The goal of LIV is to disrupt golf as fans know it. Funded by Saudi Arabia’s sovereign wealth fund, LIV has proposed new game formats and offered players hundreds of millions of dollars - leading to a major rift with the PGA Tour. We talk with LIV’s Chief Operating Officer, Atul Khosla, about the controversy that surrounds it and its vision for the future of golf. Further Reading: -Threatened by LIV Golf, the PGA Tour Launches Major Overhauls Further Listening:-The Saudi Money Splitting Golf Lea...
Aug 24, 2022•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Colorado River is experiencing a massive drought. Last week, the federal government told the states that rely on the Colorado River to cut their water usage drastically. WSJ’s Jim Carlton explains the growing battle over water. Further Reading:- U.S. Orders Historic Colorado River Cuts to Drought-Stricken Southwest States Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 23, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bed Bath & Beyond is facing big concerns about its future. A high-profile stockholder dumped his shares last week, the stock price is tanking and a big bet on private label brands isn't paying off. WSJ's Suzanne Kapner explains how the home goods retailer got itself into trouble.Further Reading: -Bed Bath & Beyond’s Sudden Stock Plunge Narrows Options for Cash Infusion -Bed Bath & Beyond’s Problems Escalated by Ryan Cohen’s Sale -Bed Bath & Beyond Followed a Winning Playbook—and Lost Learn more ...
Aug 22, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Private equity firms are gobbling up car washes. WSJ's Miriam Gottfried explains how the humble car wash evolved into such a lucrative business investment. Further reading: -How the Private-Equity Lobby Won—Again Further listening: -The Private Equity Lobby Wins Again Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 19, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast This week, President Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act into law, directing billions of dollars to tackle climate change. We speak to Pedro Pizarro, the CEO of Edison International, one of America’s largest utility companies, about what this bill means for the energy sector.Further Reading:-Biden Signs Bill Aimed at Lowering Drug Costs, Boosting Renewable Energy Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 18, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Afghanistan's central bank has $7 billion frozen in the U.S. As the country faces mounting economic and humanitarian crises, WSJ’s Jessica Donati explains the complicated negotiations between the U.S. and the Taliban over what to do with the money. Further Reading: -U.S. Rules Out Releasing Billions in Afghan Funds After Strike Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 17, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Lithium is a key component of batteries in electric vehicles, and a lot of it is underground in South America. WSJ’s Ryan Dube explains why it’s so complicated to get this metal out of Chile and Bolivia, and what that means for the transition to greener energy. Further Reading: - The Place With the Most Lithium Is Blowing the Electric-Car Revolution - Lithium Prices Soar, Turbocharged By Electric-Vehicle Demand and Scant Supply Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Aug 16, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Ben & Jerry's has an unusual agreement with its parent company, Unilever, which let the activist brand keep its corporate social justice mission. But now Ben & Jerry's is taking on Unilever in court to figure out just how far they are allowed to go. WSJ's Saabira Chaudhuri discusses the dispute over selling their ice cream in Israeli territories. Further Reading: - Ben and Jerry’s Tells Court That Unilever Could Undermine Its Social Mission - Unilever Sells Ben and Jerry’s Ice-Cream Business in ...
Aug 15, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast The Pella Corporation, manufacturer of windows and doors, is headquartered in a small town in Iowa. When a shortage of housing and amenities hindered its ability to hire and grow, the company decided to tackle some of these problems themselves. WSJ’s Charity Scott tells the complicated tale of a modern company town. Further Reading: - Facing Labor Shortages, Pella Reinvents the Company Town in Rural Iowa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 12, 2022•21 min•Transcript available on Metacast The private equity lobby notched another victory in their fight to pay low taxes on the fees they charge after Democrats tried – and failed – to change this in their Tax and Climate Bill. WSJ Julie Bykowicz discusses how they managed to do it. Further reading: -How the Private-Equity Lobby Won—Again -Senate Passes Democrats’ Climate, Healthcare and Tax Bill Further listening: -Three Candidates, Three Ideas to Tax the Super Rich Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Aug 11, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast In 2010, a handful of teenage boys started posting gaming montages on YouTube, under the name FaZe Clan. More than a decade later, the group is a global e-sports and lifestyle brand worth more than a billion dollars on the Nasdaq. CEO Lee Trink and founding FaZe Clan member Yousef Abdelfattah — better known as FaZe Apex — explain how the company got there. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 10, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast FBI agents searched former President Donald Trump's Florida home looking for classified documents. WSJ's Alex Leary discusses what we know about the investigation and some of the potential consequences of the search. Further Reading: - FBI Searches Trump’s Florida Home Mar-a-Lago in Document Investigation - Search of Trump’s Home Roils 2022 Midterms, 2024 Presidential Race Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 09, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast A Texas jury ordered the conspiracy theorist Alex Jones to pay nearly $50 million for lying about the Sandy Hook shooting. But after Jones’ company filed for bankruptcy, there are questions about when — and how much — he’ll actually pay. WSJ’s Rob Copeland and Jonathan Randles talk about the case and the upcoming bankruptcy battle. Further Reading: - Alex Jones Ordered to Pay $45.2 Million in Punitive Damages to Sandy Hook Parents - Alex Jones Ordered to Pay $4.1 Million to Parents of Sandy Hook...
Aug 08, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Europe is stepping up its coal consumption as it tries to reduce reliance on Russian energy. WSJ’s Juan Forero and Phred Dvorak explain why Europe needs coal so badly, and what the consequences will be for the continent’s transition to cleaner energy. Further Reading: - Europe’s Coal-Buying Frenzy Means Windfall for Producers - Europe’s Energy Crisis Threatens to Slow Green Transition Further Listening: - Germany’s Difficult Breakup with Russian Energy - If Russia Invades Ukraine, Can the U.S. D...
Aug 05, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Autonomous trucking company TuSimple has an ambitious goal: eliminate humans from behind the wheel and teach big rigs to drive themselves. But recently, as WSJ's Heather Somerville reports, a traffic accident brought to light technical and safety shortcomings. Further Reading: -Self-Driving Truck Accident Draws Attention to Safety at TuSimple -For Robot Trucks, Navigating Highways Is Just One Bump in the Road Further Listening: -To Solve Labor Shortage, Companies Turn to Automation Learn more ab...
Aug 04, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast In response to competition from TikTok, Instagram is making big changes to its app. But a lot of users are upset about it. WSJ’s Salvador Rodriguez explains how the company is responding to the backlash, and what it means for parent company Meta. Further reading: -'Make Instagram Instagram Again': The App’s Evolution is causing Users to Question its Future -Mark Zuckerberg’s Bid to Reinvent Facebook Parent Meta Hits Early Snags Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Aug 03, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Enochian Biosciences co-founder Serhat Gumrukcu was working to build a name for himself in biotech. But earlier this year, he was arrested in a purported plot to kill an associate. WSJ’s Joseph Walker tells the story of Gumrukcu’s rise and what prosecutors allege happened.Further Reading: -Biotech Wizard Left a Trail of Fraud – Prosecutors Allege it Ended in Murder Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 02, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast On Tuesday, Kansans will vote on a constitutional amendment that could lead to abortion restrictions or an outright ban. WSJ’s Laura Kusisto explains how Kansas became the biggest abortion battleground since the U.S. Supreme Court overturned Roe v. Wade. Further reading: -Kansas Abortion Amendment Is Closely Watched Ahead of Other State Referendums Further listening: -The Supreme Court Overturns Roe v. Wade Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Aug 01, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Yesterday, government data showed that the economy shrank for the second quarter in a row, a common definition of a recession. The WSJ's Jon Hilsenrath explains why that doesn't mean the U.S. is in one and looks at what needs to change before he starts using the "R" word. Further reading: - Inventory Swing Is a Key Culprit Behind U.S. Recession Talk - People Have Money but Feel Glum-What Does that Mean for the Economy? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 29, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast When the pandemic hit, Rent the Runway, a company that rents designer clothing, saw half its customers pause or cancel their monthly subscriptions. Jennifer Hyman, the CEO, talks about how she retooled the business to survive the shock, and the challenges that still remain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 28, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast The World Health Organization has declared monkeypox a public health emergency as worldwide cases exceed 19,000. WSJ's Denise Roland tells the story of how a Danish company's rarely used smallpox vaccine became the only licensed shot against monkeypox, and how the company's scrambling to meet global demand.Further reading:-FDA Clears Danish Monkeypox Vaccine Plant, Paving Way for Use of Doses in U.S. -What to Know About the Monkeypox Outbreak in the U.S. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m...
Jul 27, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Cryptocurrency lender Celsius Network promoted itself as better than a bank, but now it's filed for bankruptcy. WSJ’s Alexander Gladstone discusses the company’s promise, fall, and what it could mean for regulation in the cryptocurrency marketplace. Further Reading: - Celsius Customers Are Losing Hope for Their Locked-Up Crypto - Behind the Celsius Sales Pitch Was a Crypto Firm Built on Risk Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 26, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast E-commerce giant Amazon is acquiring the primary-care practice One Medical, giving it about 180 clinics across roughly two dozen U.S. markets. We talk with WSJ’s Sebastian Herrera about Amazon’s track record in health care so far and why it’s investing in the industry. Further reading: - Amazon Faces Fierce Competition in Health Ambitions After One Medical Deal - Amazon to Buy One Medical Network of Health Clinics in Healthcare Expansion - Amazon Gives Healthcare Ambitions a Booster Shot Learn m...
Jul 25, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast WSJ's Fashion Director Rory Satran explains how Shein, now valued at $100 billion, used social media to dominate the fast-fashion industry, and why it’s now facing intense criticism from sustainable shoppers. Further reading: - Shein’s Rise Was Nearly Overnight. The Backlash Came Just as Fast - China’s Fast-Fashion Giant Shein Faces Dozens of Lawsuits Alleging Design Theft - How Shein Became the Chinese Apparel Maker American Teens Love Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoi...
Jul 22, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Most billionaires are surrounded by people who manage their money and philanthropy but Elon Musk has had just one man to do that job... until recently. WSJ’s Rob Copeland tells the story of a newcomer who disrupted Musk's inner circle. Further reading: - Elon Musk’s Inner Circle Rocked by Fight Over His $230 Billion Fortune Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 21, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Netflix had a second straight quarter of subscriber losses. Now the streaming giant is making big changes, including adding ads, which the company had long avoided. WSJ’s Sarah Krouse says ads will be part of the solution as the streaming platform looks to right the ship.Further Reading:- Netflix Loses Nearly 1 Million Viewers, Vows Rebound Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Jul 20, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast Amazon tried to grow the sales of its private label brands, like AmazonBasics, by adding more products. But rather than juice sales, it’s created new headaches — especially with regulators. WSJ’s Dana Mattioli explains why Amazon is starting to scale back. Further Reading: - Amazon Scooped Up Data From Its Own Sellers to Launch Competing Products - Amazon Has Been Slashing Private-Label Selection Amid Weak Sales Further Listening: - How Amazon Employees Used Sellers' Data Against Them Learn mo...
Jul 19, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Droughts, the global pandemic and political instability have put many Somalis on the brink of starvation. But now, the war in Ukraine has pushed even more over the edge. The victims include children, who are most at risk of dying from hunger. Our colleague Gabriele Steinhauser visited Somalia last month to speak to the people bearing the brunt of a global food shortage. Warning: This episode contains depictions of starving children. Please listen with care. Further reading: - The Ukraine War Pus...
Jul 18, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast The James Webb Space Telescope was almost an epic failure. More than 20,000 scientists worked together for over 30 years, but when NASA appointed Greg Robinson to direct the project, things finally came together. We hear from Robinson and WSJ’s Ben Cohen about the engineering breakthroughs— and management finesse— that launched the world’s best telescope into space. Further Reading: - The NASA Engineer Who Made the James Webb Space Telescope Work Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone...
Jul 15, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Sri Lanka’s escalating political and economic crises came to a head this week when President Gotabaya Rajapaksa fled the country and submitted his resignation. WSJ’s Philip Wen describes the roots of the crisis -- and what pushed this highly indebted nation over the edge, into rolling blackouts and shortages of food, fuel and medicine.Further reading: -Sri Lanka’s Debt Crisis Tests China’s Role as Financier to Poor Countries -Sri Lanka’s President Resigns Over Email After Fleeing Country Learn m...
Jul 14, 2022•15 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
