🧊 “Sell America” — Greenland’s stock drop. Netflix’s Matt Damon formula. Aldi’s parking lot.

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Best One Yet

Episode: 🧊 “Sell America” — Greenland’s Stock Drop. Netflix’s Matt Damon Formula. Aldi’s Parking Lot.

Date: January 21, 2026
Hosts: Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell

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Episode Overview

In this high-energy, pop-biz news episode, Jack and Nick break down America's brewing trade civil war over Greenland, the inside scoop on Netflix’s movie formula (thanks to Matt Damon's off-the-cuff podcast reveal), and why Aldi is beating Trader Joe’s at its own frugal grocery game. The duo’s banter, punchlines, and crisp analysis transform three big business headlines into 20 minutes of must-know stories for your oatmeal ritual.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. Hostile Takeover: Trump, Greenland, and the "Sell America" Trade

[03:59–09:55]

• The Situation: President Donald Trump has escalated his desire to buy Greenland, threatening 10% tariffs on major European allies unless they "get out of the way" by Feb 1st. If the US hasn’t annexed Greenland by June 1st, tariffs jump to 25% ([04:21]).
• Why Greenland? The motivation mixes national security, access to rare earth minerals, fresh water—and, in a bizarre twist, Trump’s grievance over not winning the Nobel Peace Prize ([05:04], [06:02]).
• Business & Market Fallout:
  • US stock markets dropped 2% in reaction; the S&P 500 had its worst day since October ([12:16]).
  • Denmark responded by selling $100 million in US Treasuries. The “Sell America” trend was underway, with EU allies dumping US assets ([07:50]).
  • The EU targets iconic American products—Boeing jets, Tennessee whiskey, Florida OJ, Harleys, soybeans—with $100B in retaliatory tariffs ([07:10]).
  • Canada clinched a trade deal with China at Davos, drifting closer to US competitors ([06:29]).
• Absurd Escalations: Trump floated a sketchy “Board of Peace” (with himself as supreme veto) after France refused to join, he threatened 200% tariffs on French champagne ([07:22], [07:33]).
• Host Quote:
  • Jack: “It’s not a trade war, it’s a trade civil war. It’s the United States against its friends.” ([06:18])
  • Nick: “Landmark your calendars.” ([04:46])

Takeaway ([08:29–09:55]):

• Off-ramps exist to resolve the situation peacefully—reopening military bases, paying for access, treating it like a business deal. “Trump always chickens out” (TACO) may still save the day.
• Jack: “There are plenty of off ramps to this trade civil war. We, and pretty much every economist and business person, hopes he takes them.” ([09:45])

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2. Netflix’s Secret Movie Formula (Shoutout to Matt Damon)

[09:55–14:33]

• The Setup: Netflix earnings are strong—325 million users and record revenue. But the bigger buzz is Matt Damon’s interview on Joe Rogan, where he revealed Netflix’s “secret formula” for making movies ([10:11], [10:57]).
• Matt Damon Spill:
  • Standard action films: 3 acts, 1 big action scene per act, with the biggest at the end ([12:03]).
  • Netflix’s formula: Action immediately—a big scene in the first 5 minutes. Plot points must be repeated multiple times in dialogue, for clarity.
    • Damon: “[Netflix] asked me, can we get a big action scene in the first five minutes?” ([12:13])
    • Damon’s character, in “The Rip,” repeats the movie’s moral dilemma three times in a row ([12:33]).
  • Netflix says, per Damon, it’s to fight “second screen syndrome”—audiences using their phones during movies at home ([13:15]).
  • Ben Affleck jumps in to say Netflix doesn’t do this for every film, but it’s common practice for action/genre content ([12:46]).
• Industry Context:
  • Competing with TikTok: Traditional movies (in theaters) don’t have to fight for attention. Netflix must, because people are on their phones. Everything is getting “more TikTok”—short songs, faster cuts, quicker hooks ([13:15–14:02]).
  • Universal trend: Even public speakers and podcasters must repeat themselves, as listeners’ phones are always a distraction ([14:12–14:27]).

Takeaway ([14:02–14:33]):

• The streaming war isn’t about attention—it’s about retention, and the smartphone is the enemy.
• Jack: “The force making everything we consume feel more TikTok. It’s second screen syndrome.” ([13:15], [14:22])

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3. Aldi’s Parking Lot Test: The Secret to Beating Trader Joe’s

[15:18–19:56]

• Aldi’s Ascent: On pace to become America’s #2 grocer (after Walmart), surpassing Trader Joe's in US revenue ($29B last year). Adding 180 new stores in 2026, major expansion in high-income zip codes ([16:04], [16:21], [18:51]).
• Business Model = German Frugality:
  • Product of postwar Germany: Minimalism, efficiency, and thrift.
  • Examples:
    • Insert a quarter for a cart; only refunded on return ([17:29]).
    • DIY unpackaging groceries straight from shipping containers ([17:44]).
    • No prepared foods, bakery, or deli. Store is just 10,000 sq ft ([17:55], [18:01]).
    • No in-store music—the ultimate cost-saving move ([18:20]).
  • 90% of products are private label (“even higher than Costco”) ([18:35]).
• Parking Lot Test:
  • “Look at their parking lot—every type of car, from a Mercedes all the way down.” ([19:25])
  • Frugality, not cheapness, is universal. Status is irrelevant when value is on offer—Aldi attracts shoppers from all financial backgrounds.
  • Jack: “If you want to understand the store’s customers, look in its parking lot. Cars are strong signals of income, wealth, and status. And Aldi seems to have all of them.” ([19:28], [19:34])

Takeaway:

• Looking at the parking lot reveals why Aldi is thriving: value transcends status, and everyone loves a deal.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Trade Civil War:

  • Jack: “You see the headlines. President Donald Trump wants Greenland. Anyone standing in the way, they’re gonna be financially punished.” ([04:13])
  • Jack: “It’s not I remember that guy; it’s why does this guy speak in a Spanish accent?” (on Dos Equis ad nostalgia vs. Gen Z, [02:20])

• Netflix’s Formula:

  • Jack: “It’s all science, not much art.” ([12:57])
  • Nick: “Besties, the force making everything we consume more like TikTok—it’s second screen syndrome.” ([14:23])
  • Damon gag, per Jack: “We’re gonna need a big bang at minute three, an explosion at minute four, and let’s repeat the reason for the revenge at least 12 times.” ([13:08])

• Aldi’s Efficiency:

  • Jack (on carts): “You only get your quarter back if you bring the shopping cart back to the place where you found it. So they don’t have to pay someone to corral those things.” ([17:29])
  • Jack: “Deutsche Sparsamkeit—or German frugality.” ([17:19])

• Parking Lot Test:

  • Jack: “Frugality is not cheapness. Value—paying what something is worth—that has universal appeal.” ([19:39])
  • Co-host: “Aldi’s parking lot… It’s a reminder that not wanting to waste money, that transcends economic status.” ([19:51])

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening Nostalgia: Dos Equis “Most Interesting Man” Returns ([01:30–02:44])
• Story 1: Trump, Greenland, Trade Civil War: [03:59–09:55]
• Story 2: Netflix’s Movie Formula, Matt Damon Reveal: [09:55–14:33]
• Story 3: Aldi Parking Lot Test, Frugality Unlocked: [15:18–19:56]
• Takeaways Recap: [20:02–20:47]
• Bonus Updates (OpenAI hardware, De Beers, Moon Hotel): [20:51–21:55]

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Final Takeaways (Hosts’ Summary)

• Greenland & Tariffs:
  “As Trump tries to take Greenland, Europe and Canada appear more united than ever to resist. It’s resulted in a trade civil war. There are plenty of peaceful off ramps.” ([20:06–20:14])

• Netflix Retention Formula:
  “Netflix told Matt Damon about their film formula: You must repeat the plot several times. Because the audience is distracted by their phone.” ([20:18–20:27])

• Aldi’s Secret:
  “Aldi is on track to become America’s number two grocer, thanks to Deutsche Sparsamkeit—German frugality. Whether you’re driving a Beamer or your car is busted, that has appeal. That is the parking lot test.” ([20:34–20:45])

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The Best One Yet’s Tone & Style

• Fast, funny, loaded with banter, pop-culture winks, and “bestie” energy.
• Smart, punchy analysis delivers useful context behind flashy headlines—packed with memorable analogies and zingers.

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This summary captures the essential news, context, and flavor—so you can own these stories at the breakfast table, even if you missed the pod.

Transcript

[Nick]

This is Nick, this is Jack. It's Wednesday ceviche Wednesday, January 21st. 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]

Well, YETI stocks just had their worst day since October.

[Jack]

The S&P 500 fell over 2% on Tuesday because of our first story.

[Nick]

Jack. And I got your backs with the best mix in the business.

[Co-host/Producer]

Jack, what do we got on today's show? Three stories.

[Jack]

For our first story, Donald Trump's attempted hostile takeover of Greenland is causing a US Divorce.

[Nick]

It's a trade civil war, but everyone.

[Co-host/Producer]

In business is wondering, is it too late to stop it from happening?

[Jack]

For our second story, Netflix just reported earnings yesterday. But the bigger news is what Matt.

[Nick]

Damon said about Netflix, because Matt Damon.

[Co-host/Producer]

Just revealed Netflix's secret formula for films.

[Jack]

And our third and final story. Last week we asked you on the POD if you want us to do a story about Aldi, America's fastest growing grocery chain.

[Nick]

Well, the response was yeah, ok. Yeah.

[Jack]

So we want to tell you about Aldi's parking lot test because it's the key to why they're beating Trader Joe's.

[Nick]

No one's talking about it, but it's.

[Co-host/Producer]

The Aldi parking lot test.

[Jack]

But yetis, before we hit that wonderful mix of stories.

[Nick]

Oh, the mix.

[Co-host/Producer]

Love the mix. Jack, wonderful work today.

[Jack]

Dry January is almost over, but honestly, the decline in beer has been brewing for years.

[Co-host/Producer]

Anheuser Busch, InBev, they own 400 different beer brands, but their stock is down 50%.

[Jack]

Craft beer only your extremely stubborn friend is still ordering IPAs.

[Nick]

We see you, buddy. Timmy.

[Co-host/Producer]

But Jack, can I please tell you about Dos Equis?

[Jack]

Because Dos Equis has brought back their spokesperson from the brighter days.

[Co-host/Producer]

They've brought back the most interesting man in the world.

[Jack]

He speaks Russian in French.

[Co-host/Producer]

He gives bear hugs to wolves.

[Jack]

His feet don't get blisters, his shoes do.

[Nick]

Then he can parallel park a train.

[Jack]

This famous legend was born in 2006, when he retired from TV in 2016.

[Nick]

And now actor Jonathan Goldsmith is 87.

[Co-host/Producer]

Years old and the face of Dos Equis once again.

[Jack]

It's a Hail Mary marketing strategy.

[Nick]

Yeah.

[Jack]

Nostalgia never dies.

[Nick]

Nostalgia never dies. But Jack, can we share one funny element of this whole story? Yeah.

[Jack]

21 year olds today, they were barely alive when the most interesting man began.

[Co-host/Producer]

Illegal drinkers were still in diapers when.

[Nick]

These original ads came on for Gen Z.

[Jack]

It's not I remember that guy. It's why does this guy speak in a Spanish accent.

[Co-host/Producer]

So Dos Equis had to update the most interesting man's catchphrases for for a Gen Z audience.

[Jack]

In today's commercials, you hear him say his phone is addicted to him.

[Co-host/Producer]

Starbucks orders gift cards of him.

[Jack]

His Ubers order him Waymos besties.

[Nick]

We don't always podcast, but when we.

[Co-host/Producer]

Do, we make it the best one yet.

[Jack]

Stay thirsty, my friends. Let's hit our trace stories.

[Narrator/Intro Voice]

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 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 list. If you know, you know. Cause we read to go. We can't wait no more.

[Nick]

So just start the show.

[Narrator/Intro Voice]

Start the show.

[Nick]

First, a quick word from our sponsor.

[Sponsor Voice]

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[Nick]

For our first story, the president has.

[Co-host/Producer]

Escalated his desire to own Greenland into a trade civil war with our allies.

[Jack]

It feels like Liberation Day all over again. So we're hoping Trump chickens out. We're hoping for another taco moment.

[Nick]

Yeties, you've seen the headlines. President Donald Trump wants Greenland.

[Co-host/Producer]

Anyone standing in the way, they're gonna be financially punished.

[Jack]

We know because over the weekend, Donald Trump threatened 10% tariffs on Denmark, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and four other countries unless they get out of the.

[Co-host/Producer]

Way and let him buy Greenland by February 1st.

[Jack]

Quick reminder, tariffs are taxes on Americans. So what the president is talking about is taxing Americans because Europeans are blocking our attempted annexation of Greenland, which is their territory.

[Nick]

Landmark your calendars because those tariffs raised.

[Co-host/Producer]

To 25% if the United States hasn't annexed Greenland by June 1st.

[Jack]

Why is President Trump so fixated on Greenland? He says it's because of national security trying to get rare earth minerals, maybe even their abundance of fresh frozen water.

[Nick]

There's an interesting fresh water story in this as well.

[Co-host/Producer]

But on Sunday, he also said it's because he didn't win the Nobel Peace Prize from Norway.

[Jack]

Quick reminder, Nick, I'm going to go Econ 101 and Math 101. Taxes are tariffs on Americans. So we are taxing Americans because Europeans are blocking our attempted annexation of Greenland, which is their territory.

[Nick]

And Jack, pause the pod. I gotta have you circle the calendar too, because those tariffs raised to 25%.

[Co-host/Producer]

If America has not annexed Greenland by June 1.

[Jack]

I feel like we just typed in an equation to Excel and it's saying does not compute.

[Nick]

Well, most of the business community, especially over in Davos, not a fan of this situation. Even the polar bears did not see.

[Co-host/Producer]

This coming, we should point out.

[Jack]

Which begs the question, why is Davos, why is Donald Trump so fixated on Greenland in the first place?

[Co-host/Producer]

We did do a story on this last year. There's a lot of value in Greenland, national security, rare earth metals, an abundance of fresh water, which we may do a story on cuz that's a whole new angle.

[Jack]

But Trump also actually said on Truth Social on Sunday one of the reasons he's so interested in Greenland is because he didn't win the Nobel Peace Prize.

[Nick]

But either way, the President is saving.

[Co-host/Producer]

The biggest punches for our historic allies as he believes they have been freeloading on American security for decades.

[Jack]

It's not a trade war, it's a trade civil war. It's the United States against its friends.

[Co-host/Producer]

Meanwhile, we're seeing an opposite and equal reaction.

[Nick]

Our friends are moving closer to our enemies.

[Co-host/Producer]

Like Canada, which just announced a trade deal with China on Monday at Davos.

[Jack]

Which is the burning man for billionaires.

[Nick]

Yes, it is.

[Jack]

Good for you if you got a ticket to that. Canada's president got a standing ovation after announcing that trade deal. So besties, add it all up.

[Co-host/Producer]

And for the first time in history, Greenland just made the US stock market.

[Jack]

Red stocks fell 2% yesterday because Europe is punching back.

[Co-host/Producer]

And the name of this concept right now is Sell America. This is the Sell America trade.

[Jack]

The European Union actually has a list of symbolically American products that they're going to toss $100 billion of retaliatory tariffs on.

[Nick]

All right, Jack, can you read off the list? Because it kind of looks like a wall at Applebee's when I'm reading this thing.

[Jack]

Boeing airplanes, Tennessee whiskey, Florida orange juice, Harley Davidson, and of course, Iowa soybeans.

[Nick]

If you live in Paris and you want to buy a Yankees hat. Not possible for a cheap price anyt.

[Jack]

And that's not even the end of the tariff story because Trump is also trying to create A quote, unquote, Board of Peace to compete with the United nations, with Trump and only Trump as the veto power.

[Co-host/Producer]

But when France said they would not join this group, Trump threatened 200% tariffs on French wine and champagne.

[Jack]

Okay, so seeing all this, Denmark isn't waiting to see if Trump will follow through on his tariffs.

[Nick]

No, no, no, no, no.

[Co-host/Producer]

The Danes have already started selling America.

[Jack]

Literally, starting Tuesday, Denmark started selling $100 million of U.S. treasuries because they're just not into the U.S. anymore.

[Co-host/Producer]

And Yetis, it's not just Denmark. The sell America trade is hot again. The U.S. dollar just fell and U.S. stocks dropped 2% yesterday.

[Jack]

Yesterday, we had the largest drop in the value of the US Dollar since Trump's Liberation Day last April.

[Nick]

Europeans are even trying to redefine the MAGA abbreviation. And what are they doing in hats.

[Jack]

Jack, Make America go away.

[Co-host/Producer]

The EU Commission president even called for a permanent economic from the United States.

[Nick]

And buying a Bordeaux for Saturday night is probably gonna cost you, like, 400 bucks. So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our.

[Co-host/Producer]

Buddies over in this trade civil war?

[Jack]

There are off ramps everywhere. The question is, will Trump Taco this time? We hope so.

[Co-host/Producer]

Yeti's strangest thing about this Greenland situation is that we probably could have achieved a lot of this through a peaceful strategy.

[Jack]

Instead, Greenland is a part of the Kingdom of Denmark, a NATO ally of the United States. We have a military base in Greenland, and in the past, we had as many as 50 military installations during the Cold War.

[Co-host/Producer]

So when you understand that fundamental history.

[Nick]

Questions you may ask are, did we try asking them if we could reopen.

[Co-host/Producer]

Those bases instead of doing a full.

[Jack]

Takeover and pay them rent while we do?

[Nick]

Did we ask Greenland if we could.

[Co-host/Producer]

Invest money to mine there and extract rare earth minerals instead of owning the entire giant island?

[Jack]

Did we try framing it as a business transaction instead of have imperial conquest?

[Co-host/Producer]

Jack, everything you just described, that's basically the art of the deal. And those deals are still achievable. These could be off ramps that end this Greenland issue, end this trade civil war.

[Jack]

Yetis, remember the acronym Taco. Trump always chickens out. Well, today Trump speaks at Davos. Will he, Taco? Will he stand down from his aggressive threats?

[Co-host/Producer]

After all, most of the American public.

[Nick]

Is frustrated by high prices and not.

[Co-host/Producer]

In support of American conquest overseas.

[Jack]

There are plenty of off ramps to this trade civil war. We, and pretty much every economist and business person, hopes he takes them.

[Nick]

For our second story, Netflix just announced earnings, but Matt Damon just announced Netflix's movie formula which is way more interesting.

[Jack]

And spoiler. Every Netflix action movie must have a major action scene in the first five minutes.

[Nick]

Besties. If Cisco and Everett had a brokerage, they'd be giving Netflix earnings two thumbs up.

[Jack]

They announced yesterday record revenue and growth of 18%. And for the time in a year, Netflix gave us an update on the number of subscribers.

[Co-host/Producer]

325 million Netflix subscribers.

[Nick]

Jack, can you sprinkle on some context, please?

[Jack]

That is more paid subscribers than Spotify or Amazon or any company to our knowledge.

[Nick]

Combined.

[Jack]

Not combined. Not combined. Ta dum.

[Nick]

I meant to say ta dum, Jack. Oh. Also, Netflix updated their bid to acquire Warner Brothers.

[Jack]

It's now an all cash offer. That's right, a $72 billion splurge.

[Nick]

Except the shareholders aren't happy. As they would put it, nobody wants this. You know, we're talking about Adam Brody.

[Jack]

But we found a much juicier drama about Netflix, and we found it in the Joe Rogan podcast episode last week.

[Co-host/Producer]

Yeah, it is. This is fascinating. Matt Damon just revealed Netflix's secret formula for making movies. And it makes sense.

[Jack]

But first, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck. They grew up in the same neighborhood just outside Boston. Just outside Boston.

[Nick]

They've actually done 14 films together.

[Co-host/Producer]

But, Jack, get this, only two of them took place in Massachusetts.

[Jack]

Sounds like a trivia question. I'm going to think and answer it at the end of the episode.

[Nick]

Good Will Hunting. And we'll save it for the end of the pod. Matt and Ben. They're Hollywood's most lucrative Bostonian bromance since.

[Co-host/Producer]

Pedro and Big Papi.

[Jack]

The latest movie these two are doing is called the Rip, and it's on Netflix right now.

[Nick]

It's an action thriller about two Miami cops who find a stash of cash and then have the moral, ethical dilemma.

[Co-host/Producer]

Of what to do with it.

[Jack]

Sounds a lot like Bad Boys with Will Smith and Martin Lawrence, but much wider.

[Nick]

Yeah, the sequel was better than the first. Well, Matt Damon and Ben Affleck went on Joe Rogan's podcast last week to promote their movie, and they ended up.

[Co-host/Producer]

Spilling the beans on Netflix's secret strategy.

[Jack]

Matt Damon told Joe Rogan that the standard action film has three acts with one action scene in each act.

[Nick]

Strategically, a director or studio will save.

[Co-host/Producer]

The biggest budget action scene for the finale of the film.

[Jack]

The Town, the Bourne Identity, the Departed. They all follow that action movie formula.

[Co-host/Producer]

But get this, Netflix has a different formula. They actually asked Matt Damon, hey, can we get a big action scene in the first five minutes?

[Jack]

They need to hook you Fast. And they want to keep you on track with the plot. So Netflix also asked Matt Damon, hey, can you reiterate the plot three to four times in the dialogue to make sure the audience is still with us?

[Co-host/Producer]

Which is why in the movie the.

[Nick]

Rip, Matt Damon's character awkwardly repeats why the cops need the cash right in.

[Co-host/Producer]

The middle of the movie for three.

[Nick]

Times in a row.

[Jack]

Anyone who's paying attention is like, I got it.

[Nick]

We should point out. Ben Affleck interrupted Matt and pointed out.

[Co-host/Producer]

Netflix doesn't do this for all their films, like their award winning film ad.

[Jack]

But still, Matt Damon revealed Netflix follows a recipe for a lot of their films.

[Co-host/Producer]

Like, content is a cake mix.

[Jack]

It's all science, not much art.

[Nick]

Alright, guys, just storyboarding this here. We're gonna need a big bang at minute three, an explosion at minute four, and let's repeat the reason for the revenge at least 12 times.

[Jack]

I got it. After seven repeats. Okay.

[Nick]

You know we're talking about Stranger Things. So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over at Netflix?

[Jack]

The force making everything we consume feel more TikTok. It's second screen syndrome.

[Co-host/Producer]

Yetis the reason why Netflix in particular.

[Nick]

Is so focused on keeping your attention.

[Co-host/Producer]

You'Re watching at home.

[Jack]

As Matt Damon says that Netflix told him, people are distracted on their phones while they're watching Netflix.

[Nick]

It's not about attention, it's about retention. Now, traditional movies, which make all their.

[Co-host/Producer]

Money in theaters, they do not compete with phones. So they do not do this.

[Jack]

You're not allowed to have your phone on in a movie theater. So traditional Hollywood movie makers don't worry about TikTok, but Netflix does.

[Co-host/Producer]

Netflix movies, they compete with MrBeast, who tests 50 tit to maximize clicks on YouTube.

[Jack]

And Netflix movies compete with formulaic dopamine doses served up on your Instagram reels.

[Nick]

I mean, Jack, we did a story.

[Co-host/Producer]

On this last year. Even in audio, songs are getting shorter and courses are moving up earlier.

[Jack]

In order to win on Spotify, we interviewed Duolingo CEO. Yeah, he knows that the biggest competition isn't Babel. Sorry, is it Babel?

[Nick]

I think It's Babel.

[Jack]

It's TikTok.

[Nick]

And Netflix knows it too. Oh, guess what? Podcasters, public speakers, even your girlfriend or.

[Co-host/Producer]

Boyfriend, they know it as well.

[Jack]

Unless your audience has their phone put away somewhere, their phone is competing with whatever you're saying.

[Nick]

Besties. The force making everything we consume more like TikTok.

[Co-host/Producer]

It's second screen syndrome. A case of second screen syndrome.

[Nick]

Now, a quick word from our sponsor.

[Sponsor Voice]

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[Co-host/Producer]

Now.

[Nick]

For our third and final story. Bigger than Trader Joe's, Aldi is on.

[Co-host/Producer]

Track to be the number two grocery.

[Nick]

Chain in America behind Walmart.

[Jack]

You can see why by looking at the cars in their parking lots.

[Nick]

If we're going to tell the story.

[Co-host/Producer]

Jack, can we please talk about Brooklyn's hottest new club?

[Jack]

Aldi.

[Nick]

Yeah, House Aldi.

[Jack]

New Yorkers are lining up at 6am to be the first 100 into America's newest Aldi.

[Co-host/Producer]

We repeat.

[Nick]

Engineers, publicists, investment bankers. The interns for those involved. Investment bankers. The VP investment bankers.

[Co-host/Producer]

They're lining up for a German grocery store.

[Jack]

Now, I studied abroad in Germany.

[Co-host/Producer]

Yeah.

[Jack]

And I can tell you that ALDI is known for their German frugality.

[Nick]

And in this economy, German frugality.

[Co-host/Producer]

That's the new fetch, baby.

[Jack]

And here's the news. Aldi is adding 180 new stores in America this year.

[Nick]

The goal, to hit 3,000 stores and become number two behind only Walmart.

[Co-host/Producer]

And they're on pace to do it.

[Jack]

Here's the other news. Aldi has 29 billion in US revenue last year, which is more than Trader Joe's for the first time ever.

[Nick]

I was choked on my orange chicken mandarin after I heard that, Jack.

[Jack]

Now, Nick, to make sure that German study abroad money paid for itself. ALDI is actually an abbreviation for Albrecht Discount. Yeah, it was the Albrecht discount store. And it was two brothers. One of them went to America and ended up owning Trader Joe's. The other stayed in Germany until more recently when they came to the States.

[Nick]

So the two are actually cousins. And just like Batman was born in.

[Co-host/Producer]

The darkness, Aldi was born in a post World War II German inflation situation.

[Jack]

What do we have right now in America? Yeah, an inflation situation, but besties.

[Nick]

What Jack and I find fascinating about.

[Co-host/Producer]

Aldi is the Aldi unlock. Their unlock is the IKEA principle.

[Jack]

IKEA realized they could save costs on furniture and sell at a lower price if they let the customer assemble the furniture.

[Nick]

Honey, where's the third part for this Smorgen sofa?

[Jack]

Well, at Aldi, you basically assemble the groceries. That's right.

[Nick]

Aldi's German approach is actually kind of a German stereotype. Jack, if you will.

[Jack]

Deutsche Sparsamkeit or German frugality.

[Nick]

Yeah, we can say that because Jack studied abroad there and it's 3/4 German besties. You want some examples of this? Well, what happens if you want a.

[Co-host/Producer]

Shopping cart at Aldi, Jack?

[Jack]

You need to insert a quarter to unlock the shopping cart. And you only get your quarter back if you bring the shopping cart back to the place where you found it. So they don't have to pay someone to corral those things.

[Nick]

Jack, when I'm in aisle six at.

[Co-host/Producer]

Aldi, why is the can of beans still in the giant shipping container?

[Jack]

Because they save money by letting you unpack it yourself.

[Co-host/Producer]

What's that thing your grandmother used to say, Jack? All the time?

[Jack]

I'm perfectly capable of doing it myself. And that's what Aldi expects of you, too.

[Nick]

Okay, the Aldi business model.

[Co-host/Producer]

No prepared foods, no bakery, and no deli to waste time while you're asking.

[Nick]

For extra mayo on that, Sammy.

[Jack]

And they pack all the food into just 10,000 square feet, one quarter of a typical grocery store. So they save on real estate and overhead, too.

[Nick]

Add it all up and the Aldi kind of feels like a post for Germany situation in there, Jack.

[Jack]

Yeah, it's a little, little harsh. Yeah, but each example of austerity signals the brand's dedication to offering the lowest price.

[Nick]

Get this, even the music is cheaper. Aldi, there's no music.

[Jack]

Because paying for one of those enterprise Spotify accounts would cost a lot of money.

[Nick]

But the key profit puppy for why they're in business on those razor thin margins is that 90% of the products.

[Jack]

Are private label, which is even higher than Costco with their Kirkland brand.

[Nick]

You don't need a German degree to understand that the Aldi business model kind of feels like a German fairy tale. Yeah, it feels grim. And yet every US Town wants an.

[Co-host/Producer]

Aldi across from their Trader Joe's.

[Jack]

Including high end US towns. Two thirds of their new openings are in high income zip codes, including that.

[Nick]

32 story luxury tower in Brooklyn with the line out the door filled with.

[Jack]

Investment bankers with the investment banking interns.

[Nick]

Filling up those giant blue Aldi sacks. So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies who all wanted us to do this story and want us to do more so we may have to do another episode on it? Aldi.

[Jack]

If you want to know Aldi, look at their parking lot.

[Co-host/Producer]

Yetis, one Wall street analyst made an interesting observation about Aldi's parking lots.

[Jack]

You see every type of car in them from a Mercedes all the way down.

[Co-host/Producer]

The bigger perspective here for Jack and I. If you want to understand the store's customers, look in its parking lot.

[Jack]

Cars are strong signals of income, wealth and status. And Aldi seems to have all of them.

[Co-host/Producer]

Remember besties, frugality is not cheapness value. Paying what something is worth that has universal appeal.

[Jack]

That's why wealthy Karen demands to speak with a manager about a $2 fee.

[Nick]

Yeah, well, Aldi's park parking lot.

[Co-host/Producer]

It's a reminder that not wanting to waste money, that transcends economic status.

[Jack]

And it's a heads up that if you want to understand a business, look at the cars parked in the parking lot.

[Nick]

Jack, could you whip up the takeaways for us for ceviche Wednesday, as Trump.

[Jack]

Tries to take Greenland, Europe and Canada appear more united than ever to resist.

[Nick]

It's resulted in a trade civil war. There are plenty of peaceful off ramps.

[Co-host/Producer]

And we and most of the business community hope the President takes us at.

[Jack]

Davos for our second story. Netflix told Matt Damon about their film formula. You must repeat the plot several times.

[Nick]

Because the audience is distracted by their phone.

[Co-host/Producer]

And this is second phone syndrome.

[Nick]

Hey, hey, hey, Yetis, we see you there.

[Jack]

Do not disturb.

[Nick]

Okay, third takeaway. What do we got?

[Jack]

Aldi is on track to become America's number two grocer, thanks to Deutsche Sparzamkeit.

[Nick]

It's das German frugality. Whether you're driving a Beamer or your car is busted, that has appeal.

[Co-host/Producer]

That is the parking lot test.

[Jack]

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

[Nick]

First update from OpenAI.

[Co-host/Producer]

They're going to unveil their first hardware device in the second half of this year.

[Jack]

This is the thing they're developing with Jony I've who created the iPhone.

[Nick]

In fact, there's wild new speculation that.

[Co-host/Producer]

This could be either a pen which knows what you're writing or AirPods that.

[Jack]

Are always listening and always watching because the AirPods have front facing cameras.

[Co-host/Producer]

Wow.

[Nick]

And second, De Beers has cut diamond prices for the first.

[Co-host/Producer]

First time in a year.

[Jack]

Natural diamonds, which De Beers specializes in, is taking a hit from the lab grown diamond industry, which is booming.

[Nick]

So De Beers, the biggest diamond distributor in the world, is cutting prices on their rough diamonds over three quarters of.

[Co-host/Producer]

A carat in size.

[Jack]

So if you're on the fence about popping the question, that news from De Beers could be your bicycle.

[Nick]

Let's do this, guys.

[Co-host/Producer]

Come on. Let's do this.

[Jack]

And finally, the Moon Hotel. A space startup has revealed plans to build a hotel on the moon and book rooms for $1 million a night.

[Nick]

They caused a media stirring by taking reservations starting now.

[Jack]

Talk about manifesting. I mean, they're not even in inner space yet, much less outer space.

[Nick]

I mean, Jack, we did have a business wish this year that SpaceX would launch the Olympics in space.

[Co-host/Producer]

You're gonna need a hotel for that.

[Nick]

Now, time for the best fact yet.

[Co-host/Producer]

This one.

[Nick]

An answer to yesterday's T Boy Tuesday trivia.

[Co-host/Producer]

What do we got, Jack?

[Jack]

Daniel Ek is no longer the CEO of Spotify. Last year he appointed two co CEOs.

[Nick]

Now Jack specializes in German. But Jack, I gotta ask you in.

[Co-host/Producer]

Swedish, what is the similarity between the names of those two new Swedish CEOs?

[Jack]

Alex Nordstrom and Gustav Soderstrom.

[Nick]

Jack, sprinkle on a Swedish translation for us, please.

[Jack]

Both of their names end with strom, which in Swedish means stream.

[Nick]

We repeat, the new CO CEOs of Spotify have last names that have the.

[Co-host/Producer]

Word stream in them.

[Jack]

That's like an ice cream business being founded by a man named Cone.

[Nick]

We could go on for this, Jack. We could. Yetis, you're looking fantastic for Ceviche Wednesday. And if you want to get this pot every day, the best thing you can do. We love it. The algorithms love it. Netflix loves it. Tap to follow us. So you get us every day. There's a little plus sign somewhere, wherever you're listening.

[Jack]

If you don't tap to follow us, Nick and I are gonna to repeat the plot of this episode at least a dozen times each episode, which is.

[Nick]

Going to really annoy you. If you know, you know Bestie Jack and I will see you tomorrow. And before we go, a happy birthday to legendary yeti Emmy Eel Beal the.

[Co-host/Producer]

Tiger over in Greenwich, Connecticut.

[Jack]

Happy birthday to Carmen. If you know Carmen, you know.

[Nick]

And Cynthia, happy birthday and congrats on 10 years with your husband. Thanks for listening. All the way in Guatemala City.

[Co-host/Producer]

Enjoy Cancun.

[Jack]

Happy birthday to Stevenson John Lewis in Brooklyn, New York.

[Nick]

And Wingtong Wang. Happy birthday. Enjoy the 32nd down in Sunnyville.

[Jack]

And happy anniversary to Michael Dravo and Erica down in South Florida.

[Nick]

And Kristen F. Enjoy the supply and the demand over at Emory's business school. You're gonna have a blast. And Elizabeth Dwyer, congratulations on launching Found Fish. If you're looking for cool gifts, my sister in law, Jack, she has the.

[Jack]

Eye she has found the fish.

[Nick]

If you know, you know.

[Jack]

This is Jack. I own stock of Netflix and Amazon. Nick and I both own stock in Spotify and Apple. And we both own ETFs of the S&P 500.

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