Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai try to make sense of the firestorm sparked by the NBA’s clash with China. They also debate the merits of a wealth tax of the kind proposed by Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Some Recent Picks: Conan O’Brien talks to Stephen Colbert (podcast, starting from 26:00) Parasite (movie) “ In Hoffa’s Shadow ” (by Jack Goldsmith) “ Dopesick ” (by Beth Macy) Dear White People (Netflix) 1619: The Birth of American Music (podcast) PRI’s The World (po...
Oct 23, 2019•32 min•Season 3Ep. 4
Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss the problem of household financial stress. They also debate whether current criticisms of Amazon are justified. Suggested Reading “ Is Amazon Unstoppable? ” (Charles Duhigg, The New Yorker) “ Jeff Bezos’s Master Plan ” (Franklin Foer, The Atlantic) Some recent picks: “ In Hoffa’s Shadow ” (by Jack Goldsmith) “ Dopesick ” (by Beth Macy) Dear White People (Netflix) 1619: The Birth of American Music (podcast) PRI’s The World (podcast) Am...
Oct 16, 2019•36 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Does Space represent a real economic opportunity or are expensive endeavors like SpaceX a form of billionaire hubris? Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss the Race for Space, before debating the viability of the electric scooter market in cities around the world. Some recent picks: 1619: The Birth of American Music (podcast) PRI’s The World (podcast) American Factory (Netflix) Darren Brown: Secret (Broadway) Succession (HBO) You can email your comments and ideas for futu...
Oct 09, 2019•34 min•Season 3Ep. 2
After Hours is back for Season 3! Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai debate which of the Big Tech companies (Apple, Facebook, Amazon, or Google) had the best/worst summer, before digging into the WeWork saga. Some recent picks: American Factory (Netflix) Darren Brown: Secret (Broadway) Succession (HBO) You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: [email protected] . You can follow Youngme and Mihir on Twitter at: @YoungmeMoon and @DesaiMihirA. Hosted...
Oct 02, 2019•39 min•Season 3Ep. 1
It’s a wrap for Season 2, as Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai head off on a summer hiatus. Note to listeners: After Hours will return for Season 3 in the fall. You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: [email protected] . You can follow Youngme and Mihir on Twitter at: @YoungmeMoon and @DesaiMihirA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jun 19, 2019•9 min•Season 2Ep. 35
Wrapping up Season 2, Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai count down the top stories they’ll be keeping an eye on over the summer. A note for listeners: After a summer hiatus, After Hours will return for Season 3 in the fall. Some recent picks: Masters of Scale Live Show (podcast) DuckDuckGo (search engine) National Bureau of Economic Research Ingredients: A Visual Exploration of 75 Additives and 25 Food Products (Dwight Eschliman) Bel Canto (Ann Patchett) Chernobyl (HBO) Fleabag...
Jun 12, 2019•31 min•Season 2Ep. 34
Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai answer questions from listeners and end up discussing everything from the U.S.-China trade dispute to Disney, CVS Health, short-termism, and how to express an opinion persuasively. Some recent picks: National Bureau of Economic Research Ingredients: A Visual Exploration of 75 Additives and 25 Food Products (Dwight Eschliman) Bel Canto (Ann Patchett) Chernobyl (HBO) Fleabag (Amazon Prime Video) “ The Best Green Salad in the World ” (The New York...
Jun 05, 2019•36 min•Season 2Ep. 33
Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai debate whether the FDA should crack down on teen vaping. They then discuss whether the promise of precision medicine is real or hype. Some recent picks: Ingredients: A Visual Exploration of 75 Additives and 25 Food Products (Dwight Eschliman) Bel Canto (Ann Patchett) Chernobyl (HBO) Fleabag (Amazon Prime Video) “ The Best Green Salad in the World ” (The New York Times) Dark (Netflix series) Mind Fixers (Anne Harrington) Trello (organization app...
May 29, 2019•32 min•Season 2Ep. 32
Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai debate the pros and cons associated with the increased use of facial recognition technology and whether San Francisco’s ban on such technology makes sense. They then discuss whether Rihanna represents the future of the world’s largest luxury conglomerate, LVMH. Some recent picks: Chernobyl (HBO) Fleabag (Amazon Prime Video) “ The Best Green Salad in the World ” (The New York Times) Dark (Netflix series) Mind Fixers (Anne Harrington) Trello (org...
May 22, 2019•33 min•Season 2Ep. 31
Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai discuss whether pharmaceutical players like the Sackler family members should be held accountable for the current opioid crisis. They then debate the growing reliance on artificial intelligence bots by human resource departments in the job screening process. Some recent picks: Dark (Netflix series) Mind Fixers (Anne Harrington) Trello (organization app) “ The Comforting Fictions of Dementia Care ” (Larissa MacFarquhar, in The New Yorker) @Bryan...
May 15, 2019•35 min•Season 2Ep. 30
Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai talk about the Beyond Meat IPO and whether plant-based meat alternatives like Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger will become mass-market products. They then discuss Facebook’s announcement that it is pivoting to put greater emphasis on user privacy. For interested listeners: “ How much does animal agriculture and eating meat contribute to global warming? ” Some recent picks: “ The Comforting Fictions of Dementia Care ” (Larissa MacFarquhar, in...
May 08, 2019•32 min•Season 2Ep. 29
Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai offer short takes on six different topics, including: Uber’s S-1, Apple and Qualcomm settling their lawsuit, Pinterest’s prospects as a public company, Brexit, and the best TV shows about business. Some recent picks: Sec.gov (to download S-1s) Billy Eilish #MidtownUniform Eater.com Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting (Emily Oster) Pitchfork (Music Recommendations) Homecoming King (Hasan Minhaj on Netflix) You can em...
May 01, 2019•32 min•Season 2Ep. 28
Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss the upcoming launch of Disney’s new streaming service (Disney+), as well as the backlash sparked by billionaires pledging money to repair Notre Dame Cathedral. They then do a bonus segment about Mihir’s new book, How Finance Works . Some recent picks: Eater.com Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting (Emily Oster) Pitchfork (Music Recommendations) Homecoming King (Hasan Minhaj on Netflix) Delhi Crime (Netflix) Business Insider Briefings ...
Apr 24, 2019•42 min•Season 2Ep. 27
Youngme, Felix, and Mihir debate the effectiveness of the European Union’s attempts to regulate Big Tech. They then discuss the reasons underlying the soaring price of college in the U.S. Some recent picks: Pitchfork (Music Recommendations) Homecoming King (Hasan Minhaj on Netflix) Delhi Crime (Netflix) Business Insider Briefings (subscription required) How to enjoy Game of Thrones season 8 if you haven’t seen the show (Kjerstin Johnson) Station Eleven: A Novel (Emily St. John Mandel) How Financ...
Apr 17, 2019•37 min•Season 2Ep. 26
Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss whether we have officially reached “peak car” — meaning can we now expect a steady decline in private car ownership? They then debate whether Joe Biden’s physical displays of affection are appropriate. Some recent picks: Delhi Crime (Netflix) Business Insider Briefings (subscription required) How to enjoy Game of Thrones season 8 if you haven’t seen the show (Kjerstin Johnson) Station Eleven: A Novel (Emily St. John Mandel) How Finance Works (Mihir Desai) Netfli...
Apr 10, 2019•33 min•Season 2Ep. 25
Youngme, Felix, and Mihir share their reactions to Apple’s big event announcing the launch of its new TV+ service. They then discuss whether corporate debt levels are reaching crisis potential. Some recent picks: Station Eleven: A Novel (Emily St. John Mandel) How Finance Works (Mihir Desai) Netflix Subgenre Codes Bang Bar (New restaurant by David Chang) Games Magazine Museum of Failure Episode: “Aliy” from Losers (Netflix Series) Ash is Purest White (Movie) Dynasties (Nature Series) After Life ...
Apr 03, 2019•32 min•Season 2Ep. 24
Youngme, Felix, and Mihir debate Peloton, the high-flying exercise startup. They then discuss why partisan political prejudice is worse in some parts of the country than others. For interested listeners: US Countries and Partisan Prejudice (The Atlantic) Some recent picks: Games Magazine Museum of Failure Episode: “Aliy” from Losers (Netflix Series) Ash is Purest White (Movie) Dynasties (Nature Series) After Life (Netflix) Shoplifters (Movie) Motif (Photobooks) Hopper (App) You can email your co...
Mar 27, 2019•30 min•Season 2Ep. 23
Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss the food delivery war between DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and others. Then they evaluate Boeing’s crisis management performance in the wake of two recent air disasters. Some recent picks: Reputation Rules (Daniel Diermeier) Aloft: Thoughts on the Experience of Flight (William Langewiesche) Stratechery (Ben Thompson, subscription required) Ash is Purest White (Movie) Dynasties (Nature Series) After Life (Netflix) Shoplifters (Movie) Motif (Photobooks) Hopper (A...
Mar 20, 2019•33 min•Season 2Ep. 22
Youngme, Felix, and Mihir debate how well Airbnb is managing growth amid backlash from cities like New York City. They also discuss Kraft Heinz’s controversial zero-based budgeting approach to management. Some recent picks: Ash is Purest White (Movie) Dynasties (Nature Series) After Life (Netflix) Shoplifters (Movie) Motif (Photobooks) Hopper (App) Free Solo (National Geographic Documentary) Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style (Benjamin Dreyer) Interesting as F*** (Re...
Mar 13, 2019•32 min•Season 2Ep. 21
Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss why so many high-profile companies (Uber, Lyft, Pinterest, Airbnb, Slack, Postmates, Casper, Peloton, etc.) are planning to go public this year. They also debate whether it’s acceptable for bosses to throw temper tantrums at work. Some recent picks: Shoplifters (Movie) Motif (Photobooks) Hopper (App) Free Solo (National Geographic Documentary) Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style (Benjamin Dreyer) Interesting as F*** (Reddit subreddit)...
Mar 06, 2019•34 min•Season 2Ep. 20
Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss how Walmart is trying to compete against Amazon and whether the strategy is working. They also debate the rise of socialism in U.S. millennials — is it a healthy phenomenon or a dangerous one? Some recent picks: Free Solo (National Geographic Documentary) Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity and Style (Benjamin Dreyer) Interesting as F*** (Reddit subreddit) BA Magic Videos (British Airways) General Social Survey Visualization Tool Chef’s Knife M...
Feb 27, 2019•33 min•Season 2Ep. 19
Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai discuss whether WeWork’s success is sustainable. Plus, can the government really spend as much money as it wants without worrying about deficits? What in the world is Modern Monetary Theory and does it actually make sense? Some recent picks: BA Magic Videos (British Airways) General Social Survey Visualization Tool Chef’s Knife Mac MTH-80 Goodbye Big Five: Life Without the Tech Giants (Kashmir Hill, for Gizmodo) Minding the Gap (Hulu documentar...
Feb 20, 2019•32 min•Season 2Ep. 18
Youngme, Felix, and Mihir debate Medicare for All and ask whether the U.S. healthcare system is broken. They then offer quick takes on everything from Amazon’s latest HQ2 news, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s influence, Marie Kondo, the toy industry, Spotify’s aggressive push into podcasting, and more! Some recent picks: Goodbye Big Five: Life Without the Tech Giants (Kashmir Hill, for Gizmodo) Minding the Gap (Hulu documentary) Andy Warhol retrospective (Whitney Museum) Cassette (app) Seven Days Out...
Feb 13, 2019•34 min•Season 2Ep. 17
Youngme, Felix, and Mihir debate U.S. fears about Huawei and implications for U.S.-China relations. They also offer their interpretation of Facebook’s latest earnings results, before sharing their After Hours picks for the week. Some recent picks: Richard Brody’s Review of Roma (New Yorker) The Tangled Tree (David Quammen) Mary Oliver poetry Money Heist (Netflix) Patrick Radden Keefe’s Profile of Mark Burnett (New Yorker) Cooking by Ear (Podcast) You can email your comments and ideas for future ...
Feb 06, 2019•33 min•Season 2Ep. 16
Youngme, Felix, and Mihir debate two of the dramatic and controversial tax ideas being proposed by Democrats (a 70% marginal income tax rate and a 2% wealth tax), before discussing the trend among brands like Gillette, Nike, and Pepsi to launch “woke” advertising campaigns. They also offer their After Hours picks for the week. Some recent picks: Money Heist (Netflix) Mark Burnett profile in The New Yorker (by Patrick Radden Keefe) Cooking by Ear (Podcast) Salt Fat Acid Heat (Netflix) Turing Tumb...
Jan 30, 2019•35 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss why CEO departures are occurring so frequently, before unpacking the flaws in our 401(k) system. They also offer their After Hours picks for the week. Some recent picks: Salt Fat Acid Heat (Netflix) Turing Tumble (toy) You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: [email protected] . You can follow Youngme and Mihir on Twitter at: @YoungmeMoon and @DesaiMihirA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information....
Jan 23, 2019•31 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss Apple’s position in the Chinese market; debate whether payday lending is good or bad for workers; and ask whether companies should be doing more to help employees manage cash shortfalls. They also offer their After Hours picks for the week. You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: [email protected] . You can follow Youngme and Mihir on Twitter at: @YoungmeMoon and @DesaiMihirA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inform...
Jan 16, 2019•32 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Taped a few days before heading off for the holidays, Youngme, Felix, and Mihir share their After Hours Predictions for 2019, covering everything from Big Tech, to food, to finance, to entertainment. Some recent picks: Hilma af Klint Exhibit (Guggenheim Museum) Prime Suspect (Amazon Prime Video – Britbox) Atavist Magazine Atlanta, Season 2 (Netflix) Bloomberg article (“ Wall Street Rule for the #MeToo Era: Avoid Women At All Cost “) and Response from Jefferies CEO Richard Handler The Value of Ev...
Jan 02, 2019•35 min•Season 2Ep. 12
Taped a few days before heading off for the holidays, Youngme, Felix, and Mihir share their After Hours Awards for 2018, including their awards for Best/Worst Trend of the Year, Biggest Fail of the Year, Sleeper of the Year, Comeback of the Year, Work Cut Out for Them Next Year, Most Under-Reported Story of the Year, Most Over-Hyped Story of the Year, Person of the Year, and Favorite Entertainment of the Year. Some recent picks: Atavist Magazine Atlanta, Season 2 (Netflix) Bloomberg article (“ W...
Dec 26, 2018•35 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss Verizon’s write-down on Oath (Yahoo, AOL) and the challenges with building a digital advertising business. They also debate the notion of Radical Transparency, before sharing their After Hours picks for the week. Some recent picks: Bloomberg article (“ Wall Street Rule for the #MeToo Era: Avoid Women At All Cost “) and Response from Jefferies CEO Richard Handler 21c Museum Hotels The Truth As Told By Mason Buttle (by Leslie Connor) TikTok (phone app) Robert Stav...
Dec 19, 2018•31 min•Season 2Ep. 10
