday and oil prices fell as investors bet that this truce will hold.
Nick
And second, Nvidia's CEO Jensen Huang just sold $865 million of his Nvidia stock.
Jack
He pushed the sell button and generated almost a billion dollars in cash.
Nick
Yeah, he must be buying a second house for his third yacht check.
Jack
But this is actually part of a sale. CEOs must announce publicly in advance when they're selling stock in their own company.
Nick
It's an SEC rule. Insiders with big stakes must announce their stock sales publicly.
Jack
And finally, McDonald's and Krispy Kreme are getting a divorce.
Nick
It sounded so smart in principle. McDonald's customers could get donuts. Krispy Kreme could get sales.
Jack
But in a very honest announcement, McDonald's announced that having Krispy Kreme donuts at McDonald's locations wasn't as profitable as they hoped.
Nick
Krispy Kreme Stock is down 70% this year. Apparently, donuts are not a treat yourself treat in this economy.
Jack
Or maybe you just prefer an egg McMuffin.
Nick
And Jack's investment in Krispy Kreme stock has turned into a not so sweet treat.
Jack
Thank goodness I didn't put my whole nest egg in it.
Nick
I think you hold, Jack. I think you hold.
Jack
I think so, too.
Nick
I think you hold.
Jack
The ticker symbol is donut. How could I not hold?
Nick
Now, time for the best fact yet. This one sent in by Herb Johnson from lovely Lansing, Michigan.
Jack
I think it's Herb Johnson.
Nick
He wrote herbs.
Jack
Yeah, Nick, he's not. He's not an oregano leaf.
Nick
As far as we know. Yeti's the Los Angeles Lakers sold last week for $10 billion. That is an NBA record.
Jack
Who sold? Jerry Buss did. Jerry Buss bought the Lakers in 1979 for just $67 million. Now he's selling for 10 billion.
Nick
But Yetis, this is what we found fascinating. What if Jerry Buss had put the $67 million he used to buy the Lakers back in 1979 into the S&P 500 instead?
Jack
If he had just bought stocks instead of buy the Lakers, it would actually be worth $11 billion today. If you include the dividends, he would.
Nick
Have made more money in the stock market than from owning the Lakers. After all these decades, I think this.
Jack
Is bright news for all of us. It means that you don't have to own a professional sports team to gain money and to get rich.
Nick
It's also the perfect example of opportunity cost. Your money could do one thing with this investment, but it could do another thing with that investment.
Jack
But seriously, The S&P 500? Great friggin investment.
Nick
Yeah, but Jack, if he'd invested in the stock market, he wouldn't have been able to hang out with all these cool dudes on the basketball team for the last 50 years.
Jack
True, the perks of being a Lakers owner was probably pretty cool.
Nick
Yetis, you look fantastic for ceviche Wednesday. If you are wearing jorts today, remember to drop down and give us five stars in a review because your beautiful fashion helps grow the pod and send.
Jack
Your thoughts and prayers to 12 year old me who still has emotional scars.
Nick
Trigger warning on the jorts.
Jack
I think I need to wear the jorts and not let the jorts wear.
Nick
Me drag and I will see you tomorrow. And before we go, a Happy Birthday to little Luke McCall over in San Francisco.
Jack
Happy 33rd birthday to Paula Ulloa in Orlando, Florida who loves Abercrombie, Steve Madden and Costco.
Nick
Sounds like a stock portfolio right there. And Zab schlack is turning 15 years old in El Dorado Hills, California. Happy birthday Zach.
Jack
Happy Birthday to Matthew in New Zealand.
Nick
The Kiwi and Derek and Holly Owens have their anniversary in Bismarck, North Dakota. They are whitewater rafting on the Colorado river to celebrate.
Jack
And a big shout out to Matt Young from Salt Lake City for sending us some fantastic ideas. And to anyone else celebrating something today, make it a T boy.
Nick
Celebrate the wins.
Jack
This is Jack. I own stock in Crocs, Amazon, Disney and Krispy Kreme as well as Lyft and Nick and I both own ETFs of the S&P 500. If you like the best one yet, you can listen ad free right now by joining Wondery and the Wondery app or on Apple Podcast Prime.
Nick
Members can listen ad free on Amazon.
Jack
Music and before you go, tell us a little bit about yourself by filling out a short survey@wondery.com survey we want.
Nick
To get to know you.
D
If you're looking for new ways to get ahead, then you're our kind of person. We're Udemy and we help learners like you upskill in AI productivity, leadership and management, and more. Learn at your own pace from real world experts. You can also prep for certifications that show employers what you know. Upskill for the career you want@udemy.com now back to your regularly scheduled listening.
Podcast Summary: The Best One Yet
Hosted by Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell
Episode: 🧢 “To Dad, Love A.I.” – Fathers’ D’AI, Gucci’s Ozempic Perfume, Big Concrete’s IPO
Release Date: June 25, 2025
In this episode of The Best One Yet, hosts Jack Crivici-Kramer and Nick Martell delve into three major business stories shaping today's pop-biz landscape. From the monumental IPO of America's leading cement company to the unexpected surge in the fragrance industry and the intriguing influence of AI on Father's Day messages, Jack and Nick provide insightful analysis and engaging commentary throughout the 20-minute segment.
[05:00 - 09:00]
The episode kicks off with an in-depth discussion about Amrise, America's largest cement producer, which recently went public on the New York Stock Exchange.
Nick emphasizes the significance of cement in the global economy:
“What is the most used substance on earth after water? It's cement. According to MIT, every second, the world uses enough cement to fill a 10-story building.” [05:24]
Jack reminisces about the historical aspects of cement, linking it back to ancient civilizations:
“It goes all the way back to ancient Greece and Rome. Lava-based cement is the reason why the Roman Colosseum is still standing.” [05:34]
The hosts highlight how Amrise has revolutionized the cement industry through strategic acquisitions, expanding to 1,000 locations across all 50 states. Nick draws a parallel between cement and AI, noting:
“The biggest driver of concrete growth is shockingly, AI.” [07:53]
Jack adds depth by explaining that AI’s demand for data centers directly boosts cement sales, as concrete is essential for building these facilities:
“Concrete slabs are like mattresses for the servers. They keep them cool.” [07:41]
Takeaway:
Jack: “Commodities only exist in the mind of the inept.” [08:23]
Nick: “Don't call it a commodity because commodities only exist in the mind of the inept.” [09:00]
Summary:
Amrise’s IPO marks a significant milestone in the cement industry, showcasing how traditional industries adapt and thrive by leveraging modern technologies like AI. By branding their cement products and focusing on sustainability, Amrise has transformed what was once considered a commodity into a valuable, diversified portfolio.
[09:00 - 12:58]
The second story explores the booming fragrance industry, with a spotlight on Gucci’s impressive sales performance despite broader economic uncertainties.
Jack points out the resilience of the fragrance sector:
“But the one division that actually grew was their fragrance division.” [09:42]
Nick provides staggering statistics illustrating the market growth:
“Fragrance sales in America actually rose 12% in 2024, and for the most expensive type of perfume, sales rose 43% last year.” [09:55]
The hosts delve into the demographics driving this surge, emphasizing the role of Gen Z and teen boys:
Jack: “For them, how you smell is just as important as how you look.” [10:37]
Nick: “83% of Gen Zers are using fragrances, according to Circana.” [10:44]
A particularly surprising factor contributing to the rise in perfume sales is the use of Ozempic, a weight loss drug:
“According to Nielsen, perfume use among weight loss drug users is up 23% since last year.” [11:29]
Jack explains the phenomenon:
“If you suppress one sense, you must compensate with another.” [11:55]
Nick adds a critical perspective on the future implications of this trend:
“Ozempic users are spritzing themselves with perfume to make up for it.” [12:00]
Takeaway:
Jack: “Pop? If you suppress one sense, you must compensate with another.” [11:55]
Summary:
The fragrance industry is experiencing unprecedented growth driven by younger consumers and unexpected factors like the use of Ozempic. This trend highlights the evolving nature of personal grooming and the complex interplay between health products and consumer behavior.
[15:00 - 18:17]
The final story examines the impact of AI on social media, particularly how it has homogenized Father’s Day messages.
Nick introduces the concept:
“We call it Father's Day Eye because with AI, blandness can replace creativity.” [15:37]
Jack and Nick observe a trend where Father's Day posts are unusually similar and eloquent, often sounding like they were written by AI:
Nick: “Jack, did Travis just reference a stanza from Maya Angelou how is that possible?” [17:17]
The hosts identify Microsoft as the source, referencing a blog post from May that provided AI-generated prompts for Father’s Day messages:
“On May 20th, Microsoft published this: Specific blog plan a Father's Day celebration with AI.” [16:24]
Jack shares user-generated content to illustrate the repetitiveness:
“All the Father's Day messages were written by AI.” [16:12]
Nick warns against over-reliance on AI for personal messages:
“Lazy use of AI will result in blandness.” [17:48]
However, they also highlight positive uses of AI when combined with personal effort:
Jack: “One son created a 12-month calendar to give to his dad, with each month showing an AI-generated image of his dad doing something he loves during that month of the year.” [17:53]
Takeaway:
Nick: “AI is neither good nor bad. It depends how you use it.” [18:03]
Summary:
AI's influence on personal expressions, such as Father's Day messages, raises concerns about the loss of genuine, heartfelt communication. While AI can enhance creativity when used thoughtfully, its misuse may lead to uninspired and generic content, detracting from meaningful human connections.
[19:00 - 21:56]
After covering the main stories, Jack and Nick briefly touch on several other business headlines:
Trump's Ceasefire Claims:
Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang's Stock Sale:
McDonald's and Krispy Kreme Split:
Los Angeles Lakers Sale:
Takeaways:
Jack and Nick conclude the episode by celebrating listener milestones and encouraging audience engagement. They emphasize the importance of thoughtful financial and personal decisions, reflecting on the stories discussed.
Nick on Cement Usage:
“Get this. Every second, the world uses enough cement to fill a 10 story building.” [05:24]
Jack on AI and Cement Growth:
“Concrete slabs are like mattresses for the servers. They keep them cool.” [07:41]
Nick on Fragrance Trends:
“83% of Gen Zers are using fragrances, according to Circana.” [10:44]
Jack on AI’s Role in Father's Day Messages:
“AI is neither good nor bad. It depends how you use it.” [18:03]
This episode of The Best One Yet offers a comprehensive look at pivotal business trends, from traditional industries adapting to modern technologies to the nuanced effects of AI on personal expressions. Jack and Nick's engaging dialogue, supported by relevant data and timely insights, provides listeners with a clear understanding of the current business landscape.
For more updates and detailed discussions, subscribe to The Best One Yet on your preferred podcast platform.