The Best One Yet - Episode Summary

🏴 “Bank It Like Beckham” — David Beckham’s biz empire. Dirty Soda’s surge. McKinsey’s CEO secret. +Co-CEO Olsen Twins.
Hosts: Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell
Original Air Date: October 2, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode delivers the trademark breezy, witty pop-biz analysis “The Best One Yet” is known for. Jack and Nick break down three top stories:

1. The explosive rise of “dirty soda” from Utah to the national beverage scene.
2. Leaked financials unveiling the depth of David Beckham’s $500 million business empire and the role of risk-taking.
3. How consulting giant McKinsey serves as America’s secret CEO training factory, plus the company’s unusual culture of “sparing young with old.”

Sprinkled in are trademark banter, pop culture references (Olsen Twins, Stranger Things, Ryan Reynolds, Kim Kardashian), and a quick survey of trending business news.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Co-CEOs Are Having a Moment (00:13–02:55)

• Trend Watch: Recent shake-ups at Spotify and Oracle elevate the “Co-CEO” model; Netflix has led with a duo for half a decade. Jack and Nick liken themselves to co-CEOs of the podcast.

  • “CEOs are sharing the burden...They’re going halfsies and as co-CEOs.” — Jack (01:34)
  • “Co-CEOs are basically the Olsen twins of corporate America because they come in pairs, and they’re super trendy right now.” — Jack (02:34)

• Stats & Analysis:

  • Only 1% of public companies have co-CEOs, and such tenures are half as long as solo CEOs.
  • But: Companies led by co-CEOs outperformed the rest of the market by 35%.
    “Companies led by co-CEOs did 35% better than the rest of the stock market.” — Nick (02:28)

2. Dirty Soda: From Utah Treat to National Craze (05:39–10:16)

• Definition: Dirty soda is soda with cream and flavored syrup—originated at Utah’s Swig in 2010, now a $2 billion franchise.

• Cultural Roots: Unique Utah treat culture fueled by Mormon abstinence from alcohol and coffee; Utahns buy twice as much candy as other Americans.

  • “Salt Lake City does treats...In Utah it is socially acceptable to gift someone a donut.” — Jack (06:05, 06:13)

• Business Boom:

  • Swig, with 140 locations and an 8% sales rise, is called the “Thomas Edison of dirty soda.”
  • Beverage giants leap in: Pepsi launches canned dirty sodas (“Dirty Dew,” cherry-cream Pepsi, mug root beer float-in-a-can); McDonald’s pilots “Dirty Sprite”; Coffee-mate enables DIY blends.

• TikTok Fuel & Gen Z’s Role:

  • Dirty soda is “cheaper than that double-digit latte” and visually perfect for TikTok.
  • Dr. Pepper research: 75% of Gen Zers try a new beverage each month.
  • “Pouring cream into a glass of Coca Cola on ice...Oh, it just kills on TikTok.” — Jack (08:48)
  • “The youths are basically replacing alcoholic cocktails for dirty colas.” — Co-host/Producer (09:46)

• Takeaway: Alcohol consumption is falling to a record low, especially among young people—energy (economic and social) is transferring from alcohol to sugary soda treats.

  • “Sir Isaac Newton taught us that in physics, energy is not destroyed, it is just transferred...Alcohol consumption transferred to dirty soda consumption.” — Jack & Co-host/Producer (10:02, 10:08)

3. David Beckham’s Billion-Dollar Business Empire (10:16–14:57)

• Origins of Wealth:

  • Beckham’s risk-taking (early pro soccer, bold personal moves, diverse global career) sets the foundation.
  • Married Posh Spice, played in five countries’ top leagues, constantly reinvented his image.
  • “David Beckham’s got so many tattoos, Jack. His wifi password is on his ankle.” — Nick (10:58)

• Financial Highlights:

  • Profits from his holding firm jumped 25% last year to $45 million—more than Snapchat has ever earned in a year (11:24–11:41).
  • Brand deals: Nespresso, Adidas, Pepsi, Stella Artois, Lay’s, and more.
  • Entrepreneur: Eyewear, kid snacks, fragrances, and a video studio (produced his Netflix doc and commercials).
  • “David Beckham’s business deal with MLS in 2007 is considered one of the most financially unique and risky in sports history.” — Jack (12:46)

• The MLS Masterstroke (12:59–13:47):

  • Beckham took a huge pay cut to join LA Galaxy, negotiated an option to buy a future MLS team for $25 million.
  • He exercised this to launch Inter Miami (eventually signing Messi!); now worth $1.2 billion.
  • "David Beckham is Britain’s Ryan Reynolds...but he’s also England’s Kim Kardashian, leveraging his fame into a dozen different brands." — Jack & Co-host/Producer (13:42–13:51)

• Theme: Risk-taking is the uniting thread—each big, risky move (career changes, equity deals) brought multiplied long-term rewards.

  • “At every turn, David Beckham took the risky route, you see.” — Jack (14:07)

4. McKinsey: America’s CEO Factory (17:04–21:17)

• The “Da Vinci Code” of Corporate Leadership:

  • 18 Fortune 500 CEOs are McKinsey alumni—more than Harvard, Stanford, or MIT can claim.
  • Alumni include: Google’s Sundar Pichai, DoorDash’s Tony Xu, Citi’s Jane Fraser, Morgan Stanley’s James Gorman, and even Pete Buttigieg, Rishi Sunak, Sheryl Sandberg.

• Secret Sauce:

  • McKinsey work is a “finishing school for CEOs”—consultants rotate through global industries, build "pattern recognition," and develop “mastery of the unfamiliar.”
  • “What that changing project routine really teaches you is mastery the unfamiliar.” — Co-host/Producer (19:32)
  • Key to decision-making: McKinsey culture makes young consultants spar with older veterans, fostering constructive dissent.
  • “One key to good decision making is constructive dissent. McKinsey built a culture of skeptics and contrarians.” — Jack & Co-host/Producer (20:23)

• Impact:

  • This debate-rich environment gives 20-somethings the confidence to act and speak like CEOs—empowering future leaders.

Other Memorable Moments & Quotes

• Olsen Twins Reference: “Dibs on Mary Kate. You’re the other one. I’m blanking on her name right now.” — Jack (02:47)
• Newton’s Law Adapted: “Alcohol consumption transferred to dirty soda consumption.” — Jack (10:08)
• Soccer to Stardom: “The working class kid from East London didn’t play it safe in any aspect of his life.” — Co-host/Producer (14:57)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Topic | Start Time | |-----------------------------------------|------------| | Co-CEOs Trend | 00:13 | | Dirty Soda Segment | 05:39 | | Takeaway – Dirty Soda & Alcohol Decline | 10:01 | | David Beckham’s Empire | 10:16 | | Beckham’s MLS Deal | 12:59 | | Takeaway – Beckham’s Risk-taking | 14:07 | | McKinsey as CEO Factory | 17:04 | | Takeaway – McKinsey’s Secret Sauce | 20:13 |

Bonus: Quick Hits & Fun Facts

• Other News:

  • Government shutdown day two: 750,000 federal workers furloughed, markets largely unfazed (22:03).
  • Amazon launches new Echo devices, Ring cameras, Fire TVs, and a low-cost grocery line (22:32).
  • Viral new windowless private jet with walls turned into screens for enhanced experience and improved fuel efficiency (22:54).

• Best Fact Yet: In memory of Jane Goodall, pioneers in animal cognition and the revelation that chimpanzees use tools just as humans do (23:44–24:35).

Closing Vibe

True to form, Jack and Nick finish with quips, birthday shoutouts, and a musical, friendly push to “have the best one yet,” blending pop culture, business acumen, and barista-level banter. If you want to impress at the water cooler or over your oatmeal, these are the three stories to drop.

“Dirty soda is the booming trend of food and beverage...David Beckham makes more money today than he did as a soccer player...And McKinsey is the organization that's produced the most current Fortune 500 CEOs.”
— Jack (21:21–21:59)