Until last week, FTX founder Sam Bankman-Fried was the face of crypto. Admirers saw him as an approachable, friendly billionaire eager to deploy his wealth for good. Then his crypto empire imploded, leaving hundreds of thousands of investors’ assets in doubt. WSJ’s Greg Zuckerman profiles the man behind FTX. Further Reading: -How FTX’s Sam Bankman-Fried Went From Crypto Golden Boy to Villain -FTX Tapped Into Customer Accounts to Fund Risky Bets, Setting Up Its Downfall -Alameda, FTX Executives A...
Nov 16, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast Zadeh Kicks, founded by Michael Malekzadeh, was once the hottest sneaker reseller on the market. It offered some coveted, limited edition shoes for cheap – a dream for sneakerheads who wanted to flip them for more money. But now Zadeh Kicks has dissolved. WSJ's Inti Pacheco explains how sneaker giant Malekzadeh came undone. Further Reading: -The $300 Million Sneaker King Comes Undone Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 15, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Every winter, the respiratory virus RSV lands tens of thousands of babies and young children in hospitals around the country. This year, the outbreak started early. WSJ's Denise Roland explains the challenges of creating an RSV vaccine. Further Reading: -GSK Poised for Pfizer Battle in RSV Vaccine Market-RSV Hospitalizations Surge, Babies Hit Hardest Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 14, 2022•14 min•Transcript available on Metacast Bad Bets is WSJ’s podcast series that unravels big-business dramas that have had a big impact on our world. In season two, reporter Ben Foldy delves into the story of Nikola founder Trevor Milton, who promised a future of zero-emission trucks that could revolutionize the industry. At its peak, Nikola’s publicly traded stock was worth more than Ford Motor Co.’s—until a ragtag group of whistleblowers and short sellers revealed that Nikola and its truck weren’t all that they seemed. Find the entire...
Nov 11, 2022•39 min•Transcript available on Metacast Once a leader in the world of cryptocurrency, Sam Bankman-Fried’s crypto exchange FTX is scrambling for funds. It’s now facing a shortfall of $8 billion after Binance walked away from a rescue attempt. WSJ’s Caitlin Ostroff on what this means for the crypto ecosystem. Further Reading: -Tensions Between Crypto Giants FTX, Binance Spill Into Public View -Binance’s Deal for Rival FTX Marks Power Shift Amid Crypto Turmoil -The 30-Year-Old Spending $1 Billion to Save Crypto Further Listening: -The Ri...
Nov 10, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast Republicans were expecting to come away with sizable wins in the midterm elections on Tuesday. But as the results come in, it's clear that those hopes have been dashed. WSJ's Siobhan Hughes explains where the election stands — and what it means for the GOP. Further Reading: -Control of Congress Remains at Stake as Democrats Fend Off an Anticipated ‘Red Wave’ Further Listening: -The Republican Push to Flip Latino Voters Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 09, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast A year ago, at the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow, the biggest players in the financial world joined together to incorporate carbon emissions into their most fundamental decisions. As the summit reconvenes in Egypt, the group is on the rocks. WSJ’s David Benoit explains why. Further Reading: -Financial System Makes Big Promises on Climate Change at COP26 Summit -Big Banks and U.N. Green Finance Group Clash in Alliance -Mark Carney, Ex-Banker, Wants Banks to Pay for Climate C...
Nov 08, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Elon Musk is now in charge of Twitter, and his shake-up of the company is making advertisers nervous. All kinds of brands have started pausing their ad spending. WSJ’s Suzanne Vranica explains what Musk is doing to rein in the losses. Further Reading: -General Mills, Audi and Pfizer Join Growing List of Companies Pausing Twitter Ads -First Week of Elon Musk’s Twitter Was Chaos and Confusion for Employees Further Listening: -The Musk-Twitter Saga – From The Journal. Learn more about your ad choic...
Nov 07, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast In only five years, TikTok has gained millions of fans around the world and become a source of geopolitical tension between the U.S. and China. We spoke to people who witnessed the app’s meteoric rise firsthand: influencers, former workers, and a government official who is concerned about TikTok’s data practices. Further Listening -Why TikTok’s Under Investigation -Why Everyone is Mad At Instagram Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Nov 04, 2022•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast Companies trying to hire in New York City had to revamp their job postings this week. A new law requires salary ranges on all job postings, the latest in a wave around the U.S. WSJ's Chip Cutter and Ben Cohen explain how the law can affect the power dynamics between workers and employers and how companies might try to find workarounds. Further Reading: -Is Your Colleague Earning More Than $200,000 a Year? Now You Can Find Out -JPMorgan, Macy’s and Other Companies Reveal What They Pay Workers -Ca...
Nov 03, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast A texting scam that originated in China is on the rise in the United States. It’s more sophisticated than scams of the past and it has already cost American victims more than $400 million in total. WSJ’s Robert McMillan explains how pig butchering works and one victim shares how it’s impacted her. Further Reading: -A Text Scam Called ‘Pig Butchering’ Cost Her More Than $1.6 Million -Online Scams Cost Americans Billions. Here’s How to Avoid the Worst of Them. Learn more about your ad choices. Vis...
Nov 02, 2022•22 min•Transcript available on Metacast About a year after Mark Zuckerberg rebranded Facebook as Meta Platforms Inc., internal documents show the company's transition to the metaverse is not going smoothly. WSJ’s Salvador Rodriguez explains how glitchy technology and declining monthly users are complicating Meta’s big metaverse push. Further Reading: -Company Documents Show Meta’s Flagship Metaverse Falling Short -Facebook Parent Meta’s Earnings Fall Short as Revenue Decline Accelerates Further Listening:-How to Build a Metaverse Lear...
Nov 01, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast For months the Federal Reserve has been raising interest rates at a fast and furious pace to combat inflation. Now some Fed officials are advocating for a slower, steadier approach. WSJ’s Nick Timiraos explains the debate within the Fed over just how high interest rates should go. Further Reading: -Two Fed Officials Make Case for Caution With Future Interest Rate Raises -Fed Set to Raise Rates by 0.75 Point and Debate Size of Future Hikes Further Listening: -The Fed’s Plan to Curb Inflation -Can...
Oct 31, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Minions, the yellow, pill-shaped sidekicks that debuted in the 2010 animated film “Despicable Me," have emerged as one of the best-known franchises in recent Hollywood history. WSJ’s Erich Schwartzel explains the mix of luck and strategy that made the Minions so successful. Further Reading: -How the Minions Became Hollywood’s Mightiest Franchise Further Listening: -A Tale of Two Top Guns Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 28, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Disney CEO Bob Chapek talks with WSJ’s Editor in Chief Matt Murray about the challenges of weathering controversies and keeping his nearly 100 year-old company relevant. Further Reading and Watching: -News from WSJ Tech Live 2022 -Video Highlights from WSJ Tech Live 2022 Further Listening: -How Disney’s CEO Got Caught in Florida’s Fight Over Gay Rights Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 27, 2022•20 min•Transcript available on Metacast An unofficial oil-for-security pact between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia has survived 15 presidents and seven kings, but is now fracturing under two leaders who don’t like each other. WSJ’s Stephen Kalin explains why the U.S. and Saudi Arabia’s relationship has hit a new low.Further Reading: - U.S.-Saudi Relations Buckle, Driven by Animosity Between Biden and Mohammed bin Salman - Saudi Conference Draws Wall Street Executives Amid Strained Ties With U.S. Further Listening: - As Saudi Arabia Cools o...
Oct 26, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast Pickleball is a big dill. It’s also the fastest-growing sport in America. Meanwhile, superstar investors like Tom Brady and LeBron James are pouring cash into pro pickleball. WSJ’s Sara Bosworth explains the rise of the paddle sport and why investors are flocking to it. Further Reading: -Since When Do Millennials Love Pickleball? -LeBron James Is Buying a Professional Pickleball Team Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 25, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast No longer just for celebrities, Botox's multi-billion dollar success has helped kickstart a new industry of medical cosmetic procedures. But now, a competitor is on the horizon. WSJ's Rory Satran and Jared Hopkins on the new anti-wrinkle shot that's trying to take on Botox. Further Reading: - FDA Approves New Botox Rival - Getting Botox Used to Be a Secret. Now It’s Not. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 24, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Stronger hurricanes, higher insurance premiums and stricter building codes are changing who can afford life on the coast. After Hurricane Ian, WSJ's Arian Campo-Flores headed to southwestern Florida to see how the state's coastal communities are faring and transforming. Further Reading: - Florida Coastal Living Reshaped by Hurricane Housing Codes - Hurricane Ian Is Latest Blow to Florida’s Struggling Home Insurers - Home Buyers Flock to Florida Cities Devastated by Hurricane Ian - Flattened by H...
Oct 21, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast The CEOs of the nation’s largest banks, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America, are sending different messages about the economy. One is more optimistic, the other more pessimistic. WSJ’s Ben Eisen explains what’s driving their differences. Further Reading: - Bank of America CEO’s Optimism Defies Economic Gloom - Jamie Dimon Says U.S. Consumers Still Have Six to Nine Months of Spending Power - JP Morgan Chase Earnings Show Economy is Resilient, but Jamie Dimon’s “Hurricane” Looms Further Listening: ...
Oct 20, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast Southern Florida is awash with empty luxury properties. For one Miami couple and their accomplices, that looked like prime hunting ground for nearly $10 million in mortgage fraud. Their targets? Venezuela’s sanctioned elite. As WSJ’s Konrad Putzier reports, it was fun while it lasted. Further Reading: - Florida Couple Turned the Empty Miami Mansions of Venezuela’s Elite Into Personal Piggy Banks Further Listening: - An Undercover Operation to Reveal an Alleged Ponzi Scheme Learn more about your ...
Oct 19, 2022•19 min•Transcript available on Metacast A new banking startup, GloriFi, was created to counter a perception among some conservatives that mainstream banks are too liberal. But despite major investment and celebrity backing, GloriFi now finds itself in disarray and on the verge of bankruptcy. WSJ’s Rachel Ensign breaks down the latest. Further Reading: - How a New Anti-Woke Bank Stumbled - CEO of Anti-Woke Bank Startup GloriFi Resigns Further Listening: - Can My Stock Portfolio Save The Planet? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit m...
Oct 18, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast As China’s top leaders gather for the 20th Communist Party congress, all eyes are on China’s economy. A decade ago, President Xi Jinping set out his “China Dream" and promised it would boost the economy. But as WSJ’s Lingling Wei explains, Xi’s state-centered approach isn’t delivering on that vision. Further Reading: - China’s Xi Jinping Stakes Out Ambitions, With Himself at the Center - China Abruptly Delays GDP Release During Communist Party Conference - Xi Jinping’s Ideological Ambition Darke...
Oct 17, 2022•17 min•Transcript available on Metacast Second Life never went mainstream. But just because the platform wasn’t for everyone doesn’t mean it wasn’t for anyone. In part 4 of our series, we talk to longtime Second Life users about the lives they’ve built in the metaverse and what virtual worlds have to offer. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 14, 2022•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast Hidden records show that thousands of senior executive branch employees owned stocks in companies whose fates were affected by their employers’ actions. WSJ’s Brody Mullins and Rebecca Ballhaus take us inside the nearly year-long Wall Street Journal investigation. Further Reading: - Government Officials Invest in Companies Their Agencies Oversee - 131 Federal Judges Broke the Law by Hearing Cases Where They Had a Financial Interest - Congressional Staffers Gain From Trading in Stocks Further Lis...
Oct 13, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast In the last few years, streaming has overtaken cable as the go-to means of watching TV. But as more streaming platforms flood the market, the industry’s major players are finding it harder to grow. WSJ’s Jessica Toonkel says companies are finding new solutions in the old cable bundle playbook. Further Reading: - You Hated Your Cable Package. Your Streaming Services Are Bringing It Back. - Paramount Explores Merging Showtime Streaming Service Into Paramount+ - Disney Explores Membership Program L...
Oct 12, 2022•16 min•Transcript available on Metacast The war in Ukraine has taken a heavy toll on the country and rebuilding will be expensive, estimated in the tens of billions. WSJ's Matt Wirz tells the story of one Ukrainian official's unconventional plan to win over Wall Street and help keep his country afloat. Further Reading: - Ukraine Takes Unorthodox Pitch to Wall Street to Raise Billions in Debt Further Listening: - Losing in the War, Putin Raises the Stakes Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 11, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast We're off for the holiday today, but we still have an episode for you! Inflation is the worst it’s been in more than 40 years. But one bright spot for consumers might be found at the grocery store: rotisserie chickens. WSJ’s Annie Gasparro chronicles the history of America’s love for the quick and versatile meal, and what a "rotisserie chicken economic index" might say about this inflationary moment. Further Listening: - Inflation Is Happening. Should You Be Worried? Further Reading: - Rotisseri...
Oct 10, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast By 2007, Second Life seemed on track for a commercial breakthrough. And then, an opportunity came along to get in front of a truly mainstream audience: a starring role on one of TV’s biggest shows. In part 3 of our series: Second Life’s ascension to prime time, and the hurdles that threw its success into question. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 07, 2022•41 min•Transcript available on Metacast The U.K. government has U-turned on one part of a plan to make major tax cuts after markets reacted violently to it. WSJ's Max Colchester explains why the government's attempt to boost growth did the opposite. Further Reading: - U.K. Markets Turmoil Puts Spotlight on New Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng - U.K.’s Central Banker Struggles With Inflation, a Financial Crisis and His Own Government Further Listening: - The U.K.'s New Prime Minister Faces an Economic Crisis - The Pros and Cons of a Strong U....
Oct 06, 2022•18 min•Transcript available on Metacast 
