🎀 “Doll Bills, Y’all” — American Girl Doll’s 40th. Nobel’s economic therapy. Dutch Bros’ walk-thru. +Self-Driving Zambonis
Summary
Hosts Nick and Jack discuss the 40th anniversary of American Girl dolls, highlighting the founder’s contrarian strategy of pricing and positioning against Barbie. They analyze the Nobel Prize in Economics awarded to Robert Hall and Michael Woodford for integrating consumer expectations into macroeconomic policy. The episode also covers Dutch Bros’ shift to walk-through locations as a low-cost differentiator against Starbucks’ "third place" model.
Topics discussed
Intro: Boston trip, Fenway allergy, and dinner request
Preview of the day's three top business stories
NHL testing self-driving Zambonis for ice resurfacing
Sponsor: Monarch money app for tracking spending
Sponsor: Hims hair regrowth treatment
American Girl dolls: 40th anniversary and anti-Barbie strategy
Nobel Prize in Economics: Incorporating feelings into finance
Sponsor: Capital One VentureX business card
Dutch Bros: Walk-through locations and coffee market trends
Summary of the three main business stories
Quick hits: Social Reckoning box office, diesel, and Starbucks
Fun fact: Why McDonald's Coke tastes different
Outro: Live show logistics and Fenway Park banter
Listener shoutouts, birthdays, and stock disclosures
Sponsor: Hotels.com business travel rewards
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