Digest

The episode begins with a discussion of recent movie sequel announcements, including "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Gladiator 2." The hosts then move on to discuss the booming non-alcoholic beer market, highlighting Athletic Brewing's success and the growing trend of people choosing to drink less alcohol. The episode then shifts to the aftermath of Hurricane Barrow in Houston, discussing the widespread power outages and the city's reliance on the Wattaburger app for information. The hosts also discuss the broader implications of climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in Texas. The episode then explores the changing landscape of office spaces, noting the record-high vacancy rates and the long-term shift towards hybrid work. The hosts also discuss the struggles of Ivy League alumni clubs to remain relevant in the modern era, highlighting the changing tastes of young professionals. Finally, the episode concludes with a discussion of Etsy's efforts to return to its roots and focus on handmade goods, highlighting the company's marketing campaign and the challenges of competing with larger e-commerce giants.

Outlines

00:00:00

Movie Sequels and Non-Alcoholic Beer

This Chapter discusses the recent announcements of sequels for popular movies like "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Gladiator 2." It also highlights the booming non-alcoholic beer market, particularly the success of Athletic Brewing and the growing trend of people choosing to drink less alcohol.

00:03:06

Hurricane Barrow's Impact on Houston

This Chapter focuses on the aftermath of Hurricane Barrow in Houston, discussing the widespread power outages and the city's reliance on the Wattaburger app for information. It also explores the broader implications of climate change and the increasing frequency of extreme weather events in Texas.

00:20:35

The Changing Landscape of Office Spaces and Social Clubs

This Chapter examines the changing landscape of office spaces, noting the record-high vacancy rates and the long-term shift towards hybrid work. It also discusses the struggles of Ivy League alumni clubs to remain relevant in the modern era, highlighting the changing tastes of young professionals.

00:16:34

Etsy's Return to its Roots

This Chapter focuses on Etsy's efforts to return to its roots and focus on handmade goods, highlighting the company's marketing campaign and the challenges of competing with larger e-commerce giants.

Keywords

Q&A

• What are some of the recent movie sequel announcements that were discussed in the episode?

  The episode discussed the announcements of sequels for "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Gladiator 2."

• What is the biggest non-alcoholic beer brand in the US, and what are some of the trends driving the growth of this market?

  The biggest non-alcoholic beer brand in the US is Athletic Brewing. The growth of the non-alcoholic beer market is being driven by several trends, including the increasing number of people who are choosing to drink less alcohol, particularly among younger generations. The episode also mentioned that Dry January, which was the biggest one ever, was Athletic Brewing's biggest month of sales in history.

• What was the impact of Hurricane Barrow on Houston, and what are some of the broader implications of climate change in Texas?

  Hurricane Barrow caused widespread power outages in Houston, leaving nearly 2 million people without electricity. The storm also caused dangerously hot temperatures due to the lack of air conditioning. The episode also discussed the broader implications of climate change in Texas, noting that the state has suffered more climate-related damage over the past several decades than any other state. The episode also mentioned that Texas is experiencing a population boom, with nearly half a million people becoming Texans in 2023 alone, but the state also suffered 11 separate billion-dollar disasters in that same year.

• What are some of the challenges facing the commercial real estate industry, and how are these challenges impacting office spaces?

  The commercial real estate industry is facing challenges from the long-term shift towards hybrid work, which has led to record-high vacancy rates in office spaces. The episode also discussed the impact of rising interest rates on the commercial real estate market. The episode mentioned that the vacancy rate for office spaces in the US has reached a new record high of 20.1%, and that San Francisco is particularly hard hit, with a vacancy rate of 34.5%.

• What are some of the challenges facing Ivy League alumni clubs, and what are some of the trends driving these challenges?

  Ivy League alumni clubs are facing challenges from the changing tastes of young professionals, who are often looking for more diverse and modern experiences. The episode mentioned that many Ivy League alumni clubs are struggling to attract younger members, and that some clubs are even facing financial difficulties. The episode also discussed the rise of new social clubs, such as Soho House and Zero Bond, which offer more modern and inclusive experiences.

Show Notes