Admiral James Stavridis, a retired four-star U.S. naval officer and author of more than a dozen books, joins Scott to discuss the state of global affairs, the culture of the US’s armed forces, and how to approach national fragmentation.
Follow the Admiral on X, @stavridisj.
Scott opens with his thoughts on gambling.
Algebra of Happiness: teaching your kids basic skills.
Scott gives his thoughts on when a founder CEO should step down, speaking to why most CEOs are not Steve Jobs or Bill Gates. He then offers advice to a listener on setting boundaries at work to maintain a successful romantic relationship. He wraps up with more advice to a listener who is facing two paths – join the family business or forge a new career.
Aswath Damodaran returns to the show to discuss the Magnificent Seven and how to look under the radar for the next generation of big companies. He breaks down the consolidating streaming industry and explains why he’s never owned Netflix. He also shares why he recently added Tesla to his portfolio, and why he calls it his corporate teenager. Finally, he offers some advice on navigating the Chinese market.
Lakshmi Rengarajan, a leading researcher on dating and the host of the Later Dater Today podcast, joins Scott to discuss the trends around dating for both old and young people, the importance of “striving,” and how dating apps bring out the worst side of us when it comes to finding potential partners.
Scott opens with his thoughts on Meta’s staggering earnings.
Algebra of happiness: what shapes you?
Scott gives his thoughts on job-hopping, speaking to why you should be loyal to people and not organizations. He then offers advice to a new dad wondering how much paternity leave to take, saying that life is a series of tradeoffs. He wraps up with more advice, to a dad whose son wants to leave university early for his entrepreneurial endeavors.
Scott shares his thoughts on Byron Allen’s $14.3 billion offer to buy Paramount, and identifies who would be a better acquirer. He also breaks down the latest earnings from luxury powerhouse LVMH, explains why its stock has underperformed, and discusses the problems with family businesses. Finally, he takes a look at the outcome of the shareholder lawsuit against Elon Musk.
Dan Ariely, a professor of psychology and behavioral economics at Duke University, joins Scott to discuss what makes rational people believe seemingly irrational things. He also shares how we avoid certain facts when we don’t like the solution, as well as how a lack of trust in one area can spiral into others.
Follow Professor Ariely on X, @danariely.
Scott opens with his thoughts on the podcast space and then discusses why tech companies are still laying people off in droves.
Algebra of Happiness: the role of parents.
Scott gives his thoughts on companies offering cash in lieu of healthcare benefits, speaking to why he likes it and why he doesn’t have health insurance. He then offers tips on how younger people can accrue wealth, including living a stoic lifestyle, diversification, and selecting the right life partner. He wraps up with a breakdown of how he prioritizes sleep, exercise and nutrition.
Scott shares his thoughts on why VC-backed startups are burning through so much cash, and what 2024 has in store for them. He then breaks down Netflix’s latest earnings and discusses its unexpected competition. Finally, he takes a look at China’s markets in light of the country’s struggling economy.
Andrew Boyd, a former CIA officer and distinguished expert in the fields of cyber operations and geopolitics, joins Scott to discuss the current cyber warfare environment. We also learn about Andrew’s background in the public sector and what it takes to be in the field of counterterrorism.
Scott opens with his thoughts on how to quit, and Netflix’s opportunity for growth.
Algebra of Happiness: lessons on being a Dad.