🇳🇴 “Viking Victory” — How Norway wins. Budweiser’s revenge. Apple’s video podcasts. +Slytherin’s’ Lunar New Year

Summary

The Best One Yet — “Viking Victory” (Feb 18, 2026)

Episode Overview

In this lively episode, hosts Nick and Jack deliver their signature blend of business pop culture with three big stories: How Norway dominates the Winter Olympics through a unique youth sports approach, Budweiser’s high-flying stock price amid dropping alcohol consumption, and Apple finally entering video podcasts. Along the way, they riff on Harry Potter’s Slytherin as China’s New Year mascot, discuss trends like Gen Z sobriety, and throw in plenty of memorable banter.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Slytherin’s Lunar New Year: The Draco Malfoy Craze

(00:26 – 03:09)

• Main Point: Despite 2026 being the Chinese Year of the Horse, this year’s unofficial mascot is Draco Malfoy from Harry Potter.
  • “The most popular image to celebrate Lunar New Year is Draco Malfoy.” (Nick, 01:50)
• Why? His name, “Malfoy,” phonetically resembles the Mandarin words for “fortune” (福 fú) and “horse” (马 mǎ), making him an auspicious and irreverent symbol for the celebration.
  • “Malfoy sounds like Mandarin for fortune and horse. That’s right. Fortune and horse in Mandarin Chinese. Total coincidence of translation right here.” (Jack, 02:36)
• Viral Phenomenon: Draco’s face is everywhere—on doors, 10-foot office banners, and school costumes.

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2. Norway’s Olympic Domination: The Invisible Hand of Joy

(05:43 – 11:26)

Norwegian Success

• Norway, with a population under 6 million, dominates both gold and total medals at the Winter Olympics—three Olympics in a row, now with the most medals in Winter Olympic history.
• “Vikings have sacked the podium. What kind of numbers we looking at, Jack?” (Nick, 06:47)
• Shoutout to cross-country skier Johan Hoesflot Klaebo—“The King Klaebo”—for a record ninth gold.
• This success is rooted in a historic turnaround after a dismal 1984 Olympics performance (only three gold medals).

Youth Sports Reformation

• Norway invested $400M/year from its sovereign wealth fund to create “Olympiatoppen,” focusing on the long-term development of young athletes.
• Key difference: The focus of Norwegian youth sports is not performance, but fun and participation.
  • “In Norway, they’re not allowed to keep score in a sport until the kids are 13 years old. You literally can’t lose a game until you’re a teenager.” (Jack, 09:14)
  • In contrast, American youth sports are early-specialized, competitive, and expensive.

Economic Analogy

• Nick and Jack compare Norway’s approach to Adam Smith’s “invisible hand" of capitalism.
  • “It’s the invisible hand of joy.” (Jack, 10:25)
• Key Insight: Fun can drive national success, not just competition. Norway proves that optimizing for happiness and team bonding, not pressure and burnout, gets long-term results.
  • “If you pursue happiness in competitive sports, then the success will follow you.” (Jack, 11:12)

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3. Budweiser’s Revenge: Is Less Alcohol Just a Fad?

(11:26 – 15:26)

The Paradox

• Despite declining alcohol consumption (“six-year lows”), Budweiser’s parent company (AB InBev) stock is at a six-year high.
• AB InBev’s Super Bowl blitz: 3 of the top 10 commercials, including Budweiser, Michelob Ultra, and Bud Light, all their brands.
• “It’s foaming over the glass, figuratively and literally.” (Nick, 12:46)

Explaining the Surge

• Beer is global: U.S. is only 19% of AB InBev’s sales; growth in markets like Colombia offset U.S. declines.
• Stock rotation: Investors moving from tech into “AI-proof” stocks like beer.
• Defensive play: Beer sales rise in both good and bad times.
• Bud Light’s U.S. boycott led to Michelob Ultra becoming #1—AB InBev wins both ways.

Fads in Food & Drink

• Nick & Jack argue Gen Z’s sobriety trend mirrors the plant-based meat wave (e.g., Beyond Meat’s crash), calling “less alcohol” a temporary fad.
  • “Less alcohol is a fad. We’re calling it.” (Jack, 14:24)
• Three F’s are ‘fad-prone:’ “Food, fitness, and fashion. Food includes beverages too.”
• “We think in a few years, dry January may get a little more wet like it used to be.” (Jack, 15:21)

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4. Apple’s Video Podcast Push: Catching Up to the Game

(18:01 – 22:35)

Finally, Video Podcasts

• Apple, which “invented” the podcast category but made a key technical error by splitting video and audio shows, is finally enabling unified video podcasts.
  • “Unlike Spotify or YouTube, Apple said that video podcasts had to be separate from your audio podcast.” (Nick, 19:04)
• New changes mean creators (including the hosts) can upload video episodes—the team is considering joining in.
  • “Very, very likely, yes… If we can monetize, we will launch video on Apple asap.” (Jack, 19:50)

Monetization & Advertising

• Apple announces an ad platform for video podcasts—a shift from 20 years of podcasts as a cost center to a revenue generator.
  • “Apple now can take a cut of every ad brought in through its new video advertising platform.” (Nick, 20:53)
• A move to follow Amazon, Meta, Alphabet, and others, as advertising becomes the most profitable digital segment.
  • “The Apple toll booth is growing and advertising is the biggest opportunity by far.” (Jack, 21:36)

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• “In America, we treat recess like sports, but they treat sports like recess.” (Jack, 09:59)
• “We get burnout, they get gold.” (Jack, 10:05)
• “Food is full of fads. Eating less meat turns out, was a fad. But Nick, food includes beverages too.” (Jack, 15:08)
• “It’s all ads. Now Apple has largely kept their advertising limited... But with Apple’s new product pipeline stagnant... Apple’s jumping into the ad sweet women pool deeper than ever before.” (Nick, 22:11)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• Lunar New Year / Draco Malfoy as mascot: 00:26–03:09
• Norway’s Olympic dominance & youth sports system: 05:43–11:26
• Budweiser’s stock & the sobriety “fad”: 11:26–15:26
• Apple video podcasts, monetization, and ad future: 18:01–22:35

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Conclusion / Takeaways

• Norway’s Olympic model: Focus on fun, not competition, creates lifelong engagement and elite performance.
• Budweiser’s bet: Less alcohol (like plant-based meat) may be a short-term trend, not a new reality.
• Apple’s move: Belatedly launches video podcasts and advertising, moving podcasts from a “cost center” to a “revenue center” like its Big Tech peers.

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Bonus Coverage & Listener Connections

• Listener Recommendations: Multiple barbecue and workout suggestions for the upcoming Austin live show—hosts invite winners to join.
• Fun Fact: Italy’s men’s ice hockey team has no NHL players but competes as the host nation.
• News Briefs: Warner Bros. entertains offers for Paramount; Warren Buffett sells Apple stock to buy New York Times; “Wuthering Heights” tops the box office.

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Original Tone: Upbeat, bantering, packed with memorable analogies (“right pint, left pint”, “invisible hand of joy”), and insider nods for regular listeners.
If not yet subscribed—go to YouTube and weigh in on whether Nick & Jack “look fantastic.”

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Summary by a “Bestie” for fellow Besties—T-Boy style!

Transcript

[A]

This is Nick, this is Jack.

[B]

It's Wednesday. Ceviche Wednesday, February 18th. And today's pod is the best one yet. This is a T boy.

[A]

Here's the top three pop business news stories you need to know today.

[B]

Jack, whip out the calendars. We got one week to the live show down in Austin, Texas tomorrow. What are we gonna share, man?

[A]

Well, last week we asked you for your travel recommendations. Basically where should we have dinner and where should we work out? Nick, we got 14 different barbecues recommended to us.

[B]

14? Barely. Franklin's is in Salt Lake is and there's some place run by an Egyptian dude that's the best barbecue in the state.

[A]

So tomorrow we'll announce the one workout, one restaurant. We're choosing from your recommendations and the yetis and besties who submitted them. Yeah, we're inviting you to join us.

[B]

We're bringing a plus one. But Jack, we've got three fantastic stories for today's T boy. What do we got on today's show?

[A]

For our first story, it's Norway. They're number one in the medal count and number one in gold so far despite having a population of Minnesota.

[B]

Because Norway's youth sports strategy is actually a business strategy.

[A]

For our second story, why is Budweiser star at a six year high despite falling alcohol consumption?

[B]

Because Wall street thinks Gen Z sobriety is fad.

[A]

And our third and final story, Apple is finally cashing in on the category. They invented this category.

[B]

Video podcasts are coming to Apple, so we'll tell you what took them so long.

[A]

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

[B]

Hey Siri, what took you so long?

[A]

The Siri's not gonna get a redneck and that's actually part of our story. But happy Lunar New Year to all those who celebrate, which is 2 billion humans.

[B]

Lunar New Year. Largest migration of humans on Earth. The biggest spending holiday of the year.

[A]

Goodbye. Year of the snake 2026 is the year of the horse besties.

[B]

The next 15 days of festivities are for our four legged zodiac friend the horse.

[A]

But here's the strange thing. Across China, the most popular image to celebrate Lunar New Year is Draco Malfoy.

[B]

I'm sorry Jack, that's Draco Malfoy.

[A]

Yes Nick, that Draco Malfoy.

[B]

That's right, the bleach blonde snake to Slytherin student from Harry Potter, the evil.

[A]

Nepo baby of the wizarding world is also a symbol of celebration for the Chinese New Year.

[B]

Right now get this, Draco Malfoy's face is painted on Doors.

[A]

Kids are dressing up as Draco right now in school.

[B]

There are offices in China waving 10 foot banners of Draco's smug face. But why?

[A]

Why is the official mascot of Lunar New Year a horse? But the unofficial one is Draco Malfoy?

[B]

Well, here's why. It all comes down to one word and Jack, could you please translate Malfoy for us?

[A]

Malfoy sound like Mandarin for fortune and horse.

[B]

That's right. Fortune and horse in Mandarin Chinese. Total coincidence of translation right here.

[A]

Call it transfiguration. Five points to House Slytherin for luckily being named figure of the horse, basically in Chinese.

[B]

Oh, Jack, Professor McDonald's upset by this. Snape probably smiling somewhere.

[A]

That's how a pure blood wizard just joined the Chinese zodiac.

[B]

So, Muggles, happy Lunar New Year out there. Enjoy the Year of the Horse.

[A]

And Ron, if you're listening, don't take this personally. Hermione will be there to comfort you.

[B]

Just wait till my father hears about this. Jack, let's hit our three stories. 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.

[A]

50%, that's a fat tip.

[B]

T Boy City on your Liz if you know, you know. Cause we read to go we can't wait no mo so just start the show. Start the show. Start the show. First, a quick word from our sponsor.

[A]

Menace.

[B]

AI Yetis. So when are we using AI when we're jumping in T Boy style to some research.

[A]

Why crunch numbers in that earnings report when a bot will do it for you?

[B]

Don't worry, Jack's love language is fact checking. So everything gets a double check. Fact check before it makes the pod.

[A]

You know it. No. AI Slopper app?

[B]

No. So Jack and I are pumped to tell you about Manus AI the hot new AI agent that does more than just answer your questions.

[A]

It does tasks for you that you don't want to do to get your work done faster and better.

[B]

Manus is the most powerful AI agent for people who don't code.

[A]

We just asked Manus where the CEOs of the 100 most profitable companies went to college. Boom. It created it for us.

[B]

Or you could ask Manus to launch an e commerce shop for you. Boom. You're Anna Wintour.

[A]

Manus connects the most advanced LLMs with a set of tools to deliver real world tasks.

[B]

Oh, by the way, Manus means hands in Latin because like hands, manus is pretty darn useful to humans.

[A]

And you can get your hands on Manus AI for free.

[B]

Visit manus im/tboy to get started with Manus and some t boy special credits.

[A]

That's manis im tbly. Yeah, it is.

[B]

Jack had a lifelong dream of owning a ski house. But then he married a skier who's better at skiing than him, which put.

[A]

The pressure on to really own a ski house.

[B]

Okay, but still, ski house is very expensive. So what helped make Jack's dream doable? Airbnb.

[A]

I bought the chalet in 2024 and I use it very often with my own family. But when we're not using it, I host it on Airbnb. Especially those three day weekends when ski houses are in most demand.

[B]

The additional income Jack earns from hosting his home and Airbnb, it helps make owning the secondary property possible.

[A]

President's Day weekend coming up.

[B]

Nick. A lot of people want to go skiing, Jack.

[A]

I've done a ton of skiing this season already. I want to go to Florida with my family. The extra income I earn from hosting on Airbnb helps offset those travel costs.

[B]

Four adults, four children from just outside Boston. Boom. They just booked a stay on Jack Chalet.

[A]

Primary home or secondary home? If you've got space, you've got opportunity. Hosting on Airbnb helped make my dream possible.

[B]

Besties. Your home might be worth more than you think. Find out how [e-mail] host. For our first story. Norway, a country with just under 6 million people, is winning the Olympics.

[A]

And it turns out Norway's secret to Olympic success is also an economic principle.

[B]

Jack, let's whip out the scoreboard. Team USA Olympics so far. How we looking, my friends?

[A]

Good numbers on the medals, but some of the biggest names have disappointed.

[B]

They have. Lindsey got hurt, Ilya fell twice, and Mikayla, she is medalist so far, although.

[A]

Today is the slalom and that's her.

[B]

Best competition, so pause the pod, watch it after. Italy is number two in the medal rankings, by the way, which would be Italy's best Winter Olympic performance ever.

[A]

Isn't it wild how much of a home field advantage there is at the Olympics?

[B]

I think it's technically a home ice advantage, Jack, but yes, that is wild. And yet the hottest country in the coldest Olympics so far is Norway.

[A]

There's no home field advantage that will get you to beat Norway on the ice.

[B]

Basically, the Vikings have sacked the podium. What kind of numbers we looking at, Jack?

[A]

Speed skating, curling, cross country. They are first in total number of medals and total number of gold medals.

[B]

Jack, can we talk about Norway's Johan Husflat Klebo, please?

[A]

Him better as the king claybo.

[B]

He just won a record ninth gold medal. That's the most of any Winter Olympian.

[A]

Dude, I forgot to mention. Great highlight for Team usa. That mother of two who just won a gold medal at the age of 41. Pretty legendary, but still.

[B]

Jack, this is Norway's third straight Winter Olympics with the most medals. They now have the most total medals in Winter Olympic history.

[A]

It's the biggest international victory for Norway since the Battle of Florvag. Yeah.

[B]

Oh, you hear that, by the way? That is Thor thundering for the Norwegian bobsled team.

[A]

But here's the question. How is a country with the population of Minnesota beating the rest of the world?

[B]

I'm sorry, Jack. How is a country with a population 2% of the United States have twice the number of medals?

[A]

A country that's number 31 in GDP but number one on the podium.

[B]

Well, besties we jumped in t boy style. And it turns out the origin of Norway's success comes from its biggest defeat, the 1984 Olympics.

[A]

Norway won just three gold medals. It was considered a national failure.

[B]

So bad, the country was so upset that they launched an emergency plan involving the Norwegian government.

[A]

They created what's called the Olympiatolpen.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

A government organization for the recruitment and training of young athletes so that this 1984 failure never happens again.

[B]

Norway even tapped into their famous oil reserve, which today is one of the largest sovereign wealth funds in the world.

[A]

And they did it to fund what's today $400 million a year into their youth sp.

[B]

Okay, that's impressive. But here's the key. Norway's approach to youth sports is the exact opposite of everything here in America.

[A]

First, they have team camps. They get their Olympians from across all their sports to spend a lot of time together.

[B]

Yeah. For example, last spring, they sent the whole Winter Olympic team of Norway over to Spain. Basically hang out, get tanned and build bonds.

[A]

That way, when they compete in the Games, which they're doing right now, they're competing among their friends who they have great relationships with. Okay.

[B]

Also impressive. But what Jack and I find fascinating is what Norway does before all of that.

[A]

What Norway does when the athletes are kids. Because the goal of youth sports in Norway isn't to win, it's to have fun.

[B]

Get this. In Norway, they're not allowed to keep score in a sport until the kids are 13 years old.

[A]

You literally can't lose a game until you're a teenager.

[B]

But here in the United States, I mean Jack, football, lacrosse, what were we looking at when we were their age?

[A]

I mean in little league they do have a pledge of allegiance that ends with and win or lose, all that matters is try my best. But in Norway there is no win or lose, Jack.

[B]

In the United States the focus is often on one sport. And that one sport you play is expensive. And then you get cut from the LAX team at age 9 and you think about it for the rest of your life.

[A]

Just look at inside out too. The anxiety that causes the kids is huge.

[B]

On the other hand, in Norway you try multiple sports. Those sports are affordable and there's no middle aged nightmare about some rando pee wee hockey practice.

[A]

In America, we treat recess like sports, but they treat sports like recess.

[B]

And what's the result, Jack?

[A]

We get burnout, they get gold.

[B]

Yeah, I guess. Jack, as a backup second string ready to go. High school quarterback, always ready to go in D2 college, you'd say Americans have optimized for college scholarships. Norway's optimized sports for national success. Our takeaways, Jack, what's the takeaway? From our buddies over in Norway?

[A]

It's the invisible hand of joy.

[B]

Yetis, in economic history you learn about Adam Smith, the father of modern day.

[A]

Capitalism, you learn about the invisible hand hand a phrase he coined that forcing people and companies to compete drives the best economic outcomes.

[B]

And Jack and I agree, we love that concept of competition. But Norway highlights the existence of an additional unseen force.

[A]

The invisible hand of fun.

[B]

The hand of fun.

[A]

Norway reveals that fun can drive success too, not just competition.

[B]

For example, Norway describes its youth sports philosophy as joy for all, that the happiest athletes are motivated to continue on training.

[A]

Smith would kind of agree. He would say that the end goal of competition and capitalism is happiness and that money is a means to reaching that happiness.

[B]

But basically Norway remixed that formula, that if you pursue happiness in competitive sports, then the success will follow you.

[A]

It's the invisible hand of joy. Yes, and Norway's record medal count proves it.

[B]

For our second story, Alcohol consumption is at six year lows. So why is stock in Budweiser at six year highs?

[A]

Here's why, Nick. What if dry January and sobriety wasn't the new lifestyle? What if it was actually just a fad?

[B]

Besties, Jack and I are jumping in T boy style because Budweiser is back. I'm sorry, what's going on, Jack?

[A]

Three of the top 10 ads in the Super bowl this year, according to USA Today, were from AB InBev.

[B]

That's right. Your favorite macro brew, Budweiser, had a bald eagle befriend to Clydesdale and that was top ad number one.

[A]

The number five best super bowl commercial was Kurt Russell sipping a Megalob Ultra at apreski.

[B]

At number 10, you've got Peyton Manning and Post Malone drinking a Bud Light at a wedding.

[A]

Well, AB InBev owns all three of those brands. AB InBev a name that reflects the dozen beer mega mergers that created it.

[B]

Actually, AB InBev has a whole segment called mega brands. Who's included in that? Jack?

[A]

Self proclaimed mega brands include Budweiser, Corona and Stellar.

[B]

And this beer glomerate. Ab InBev just reported 7 billion bucks in profits on $60 billion worth of beer sold last year. Not too shabby.

[A]

Now that's half the profit that AB InBev made years ago when it was proasting to peak pilsner.

[B]

Back in the day, this was still enough to send bud stock to 80 bucks. It is now at its highest level since 2020.

[A]

It's foaming over the glass, figuratively and literally.

[B]

But besties, here's what Jack and I find shocking. Ever heard of Gen Z sobriety? Trading tequila shots for turmeric shots? Going from blackouts to biohacks. Jack, I thought alcohol got canceled, man.

[A]

I thought so too. Everyone is drinking less alcohol right now. Everyone I know, pretty much.

[B]

So why is an alcohol stock popping off at six year highs?

[A]

The first explainer for why Budweiser's stock is up so high is that beer is global.

[B]

Yeah, it's easy to forget, but alcohol sales in the US are down. But not in the rest of the world.

[A]

The US is only 19% of AB InBev's business. In Colombia, for example, they're drinking more AB InBev beer than they ever have before.

[B]

You want to enjoy a beer, you head down to Bogota. Now, the other explanation here is the stock market rotation that we talked about in yesterday's show.

[A]

Investors are shifting their portfolio out of tech stocks and into stocks that AI can't hurt, like beer.

[B]

And also, Jack, there's the defensive play when it comes to this stock strategy.

[A]

Beer sales rise during good times. You're celebrating, but they also rise during bad times.

[B]

That's right. You toast a beer when you get a promotion, but you also crush a can when you get canned.

[A]

So if we're heading into a recession, a beer stock is not the worst thing to own.

[B]

Oh, but Jack, I think I know what some yetis are gonna point out. What about that Bud Light boycott from a few years ago?

[A]

Well, Bud Light used to be the number one beer consumed in America. Now it's Michelob ultra. Right, which AB InBev also owns.

[B]

Yeah. So Budweiser's winning either way. It's basically a right pine, left pint situation for our buddies over at AB InBev. So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over at Budweiser?

[A]

Less alcohol is a fad. We're calling it. And the reason we know Less Meat was a fad, besties.

[B]

Back in 2019, Jack and I covered the Beyond Meat IPO. The plant based meat was the rage. We even bought the stock.

[A]

Back then, if you weren't vegan, you were definitely vegetarian or reducetarian. Eating less animal meat was millennial chic. You traded out your beef steak for your cauliflower steak.

[B]

But Beyond Meat's revenue peaked in 2021. The stock is down 99.5% since then. And we think it's the perfect proxy for this alcohol situation.

[A]

After all, people ate less meat for the same reason people are drinking less alcohol for their health.

[B]

Jack, we said it a hundred times. The three industries most vulnerable to FADs are the three Fs.

[A]

Because food is full of fads. Eating less meat, turns out, was a fad. But Nick, food includes beverages too.

[B]

And that is why we think in a year or two, or maybe three, you're gonna be back drinking a little bit more again.

[A]

We think in a few years, dry January may get a little more wet like it used to be.

[B]

So here's the theory, besties. Less alcohol is a fad and Budweiser stock up 50%. That's because Wall street agrees. Now a quick word from our sponsor.

[A]

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[B]

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[A]

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[B]

I see you in that transaction tab. Jack, what's going on in that transaction tab?

[A]

All of my spending is in that transactions tab, including the way too much I spent on the hotel room with the water view.

[B]

Honey, what's going on with my mini bar?

[A]

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[A]

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[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[A]

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[B]

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[B]

So yeah, Eddies, if your revenues are at least in the seven figures, get your free business guide demystifying [e-mail] and.

[A]

If your revenues aren't in the seven figures, we're glad you're listening to this episode, because soon they will be.

[B]

The guide's free to [e-mail] tboy that's netsuite.com tboi for our third and final story, Apple is finally introducing video podcasts to your podcast.

[A]

Like this after 22 years.

[B]

Oh, how long?

[A]

What we're saying is Apple is now playing catch. Finally in the category they invented. Reminds us of Siri Besties.

[B]

You probably didn't know that Apple did not invent the term podcast.

[A]

No, a journalist did. When they were writing about this new way to listen to things in the Guardian newspaper back in 2004.

[B]

Basically, they took the term broadcasting of audio and they merged it with the fact you were listening on an ipod. And Apple has been benefiting from that coinage of a new term ever since then.

[A]

But video podcasts actually go back that far too.

[B]

Yeah, they do. I mean, Jack, you were working at a German bank back when we were living in the East Village and you were doing German video podcasts. You have the old grammar. Yeah.

[A]

On the subway ride home, I tried to sharpen my German by listening to finance German tv. And it was actually on Apple podcasts.

[B]

Jack and I'd be whipping up dinner together. Be like, mach schnell, Nick. Mach schnell. And be like, all right, he's watching his German pods again.

[A]

But Apple made one critical technical error when they launched video podcasts 22 years ago.

[B]

And here's the error. Unlike Spotify or YouTube, Apple said that video podcasts had to be a separate from your audio podcast.

[A]

And as two podcast hosts, we can tell you no host wants two separate shows to upload two separate files every day, to have two separate shows to.

[B]

Promote with two separate audiences.

[A]

Just, it's the same show. Why do it twice?

[B]

It's just annoying. And the result has been that Apple is the one major podcast platform with no video podcasts until an email we got yesterday.

[A]

Starting this spring, creators can upload video files instead of just audio files. Ipso facto, video podcasts are coming to Apple.

[B]

That is right. And, Jack, are we going to be partaking in this whole bold new era of Apple video podcasts?

[A]

Very, very likely, yes. As long as we can monetize, we will launch video on Apple asap. Stay tuned, besties.

[B]

What Jack's saying is we're having conversations. We think we can make this happen. If we can monetize and make it.

[A]

Work, it might be imminent.

[B]

But, besties, pause the pod for a sec, because Apple ain't unicef. They're not just doing this out of the charity of their own audio hearts, are they, Jack?

[A]

They're doing it to make money, actually.

[B]

Exactly. And here's the key to investors. This will allow Apple to, for the first time, actually make money on podcasts.

[A]

You see, Apple invented the podcast category, and when it did, back 20 years ago, it made podcasts free and open from the start.

[B]

Jack, there are benefits to that, aren't there, man?

[A]

It's proliferated the media. 10 million shows have been created because it was free and open from the start.

[B]

But while Apple made podcasts big, they made no money off of them. Basically, Apple was podcast poor.

[A]

But now Apple can start to make profits off podcasts because they also announced this week they're launching an advertising platform that creators can opt into for their video podcasts.

[B]

And here's the deal. Apple now can take a cut of every ad brought in through Its new video advertising platform.

[A]

It's the same as YouTube and the same as Spotify. Apple can start making money off video podcasts.

[B]

But it also is a sign that Apple's playing catch up after blowing a big lead in an industry named after one of their core products.

[A]

Why is it taking Apple so long? Well, is it a cost center or profit center that determines whether something gets prioritized at a big company like Apple?

[B]

That's the Shakespearean question. And for Apple, podcasts have long been a cost center. They cost the business money.

[A]

But with a video and sales department apartment, it's now a revenue center.

[B]

Like that old buggle song video killed the podcast star. So, Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies over at Apple?

[A]

The Apple toll booth is growing and advertising is the biggest opportunity by far.

[B]

By far. Besties, T boy trivia for you. What's the most profitable part of Amazon? Hint, it's not aws, Amazon web Services.

[A]

It's advertising. Advertising at Amazon has a huge profit margin and is now an $80 billion a year business.

[B]

Jack, what about Alphabet, our buddies over at Google? Best stock of 2025 thanks to advertising.

[A]

OpenAI just launched advertising Meta. Another trillion dollar company only does advertising.

[B]

Same thing. It's all ads.

[A]

Now.

[B]

Apple has largely kept their advertising limited. Like to the app Store having ads or Apple News having ads.

[A]

But with Apple's new product pipeline stagnant and with new iPhone upgrades being very.

[B]

Incremental, Apple's jumping into the ad sweet women pool deeper than ever before. And it all begins with the video pod. Jack, could you whip up the takeaways for us for ceviche Wednesday?

[A]

Norway is leading both in total medals and gold medals thanks to their youth sports philosophy.

[B]

The invisible hand of joy. It breeds success too, not just competition.

[A]

For our second story, Budweiser's stock is at 6 year highs thanks to a bunch of reasons.

[B]

But the biggest bet for Bud's future is that dry January is actually a fad, just like plant based meat.

[A]

And our third and final story. Apple is finally letting podcast listings see the hosts without going to YouTube.

[B]

Hey, it's us over here. Well, it's all because of video advertising. That will be the newest revenue over at Apple.

[A]

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

[B]

First, Warner Brothers, which had committed itself to Netflix, is giving Paramount another shot at hooking up.

[A]

Paramount has seven days to convince WBD's board that their offer is better than Netflix's.

[B]

And second, word just dropped about Warren Buffett's last move as CEO of Berkshire Hathaway. And this one. Yeah, it's gonna surprise.

[A]

In the fourth quarter of last year, Berkshire Hathaway sold some of their stock in Apple.

[B]

And Jack, what did he buy after selling Apple stock?

[A]

The New York Times, we repeat, Warren.

[B]

Buffett, legendary investor, sold Apple stock to buy the Gray lady instead.

[A]

Either brilliant final move or justified his retirement.

[B]

And finally, Emily Bronte fans swamped movie theaters last weekend and they were willing to pay, baby, because Wuthering Heights was.

[A]

Number one at the weekend box, bringing in $82 million.

[B]

That's all I for the best fact yet. This one. An answer to our T boy trivia from yesterday's pod. Jack, what do we got for this 1?

[A]

Of the 12 teams competing in the Winter Men's Hockey Olympics tournament, which one has zero NHL players on the roster? The answer is Italy.

[B]

Italy. Italy has no NHL players on the roster, but they're in the tournament because they're the host country and they're allowed to have a team in the tournament.

[A]

Now Italy is out the final four. On the men's side is the usa, Canada, Slovakia and Finland.

[B]

And on the women's side, we got U.S. and Canada facing off in the gold medal game tomorrow afternoon. Yetis, you're looking fantastic over there. And Jack, you're looking fantastic too. And the Yetis can actually verify if that's true or not, right?

[A]

Not yet on Apple.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But they can right now on YouTube.

[B]

Go on YouTube right now and you can let us know if we do look fantastic or not.

[A]

Search the best one yet or click the link in the episode description and subscribe to our YouTube channel. We got a bunch of great content there.

[B]

You can leave a comment with your judgment. We can handle it.

[A]

And Nick and I will see you tomorrow.

[B]

Can't wait. And before we go, a happy birthday to legendary yeti Marley Miranda from lovely Charleston, South Carolina, thriving right now with three under three.

[A]

She's in her stay at home era and she is crushing it as a Charleston moms ambassador.

[B]

And happy 66th birthday to Gene Rubin celebrating in the lovely city of San Antonio.

[A]

Happy birthday to Derek Borelski turning 40 with a baby and a new startup. Oh my goodness, this man is doing everything.

[B]

Oh, and he's celebrating on Hawaii. Not too shabby. And MV Mark from Duluth, Minnesota is getting the best birthday yet. And Gloria is getting the assist.

[A]

Happy birthday to Travis Batman Davis in Bend, Oregon.

[B]

And David chan enjoyed that 31st birthday up in Ontario, Canada.

[A]

Happy birthday to Connor Malloy in Greenwich.

[B]

And Shayla Canty smith has got 20 years of military service. Thank you Shayla. And a birthday from Georgia. We'll see you at our DC show.

[A]

Happy birthday to Andrew Chagrin turning 12 years old in Chicago. This man came to our last live.

[B]

Show and he's doing logistics even as a teenager. And Aaron and Tatiana, congratulations on the Ivo the initial baby offering. Baby Mila D was born up in Toronto. Already a Leafs fan.

[A]

Big shout out to the Dutchman Thomas Smulders, who just published a book about the European Disney called for hand NAR100.

[B]

Translation Jack I don't know. Did you know if you know? I guess you don't know.

[A]

To anyone else celebrating something today, make it a T boy.

[B]

Celebrate the wins.

[A]

This is Jack. I own stock in Disney, Amazon and Netflix and Nick and I both own stock in Apple and Spotify. Security and compliance done wrong is a giant headache. Security and compliance done right, that's Vanta. Vanta helps you earn trust and speed up growth. No spreadsheets required. For startups low on time and resources, Vanta becomes comes your first security hire, using AI and automation to get you compliant fast and unblock big deals for enterprises. Vanta is your AI powered hub for compliance and risk, bringing together data from across your businesses and automating workflows so you can prove trust at any moment. Vanta scales with you at every stage. That's why top companies from startups like Cursor to enterprises like Snowflake choose Vanta Do Security and compliance right. Get started [e-mail] tedaudio.