🪖“Army’s GeekSquad” — US Military’s Tech Recruits. Converse’s MJ moment. Din Tai Fung’s dumpling empire.

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Best One Yet – Episode: 🪖“Army’s GeekSquad” — US Military’s Tech Recruits. Converse’s MJ Moment. Din Tai Fung’s Dumpling Empire.

Release Date: June 16, 2025
Hosts: Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell
Duration: Approximately 26 minutes

---

Introduction

In this episode of The Best One Yet, hosts Jack Crivici-Kramer and Nick Martell delve into three compelling business stories that are shaping various industries today. From the resurgence of Converse in the NBA to the US Military's strategic recruitment of top tech talent, and Din Tai Fung’s impressive rise in the American restaurant landscape, this episode offers insightful analysis and engaging discussions.

---

1. Converse’s NBA Revival and the Launch of “Chuckmates”

[06:00 - 09:31]

Overview: Converse, historically a cornerstone in basketball footwear, is making a significant comeback in the NBA by aligning with the league's latest MVP, Shea Gilgeous Alexander (SGA). Additionally, the brand is expanding its reach by launching a unique dating show, “Chuckmates.”

Key Points:

• Historical Context: Converse was once the leading basketball shoe brand in the 1980s, partnering with legends like Larry Bird and Magic Johnson. However, the signing of Michael Jordan with Nike in 1984 marked a pivotal shift, leading to Converse being overshadowed in the basketball arena.

  Nick Martell at [06:38]: "The Converse All Star, aka the Chuck Taylor, aka my go-to shoe for playing pickup on 79th Street. Converse invented the basketball shoe in 1917."

• Current Revival: Converse is re-entering the basketball market by partnering with SGA, the NBA’s current MVP, positioning themselves as a formidable competitor to giants like Nike and Adidas.

  Jack Crivici-Kramer at [07:06]: "But not anymore. Because this year's NBA MVP, who is also playing in the NBA Finals, is Shea Gilgeous Alexander. And he's a Converse guy."

• Converse’s Strategy: Beyond footwear, Converse is innovating its brand presence by launching “Chuckmates,” a blind dating show where participants’ Converse sneakers are the focal point of attraction.

  Nick Martell at [07:39]: "It's a blind dating show hosted by Emelia Demoldenberg. And it's about Converse sneakers."

Notable Quote:

Jack Crivici-Kramer at [08:22]: "Converse is finally gonna sell a basketball shoe again. So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our Budd Yetis over at Converse?"

Takeaway: Converse is strategically leveraging its legacy and modern branding initiatives to reclaim its position in the basketball world while simultaneously exploring innovative marketing avenues like reality TV to engage a broader audience.

---

2. US Military’s Recruitment of Tech Executives from Meta, Palantir, and OpenAI

[09:37 - 13:37]

Overview: In response to the evolving landscape of modern warfare, the US Military has initiated Detachment 201, a reserve unit comprising top executives from major tech companies such as Meta, Palantir, and OpenAI. This move underscores the critical role of AI and technological innovation in national defense.

Key Points:

• Formation of Detachment 201: The US Army is integrating elite tech talent into its reserves, reflecting a strategic pivot towards leveraging advanced technology in military operations.

  Nick Martell at [10:54]: "What Jack and I are saying here is that America's top techies are now in the Army's newest unit and it's called Detachment 201."

• Roles and Responsibilities: These tech executives will not be involved in combat but will provide invaluable expertise in AI-powered systems, software optimization, and operational efficiency.

  Nick Martell at [12:32]: "Basically, you think of these guys like the geek squad. But for the jarheads, that is the best way to sum this up."

• Historical Parallel: Drawing a comparison to World War II, where automotive companies like Ford and Chevrolet pivoted to support the war effort by manufacturing aircraft, the current trend highlights the symbiotic relationship between industry and military needs.

  Jack Crivici-Kramer at [11:32]: "We saw something similar happen 75 years ago when during World War II, the United States called on automotive companies to win that war."

• Palantir’s Dominance: Palantir stands out as the foremost tech contractor for the US Military, boasting an 84% increase in stock value this year alone.

  Jack Crivici-Kramer at [13:19]: "Palantir is the most important tech contractor for the entire US Military by far."

Notable Quote:

Nick Martell at [12:50]: "With flexible work weeks, bosses think there's less need for flexible Fridays."

Takeaway: The integration of top-tier tech executives into the US Military’s reserve units signifies a transformative approach to national defense, emphasizing the indispensable role of technology and AI in contemporary military strategy.

---

3. Din Tai Fung’s Dumpling Empire: The Power of the Number 18

[16:05 - 21:40]

Overview: Din Tai Fung, a family-owned Taiwanese dumpling chain, has skyrocketed to become the most lucrative restaurant chain in America. The secret behind their success lies in their meticulous 18-fold technique for crafting soup dumplings, which has become a cornerstone of their operational and corporate strategy.

Key Points:

• Expansion and Success: With 16 locations across the US, Din Tai Fung has outperformed major chains like The Cheesecake Factory, Benihana, and Olive Garden in sales per restaurant.

  Nick Martell at [18:03]: "Din Tai Fung... does four times as much [sales] as Chick Fil a."

• Operational Excellence: Each dumpling is meticulously folded 18 times, ensuring consistency, optimized taste, and operational efficiency across all locations.

  Jack Crivici-Kramer at [20:02]: "This is an intentional number. It is an engineered number. Din Tai Fung soup dumplings. They operate with the precision of SpaceX."

• Training and Consistency: The 18-fold technique is ingrained through a rigorous 12-week training program, ensuring that every employee adheres to the brand’s high standards.

  Nick Martell at [20:09]: "Because requiring each dumpling have 18 folds means you get the same size of every dumpling at every location."

• Financial Strategy: By standardizing the weight and size of each dumpling (21 grams), Din Tai Fung minimizes waste and optimizes supply chain logistics, contributing to their impressive sales figures.

  Jack Crivici-Kramer at [20:24]: "With every dumpling being 21 grams, because of the 18 fold, they can order the exact meat portions and not have any waste."

Notable Quote:

Nick Martell at [20:34]: "18 yetis. That is an intentional number. It is an engineered number."

Takeaway: Din Tai Fung’s dedication to precision and consistency through their unique 18-fold technique has not only elevated the quality of their products but also established a scalable and efficient business model, positioning them as a leader in the competitive American restaurant industry.

---

Additional Business Insights

While the three main stories form the core of this episode, Jack and Nick also touch upon supplementary business news that adds depth to the current economic landscape.

1. Decline of Summer Fridays as a Work Perk
   [02:04 - 03:02]

   • Overview: Once a highly valued workplace perk, summer Fridays are rapidly declining in prevalence among American companies.

   • Statistics: A recent Monster poll reveals that only 16% of US workers enjoy summer Fridays today, a stark drop from 55% in 2019.

   • Reason: The rise of flexible work arrangements, particularly work-from-home models, has diminished the need for flexible Friday schedules.

     Jack Crivici-Kramer at [02:57]: "We gained some flexibility Monday through Thursday. We lost some flexibility on Friday."

2. Meta’s AI Privacy Concerns
   [21:45 - 22:24]

   • Issue: Meta’s new AI chatbot, designed to compete with ChatGPT and Claude, has inadvertently become a privacy nightmare as users’ interactions are publicly visible on their newsfeeds.

   • Implications: Sensitive information intended for private use is now exposed, leading to user discomfort and privacy breaches.

     Nick Martell at [22:15]: "You're, like, sharing your tax info, your draft letters to lovers, confessions like, oh, I got a thing on my thigh."

3. Mattel and OpenAI Partnership
   [22:50 - 23:11]

   • Collaboration: Mattel has announced a partnership with OpenAI to integrate AI capabilities into Barbie dolls, aiming to enhance play experiences with a focus on innovation, privacy, and safety.

   • Impact: This move represents a significant step towards smarter, more interactive toys that can engage children in educational and entertaining ways.

     Nick Martell at [23:01]: "Mattel will bring the magic of AI to age-appropriate play experiences with an emphasis on innovation, privacy, and safety."

---

Conclusion

In this episode, Jack and Nick provide a rich and engaging exploration of pivotal business developments. From Converse’s strategic revival in the sports and entertainment sectors, the US Military’s forward-thinking recruitment of top tech talent, to Din Tai Fung’s unparalleled success through meticulous operational strategies, listeners gain valuable insights into how these entities navigate and shape their respective industries. Additionally, the discussion on the decline of summer Fridays and other business news segments offer a comprehensive view of the current economic and corporate environment.

Notable Closing Quote:

Nick Martell at [21:34]: "And it's all thanks to the number 18. That's not a lucky number. That's a lucrative number."

---

Stay Tuned: Join Jack and Nick in their next episode for more insightful business news and engaging discussions to keep you informed and entertained.

Transcript

[Nick]

This is Nick.

[Jack]

This is Jack.

[Nick]

Welcome back. It is Monday, June 16th, and today's pod is the best one yet. This is a T, boy.

[Jack]

The top three pop business news stories you need to know today.

[Nick]

But, man, Yetis, there is a lot going on right now across the country.

[Jack]

You have protests outside of the country, there's a new war in the Middle east.

[Nick]

And then on Saturday, a state representative from Minnesota and her husband were assassinated.

[Jack]

Yetis, we don't cover all that news on this show. That's not possible for us, and it's not what this show is about.

[Nick]

But here's the thing. Jack and I live and breathe the news every day to create this podcast. We feel it and we see it, just like you do.

[Jack]

What we do do is find the best business stories and takeaways that will make you the most interesting person in.

[Nick]

The room and make each episode the best one yet. So, Jack, we got three fantastic stories for today's T. Boy. What's on the show?

[Jack]

For our first story, the best player in the NBA finals is wearing the smallest shoe. Brand convers.

[Nick]

And Converse is launching a sneaker dating show. Jack, we gotta jump into this for our second story.

[Jack]

With war escalating in the Middle east, executives from Meta, Palantir and OpenAI are joining the US Army Reserves, literally, because.

[Nick]

Big Tech is the new drill sergeant.

[Jack]

And our third and final story. Guess what's the most lucrative restaurant chain in America?

[Nick]

You're never gonna guess it.

[Jack]

They're known for soup dumplings, okay? They're called Din Tai Fung.

[Nick]

Din Tai Fung. They make more per restaurant than anyone else in the country because of one lucky number.

[Unknown]

18.

[Nick]

18.

[Jack]

But, Yetis, before we hit that wonderful.

[Nick]

Mix of stories, I mean, what a mix of stories. Love the mix.

[Jack]

Today, Hawaiian shirt day. Cupcake birthday day. Bring your kid to work day.

[Nick]

But of all those office traditions, one is the most holy.

[Jack]

Summer Fridays.

[Nick]

Yeah, baby.

[Jack]

The time honored corporate law that workers may leave their desk three hours early.

[Nick]

On Friday, exclusively from June to August. Memorial Day, Labor Day.

[Jack]

You can ditch your desk by 12 and you're good.

[Nick]

Hit the Hamptons by 2pm you're really good.

[Jack]

We think summer Fridays is a productivity boost. It incentivizes you to work efficiently and get your work done early.

[Nick]

But get this, besties. New data shows that summer Fridays are going away. They're going extinct.

[Jack]

A poll conducted by Monster this month found that just 16% of U.S. workers get summer Fridays.

[Nick]

But according to a different survey back in 2019, 55% of American companies got summer Fridays.

[Jack]

So pre pandemic, most workers could leave work early on Friday. Today, very few can.

[Nick]

And Jack, what is the ironic force that is killing summer Fridays?

[Jack]

It's work from home any other day.

[Nick]

That's right. With flexible work weeks, bosses thinks there's less need for flexible Fridays.

[Jack]

We gained some flexibility Monday through Thursday. We lost some flexibility on Friday.

[Nick]

So besties, add it all up and yeah, we know summer Friday happens to be the top rated work perk.

[Jack]

So maybe there's a lesson here from Greek mythology to help it go down easier.

[Nick]

Like Icarus, the American white collar worker flew too close to the sun.

[Jack]

But the sun didn't burn our wings.

[Nick]

No, he didn't.

[Jack]

Just made us work till 5 o' clock on summer Fridays.

[Nick]

Happy summer Monday, Eddies. Jack. Let's hit our three stars.

[Unknown]

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 a 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 ready to go we can't wait no more so just start the show. Start the show.

[Nick]

First, a quick word from our sponsor.

[Jack]

Monarch Money.

[Nick]

All right, Jack, can I tell you about my smh? What is that? It 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 budgeting app. 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 to 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 even apparently can use code t [e-mail] 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. This podcast is sponsored by Northwestern Mutual.

[Nick]

Yet he's Lots of financial companies want to talk to you, but Northwestern Mutual wants to listen to you.

[Jack]

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

[Nick]

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

[Jack]

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

[Nick]

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

[Jack]

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

[Nick]

For our first story, the best player in the NBA Finals is wearing Converse sneakers.

[Jack]

And Converse just launched a dating show.

[Nick]

I'm sorry, pause the pod. What is going on here, Jack?

[Jack]

Here's how the inventor of basketball shoes is finally re entering basketball.

[Nick]

Now, Yetis, if you've seen the movie Air about Nike and Michael Jordan, then you know how Converse blew it.

[Jack]

In 1984, Converse had Larry Bird, Magic Johnson. They were the number one basketball shoe. Converse controlled the universe.

[Nick]

The Converse All Star, aka the Chuck Taylor, aka my go to shoe for playing pickup on 79th Street. Converse invented the basketball shoe in 1917.

[Jack]

But Michael Jordan signed with Nike, and the rest is history. In 2003, Nike actually bought Converse for less than a billion dollars.

[Nick]

Well, let's sprinkle on some financial context, Jack. Today, Nike brings in about $50 billion a year in revenue. How are our buddies over at Converse doing?

[Jack]

Well, they're only bringing in 2 billion, so 4% of Nike's overall revenue.

[Nick]

In fact, Yetis, today, Converse is less a basketball shoe. It's more of a streetwear brand.

[Jack]

Yeah, Converse is about rebels, not rebounds.

[Nick]

Wear Converse to the court. You wear it to get coffee.

[Jack]

But not anymore. Because this year's NBA mvp, who is also playing in the NBA Finals, is Shea Gilgeous Alexander. And he's a Converse guy.

[Nick]

And SGA is a Converse guy.

[Jack]

That's right. The biggest surprise of the NBA Finals is that Converse has snagged the spotlight from Nike.

[Nick]

But besties, as shocking as that headline was, this is is even bigger.

[Jack]

Converse just launched a dating show. It's called Chuckmates. And yes, it's a dating Show.

[Nick]

That's right. A blind dating show hosted by Emelia Demoldenberg. And it's about Converse sneakers.

[Jack]

Jack, here's the deal. Potential daters chat with each other, but they can only see the shoes that they're wearing. And of course, they're all wearing Converse.

[Nick]

You wear Chucks, you're going to get kisses.

[Jack]

No, I watched one episode. It was okay. The YouTube video got a million views. Not too shabby.

[Nick]

Not too shabby at all. Love is blind is bigger. But, hey, love is also well dressed in some cases.

[Jack]

And it's all part of a Converse nationwide ad campaign called Love Chuck.

[Nick]

All right, so, Jack, can we lace up for a second, add all this up for the besties out there.

[Jack]

A nationwide brand campaign, A flashy new dating show. They're on the court in the NBA Finals. What's next for Converse?

[Nick]

Well, Jack, Converse is finally gonna sell a basketball shoe again. So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our Budd Yetis over at Converse?

[Jack]

Converse is doing what Nike did 40 years ago. They're betting it all on one guy.

[Nick]

All right, Yetis, we saved the best for last. The real shocker here is that Converse does not sell a single basketball shoe right now. That's right. Converse only does casual street wear.

[Jack]

They still sell the Chuck Taylors, but those don't really qualify as basketball shoes anymore.

[Nick]

You're going to break an ankle as soon as you put that thing on, man.

[Jack]

But that's all changing now, because 10 years ago, Converse's basketball scout, Adrian Stelly met SGA while he was still playing in high school.

[Nick]

And Converse decided to go all in on this one player. So this fall, fresh off his MVP season, fans can finally buy the Shea 001 Converse sneaker.

[Jack]

Converse's first basketball sneaker in years.

[Nick]

So as next season tips off, Converse is taking on Nike, Adidas, and New Balance with one shoe. About one dude.

[Jack]

Just like Nike went all in on Jordan with a signature Jordan shoe, Converse is going all in on Shea with a signature Shay shoe.

[Nick]

That's right, Yetis. 40 years after Converse got Niked, Nike could get Conversed for our second story. As war in the Middle east escalates, we're looking at the US Army's newest surprise recruits.

[Jack]

Because on Friday, executives from Palantir, Meta, and OpenAI got promoted as military officers.

[Nick]

But besties, let's start this story with just a random coincidence. And what's that, Jack?

[Jack]

Donald Trump and the U.S. army have the same birthday. Yeah, it's June 14th.

[Nick]

One in 1946, the other back in 1775.

[Jack]

So in Washington D.C. they celebrated with.

[Nick]

The military parade and that display of military muscle. It came one day after two other major military events. One of them you probably saw, one of them you probably didn't see.

[Jack]

First is Israel attacking Iran's nuclear scientists and nuclear facilities. On Friday, stocks fell and oil prices rose because of it.

[Nick]

But the second story is that the US Military promoted four officers to the US Army Reserves.

[Jack]

They're tech workers. Yeah, including Andrew Boz Bosworth, the number two at Meta, who answers directly to Mark Zuckerberg.

[Nick]

Yeah, that guy Boz, who's usually on like a Dell computer typing away in some code, is now an army reservist.

[Jack]

Plus two other engineers and millionaires from Palantir and OpenAI. They're in the army besties.

[Nick]

What Jack and I are saying here is that America's top techies are now in the Army's newest unit and it's called Detachment 201.

[Jack]

This sounds like the plot of a sitcom.

[Nick]

It's like mash 2.0 basically, Jack, but.

[Jack]

It'S a real story. These tech reservists will only serve 120 hours a year. So they're weekend warriors, literally.

[Nick]

Although we should find out, unlike other Army Reserve members, there's no basic training involved. If you're coming from the big tech.

[Jack]

Industry, they don't have to like do 10 pull ups.

[Nick]

There's no push up minimum on these guys.

[Jack]

They're there for the brains, not the biceps.

[Nick]

That's what the service is for. But Jack, can you please sprinkle on some interesting historical business context for us, please?

[Jack]

We saw something similar happen 75 years ago when during World War II, the United States called on automotive companies to win that war.

[Nick]

That's right. Besties. Ford, Dodge and Chevrolet, they retooled their factories during World War II for aircraft. Instead of making cars, they started making.

[Jack]

Bombers instead of Buicks.

[Nick]

And it looks like something similar is happening right now. Today, generals say that the key to modern warfare is AI and drones tech business.

[Jack]

So we're recruiting from big tech.

[Nick]

And just like in World War II, tech companies are now pivoting their know how to support national defense.

[Jack]

Now we should point out these new recruits, they're going to be operating independently, not as part of the tech companies they're working for.

[Nick]

So Baz won't be working with Meta when he's helping out the military.

[Jack]

And these techies that they also won't be in any combat roles.

[Nick]

Instead they're going to be teaching soldiers how to operate AI powered attack systems, for example.

[Jack]

Or maybe simply review the systems of the military and give advice on how to improve software and operations.

[Nick]

Basically, you think of these guys like the geek squad.

[Jack]

But for the jarheads, that is the best way to sum this up.

[Nick]

So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our big tech buddies serving in the Army?

[Jack]

Tech is following the Palantir path.

[Nick]

Ah, the Palantir path. Yetis, ten years ago, the tech industry was full of and led by progressive optimists who didn't want to see their tech used by the military.

[Jack]

So big tech avoided doing business with the Army. And when they did, employees staged boycotts and protests.

[Nick]

But there was one exception here, wasn't there, Jack?

[Jack]

Palantir.

[Nick]

Yeah, Palantir.

[Jack]

That was the one company that for 20 years in tech has enthusiastically supported the US military.

[Nick]

You know what, Yetis? Today? Palantir is the most important tech contractor for the entire US Military by far.

[Jack]

And it's the biggest gainer of America's top 500 stock. So far this year, Palantir is up 84%.

[Nick]

So yet he's added up. And execs From Meta and OpenAI just joined the inaugural class of US Army Reserves, the Tech Corps.

[Jack]

But they're all following Palantir's path.

[Nick]

It's the Palantir path. 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, 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 coworker battle. Another was talking about, like, the future of fatherhood with their therapist. They were stressed about becoming a dad.

[Jack]

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

[Nick]

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

[Jack]

Because Better Help has over 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 expertise.

[Jack]

Talk it out With Better Help, our.

[Nick]

Listeners get 10% off their first [e-mail] t boy, that's betterhelp.

[Jack]

H E L P.com tboy Airbnb.

[Nick]

Now, Yetis, 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. True. 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 outdoor 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 [e-mail] host for our third and final story. A soup dumpling chain from Taiwan is taking over America, and it's called Dinh Tai Fung.

[Jack]

These 16 family owned restaurants have more sales than any other restaurant in America.

[Nick]

It's all because of one lucky number. And we got that number. But Jack, before we start this story, we have to point out the best dumplings in the country. Where would one find across the street.

[Jack]

From the apartment you and I had in New York City? It was called Vanessa's dumpling on East 14th street, and they sold a dozen dumplings, boiled or grilled, for three bucks.

[Nick]

We'd come home from work at the banks, and basically our buddy Timmy would have spent $12 for about 1,000 dumplings that he'd toss into our mouths. It was a fun time.

[Jack]

The sesame pancakes were fantastic as well.

[Nick]

They burned you, but it was a good burn.

[Jack]

But besties, the lines right now are for the first east coast location of Din Tai Fung.

[Nick]

Din Tai Fung, a Taiwanese dumpling chain that opened up in New York City one year ago.

[Jack]

And this location is huge. 25,000 square feet. It's a restaurant in midtown Manhattan the size of a Best Buy.

[Nick]

They now have 16 locations in the US so far. And basically, it's like the Disney World of dumplings. This is edible theater right in front of you.

[Jack]

Most of the locations are on the west Coast. This is the first east coast location. But the business actually goes back three generations to Taiwan.

[Nick]

It actually started as a cooking oil business before they pivoted to restaurants in 1958.

[Jack]

And now they specialize in soup dumplings, the most delicious thing in the world.

[Nick]

Hot, hot, hot, hot, hot.

[Jack]

And at the New York City location, they have 34 chefs who make 16,000 soup dumplings every day.

[Nick]

But the wildest part about those insane numbers is that there's no machinery involved. This is all completed by hand handmade dumplings.

[Jack]

More on that in a bit.

[Nick]

That's actually key to our story. But here's the shocker yet. Min Tai Fung is now number one in America for sales per restaurant.

[Jack]

By far, they did $411 million in sales last year in the U.S. which turns out to be 27 million per location.

[Nick]

All right, Jack, you used to be a waiter at the Olive Garden. I'm sorry, Wine salesman of the month at the Olive Garden. Could you please sprinkle on some context for us comparing this restaurant to other American restaurant chains?

[Jack]

One, Din Tai Fun does the same sales as two cheesecake factories, five Benihanas, or six Olive Gardens.

[Nick]

All right, Jack, what if we compare Din Tai Fung to fast food chains in America?

[Jack]

Chick Fil a has the highest fast food sales per restaurant. Dinh Tai Fung does four times as much.

[Nick]

So we did restaurant chains, we did fast food chains. What about, I don't know, Jack. Really expensive, fancy restaurants, fine dining.

[Jack]

Nobu, the most expensive sushi restaurant in New York city. Nobu does $10 million per location. Din Tai Fung does almost three times that much.

[Nick]

In fact, besties. As Jack and I jumped in t boy style, we could only find 14 restaurants in America with more sales than the average Din Tai fung.

[Jack]

And those 14 restaurants are all one offs. They're like fancy restaurants with Michelin stars.

[Nick]

Dinh Tai Fung has 16 restaurants doing 27 million bucks, baby.

[Jack]

It's a combination of high end and scalable that we've never seen in the restaurant industry.

[Nick]

And Din Tai Fung, family owned, they have no franchises. And yet they have multiple locations punching above their weight, making Ronald McDonald choke on a fry.

[Jack]

So how does Din Tai Fung, or dtf, if you will, how are they putting up numbers that will make Wendy's blush?

[Nick]

Well, they're doing it with the number 18.

[Jack]

Because every Din Tai Fung soup dumpling gets 18 folds. It's a precise process to keep all the soup in there.

[Nick]

And it's part of the brand's golden ratio. That one specific number actually reflects their entire corporate strategy. So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies folding dumplings? At Dinh Tai Fung, there are lucky.

[Jack]

Numbers, and then there are lucrative numbers.

[Nick]

Now, Yetis, these 18 pleated folds in a dumpling, that's not just for good luck. It's actually a highly strategic detail driving the chain's success.

[Jack]

This is their hero product. And folding the dough 18 times enhances the structural integrity and optimizes the taste.

[Nick]

But it's also a talent strategy because Din Tai Fong requires a 12 week training program to teach the proper 18 fold technique.

[Jack]

That's wild. And it also ensures that each employee is committed to the business.

[Nick]

But, Jack, it's also a logistics strategy, because requiring each dumpling have 18 folds means you get the same size of every dumpling at every location. 21 grams per dumpling.

[Jack]

And with every dumpling being 21 grams, because of the 18 fold, they can order the exact meat portions and not have any waste.

[Nick]

18 yetis. That is an intentional number. It is an engineered number. Din Tai Fung soup dumplings. They operate with the precision of SpaceX.

[Jack]

There are lucky numbers, and then there are lucrative numbers.

[Nick]

And Din Tai Fungs were pretty lucrative. Jack, could you whip up the takeaways for us to kick off the week?

[Jack]

Converse is getting back into basketball this fall, and they just launched a sneaker dating show.

[Nick]

Converse. They're doing what Nike did 40 years ago. They're betting it all on one guy.

[Jack]

For our second story, the US army now has a reserve corps of tech executives who put in 120 hours of service a year.

[Nick]

But when it comes to tech support in the military, they're all just following the Palantir path.

[Jack]

And our third and final story is din Tai Thung DTF has $27 million of sales per location, the most of any chain restaurant in America.

[Nick]

And it's all thanks to the number 18. That's not a lucky number. That's a lucrative number.

[Jack]

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

[Nick]

First, meta's AI app has become an awkwardly embarrassing privacy disaster for users. And you gotta know about this. Cause it could get weird.

[Jack]

All right, so Meta AI is a chatbot that's trying to compete head on with ChatGPT and Claude. The difference for Meta AI is their newsfeed.

[Nick]

Yeah, it turns out the goal was to open people's eyes on how to use AI by seeing how your friends use it.

[Jack]

But people didn't realize their searches are public. Yeah. So they're asking AI very personal things. And it's going on a newsfeed all their friends can see.

[Nick]

You're, like, sharing your tax info, your draft letters to lovers, confessions like, oh, I got a thing on my thigh. What is this thing on my. You don't want people to know about the thing on your thigh, man.

[Jack]

People are finding out.

[Nick]

And second, a follow up from our Friday story about deportations affecting the economy.

[Jack]

President Trump told ICE to pause raids and arrests at farms, hotels, restaurants, and.

[Nick]

Home Depots because unauthorized immigrants provide key labor in those industries and as Trump said himself can't be replaced.

[Jack]

So he wants to avoid what we said on Friday. He wants to avoid more deportations leading to fewer workers, leading to higher prices.

[Nick]

He's trying to avoid deportation inflation.

[Jack]

And finally, Mattel, the toy company announced a partnership with OpenAI to put a brain inside Barbie dolls. What's going on over there, Nick?

[Nick]

Okay, okay. So they're using OpenAI's technology. Mattel will bring the magic of AI to age appropriate play experiences with an emphasis on innovation, privacy, and safety. End quote.

[Jack]

Let's try to translate that, please, Jack. Their hot wheels are gonna be self driving.

[Nick]

Yeah, I think Barbie's gonna be able to write the term papers for you, Jack. Now time for the best fact yet. Today it is T boy trivia sent in by our buddy Wilder up in Shelburne.

[Jack]

The Pixar movie cars stars Lightning McQueen, a red race car voiced by Owen Wilson.

[Nick]

Ka Chow.

[Jack]

Nicely said, Nick. Now here's the question. Why is this Lightning McQueen race car the color red? It probably has something to do with this quote.

[Nick]

And here's the quote. Ask a child to draw a car, and certainly he will draw it red.

[Jack]

In fact, have you noticed the race car emoji is red as well?

[Nick]

Interestingly, all the race cars in the world seem to have a red element to them.

[Jack]

So here's our trivia. Olivia, who famously said this quote, ask.

[Nick]

A child to draw a car, and certainly he will draw it red.

[Jack]

Here's a hint. He built an entire company based on that principle.

[Nick]

And the answer is coming up in tomorrow's pod Yetis. You look fantastic over there. To kick off the summer Mondays. Jack, you're looking great, too. Might I suggest maybe we dive into E boy style and research Din Tai Fung a little bit more? What do you think? Dude, I would.

[Jack]

I would love some soup dumplings. I haven't had them since I lived in New York City.

[Nick]

I'm sorry, waiter. There's only 17 folds on this dumpling. We're gonna need the whole meal to be comped.

[Jack]

You just got that waiter fired.

[Nick]

Okay, I'm sorry. You were right. It's 18. It was my mistake. I miscounted. Oh, boy. It's a write off. It's a write off, Jack. Yeti's telling Buddy today. H y H T B O I. That's how we grow the show.

[Jack]

Have you had the best one yet?

[Nick]

And Jack and I will see you tomorrow. And before we go, a happy birthday to Buddy Dave reed, the former 14th street roommate from New Canaan, Connecticut.

[Jack]

Happy anniversary to Nick and Molly, who got married seven years ago today. I was there. It was a beautiful ceremony.

[Nick]

Oh, Molly looked fantastic. She still looks fantastic. Molly, that was so much fun.

[Jack]

Didn't you shoot a cannon?

[Nick]

We shot a cannon. Molly, I promised you we'd have adventure, man. Have the last few years been adventure. Great work.

[Jack]

Happy birthday to Wes Yang in Las Vegas, who's also a new dad to baby Kaylee.

[Nick]

And Ramses Gonzalez over in Philly is also looking for a job, so hit him up because he's having the best birthday yet.

[Jack]

Happy birthday to Jesse Carrasco in Dana Point, California, hoping to catch some waves today.

[Nick]

And Annabelle Lippincott Paxoi in San Francisco, but from just outside Boston is celebrating a fantastic birthday.

[Jack]

Happy anniversary to Nick Lecicero and his wife. 13 years of marriage together, Jack.

[Nick]

Their first date was at a museum in Buffalo, New York, and he proposed at the Louvre in Paris.

[Jack]

Congratulations to Elizabeth and Michael, who are getting married this week in Charlotte, North Carolina.

[Nick]

Can't wait to see the picks. Congrats, guys. And Patrice and Connor just got engaged in Cincinnati. We got a marketing guru and a minor league player for the Cardinals, Jack. That's gotta be a cool ring.

[Jack]

Happy housewarming to Megan Choi in New York City.

[Nick]

And Gerald Zingraph is returning from beach pto. He actually saw me at the Ferry Building, Jack. During a board meeting in January. And Gerald. Harold, you looked fantastic for it. You crushed it.

[Jack]

And to anyone else who's celebrating something today, make it a T, boy.

[Nick]

Celebrate the wins.

[Jack]

This is Jack, Nick and I both own ETFs of the S&P 500.

[Nick]

How should I say Kachow Jack Kachow. Kachow.

[Jack]

Okay, thanks for asking. 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 Music.

[Jack]

And before you go, tell us a little bit about yourself by filling out a short [e-mail] survey we want to.

[Nick]

Get to know you.

[D]

Rakuten is the smartest way to save money when you shop because you earn cash back at over 3,500 stores. Fashion, beauty, electronics, home essentials, travel, dining, concert tickets and more. Your favorite stores like Lowe's, Levi's and Nike. Pay Rakuten to send them shoppers and rack it in, then passes on a part of that payment to its members as cash back. You're already shopping at your favorite stores. Why not save while you're doing it? It's a no brainer. Membership is free and easy to sign up. Get the Rakuten app now and join the 17 million members who are already saving. Cashback rates change daily. See rakuten.com for details. That's R A K U T E N Your cash back really adds up.