Podcast Summary: The Best One Yet

Episode: 🩱 “Keeping Up With $5B” — Skims’ money situation. Country Music’s AI hit. Netflix’s theme park opens. +Harvard Grade InflAAAAtion
Hosts: Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell
Date: November 13, 2025

Overview

In this lively episode, Nick and Jack break down three major pop business stories: Skims rocketing to a $5B valuation, the first AI-generated country music hit topping the charts, and Netflix’s bold leap into physical experiences with its own theme park. The duo also touches on eyebrow-raising grade inflation at Harvard before diving deep into each story with humor, sharp analogies, and signature energy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Harvard’s Soaring Grade Inflation

[00:12-03:01]

• Nick and Jack riff on the proliferation of "-flation" trends, landing on “grade inflation” at Harvard:
  • Last year, 60% of Harvard grades were A's, compared to just 25% two decades ago—a massive shift away from the bell curve.
  • Even more shocking: average test scores have dropped by 10 points over 20 years, yet average grades have increased.
  • Professors now face scrutiny for grade inflation, highlighted by a memorable quip:

    “At the Ivies, B is the new D.” — Jack [02:49]

2. Skims Hits a $5 Billion Valuation

[05:46-10:18]

• Kim Kardashian’s shapewear and apparel company, Skims, recently raised venture capital at a staggering $5B valuation.
• Comparison deep-dive:
  • Skims' $5B valuation is 5x its sales, far higher than industry giants Nike and Lululemon (2x sales) and leagues ahead of Victoria’s Secret and The Gap.
  • Despite strong growth—expansion into menswear, partnerships with the NBA/WNBA, outfitting Olympians—the jump from $4B to $5B in two years is modest compared to the S&P 500’s rise.
  • Notable quote:

    “Skims is basically a full body experience. And they’re co-ed.” — Nick [07:06]

• The real story: Investors see Skims as more than an apparel company. Its “total market opportunity” stretches into loungewear, athleticwear, beauty, even potentially formal wear:

  "Skims will be Victoria’s Secret plus L’Oreal plus Lululemon if everything goes right." — Jack [09:20]

3. AI Tops the Country Music Charts

[10:18-14:44]

• “Walk My Walk” by “Breaking Rust” is the first AI-generated song to reach #1 on the Billboard country charts.
• Listeners and comment sections are divided—some bemused, others irate—but most agree: the AI-made tune is a catchy banger.
• Hosts investigate—no clear bio on Spotify, suspiciously AI-looking album art, and the credited composer has no internet footprint beyond an AI site.

  “It’s a robot Reba McEntire. It’s AI Johnny Cash.” — Nick [11:53]

• Why country? Nick and Jack explain the genre’s formulaic themes (trucks in 18% of lyrics; alcohol in 32%) make it fertile ground for large language models.
• Larger point: This is the “first of firsts”—AI’s continued advance into creative fields (from chart-topping songs to movies, startups, etc.).

  “If my son’s first novel is written by an AI author, that'll be troubling.” — Jack [14:33]

4. Netflix Opens ‘Netflix House’ Theme Park

[16:19-19:51]

• Netflix’s first theme park, “Netflix House,” opens in a former Lord & Taylor at a Philly mall.
• Attractions include immersive experiences from Squid Game, Stranger Things, and Wednesday, all inside a 100,000 sq-ft space.

  “It’s Netflix’s Disney World, but done Netflix style.” — Jack [01:07]

• Unlike Disney, entry is free—but the flagship Wednesday experience costs $39.
• Netflix's approach diverges from Disney in three key ways:
  • Location: Non-Disney cities (Philly now, Dallas and Vegas coming).
  • Physical Footprint: Repurposes empty retail space rather than building massive parks.
  • Business Model: Disney “buys” (via major IP acquisitions); Netflix “rents” (licenses select IP, but mostly builds content itself).

  “Netflix rents; Disney buys.” — Jack [19:02]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Harvard Grade Inflation:

  “Did the Harvard professors miss out on the chapter about the bell curve?” — Nick [01:44]
  “At the Ivies, B is the new D.” — Jack [02:49]

• On Skims' Growth:

  “Building stores faster than Kris Jenner can get a facelift.” — Nick [06:45]
  “The disruptors can eventually get disrupted, but Kim doesn’t see a limit in the categories Skims can enter.” — Jack [10:11]

• On AI Music:

  “It’s AI Johnny Cash. And we thought Dolly Parton was undisruptible.” — Nick [11:52]
  “Every day as AI advances, it has a new accomplishment in a new creative field.” — Jack [13:54]

• On Netflix House:

  “If Macy’s went out of business near you, you’re probably getting a Netflix house.” — Nick [18:34]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Harvard Grade Inflation: 00:12–03:01
• Skims Valuation and Business Model: 05:46–10:18
• AI Country Music Chart Topper: 10:18–14:44
• Netflix House Theme Park: 16:19–19:51
• Wrap-up Takeaways: 19:59–20:33
• Quick Hits (Private jets, Tesla rentals, Apple Sock): 20:41–22:11
• Best Fact Yet (Origin of the Burpee): 22:17–23:03

Flow & Tone

The episode maintains a brisk, energetic, and approachable tone throughout. The hosts mix analytical insights with playful banter, pop culture references, and plenty of puns, making complex business stories relatable and fun.

Summary Takeaways

• Skims is reimagining the limits of apparel and beauty brands, with investors betting on its ability to become a cross-category giant.
• AI is not just disrupting blue-collar jobs—it’s making artistic inroads, as evidenced by its first chart-topping country hit.
• Netflix’s move to physical experiences signals a broader shift in streaming economics: from digital at-home dominance to new, lean experiential models—smartly contrasted with Disney’s acquisition-heavy strategy.

Ideal for business-curious listeners and pop-culture fans alike, this episode delivers sharp takes and actionable analysis on the innovations shaping modern brands, music, and entertainment.