Heather McGhee, the author of The Sum of Us, tells us her definition of zero-sum thinking and how racist policy decisions have left us all worse off. Heather is also the chair of the board of Color of Change, the nation’s largest online racial justice organization. Follow her on Twitter, @hmcghee. Scott opens with why he’s feeling optimistic at the moment. We also hear from a previous Prof G Pod guest, Joost Van Dreunen on Netflix’s potential entrance into the gaming space.
Archives: Podcasts
Office Hours: Tesla’s Competition, Identity Verification, the Scam of Tenure, and Public vs. Private Companies
Scott shares his thoughts on Tesla’s future in a more saturated EV market. He also answers questions on investing in the identity verification market, whether employee-owned businesses could replace publicly traded companies, and how to become a more active member of academia.
Music: https://www.davidcuttermusic.com / @dcuttermusic
Future of Search — with Sridhar Ramaswamy
Sridhar Ramaswamy, the CEO and cofounder of Neeva, tells us how the company — an ad-free, private search engine — is differentiating itself in the search market. Sridhar also shares the leadership lessons he’s learned from running a team of 10,000 people during his fifteen and a half years at Google. Follow on Sridhar Twitter, @RamaswmySridhar.
Scott opens with how a lack of corporate governance could lead us to a market crash.
Related Reading: Coinbase Independent Directors Have Close Company Ties
Office Hours: Robo-advisors, Team Design, and the Consequences of Innovation
Dr. Sara Beckman of UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business joins Scott to answer a question about innovation in the robo-advisor space. They also share their thoughts on the costs and benefits of blockchain, how to structure successful teams, and why it’s crucial to have mentors you trust. Music: https://www.davidcuttermusic.com / @dcuttermusic
Amazon Unbound — With Brad Stone
Brad Stone, the senior executive editor for Global Technology at Bloomberg News, joins to discuss his latest book: Amazon Unbound: Jeff Bezos and the Invention of a Global Empire. We hear how the company has transformed under Jeff Bezos’s leadership and the existential threats coming for its market dominance. Follow Brad on Twitter, @BradStone.
Scott opens with his thoughts on “burning benjamins” — AKA what happens when billionaires lose other people’s money.
State of Play: Supply Chain & Logistics — with Hamid Moghadam
Hamid Moghadam, the CEO of Prologis, a logistics real estate business, breaks down how warehouses have evolved to meet the demand for speedy deliveries, how the pandemic expedited trends in the supply chain space, and how a booming era of e-commerce is driving this sector. He also reflects on his career path as an Iranian-American and a leader of a nearly $90 billion company.
Scott opens with Snap’s investments in augmented reality and explores how the broader social commerce space is shaping up as social media companies battle it out for shoppers’ attention — and wallets.
Office Hours: eBay’s Brand Bust, VC Geography, Public Service, and Home Buying Advice
Scott answers a question about where eBay stands in the Amazon era. He also shares his thoughts on the concentration of venture capital investments in California, Massachusetts, and New York, why it can be worth it to lose money in the housing market, and why the world needs young Americans to participate in public service.
Music: https://www.davidcuttermusic.com / @dcuttermusic
The Geopolitics of Cryptocurrencies — with Niall Ferguson
Niall Ferguson returns to the pod for a discussion about his latest book, Doom: The Politics of Catastrophe. Niall shares why “all disasters are in some sense man-made” and what history can teach us about handling crises. Niall also explains the state of play around digital currencies from a geopolitical perspective. Follow Niall on Twitter, @nfergus.
Scott opens with his thoughts on AT&T’s reverse merger with Discovery, and what it means for the streaming wars. He also discusses the implications of stock buybacks and dividends.
Office Hours: Blockchain in the Music Industry, Divisive Concepts, Gratitude, and the Value of DEI
Scott answers a question on how NFTs might disrupt the music industry. He also shares his thoughts on the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion to any successful business. Scott then addresses the push in certain states to ban “divisive concepts” in schools and answers a question on how to practice gratitude.
AI, Big Data, and the Power of Framing
Kenneth Cukier, a senior editor at The Economist, joins to share insights from his latest book, Framers: Human Advantage in an Age of Technology and Turmoil. Kenneth explains how to use frames to make better decisions and avoid crises, as well as why we should rethink the phrase “think outside the box.” He also shares his thoughts on how artificial intelligence is shaping business, healthcare, and society.
Scott opens with why he believes America is experiencing the worst LBO in history.
Algebra of Happiness: Develop a process for resetting.