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. … Read more

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, … Read more

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. Music: https://www.davidcuttermusic.com / … Read more

Office Hours: Weed Winners, Apple’s Rundle, Movie Theaters, and Deciding to Be an Entrepreneur

Scott shares his thoughts on who the winners of the cannabis industry will be, and why he still enjoys a little THC from time to time. Scott also answers questions on where the movie theater industry is headed after a catastrophic 2020, whether Apple should expand its rundle with its own social media network, and … Read more

Principles of Persuasion — with Bob Cialdini

Bob Cialdini, one of the world’s leading social scientists, joins Scott to discuss his seven principles of persuasion and his revised edition of Influence — the psychology of why people say yes. Bob also shares how to use these principles in thoughtful debates, politics, and parenting. Follow him on Twitter, @RobertCialdini.  Scott opens with his … Read more

Office Hours: Income Inequality, Executive MBAs, ESG, and the Future of Smart Homes

Scott answers a question about where the smart home industry is headed now that nearly half of American households use a smart home product. Scott also shares his thoughts on how companies can expedite environmental, social and corporate governance, how to know if you’ve progressed beyond the need for an executive MBA, and the correlation … Read more

Office Hours: Investing in the Private Markets, Going Vertical, Pursuing a Phd, and Building a Network

Scott answers a question about how SaaS or B2B companies could go vertical — or in other words, control as much of the consumer’s end-to-end experience as possible. Scott also answers questions about his decision to invest in the private markets, deciding whether to pursue a PhD, and how to build a professional network outside … Read more

Inclusive Capitalism & Moral Leadership — with Jacqueline Novogratz

Jacqueline Novogratz is the founder, and CEO of Acumen, a global nonprofit investing in sustainable businesses, leaders, and ideas. She is also the author of, Manifesto for a Moral Revolution: Practices to Build a Better World. Jacqueline shares her ideas around moral leadership and how to use capital and networks as means, not ends, to … Read more