Podcast Summary: The Best One Yet
Episode: 🥔 “Surge Potato Pricing” — Instacart’s personalized pricing. Utah’s for-profit football. Australia’s teen insta-ban. +In-N-Out’s 67
Hosts: Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell
Date: December 11, 2025
Overview
In this fast-paced 20-minute episode, Nick and Jack break down the three biggest pop business stories of the day, diving into Instacart’s controversial personalized pricing, the historic for-profit pivot of a major college football program, and Australia’s world-first social media ban for teens. Along the way, they discuss the surprising trend of businesses banning certain numbers (like In-N-Out banning "67"), corporate culture, and the broader implications of new tech and regulation trends.
Story 1: Instacart’s Personalized Pricing Controversy
[05:38 – 10:09]
Key Points
- Consumer Reports Bombshell: An investigation revealed that Instacart uses AI to charge different customers different prices for the same grocery items at the exact same time and store.
- How it Works: Prices for identical grocery carts varied by as much as 23% between users (“personalized potato pricing”).
- Instacart’s Response: Instacart admits to experimenting with AI-powered pricing but claims these are just random tests on select non-essential items and chains, not targeting individual spending habits—though the optics are bad.
- Ethical Concerns: Consumer Reports also found Instacart displays inconsistent “original prices” (strikethroughs), misleading customers about “discounts.”
- Potential for Abuse: The hosts warn about a slippery slope to “AI surveillance pricing,” where the platform could potentially leverage data to charge the maximum each individual is willing to pay.
Notable Quotes
- “Imagine if a cashier said, ‘Yeah, that pack of gum, that's $1 for you, but that's $1.23 for you.’"
— Jack (06:50) - “It doesn’t feel like an experiment, Jack; it kind of feels like an experiment in dishonesty.”
— Nick (08:02) - “Learning that a tech company is helping grocery stores raise prices— that’s the wrong headline at the wrong time in the wrong industry.”
— Jack (09:56)
Takeaway
[09:09 – 10:09]
- Groceries are a fiercely price-competitive industry. News that Instacart is enabling price hikes— when inflation is top-of-mind for every American— was met with outrage and hurt Instacart’s stock (-6%).
- Companies like Uber and airlines already do dynamic pricing, but groceries are different: everyone needs them, and they’re built on the perception of “always the lowest prices.”
Story 2: University of Utah Sells Out—Literally
[10:09 – 14:48]
Key Points
- Historic Deal: The University of Utah is selling a minority stake in its athletic department to Otro Capital (NY-based private equity) for $500 million, valuing the program over $1 billion—richer than some NHL teams.
- New Corporation: The partnership creates a new for-profit entity: Utah Brands and Entertainment Company. The university retains majority control, but Wall Street gets a say (and a share of profits).
- PE Playbook Arrives: Expect new investments in facilities, increased athlete pay, higher fan costs (more expensive parking, branding deals), and cost-cutting on non-revenue sports.
- The Blurred Line: Now that student athletes can be paid and top coaches make millions, the only difference between pro and college (D1) athletics is the nonprofit “mission statement.”
Notable Quotes
- “Gordon Gekko is the new sophomore quarterback.”
— Nick (10:21) - “The only difference between pro and D1 college sports? It’s the mission statements.”
— Jack (14:48) - “What happens when ‘Veritas Lux Scientia’ and ‘virtus’ clash with DraftKings, who's offering $100 million to put billboards all over campus?”
— Jack (14:18)
Takeaway
[13:44 – 14:48]
- Utah is the first, but won't be the last—other universities and conferences are exploring similar deals. With private equity demanding profit, future funding for lesser-watched sports and how athletics fit university missions is now in question.
Story 3: Australia’s Teen Social Media Ban—A Global First
[17:06 – 20:55]
Key Points
- Groundbreaking Law: Effective immediately, Australians under 16 are banned from all major social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, etc.). Enforcement is up to the platforms, who must now verify ages using multiple methods.
- Why? 20% of American teens are on social media “almost constantly.” Social platforms are pegged as psychologically addictive—akin to cigarettes, which are also banned for kids.
- Enforcement Hurdles: There are questions about effectiveness: will kids use VPNs, loopholes in app stores, or migrate to less-regulated (and potentially more dangerous) sites?
- Global Repercussions: The world is watching Australia; 77% of Aussies support the ban, and there's majority support in the US— but policy is stalled here by “whataboutism” (endless objections).
Notable Quotes
- “The Kangaroo TikTok Kid Block.”
— Nick (18:09) - “In America, we don’t have regulation — we have whataboutism.”
— Jack (19:51) - “All these ‘what abouts,’ they are valid points that lobbyists raise to stop social media regulation from happening.”
— Jack (20:30)
Takeaway
[19:51 – 20:55]
- The US is stuck in a cycle of “what about the VPNs? What about privacy?”—holding up action despite public support for regulation. Australia’s bold move may serve as a bellwether for global social media policy.
Viral Moment & Pop Culture: In-N-Out Bans #67
[01:24 – 03:12]
- In-N-Out skips order number 67 to prevent viral, disruptive mosh pits by Gen Z (they celebrate the number when it’s called).
- Other famous number-bans:
- Apple’s Weather app skipped “69”
- iPhone and Windows skipped versions 9
- No 13th floor in buildings; in East Asia, number 4 is considered unlucky
- “67 has been 86’d.” — Nick (02:11)
Quick Hits and Extra Nuggets
[21:41 – 22:48]
- Federal Reserve cuts the interest rate: “Hawkish cut”—one more cut expected in 2026. (21:41)
- Hinge founder quits to launch a new AI dating app; funded by Match, creating a “love triangle.” (22:13)
- Rivian (EV company) building its own AI assistant, plus now offers a bike—‘You literally can't spell Rivian without AI.’ (22:48)
The Best Fact Yet
[23:01 – 23:38]
- Origin of the ‘cha-ching’ sound: Created by James Ritty in the 1800s to prevent employee theft in his Ohio pub—his cash register (“Ritty’s Incorruptible Cashier”) popularized the classic sound of money.
- “That famous cha-ching sound has become our universal soundtrack of money.” — Richard Blythe (23:30)
Notable Quotes
- “67 has been 86’d.” — Nick [02:11]
- “Imagine if a cashier said, ‘Yeah, that pack of gum, that's $1 for you, but that's $1.23 for you.’” — Jack [06:50]
- “It doesn't feel like an experiment, Jack; it kind of feels like an experiment in dishonesty.” — Nick [08:02]
- “Gordon Gekko is the new sophomore quarterback.” — Nick [10:21]
- “The only difference between pro and D1 college sports is the mission statements.” — Jack [14:48]
- “Kangaroo TikTok Kid Block.” — Nick [18:09]
- “In America, we don’t have regulation—we have whataboutism.” — Jack [19:51]
- “All these ‘what abouts’…doesn’t mean we should do nothing.” — Jack [20:38]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- In-N-Out “67” ban and business number superstitions: 01:24 – 03:12
- Instacart’s pricing exposé: 05:38 – 10:09
- Utah Utes’ athletic PE deal: 10:09 – 14:48
- Australia’s social media teen ban: 17:06 – 20:55
- Quick news hits: 21:41 – 22:48
- Best Fact Yet (cha-ching cash register): 23:01 – 23:38
Tone and Style
The hosts deliver incisive business news with quick wit, playful commentary (“T Boy style!”), and relatable analogies—balancing seriousness about consumer trust, ethics, and societal impact with light, energetic banter and pop culture asides.
For those who missed the episode:
You’ll come away understanding why Instacart’s AI price “experimentation” could trigger a huge PR crisis, how a private equity deal at a major university may reshape college sports as we know them, and why Australia’s bold stand against teen social media may (or may not) ripple worldwide. Plus, you’ll never look at the number 67—or the sound of cash registers—the same way again.