Podcast Summary: The Best One Yet

Episode: “Predictable” — Predictions takeover news. Chanel’s subway runway. Trump’s Golden Ticket. +Pantone’s Color of 2026

Release Date: December 5, 2025
Hosts: Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell

Episode Overview

This fast-paced episode dives into three major pop-business stories: the mainstream moment for prediction markets, Chanel's buzzworthy subway runway show, and a generational Wall Street gold rush driven by Trump baby brokerage accounts. The hosts also riff on Pantone’s unconventional Color of the Year for 2026, delivering witty observations and business-savvy context throughout.

Key Stories & Discussion Points

1. The Mainstreaming of Prediction Markets

[05:47–10:32]

• Industry Momentum & Partnerships

  • Prediction markets have exploded in popularity, with big names like CNN and CNBC integrating prediction data into their programming.
    • “Prediction markets, they already had their mainstream moment like a year ago.” — Nick [06:03]
    • CNN and CNBC both inked partnerships with prediction market platforms (Call Sheet and Kalshi, respectively) to display real-time probabilities on major news stories.
      • “The mainstream media icon will use call sheet predictions data on screen right underneath Wolf Blitzer's talking head.” — Jack [06:35]
  • CBS’s "60 Minutes" gave polymarket big exposure; prediction markets are now household lingo, even for “America’s senior citizens.” [06:23]

• Two-Headed Profit Puppy: Betting & Information

  • Markets act as both gambling platforms and tools for collective forecasting; both sides attract massive investments.
    • “Prediction markets are both a way to gamble money and a way to predict the future.” — Jack [07:38]
  • Market scope now stretches beyond elections and sports to culture, crypto, climate, public health, and more.
    • “There are prediction markets for culture, crypto, climate, economics, public health, you name it.” — Jack [08:09]

• Reliability and Accuracy

  • Crowdsourcing predictions with real money on the line is proving more accurate than expert opinion or polls.
    • “When the masses put their own money on the line, it is shown to eliminate bias and be highly accurate.” — Jack [08:49]
  • PolyMarket CEO (on "60 Minutes"): “Prediction markets as the most accurate thing we have as mankind right now.” — Jack [09:04]

• Valuations & Monetization

  • Startups in this space are ballooning — Call Sheet reportedly raised at $2B, $5B, then $11B valuations this year, rivaling only AI in VC fever.
    • “Prediction markets, they're a two headed profit puppy. And they’ve pulled off something only AI ever has: three fundraises in one year.” — Jack [10:29]
  • Licensing deals like those with CNN and CNBC could be highly lucrative (“big bucks”) in the future.

Notable Quotes

• “At Kalshee and polymarket, the lawyers will spank you if you say bet or wager.” — Jack [07:51]
• “Spoiler. By the way, the smart money's on Callum Turner. Trust us, it's gonna be Callum.” — Nick [08:23]

2. Chanel’s Subway Runway: The Power of Setting

[10:43–14:36]

• Chanel’s Bold Move

  • In a surprising bid to revive its waning Gen Z relevance, Chanel staged a fashion show in an abandoned NYC subway station (the Bowery Street location) and even used a real “C train” to echo its logo.
    • “The $40 billion luxury brand took over an abandoned subway station in New York City, the Bowery street location.” — Nick [12:11]
    • Notable attendees included A$AP Rocky, Kristen Stewart, and Jon Bon Jovi.

• Business Context

  • Chanel faces flagging revenues (down 4%) and profits (down 30%), partly due to outpacing rivals in luxury price hikes.
    • “Since 2019, Chanel handbags have doubled in price.” — Nick [11:38]
    • FT reports rest of industry only rose by 50%.

• Why Location is the New Star

  • The show became viral fodder — not only in traditional media (Wall Street Journal, NYT, Vogue), but also on TikTok — because of the dramatic juxtaposition of luxury goods in a gritty, relatable setting.
    • “Sometimes the best star of the show is actually the stage.” — Jack [13:29]
  • Other brands using location to similar viral effect: Fendi on the Great Wall of China, Cos in a marble quarry, Vetement at a Paris McDonald’s.

• Broad Takeaway

  • Event settings can drive broader buzz than the actual product — a lesson for all industries in the TikTok era.
    • “Because the real audience aren't the people in the room anymore. It's everyone watching clips of the event on TikTok.” — Jack [14:29]
    • Apple should announce new iPhones in iconic locations (“Grand Canyon”) instead of at its campus, the hosts joke.

Notable Quotes

• “We estimate this is the largest concentration of wealth ever in a single subway car.” — Jack [12:39]
• “Take the background and make it the foreground.” — Nick [14:36]

3. Wall Street’s Battle for the “Trump Baby Accounts”

[16:51–21:31]

• What Are Trump Baby Accounts?

  • A $6B donation from the Dell family will double the reach of so-called “Trump Accounts,” government-funded brokerage accounts seeded with $1,000 for kids born during Trump’s term.
    • “The Dells are giving $250 directly to 25 million American children. This was a huge expansion of the Trump accounts for kids.” — Jack [17:17]
  • Now covers 40 million children — the size of Canada’s population.
    • “That is a population the size of Canada.” — Jack [17:53]

• Who Will Get the “Golden Ticket”?

  • The government must pick which financial institution(s) will administer these tens of millions of new accounts. This is a “generational opportunity” and a fierce lobbying battle among Robinhood, Schwab, JP Morgan, and others (with echoes of Willy Wonka).
    • “Who is going to get those brokerage accounts? That is the new golden ticket.” — Nick [18:04]
  • Cites parallels to past government programs (railroads, Medicare/Medicaid, 401ks) where policy spawned enormous business windfalls.

• Risks & Precedents

  • Warns the “golden ticket” may also turn into “fool’s gold” — as with the Apple Card partnership that hurt Goldman Sachs.
    • “That golden ticket didn’t work out for Goldman Sachs. Turned out the Apple card was a big money loser.” — Nick [20:04]
  • Whoever wins will likely offer accounts at zero fees, but the long-term customer loyalty and lifetime value are the prize.
    • “There are a couple reasons why your first financial account is often your financial account for life.” — Nick [20:57]
    • “Hotel California strategy. Financial firms make it really hard to switch.” — Jack [21:13]

• Broader Implications

  • Dubbed “the biggest lobbying effort of a generation” — whoever is chosen, it will shape the financial landscape for Gen Alpha.

Notable Quotes

• “With one stroke of his pen, President Trump will ordain the Bank of Gen Alpha.” — Jack [20:33]
• “Oh, you can check out anytime you like, but you can never leave.” — Jack [21:15]

Other Memorable Segments & Quotes

Pantone’s Color of the Year 2026: Cloud Dancer

[01:38–03:17]

• For the first time in 26 years, Pantone picks a shade of white (“Cloud Dancer”) as color of the year.
  • “Well, Jack, for the first time ever, it’s actually not a color... It’s Cloud Dancer.” — Nick [02:19]
  • “This color looks like an eggshell on a coconut flake mixed with mayonnaise.” — Nick [02:44]
  • Pantone’s rationale: consumers crave calmness and “a blank slate in a world of chaos.” [03:04]
• The hosts playfully debate what counts as a color and joke about “waving a white flag” at the decision.

Quick Headlines

[22:10–23:41]

• MrBeast launches Beast Mobile phone service.
• Meta (Facebook) rumored to cut Metaverse budgets by 30%.
  • “First he dropped the 'the', then he dropped 'Facebook', now he’s dropping 'Meta'.” — Jack [23:06]
• Hershey’s late-to-the-party Dubai Chocolate release.

Listener Appreciation & Spotify Wrapped

[23:50–24:41]

• The hosts thank listeners, sharing impressive stats:
  • 18,200 listeners had TBOY as their number one podcast
  • 878,000 hours listened in 2025 on Spotify (equal to 100 years of episodes)
  • 320,000 Spotify followers ("the population of Pittsburgh")
  • “We’re extremely grateful. It’s been friggin' awesome.” — Jack [24:35]

Timeline of Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|------------------------------------------------------| | 05:47 | Prediction markets break into mainstream news | | 10:43 | Inside Chanel’s subway runway show | | 16:51 | Wall Street’s gold rush for Trump baby accounts | | 22:10 | Quick news: MrBeast Mobile, Meta cuts, Hershey news | | 23:50 | Listener stats & Spotify Wrapped shout-outs |

Tone, Style & Closing Thoughts

The hosts blend business analysis with humor and pop-culture references, making complex stories accessible and memorable. Their signature “profit puppy” catchphrasing and playful banter (like riffing about Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, or Tim Cook in the Grand Canyon) keeps things light, while still delivering solid financial and strategy insights.

Standout Quotes

• “Prediction markets, they’re a two-headed profit puppy.” — Jack & Nick [10:29]
• “Sometimes the best star of the show is actually the stage.” — Jack [13:29]
• “With one stroke of his pen, President Trump will ordain the Bank of Gen Alpha.” — Jack [20:33]
• “Take the background and make it the foreground.” — Nick [14:36]

For more details or lively business banter, check out the full episode “Predictable” from The Best One Yet (December 5, 2025).