🎬 “Batman’s New Boss” — Netflix’s buys HBO. Dubai’s AI restaurant. Nothing’s iPhone-killer. +Giant Santa shortage

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Best One Yet

Host: Nick & Jack Studios (Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell)
Episode Title: 🎬 “Batman’s New Boss” — Netflix’s buys HBO. Dubai’s AI restaurant. Nothing’s iPhone-killer. +Giant Santa shortage
Date: December 8, 2025
Duration: ~25 min

---

Episode Overview

This episode's purpose is to break down the top three pop-business stories you need to know about, with a trademark blend of wit and insight from Nick and Jack. The main stories discussed are: Netflix’s blockbuster acquisition of Warner Bros/HBO; the launch of Dubai’s AI-run restaurant, Woohoo; and Nothing, a rising tech startup aiming to dethrone the iPhone by making electronics fashionable. The show kicks off with an amusing lament about an imminent shortage of giant Santa lawn ornaments.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Giant Santa Shortage at Home Depot

[01:23 – 02:44]

• There’s a shortage of Home Depot’s famed eight-foot Santa lawn inflatables, a popular holiday decoration.
• "These giant Santas, they're actually made in China...the biggest victim of the trade war." – Nick [02:19]
• Old, used giant Santas are now going for 7x their original price on eBay ($1,400).
• The shortage reflects how even niche holiday products are deeply tied into global trade and ongoing geopolitical tensions.
• Home Depot’s pivot to giant holiday decorations began with the viral popularity of their 12-foot Halloween skeleton, “Skelly.”
• Memorable Moment: "He can fly around the entire world in one single night when he just got stopped by the commerce department." – Nick [02:40]

---

2. Netflix Buys Warner Bros (HBO): $83 Billion Deal

[05:16 – 09:55]

Overview

• Netflix announced its largest-ever acquisition, agreeing to buy Warner Bros (including HBO Max) for $83 billion.
• "Does this make Netflix a monopoly? We don't think so. But does it make them a monopsony? Yes, it does." – Jack [05:26]

Key Details

• The deal puts franchises like Seinfeld, Friends, The Crown, Game of Thrones, and Succession under one streaming roof.
• The acquisition excludes the declining TV network assets (e.g., cable channels) of Warner Bros Discovery.
• Netflix pledged to continue Warner’s tradition of debuting movies in actual theaters—a nod to old-school Hollywood even as streaming dominates.
  • "Netflix already has ads and live sports, but they just did a huge acquisition and they're gonna do a whole bunch of movie theater debuts. All things they said they'd never do." – Nick [06:45]
• $83 billion is triple the market value of Warner Bros Discovery just six months prior.

Drama & Corporate Maneuvering

• Paramount and Comcast were outbid; Paramount will likely appeal to regulators and the White House to block the deal.
• If regulators stall or block the acquisition, Netflix still wins: Warner Bros is left in limbo, slowing competitors while Netflix keeps growing its market dominance.

Monopoly vs. Monopsony

• Even post-acquisition, Netflix-HBO will control only about 9.5% of all TV watching time in the US; by contrast, YouTube is at 13%.
• The real power play is becoming the sole buyer ("monopsony") for much of Hollywood’s creative and production talent.
  • "Super Netflix, as we're calling it, could dictate the terms with directors, actors and writers on their projects and drive down wages." – Jack [09:24]
• Antitrust laws may intervene on behalf of both consumers (monopoly concerns) AND workers (monopsony concerns).

Takeaway

• "Netflix plus Warner Bros. and HBO Max is not a monopoly, but it is a monopsony." – Jack [08:32]
• The story sets up a new era in Hollywood where the streaming behemoth can leverage its power not just over viewers, but over the entertainment workforce.

---

3. Dubai’s AI Restaurant ‘Woohoo’ & The Age of AI Influencers

[09:55 – 14:18]

Restaurant Overview

• Dubai debuts Woohoo, the world’s first AI-run restaurant, where a custom-built AI designs the menu, curates ambiance, manages inventory, and (most unusually) serves as a PR spokesperson.
• "What's most novel to us, though, is that this AI chef does PR appearances on podcasts." – Jack [10:03]

Key Features

• Menu designed by a proprietary large language model (not just ChatGPT). Humans cook, AI ideates.
• 80% of the menu is traditional; 20% is wild, e.g., "dinosaur heart"—a beef tartare dish that pulses on the plate.
  • "It's the kind of dish that no human being chef would have actually thought of." – Nick [12:09]
• AI curates the entire dining experience, from music to digital art to laser light shows.
• Inventory and ingredient procurement is AI-optimized, reportedly reducing food waste by up to 51%.

AI PR & Influencer

• The AI’s fourth role: public-facing personality. Digital avatar Chef Amon appears on podcasts, YouTube, and in interviews as Woohoo’s ambassador.
  • “Chef Iman is a digital avatar with a classic white chef’s shirt, futuristic glasses, and a personality.” – Jack [13:28]
  • “This is a fake person in the real world talking about a real restaurant made with fake AI.” – Jack [13:50]

Business Model and Future

• Woohoo is a pilot; the goal is to license the tech to restaurants worldwide.
• "Prepare for AII: artificially intelligent influencers." – Jack [13:15 & 14:11]

---

4. Nothing: The Anti-Apple Tech Startup

[16:38 – 20:27]

Company Profile

• London-based Nothing has sold 7M+ devices (earbuds and phones, among others) and is valued at $1.3B.
• The brand’s core pitch: be cooler than Apple, explicitly courting Gen Z creatives and trendsetters.
  • “If you've got one, you are cooler than us. You really are. I'm actually intimidated by you.” – Jack [16:49]

Market Challenges & Differentiation

• Competing with Apple and Google is daunting ("the phone industry has bigger barriers to entry than Buckingham Palace" [18:10]), so Nothing takes a drastically different approach.
• Nothing phones run Android to minimize development cost, but the real differentiator is design—devices with clear cases that showcase their inner hardware (“full voyeur” [19:07]).
• Nothing just hired the CMO of luxury fashion house Loewe, aiming to turn tech hardware into a genuine fashion statement.
  • “They're trying to turn their phones, their earbuds and their other tech gadgets into runway-worthy apparel.” – Nick [18:50]

Early Supporters & Credibility

• Tony Fadell (iPod creator) and Reddit’s Steve Huffman are early investors.

Fashion as Tech’s Killer App

• Nothing is literally launching streetwear alongside their devices.
• "Samsung's not selling hoodies and tracksuits next to their Chromebooks. But Nothing is." – Jack [20:15]
• Takeaway: The best way to break in is by making tech a form of self-expression.
  • "Everything is fashion." – Karl Lagerfeld quote [19:39, cited by Jack]

---

Other Noteworthy Segments

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "He can fly around the entire world in one single night when he just got stopped by the commerce department." – Nick (about Santa, [02:40])
• Nick fantasizing about crossover shows: “We can finally get that Emily in Paris and Batman crossover episode we've always wanted, Jack.” [06:24]
• “It’s like a Robo Bobby Flay.” – Nick, on the AI chef as a PR influencer [14:04]
• "Samsung’s not selling hoodies and tracksuits next to their Chromebooks. But Nothing is." – Jack [20:15]

Quick Hits

[21:23 – 22:38]

• CNBC rebrands (first logo change in 36 years).
• Viori, J. Crew, and Skims all launch ski gear ahead of the upcoming Winter Olympics.
• Consumer Reports’ 2025 most reliable cars: #1 Subaru, followed by BMW, Porsche, Honda, and Toyota.

T-Boy Trivia

[22:54 – End]

• Color psychology: One color is most strongly associated with increased hunger (food). Listeners are invited to guess in the comments.

Listener Shoutouts & Community

[24:06+]

• Engagement announcements, birthdays, and shoutouts for loyal listeners across the globe.

---

Timestamps for Major Segments

• Giant Santa Shortage: [01:23 – 02:44]
• Netflix Buys Warner Bros/HBO: [05:16 – 09:55]
• Dubai AI Restaurant Woohoo: [09:55 – 14:18]
• Nothing: Anti-Apple Startup: [16:38 – 20:27]
• Quick Business Hits: [21:23 – 22:38]
• Trivia & Community: [22:54 – End]

---

Episode Tone & Style

The hosts maintain a conversational, playful tone—full of puns, banter, and pop-culture references. Their analysis is sharp but accessible, with a knack for drawing broader business lessons out of headline stories. Listener engagement is top of mind, as is their commitment to making business news enjoyable and relatable.

---

The Takeaways

• Netflix’s Warner Bros buy isn’t just about content, but about consolidating bargaining power in Hollywood—monopsony, not just monopoly.
• Woohoo, Dubai's AI chef restaurant, spotlights the rise of AI not just as a tool for efficiency, but as a charismatic brand ambassador—a precursor to future AI influencers.
• Nothing’s “iPhone killer” bet is about design and fashion, not specs, challenging Apple and Google by making tech a lifestyle statement.

---

Final Thought:
"Everything is fashion." – Karl Lagerfeld
Nothing, truly, is something.

Transcript

[A]

This is Nick.

[B]

This is Jack.

[A]

Welcome back. It is Monday, December 8, and today's pod is the best one yet. This is a T, boy.

[B]

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

[A]

I'm sorry, Jack. Can I celebrate three wins with you right now? You ready for this?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

In the last three weeks, we've interviewed Jim Cramer, launched the first ever business themed toy doll, and announced our live tour. You know what that means, man.

[B]

Cha ching button.

[A]

No. To quote Lexus, this has been in December. You remember, man.

[B]

Best.

[A]

You're looking fantastic. To start the week, Jack, three stories for today's pod. What do we got on the show?

[B]

For our first story, Netflix shocked Hollywood on Friday by spending $83 billion to acquire Warner Brothers.

[A]

It's the biggest deal of the year. But plot twist, Netflix's corporate war has only just begun.

[B]

For our second story, it's the hottest new restaurant on earth. It's in Dubai, and the chef is.

[A]

AI but the real surprise isn't the AI designed menu. It's that the AI Chef was just on a podcast.

[B]

And our third and final story. There's a one point billion dollar company that's trying to kill the iPhone and it's called Nothing.

[A]

Yeah, there's something about nothing.

[B]

And nothing is trending with people cooler and younger than us.

[A]

Yes, it is. It's a something.

[B]

But yetis, before we hit that wonderful.

[A]

Mix of stories, I mean, what a mix of stories to start the week. Love the mix, Jack.

[B]

Hoarder's almanac week 298.

[A]

Ooh. Things we are running outta in this economy, Jack, and I've been keeping track for you.

[B]

This week we are running out of eight foot Santa Clauses.

[A]

Boom. The biggest Christmas ornament in the country is.

[B]

Home Depot is famous for their fantastically large lawn decorations.

[A]

I mean, Jack, remember the 12 foot skeleton that haunted you for Halloween? It was scary.

[B]

My kids love Skelly. And Skelly taught Home Depot to double down on holidays as their new profit puppy.

[A]

Yeah, the investors, they're loving Skelly too.

[B]

Not just investors, not just my kids. There's a Facebook Home Depot holiday group with 166,000 members. Wondering, what's the next huge lawn decoration?

[A]

Could it be the six foot candy canes or the seven foot reindeer?

[B]

Hold on, pause the pod. Where are the eight and a half foot Santas?

[A]

Jack, the nearly nine foot Santas are missing this year.

[B]

Home Depot's biggest seasonal product is not available for the first time in years.

[A]

Because shocker, these giant Santas, they're actually made in China.

[B]

Yeah, they're the biggest victim of the trade war.

[A]

Literally.

[B]

So now old giant Santas from previous years are selling on ebay at a 7x markup.

[A]

Jack and I just found one going for 1400 bucks on the old ebay Santa.

[B]

He can fly around the entire world in one single night when he just.

[A]

Got stopped by the commerce department.

[B]

He's making a list, he's checking it twice.

[A]

And Home Depot's Q3 earnings are gonna look all as nice. Jack. Let's hit our three stores.

[C]

Fifteen years before this song, two boys from the northeast met in the dorm. They had an idea that caused 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 show.

Start the show, start the show.

[A]

First a quick word from our sponsor.

[B]

Now a quick break. Switching topics to one of our favorite sponsors, Vital proteins.

[A]

Now, Jack, my mom does not use most of the products we promote. She's not building a website. She's not downloading a stock trading app.

[B]

No, she's not.

[A]

But she did call me this weekend and here's what she said. She said, I need to know the promo code for your collagen peptide sponsor because I just bought more of it.

[B]

It was vital proteins and their no sugar added collagen Peptide products are delicious. Especially the new 30 gram protein shake.

[A]

Now I don't know if my mom's into the taste or the health benefits or she's trying to get jacked. But she's got healthy hair, skin, nails and joints right now, dude, I'd say.

[B]

It'S all of them. So yetis. Go to www.vitalproteins.com to learn more and where to buy. Get 20% off your next order by entering promo code T boy at checkout. Framer.

[A]

Yeah, it is the first website we ever built. Our MySpace page. Yeah, we were just young enough, right Jack?

[B]

Or old enough. Nick. I still remember you could give your MySpace page a soundtrack. Music started playing when someone visited the webpage.

[A]

Blink 182, the official music of young Jack. But Bassies, if we built a website today, we'd use Framer because they focused on the small things.

[B]

Framer already built the fastest way to publish beautiful production ready websites. And it's now redefining how we design for the web.

[A]

With the recent launch of Design Pages, a free canvas based design tool, Framer is more than a site builder. It's a true all in one design platform.

[B]

From social assets to campaign visuals to vectors and icons, all the way to a live site, Framer is where ideas go live, start to finish.

[A]

So ready to design, iterate and publish all in one tool? Start creating for [e-mail] design and then use code T Boy for a free month of framer pro.

[B]

That's framer.com design and use promo code.

[A]

T boy framer.com design design promo code T Boy Rules and restrictions may apply.

For our first story. Netflix, the world's biggest streamer, is buying one of its biggest competitors for $83 billion in the biggest deal of the year.

[B]

Does this make Netflix a monopoly? We don't think so. But does it make them a monopsony? Yes, it does.

[A]

And the Targaryens would agree with Now, Yetis, Jack and I have said before that the best minds in business change their minds. Well, exhibit A is Netflix.

[B]

Because for 20 years, Netflix pledged to have no ads, no live sports, no movie theater debuts, and no big acquisitions.

[A]

Okay, but in just the last three years, Netflix has changed its mind on all of that.

[B]

And it's capped by the biggest acquisition of the year, which was announced on Friday. Netflix is acquiring Warner Bros. Movie and TV studios, plus hbo, Max, Jack, this.

[A]

Is Seinfeld and Friends together finally on one streamer.

[B]

The Crown and Sopranos on one streamer.

[A]

If Kendall Roy existed in real life, Jack, he would have been all over this deal.

[B]

Well, that's funny, because Kendall Roy and succession are going to join Netflix with this deal.

[A]

I know we can finally get that Emily in Paris and Batman crossover episode we've always wanted, Jack.

[B]

Now we should point out the deal does not include the TV networks from Warner Brothers Discovery, which is the bad part of the business that's in decline because of cable tv.

[A]

And this deal does include, interestingly, Netflix pledging to continue debuts of Warner Brothers movies in real movie theaters.

[B]

So to recap it all, Netflix already has ads and live sports, but they just did a huge acquisition and they're gonna do a whole bunch of movie theater debuts, all things they said they'd never do.

[A]

Like we said, Netflix, they changed their.

[B]

Mind a few times. The deal is expected to close in 12 to 18 months. Netflix and Warner Brothers will live happily ever after.

[A]

Unless plot tw to beat Paramount and Comcast to this deal, Netflix had to offer 83 billion bucks. Jack, could you sprinkle on some context, please.

[B]

$83 billion is three times the price that Warner Bros. Discovery was trading for just six months ago.

[A]

Here's where the drama of the story comes in. Because Larry Ellison, a Trump donor who bought Paramount, the movie company for his son as a birthday gift, he's probably gonna ask President Trump to block this merger.

[B]

Paramount offered to buy Warner Brothers Discovery first, and they raised their offer price multiple times. They wanted Warner Brothers Discovery so bad. So yeah, they're going to complain to the White House and try to get this blocked.

[A]

But even if this record setting Netflix deal does get blocked, Netflix will still kind of win, right, Jack?

[B]

It's an evil genius move. Because if Warner Bros. Discovery is stuck in legal purgatory for the next 18 months, then in that time, Netflix will only widen its already dominant streaming lead.

[A]

Yeah, by the time Peacock or Paramount finally buy HBO Max, it would already be game.

[B]

Now, yetis courts will ultimately decide if Netflix buying HBO Max creates a monopoly that's just too big. And we'll cover it on this pod.

[A]

But whether Netflix ultimately owns Game of Thrones or not, it appears destined to control the Seven Kingdoms because it just.

[B]

Pulled off an evil genius move that even Sersi would be proud of.

[A]

Where are my takeaways? So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over at Netflix?

[B]

Netflix plus Warner Bros. And HBO Max is not a monopoly, but it is a monopsony.

[A]

A monopsony. You see, yetis, even with HBO, Netflix will control just 9.5% of all TV watching time in America.

[B]

So it's not a monopoly in that sense. In fact, YouTube is bigger with 13% of TV watching time. And cable and broadcast TV, they're also bigger than Netflix plus HBO Max.

[A]

But here's what fascinates Jack and I. What about the other side? Like, is Netflix a monopoly within. In the industry of Hollywood, that would.

[B]

Be called a monopsony, which is a real economic term.

[A]

Yeah, it is.

[B]

It's when one company controls the buy side, in this case, the workers and the suppliers of an industry.

[A]

Think of it like this. Netflix + Warner Brothers + HBO is a major consolidation. And as one entity, it will now have all the leverage within Hollywood.

[B]

Super Netflix, as we're calling it, could dictate the terms with directors, actors and writers on their projects and drive down wages.

[A]

Potentially, super Netflix could have its way with theaters and shorts in theatrical windows to get to streaming much faster.

[B]

Now, antitrust laws do protect consumers against monopolies, but they also protect workers from monopsonies.

[A]

So besties Jack And I will cover this deal as it happens or doesn't happen over the next year and a half. In the meantime, grab some popcorn.

For our second story. Dubai has opened the world's first AI restaurant, where the lead chef, he ain't real.

[B]

What's most novel to us, though, is that this AI chef does PR appearances on podcasts.

[A]

Sounds fake, but. Oh, is this a real story yet if you haven't been to Dubai? Jack and I were actually just talking about Dubai because I went a few years ago, and it's basically like a theme park with an unlimited budget.

[B]

It's like the Mall of America, but very much not in America.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, and you don't want a litter, Jack.

[B]

But in addition to having the world's largest buildings, man made islands, and indoor.

[A]

Skiing, Dubai is also now home to a restaurant totally run by artificial intelligence intelligence.

[B]

The restaurant is called Woohoo.

[A]

Could you sprinkle on some context to the name Woohoo?

[B]

Jack, The AI restaurant is so wild you say Woohoo.

[A]

I guess that's what they named the restaurant. And it all began three years ago when a restaurateur in Dubai asked ChatGPT for a few menu ideas.

[B]

The lamb dish that Chat recommended was delicious and became the restaurant's bestseller.

[A]

Okay, so this entrepreneur then thought, what if I had an entire restaurant that was entirely powered by AI?

[B]

That's what Woohoo is.

[A]

That's Woohoo right there. Yeah.

[B]

And if Nvidia did an office holiday party. Yeah. It'd be at this restaurant, because this restaurant's their biggest customer.

[A]

Hands off to shrimp cocktail. Sam Altman. We see what you're doing over there.

[B]

But yet when this guy opened up Woohoo, he didn't use ChatGPT anymore.

[A]

No.

[B]

Instead, an Emirati tech company built a custom large language model just to be the chef.

[A]

Now, the first location of Woohoo opened last month in Dubai. So we jumped in T boy style.

[B]

Despite the $130 per person prefix menu, it's selling out tables so far, Nick.

[A]

Yes, it is. Now, job number one of their homemade artificial intelligence is to simply design the menu.

[B]

AI does the recipes, but humans do the actual cooking.

[A]

And then According to Bloomberg, 80% of that AI menu is actually the kind of stuff you've seen before. Not super creative.

[B]

Yeah. Rock shrimp tempura. Oh, wow. So impressed.

[A]

ChatGPT again, Sam Altman. Off the shrimp, man.

[B]

But the other 20% is novel and it's kind of wild.

[A]

Like Jack, did you see on the menu, they have a dinosaur heart. What's a dinosaur heart?

[B]

Beef tartare with Japanese fugu on a rubber plate that.

It pulses as you look at it.

[A]

It pulses as you eat it. It's the kind of dish that no human being chef would have actually thought of.

[B]

Job number two of the AI at this restaurant is to create ambiance, not just a menu.

[A]

It actually choreographs the entire dinner experience.

[B]

Digital art on the walls, AI music playlists, an entire laser beam performance is all choreographed by the artificial intelligence.

[A]

Which leads to job number three, which is the cost cutting element, eliminating waste.

[B]

The AI knows who is ordering what, so it procures ingredients and supplies just the right amount and pushes items to make sure that food doesn't get wasted. Cutting food waste up to 51%.

[A]

But the real fascinating part to us is that Woohoo is actually just a pilot concept.

[B]

The goal is to license this technology to other restaurants someday.

[A]

Yeah. So 10 years from now, the Olive Garden is going to be serving you up food in created by computers, made by Woohoo.

[B]

I hope not. But job number four of this AI is to promote the restaurant on podcasts.

[A]

And that made us sit down, stand up, and order up a takeaway. Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over at Dubai's AI restaurant?

[B]

Prepare for AII artificially intelligent influencers.

[A]

Yetis. The real innovation to us here is that they gave a face and a voice to this AI technology. They call it Chef Amon.

[B]

Chef Amon is a digital avatar with a classic white chef's shirt, futuristic glasses, and a personality.

[A]

But Chef Iman is not just a gimmick on the website or social media. He's also the restaurant's external PR guy.

[B]

This AI face of Woohoo restaurant makes external guest appearances on podcasts hosted by real humans.

[A]

He could be on our show.

[B]

Yeah, he could be on our show.

[A]

He does interviews, video appearances. He has his own YouTube channel. This is a fake person in the real world talking about a real restaurant made with fake AI.

[B]

Anybody in the restaurant business knows you need good, positive pr and this is the guy who's doing it for them. Jack.

[A]

It's like a Robo Bobby filet. It's the most innovative part of this AI restaurant concept. An AI public Persona.

[B]

And we think it's the first of many. Prepare for the era of AI artificially intelligent influencers.

[A]

Now, a quick word from our sponsor.

[B]

Audible Yetis.

[A]

I just listened to a wild audiobook on my flight back to New York. Here's what it's called. Gods of New York.

[B]

It's about four men. The four men who ruled New York City the year that you were born.

[A]

Nick I got to give my parents credit check. New York in 1988 was insane. It was like mob bosses, gang fights, and all these subway cars covered in graffiti. It's like seeing how the city was run when my mom was like, pregnant with me. I'm blown away by this whole new imagination.

[B]

Now I listen to Audible all the time. Whenever I need a break from news podcasts, I escape to an audiobook and simply push play wherever I left off.

[A]

Because Audible has an incredible selection of over a million audiobooks, podcasts, and audio originals all in one easy app.

[B]

Explore bestsellers, new releases, or find a wild story that takes you back to the year that your mom gave birth to you.

[A]

Yeah, last night while I was doing the dishes, Jack, I listened to a story about the abysmal late 1980s New York Yankees.

[B]

Yeah, I feel bad for your dad. At least the Giants were winning back then.

[A]

Besties. There is more to imagine when you listen.

[B]

Sign up for a free 30 day Audible trial and your first audiobook is free, so visit audible.comtboy I recently got a booking request from somebody who said I'm a 75 year old professor from Michigan. Me and my academic pals are having a ski trip. I love your place. Lovely.

[A]

So what'd you say back? You write back to the guy.

[B]

I responded that I went to the University of Michigan for two graduate degrees. Nick. It turns out he did too. In fact, we worked in the same econ department when I was a TA there.

[A]

It's a match made in platform history.

[B]

Man, this guy hasn't arrived yet. But I love these personal connections I've made as a host on Airbnb and Besties.

[A]

We've told you that your place is probably perfect for someone else to stay at as well.

[B]

We haven't told you about the wonderful human interactions you can have as an Airbnb host like mine with this 75 year old PhD who loves the Michigan Wolverines as much as I do.

[A]

Yeah, it just feels good knowing that while you're making money, someone else is enjoying your place too. And you got a connection.

[B]

Hosting on Airbnb can provide you with another income stream and another source of life satisfaction, whether you're a Wolverine or a Buckeye.

[A]

Besties. No joke. Jack's very satisfied.

[B]

Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how [e-mail] host.

For our.

[A]

Third and final story. Nothing is the anti Apple startup that has sold 7 million devices to date. If you've got one, you are cooler than us. You really are.

[B]

You are. I'm actually intimidated by you that you have one.

[A]

Yeah, we're not.

[B]

We're judging ourselves to beat Apple and Google and smartphones. You beat them with style.

[A]

Now, Yetis, let's start with some context. For companies that sell electronics, the Christmas season is everything, including for Nothing. Nothing.

[B]

Nothing is something.

[A]

Yes, it is something.

[B]

It's an electronic startup that we first covered on this pod five years ago.

[A]

Yeah, yeah, we did a story on Nothing because we just thought the name was hilarious.

[B]

When they launched, they launched in 2020 with earbuds that basically aren't AirPods.

[A]

And then in 2022 they launched a phone that is basically not an iPhone.

[B]

I'm looking at their online shop right now. Nothing basically sells Apple products that just, just aren't Apple.

[A]

And Yeti is this little tech company that could just raised $200 million in September at a $1.3 billion valuation.

[B]

Sales rose 150% last year and are up 100% this year to $1 billion for this London based company.

[A]

Well, now Nothing is on a PR blitz trying to give Nothing something in terms of a reputation.

[B]

I think that's the end of our puns, right?

[A]

Everything we just said, Jack, I think it was the end of those. So Yetis, Jack and I over the weekend dove in T boy style tweets a Vogue magazine article about Nothing, the tech company.

[B]

Because Nothing is trying to become the go to tech brand for Gen Z creatives, according to Vogue.

[A]

I'm sorry, Jack, pause the pod for a second. The phone industry has bigger barriers to entry than Buckingham Palace. This is hard, man.

[B]

You need billions, right? Yeah. And since Nothing has one millionth the resources of Apple and Alphabet, how on earth can they compete with them in smartphones?

[A]

Well, first, to save money, the Nothing phones operating system runs on top of Android.

[B]

Android, the free smartphone software of Google.

[A]

But to beat Apple and Google, Nothing isn't trying to be a tech company, it's trying to be cooler than a tech company.

[B]

For example, they just poached the CMO of the luxury label Loewe.

[A]

Yeah, Jack, that's like Tim Cook hiring Ralph Lauren to work at Apple.

[B]

And they did it because they're trying to turn their phones, their earbuds and their other tech gadgets into into Runway worthy apparel.

[A]

You see, to stand out. Nothing lets you see the hardware guts in the products that you buy.

[B]

They have clear casing that shows off.

[A]

Everything that's Inside, nothing is in hiding the engineering behind a white shell. Like Apple does.

[B]

No, they're going full voyeur with the screws, the ribbons, the coils, the silicon. It's all visible.

[A]

Yeah, and this cooler approach to tech got some pretty powerful early investors.

[B]

The father of the ipod, Tony Fidel, he's an early investor.

[A]

Oh, and the Reddit co founder and current CEO Steve Huffman, who we interviewed on this podcast, he's a current investor too. But the real something to Nothing, we think.

[B]

I thought we were done with the puns.

[A]

No, we're not done yet. We're not done yet. Jack is in the takeaway. So Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over at Nothing?

[B]

To quote Karl Lagerfeld, everything is fashion.

[A]

Yetis. That's a quote Jack and I love from the famous fashion designer Karl Lagerfeld. And what he means is that everything you buy is a form of self expression.

[B]

It's not just the clothes you wear, the choice of bank account, the type of car you drive, the milk you put in your fridge. All of those are choices you've made on how to express yourself.

[A]

And that's why Nothing's strategy to beat Apple and Google in tech hardware is to be a fashion brand. Literally.

[B]

In fact, Nothing launched an actual fashion line. We can see it right now on their website.

[A]

Yeah, right beside the phones and the headphones. On the Nothing website is Nothing Streetwear.

[B]

Samsung's not selling hoodies and tracksuits next to their Chromebooks.

[A]

No, they're not, Jack.

[B]

But Nothing is besties.

[A]

Nothing is trying to represent rebellion, rebel against conformity by not buying an iPhone.

[B]

That is how you overcome the biggest barriers to entry. You make everything fashion.

[A]

Jack, could you whip up the takeaways for us to kick off the week.

[B]

Netflix is paying a king's ransom to buy Warner Brothers because it doesn't want its competition to buy it.

[A]

Is Netflix plus HBO a monopoly? No, but it might be a monopsony in the industry of Hollywood.

[B]

For our second story, Woohoo is a restaurant in Dubai with a chef. That's AI. And that AI Chef does PR appearances.

[A]

You gotta lean into that. Woohoo next time, you know what I mean? Give it a little elbow grease. Yetis, this is AII an artificially intelligent influencer.

[B]

And our third and final story, nothing is a five year old startup selling $1 billion worth of earbuds, headphones, phones and streetwear.

[A]

Because as Karl Lagerfeld once said, everything is fashion but besties.

[B]

This pod's not over yet. Here's what else you need to know today?

[A]

First, the biggest drama on Wall street last week. CNBC just rebranded. That's right. CNBC just got a whole new logo.

[B]

They've had a peacock since 1989. Classic, by the way. CNBC, consumer news and business channel.

[A]

But after 36 years, they just unveiled a new look. It's two shades of blue with a triangle over the letter.

[B]

Some consultancy got paid $10 million for that.

[A]

And second, Viori and J. Crew both just launched ski gear at the same time. Awkward.

[B]

It's the first time the athleisure brand and the preppy brand have gotten into the ski industry.

[A]

Okay, but wait, Jack, pause the pod. So did Skims. Kim Kardashian, Skims, man.

[B]

Skims Just launched their second round of parkas with North Face ski gear.

[A]

It's suddenly the hot new fashion flex. Maybe because the Winter Olympics are less than two months away.

[B]

Jay Crip, Subaru, Viori, and Skims.

[A]

And finally, Consumer Reports just announced the most reliable car of the year. Jack, who's in the top five?

[B]

Number five is Toyota. Number four is Honda. Number three is Porsche. Number two is BMW.

[A]

And number one, to every New Englander's delight, is Subaru. Subaru. Yetis, if you're listening to us on the way to a trailhead with a kombucha in your pocket right now, congratulations. Your Subaru is number one.

[B]

I'm pretty sure the whole state of Maine ratings bombed. Consumer Reports, to make this real.

[A]

Bonus points. Have you got the Peace bumper sticker with every religious emblem on it?

[B]

No, no, no. The question is, does the coexist bumper sticker come with the Subaru, or do you have to buy that afterwards?

[A]

Now time for the best fact yet, which, because it's Monday, means T. Boy. Trivia. Jack, what do we got?

[B]

Last Friday, we told you Pantone's color of the year for 2026.

[A]

Yeah, Pantone chose a white color, by the way, or as they call it.

[B]

Cloud D. Color is actually a key subliminal message.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

For instance, blue signals to us humans, trust.

[A]

Yeah. That's why so many banking apps on your phone use the color blue as their color.

[B]

But here's our what is the one color that subliminally is associated with food?

[A]

That's right. What is the one color that actually makes your brain feel more hungry?

[B]

Besties.

[A]

If you've got a guess, leave it in the comments and Jack and I will reveal the answer. I'm on Yannis Potter. Yetis, you look fantastic to start the week, and if you haven't yet drop down to give us five stars, a rating and review. Jack and I love reading them. Honestly, it makes our week when you kick off the week like that.

[B]

And Nick and I will be back for the best one yet tomorrow.

[A]

H y H T B O Y if you know, you know.

And before we go, a congratulations to super legendary Yetis, Cole Bloomfield and Carolina Mountain. They've been listening for years and they just just got engaged down in Dallas. Congratulations guys. Let's see the ring picks.

[B]

Happy belated birthday to Emily Lecher in San Diego. She's a brand spanking new Yeti.

[A]

And Angel Alcala is turning 32 years old in Midlothian, Texas. Congrats on the birthday Angel.

[B]

Happy birthday to Adrienne Kwek in Sydney, Australia.

[A]

And Jonathan Ralston in St. Louis, Missouri is celebrating a blues birthday.

[B]

Happy birthday to Labella Myra Perez in the Ciudad de Guatemala in Guatemala.

[A]

And a happy birthday to Kathryn Stringham down in Arcadia, Arizona. Enjoy the best one.

[B]

Happy 8th birthday to Axel Pirani in San Mateo, California.

[A]

Hey Silicon Valley, this kid's got scale.

[B]

And to anyone else celebrating something today, make it a t boy.

[A]

Celebrate the wins.

[B]

This is Jack. I own stock of Netflix and Reddit and Nick and I both own stock of 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.

[A]

Prime members can listen ad free on Amazon Music. And before you go, tell us a.

[B]

Little bit about yourself by filling out a short survey at wondery. Com. Survey.

[A]

We want to get to know you.