The Best One Yet – Episode Summary

Podcast: The Best One Yet

Hosts: Nick Martell & Jack Crivici-Kramer (Nick & Jack Studios)

Episode: 🚗 “Why Elon should sell” — The Tesla solution. Boston Celtics’ fine print. Fashion coffee chains

Date: March 24, 2025

Episode Overview

In this lively, fast-paced episode, Nick and Jack break down three big stories at the intersection of business and pop culture: Tesla's brand crisis and a radical potential fix, the Boston Celtics' record-breaking sale laced with a surprising catch, and the curious rise of fashion-house coffee chains. Throughout, the hosts offer sharp insights, memorable banter, and their signature "takeaway" analysis, all peppered with humor and firsthand anecdotes.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tesla’s Brand Crisis & The “Elon Solution”

[05:54–10:53]

• The Situation: Tesla is currently the worst performing stock in the S&P 500, with sales in China and Europe down 50%. Its highly anticipated Cybertruck was massively recalled, and a record number of owners are trading in their cars.

  • “Tesla is officially the worst performing stock in The S&P 500 so far this year.” (Nick, 05:54)
  • “In the news headlines, Tesla's getting totaled... Tesla is going through the worst period in the history of the car.” (Nick, 08:01)
  • “Tesla owners are trading in their Teslas... at record rates, we're talking three times higher rates than before the election.” (Nick, 08:39)

• Elon’s Pep Rally: Elon Musk hosted an upbeat all-hands event for employees, urging belief in Tesla’s future via AI and humanoid robots.

  • “Elon is so bullish right now on Tesla. He even asked employees to not sell their shares.” (Nick, 07:08)
  • Audio Clip: “We work together in a way that allows us to ask the hard questions. This is the product that will retire fossil fuels.” (Tesla all-hands, 07:22)

• Disconnect Between Image and Reality: Despite Musk’s optimism, actual company performance is deeply troubling. Even politically progressive early adopters are abandoning the brand due to negative association with Musk.

  • “Progressives who tend to buy Teslas, don't want them anymore.” (Nick, 08:33)

• The Takeaway:

  • Nick & Jack’s Solution: The only path to save Tesla’s brand is for Elon Musk to fully sell his Tesla shares:
    • “The only way to fix Tesla's brand crisis is if Elon sells all his Tesla stock.” (Jack, 09:34)
    • “Whether Elon is CEO or not doesn't really matter. If Elon owns the stock, then he is part of the brand.” (Nick, 10:12)
  • Precedent: Elon left PayPal after selling his stock—he could do the same with Tesla, then move on to his passion projects (e.g., Mars).

2. Boston Celtics’ Record-Breaking Sale (and Fine Print Surprise)

[10:53–15:51]

• Historic Sale: The NBA’s Boston Celtics sold for $7.3 billion, topping the sale price for any North American sports team.

  • “Last week, the biggest sale in North American sports history went down. The Boston Celtics sold for 7 billion bucks.” (Jack, 11:03)

• The Catch: The sale did NOT include rights to the team's arena (TD Garden), which is still owned by the Boston Bruins (NHL), nor will the buyer get front office control until 2028.

  • “This deal to buy the sell doesn't include the arena.” (Jack, 13:00)
  • “Not owning the arena is a huge deal economically. Real estate is how pro sports teams make the most money.” (Jack, 13:34)
  • “The Celtics are one of the least profitable teams in the NBA... they're beating the Knicks, but they're losing in the spreadsheets, man.” (Nick, 14:36)

• The Takeaway:

  • Sports Teams as Collectibles, Not Businesses: Pro sports franchises’ value isn’t tied to profitability but scarcity and cultural influence.
    • “Sports teams aren't businesses. They're collector's items.” (Jack, 15:10)
    • “Most people buy things looking for profit or a return. But sometimes people buy things just for the power it gives them.” (Jack, 15:32)

3. Fashion-House Coffee Shops: “Never Be Selling”

[18:05–21:56]

• Trend Watch: Luxury and mid-tier fashion brands—including Ralph Lauren, Gucci, Prada, Fendi, Coach, and even Zara—are opening branded coffee shops around the world.

  • “Fashion houses are launching coffee chains because the best salesmen don't sell.” (Jack, 18:12)
  • “I discovered Ralph's Coffee—a coffee chain with two dozen locations.” (Nick, 18:45)

• Strategy: The coffee shops are stand-alone brand gateways, not attached to retail stores, with themed décor and branded drinks. Their effect is to introduce consumers to the brand “ethos” at a much lower price-point than the core products.

  • “These coffee chains are the corporate equivalent of a handshake or an embrace.” (Jack, 20:26)
  • “You can’t afford a $10,000 Gucci bag, but you can afford the $10 Gucci latte... you understand Gucci’s style without actually owning Gucci.” (Nick, 20:34-20:50)

• The Takeaway:

  • "Never Be Selling": The most effective brand introductions may come from not overtly selling at all.
    • “What fashion coffee houses prove is that maybe it's better to never be selling.” (Jack, 21:26)
    • “The very fact that there is no selling involved, ironically, could sell you on the brand. It's an overlooked way to sell something. Never be selling.” (Jack & Nick, 21:46)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Nick’s Financial Poem for Jack’s Baby Son

  • “Jack, your son has arrived. He's a shining little beauty. But can we talk financial planning for this charming little cutie?... I'm hooking up your son with a 529.” (Nick, 01:53)
  • “This boy's future is gonna be built on a foundation of financial responsibility.” (Jack, 03:06)
  • Memorable banter and real congratulations for Jack’s month-old son Oakley, including Nick gifting Crocs stock in a 529 college plan.

• Tesla Story in a Nutshell

  • “Sell the company now.” (Nick, 06:08)
  • “Hang onto your stock. It was quite a pep rally to boost the morale of employees.” (Jack, 07:13)

• On the Celtics Sale:

  • “They're winning games, but they're not winning income statements. Yeah, they're beating the Knicks, but they're losing in the spreadsheets, man.” (Nick, 14:36)

• On Fashion Coffee:

  • “Stella McCartney, she's the new Starbuck.” (Nick, 19:56)
  • “Cappuccinos, so hot right now.” (Jack, 20:02)
  • “It's me. I'm Gucci. Nice to meet you. Let's talk in a few years.” (Nick, 20:59)

Important Timestamps

• Tesla Crisis & “Elon Solution”: 05:54–10:53
• Boston Celtics Sale & Fine Print: 10:53–15:51
• Fashion Coffee Chains (“Never Be Selling”): 18:05–21:56
• Memorable Banter / Financial Poem: 01:40–03:19

The Pod’s "Big Takeaways":

• Tesla: Only way to fix Tesla’s brand crisis? Elon selling all his stock.
• Celtics: Sports teams aren’t valued as businesses—but as scarce, power-bestowing collector’s items.
• Fashion Coffee: The best way to sell is to never appear to be selling: “Never be selling.”

Additional Quick News Bites

• IPO Market is Heating Up: StubHub, Klarna, and Hinge Health are all filing to go public. (22:40–23:00)
• JPMorgan Chase’s DEI programs now called DOI (“Diversity, Opportunity, Inclusion”) to emphasize opportunity over outcomes. (23:00–23:17)
• World Happiness Report: Finland is #1 for the 8th year; US drops to 24th. (23:17–23:51)

Tone & Style

• Energetic, conversational, loaded with puns and quick-witted analogies.
• Hosts share real-life anecdotes and inject humor into even the most “spreadsheet-y” topics.
• Clear structure: Each story ends with a “takeaway”—a concise, actionable insight.

For Listeners Who Missed It:

This episode delivers a whirlwind, insight-rich look at three headline-worthy business stories, complete with actionable business lessons and memorable banter. Whether you want to understand how Tesla might turn its brand around, why sports teams sell for billions despite poor profitability, or how luxury brands are using coffee shops as a subtle but potent gateway to customer loyalty, Nick and Jack have distilled the week's best into digestible, high-energy commentary.