After Hours
210 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 1 month ago - ★★★★★ - 1.2K ratingsHarvard Business School professors discuss and debate current events that sit at the crossroads of business and culture. Youngme Moon, Mihir Desai, and Felix Oberholzer-Gee engage in a spirited discussion on a range of topics torn from the headlines — from Facebook, to free trade, to the #MeToo movement. Informed by their unique expertise as professors at one of the world’s leading business schools, their takes are always surprising, unconventional, and insightful.
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Episodes
The limits of Goldman and technology
October 26, 2022 14:05 - 39 minutes - 36.5 MBFelix and Mihir consider the future of Goldman Sachs and the limits of technology in human interactions.
War in Ukraine—How will it end?
October 19, 2022 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.2 MBRawi joins Mihir and Felix to discuss the war in Ukraine: What is most surprising about the evolution of the conflict? Are the sanctions working? How is the war reshaping geopolitics? Will the Putin regime deploy nuclear weapons? And, most importantly, how will the hostilities end?
Twitter under Musk and Bonds, Bonds, Bonds!
October 12, 2022 10:00 - 38 minutes - 35.2 MBOn this week's episode, Felix, Sarah, and Mihir discuss the future of Twitter under Musk and bond market craziness.
Mark Cuban doesn’t believe in following your passions | ReThinking w/Adam Grant
October 05, 2022 14:34 - 45 minutes - 41.8 MBMark Cuban has gone from selling garbage bags door-to-door to selling internet companies for billions, acquiring an NBA team, and becoming a beloved “Shark” on Shark Tank. Mark reveals to Adam how he turns problems into opportunities in entrepreneurship, basketball, and investing. They discuss his latest venture–disrupting the healthcare industry with an online pharmacy and a price-slashing philosophy that makes hundreds of drugs affordable–and why following your passion is not the ...
Quiet Quitting
September 28, 2022 10:00 - 32 minutes - 30.2 MBHave members of your team quit quietly? Is that even a thing? And if not, why is everybody talking about it? In this episode, Bloomberg’s Sarah Green Carmichael, Mihir and Felix discuss how to make sense of current trends in the workplace. Also, Felix has a proposal what to do about online harassment. Quite possibly, it is a terrible idea.
We’re Back!
September 21, 2022 10:00 - 54 minutes - 49.6 MBFelix, Mihir, and Youngme kick off a new season of After Hours with a host of random questions, including: Are we witnessing the slow death of Facebook? Does Adam Neumann (WeWork) deserve a second chance? Is the War for Talent real? Plus, thoughts on everything from Serena, to Kim Kardashian, to House of the Dragon, and more.
A Mega-Recommendations Episode for the Summer
June 29, 2022 10:00 - 55 minutes - 50.8 MBYoungme joins Felix and Mihir to offer recommendations for the summer on things to read and watch, places to visit, food to eat, and lots more!
Are we witnessing a sharp decrease in income inequality? And: Why is Mihir watching inventory levels?
June 22, 2022 13:53 - 31 minutes - 29.3 MBIn this episode, Felix and Mihir discuss stories they will follow this summer. These include the fate of neobanks, credit conditions in the United States, a major advance in AI, as well as changes in income inequality. Plus, Mihir makes a major prediction how founders will spend their time now that the stock market has imploded. Our predictions: https://www.lapecorabianca.com/ and https://www.airalo.com/
How to fix commuting and the legacy of Sheryl Sandberg
June 15, 2022 16:32 - 37 minutes - 34.5 MBFelix, Mihir and Sarah discuss how to fix commuting and the legacy of Sheryl Sandberg.
Index investing and the future of airline mergers
June 01, 2022 10:00 - 35 minutes - 32.9 MBIn the latest episode, Felix and Mihir discuss the potential dark side of the rise of index investing and who should end up owning Spirit Airlines, JetBlue or Frontier.
A Super-Sized Edition
May 25, 2022 10:00 - 56 minutes - 51.5 MBIn this super-sized episode, Felix and Mihir are rejoined by their friend Youngme to discuss everything from Magical Thinking to Elon Musk. Recommendations: Slow Horses (Apple) Old Enough (Netflix) Copykat.com Supercook.com
Time to Panic?
May 18, 2022 17:06 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBFelix and Mihir discuss the turmoil in financial markets and how best to respond as an investor or a corporate executive. Is it time to panic? What is the longer-term outlook for the economy? Will the Federal Reserve be able to tame inflation without causing a recession? They also discuss the fate of Upstart, an AI-supported lending platform. The former Wall Street darling lost much of its value, seemingly overnight. Can Upstart recover? Are we really better off with more consumer c...
Managing the Chip Shortage and the Future of Ride Sharing
May 12, 2022 11:43 - 33 minutes - 31.1 MBIn this episode, Felix, Mihir and Charlotte discuss what countries and companies should do about the chip shortage and discuss the future of Uber, Lyft and Doordash.
Ring the Bell?
May 05, 2022 18:04 - 31 minutes - 28.9 MBIn this episode, Sarah, Felix and Mihir discuss startups that piqued their interest. Bet there are some names you have not heard of? Who will go public first? Who is doomed to fail? Also: Mihir’s CRY for help.
Is the four-day work week ever going to happen?
April 27, 2022 15:04 - 39 minutes - 35.9 MBShould you bet on a four-day work week? Felix, Mihir, and Sarah discuss the sports betting industry and the future of the work week.
Is this the end of globalization?
April 20, 2022 10:32 - 34 minutes - 31.3 MBFelix, Mihir and Stephanie Mehta debate if we are witnessing the end of an era, the slow but steady demise of globalization. We also discuss the future of Zoom. With its stock sharply down and growth slowing, will the star of the COVID period have to sell itself to survive?
The Vibe Economy and Amazon Moves into Space
April 13, 2022 10:00 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBFelix, Mihir and guest host Stephanie Mehta discuss the recent spate of companies going public without profits and what Amazon’s moves into space mean for their competitors and consumers.
Unionization Makes a Comeback! Really?
April 06, 2022 10:00 - 28 minutes - 26.3 MBFelix, Mihir and The Economist’s Charlotte Howard discuss the return of Howard Schultz to Starbucks. Can he win over a restive workforce and suppress recent unionization efforts at the company? We also debate the recent uptick in drug use at work. Is this the return of the Mad Men?
Will the SEC and Disclosure Solve the Climate Crisis and Further Divide the China and the US?
March 31, 2022 17:56 - 39 minutes - 35.8 MBIn this episode, Felix and Mihir are joined by Charlotte Howard of the Economist and discuss the impact of new disclosure rules for geopolitical relations between China and the U.S. and the future of climate. Are these changes fundamental to the future of climate and the world, window dressing, or a manifestation of deeper problems?
How to Fight Fake News
March 16, 2022 10:55 - 34 minutes - 31.6 MBFelix, Mihir and Sarah Green Carmichael debate how to best fight misinformation. What is the role of liability? Can we leave the battle against fake news in the hands of the internet platforms? Can we fact-check our way out of this crisis? The three hosts also discuss the corporate withdrawal from Russia.
The War in Ukraine
March 11, 2022 15:01 - 46 minutes - 42.8 MBIn this bonus episode, Felix and Mihir welcome back their colleague and friend Rawi Abdelal to discuss the origins of the conflict, the effects of the sanctions, and how the situation might evolve.
Let’s Talk About Your Salary, Shall We?
March 09, 2022 11:00 - 33 minutes - 30.4 MBSarah, Felix and Mihir discuss the new laws that require greater salary transparency. Is this a good idea? Will pay increase or decrease as a result? Who will benefit most? We also debate the surge in activist investing. Why do activists now resemble private equity investors?
Peloton, the Fitness Industry, and Microsoft's Acquisition of Activision
March 02, 2022 11:00 - 34 minutes - 31.9 MBWhat is the future of Peloton and the fitness industry? And, what should we make of Microsoft’s proposed acquisition of Activision? On this episode, we welcome Sarah Greene Carmichael and discuss these developments.
The Future of Mobility and Economic Lessons from the Pandemic
February 23, 2022 11:00 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBWhat are the most exciting companies and development in mobility today? What have we learned about how to provide income support during economic downturns? Mihir and Felix discuss the evidence from the pandemic and consider today's most exciting mobility solutions. Our recommendations are: The Anomaly
Is the Great Resignation real?
February 16, 2022 11:00 - 30 minutes - 27.5 MBFelix and Mihir debate the state of the labor market. Is the Great Resignation real? Are we confused about the data? We also discuss earnings releases that caught our eye: Time to flee fintech? UPS anyone? Recent picks: Checks and Balance (podcast): Left Side Story Gary Shteyngart (book): Our Country Friends: A Novel Jennifer Senior (article): It’s Your Friends Who Break Your Heart This American Life (podcast): The Trojan Horse Affair
Our Predictions for 2022!
December 22, 2021 11:00 - 42 minutes - 38.6 MBYoungme, Felix and Mihir share their predictions for 2022! Join them as they share their predictions about everything ranging from cryptocurrencies to Oscar winners… Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Mo Amer (Netflix) Whale Wisdom (website) The Remarkable Tablet (digital writing tablet)
Our Year-End Award Episode!
December 15, 2021 11:00 - 43 minutes - 39.9 MBYoungme, Felix and Mihir look back on 2021 and share their picks for Business Person of the Year, Story of the Year, Trend of the Year, and Buzzword of the Year! Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Uma Ali (Felix’s Person of the Year) Sunday's Illness (Netflix) The Beatles: Get Back (documentary) Putting It Together (James Lapine) The White Lotus (HBO) Hacks (HBO) The Queen’s Gambit (Netflix) Succession (HB0) Mare of Easttown (HBO)
The Future of Twitter and GE
December 08, 2021 13:26 - 40 minutes - 37 MBFelix and Mihir contemplate the future of Twitter and GE as Jack Dorsey leaves Twitter and GE splits into three separate companies. What do these events tell us about these companies and this moment? Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: The Premier League Ronald Sullivan on the Rittenhouse Verdict
Holiday Travel Headaches!
December 01, 2021 19:09 - 28 minutes - 26 MBYoungme, Felix and Mihir invite their friend and colleague, Professor Ryan Buell, onto the show to discuss the travel headaches experienced by air travelers and hotel visitors. What’s behind all of the disruptions, and when will things get better? Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: AirPass (American Airlines) PassPlus (United Airlines) Elite Status Matching (The Points Guy) The Misery Map (FlightAware website) The Book of Awesome (Neil Pasricha)
The Food Episode!
November 24, 2021 11:00 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBYoungme, Felix and Mihir talk all things food, including TikTok recipes going viral, the chicken sandwich wars between fast food chains, the proliferation of milk alternatives in the supermarket, OpenTable vs. Resy, and more! Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Burnt Toast and Other Disasters (Cal Peternell) Opopop (popcorn) Meringue Cookies (recipe) Pete Wells reviews Eleven Madison Park (The New York Times)
Can Hertz turn it around? Are Crocs back? Plus, Are Generational Stereotypes Fair?
November 17, 2021 11:00 - 39 minutes - 36.2 MBYoungme, Felix and Mihir discuss whether Hertz can make a comeback, why everyone seems to be wearing Crocs, and whether generational stereotypes are accurate or helpful. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: My Climate (website) Notability (app) In Case You Get Hit By A Bus (Abby Schneiderman and Adam Seifer)
Intel Attempts a Turnaround; Plus Zillow, Utopian Cities, and More
November 10, 2021 12:53 - 41 minutes - 38.2 MBYoungme, Felix and Mihir discuss Intel’s attempts to stage a turnaround in the all-important chip industry; plus Zillow, utopian cities, and more. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: · Izipizi Eyewear · Far Flung: A Black Utopia in North Carolina (podcast) · A History of Future Cities (Daniel Brook)
How Much Should We Fear Inflation? Plus, The Meta Rebrand and More
November 03, 2021 10:00 - 34 minutes - 31.5 MBYoungme, Felix and Mihir discuss how fearful we should be about inflation; they also discuss the Facebook rebranding (Meta) and the prospects for Snap. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Kottke.org The French Dispatch (Wes Anderson) Patagonia Provisions
Is Netflix winning the Streaming Wars?
October 27, 2021 12:18 - 40 minutes - 37.2 MBYoungme, Felix and Mihir discuss the long-term sustainability of Netflix’s content strategy; plus content trends in streaming. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Summer of Soul (Questlove) The Velvet Underground (Apple TV+) Beethoven x The AI Project (YouTube) Have We Already Been Visited By Aliens? (The New Yorker) Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth (Avi Loeb) We invite you to email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: ...
Nike, Walmart, and Costco Defying the Odds, plus Letters from Listeners
October 20, 2021 10:00 - 44 minutes - 40.4 MBYoungme, Felix and Mihir discuss how legacy retailers like Nike, Walmart and Costco have managed to defy the odds and outperform expectations, despite an onslaught of fresh competition. They also respond to more letters from listeners, including questions about President Biden’s $3.5 trillion spending plan and more. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: The Rescue (National Geographic documentary) Seinfeld (Netflix) Weeds (Netflix) The Best Tinned Fish We invite yo...
Rivian Electric Vehicles, Duolingo, Gingko Bioworks, Moderna, Unicorn Valuations, Facebook, and More
October 13, 2021 11:23 - 47 minutes - 43.8 MBYoungme, Felix, and Mihir discuss the red hot IPO market, highlighting a few of the companies reflecting a “sign of the times” including: Rivian Automotive, Duolingo, and life science companies like Gingko Bioworks and Moderna. They also answer a few letters from listeners, including questions about the soaring valuations of private company unicorns, the latest Facebook scandal, and more. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: · Private Company Unicorns (Crunchbase)...
The Global Housing Crisis, Amazon’s Newest Employee Benefit, Women Outpacing Men in College Enrollments, Carbon Capture Goes Online, and More
October 06, 2021 12:28 - 40 minutes - 36.8 MBHousing prices are on the rise in cities all around the world, and Youngme, Felix and Mihir discuss whether there’s an end in sight. Plus they discuss other headlines, including: Amazon’s decision to start paying for college tuition for its workers; women outpacing men in college enrollments; the first major carbon capture facility going online; and more. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: · Ministry for the Future (Kim Stanley Robinson) · Buddenbrooks (T...
Why Are Shelves Still Empty? Supply Chain Woes, plus Other Economic Takeaways from the Pandemic
September 29, 2021 10:00 - 40 minutes - 37 MBWhy are items still missing from grocery store shelves? Why are package deliveries being delayed? Youngme, Felix and Mihir unpack the global supply chain mess, while warning listeners to start their holiday shopping early! They also share their personal economic takeaways from the pandemic. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: · The White Lotus (HBO) · Flour Water Salt Yeast (by Ken Forkish) We invite you to email your comments and ideas for future episode...
Has Apple Peaked? Plus, Celebrities Changing Hollywood
September 22, 2021 10:00 - 41 minutes - 37.7 MBIt’s been 10 years since the death of Steve Jobs. Has Apple peaked after 10 years of Tim Cook’s leadership or is the best yet to come? Youngme, Felix and Mihir debate the prospects for Apple; they then discuss the celebrities changing the way Hollywood does business, including Reese Witherspoon, Rihanna, and more. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: · Google Lens (App) · PictureThis (Botanist in your pocket App) · Libby (Library App, by Overdrive) ...
China Cracks Down, Fox Launches a Weather Channel, Visa Buys an NFT, and More
September 15, 2021 12:51 - 41 minutes - 37.9 MBYoungme, Mihir and Felix talk about how to make sense of China’s crackdown on industries ranging from Big Tech to Videogaming. They also share thoughts on other stories in the news, including people behaving badly on planes, Fox launching a Weather Channel, Visa buying an NFT, and Boston Dynamics’ latest robot video. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: · Boston Dynamics Robots in Action · What Bobby McIlvane Left Behind (by Jennifer Senior in The Atlant...
We’re Back! Our Summer Round-Up
September 08, 2021 10:00 - 42 minutes - 39.4 MBYoungme, Mihir, and Felix discuss some of the biggest stories from the summer, including their thoughts on the Robinhood IPO, what’s going on in the current labor market, whether the Olympics matter anymore, Simone Biles, and more. Tina (HBO Max documentary on Tina Turner) Quartr (Investor Relations App) Tillamook Ice Cream Beautiful Trampoline Art (Yoann Bourgeois et Rachid Ouramdane) Trampoline Parks You can visit our website at HarvardAfterHours.com. You can email your comm...
Season 4 Finale: Stories We’re Watching This Summer and a Mega-Round of Recommendations
June 30, 2021 13:40 - 1 hour - 59.2 MBYoungme , Mihir , Felix , Rebecca , and Rawi share the stories they will be watching this summer, before doing a mega-round of recommendations for things to read, watch, listen, and do. Each week, the hosts give their recommendations for reading, watching, and more. Here are This Week’s Picks: After Hours T-Shirts (by Moon Girl Landing) @timotechanut (Tik Tok) Space Visualization Muscle Wiki Future Me Long Distance Footpaths in England, Wales, and Scotland Condiments and L...
United States–Russia Relations and YOLO!
June 23, 2021 13:50 - 32 minutes - 29.5 MBMihir , Rawi , and Felix debate whether or not the U.S. pays too much attention to Russia, a relatively small economy without important trade relations. They also try to make sense of YOLO (you only live once). Are we becoming too narcissistic? Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: “Dustland” (The Killers) “The Rise and Fall of Carlos Ghosn” (HBR IdeaCast) El Yucateco Black Label Reserve Chile Habanero (Hot sauce) Clarkson’s Farm (Amazon Prime Video) You can visit ou...
Naomi Osaka and the G7’s Global Minimum Tax
June 16, 2021 13:56 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBRawi and Mihir discuss Naomi Osaka’s departure from the French Open and the G7’s effort to cooperate on corporate taxation. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: “Loki“ International Spy Museum and Spyscape Dwight Garner’s Garner’s Quotations You can visit our website at HarvardAfterHours.com. You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: [email protected]. You can follow Youngme, Mihir, Rebecca, and Rawi on Twitter at: @YoungmeMoon, @Desai...
Old Habits and New Rituals (with Mike Norton)
June 09, 2021 13:47 - 31 minutes - 28.8 MBYoungme and Felix invite their friend and bestselling author, Harvard Business School professor Mike Norton , to discuss the old habits and new rituals we have formed over the past year, during the pandemic. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Pique (an app to spur curiosity) “Inside Baseball” (an episode from the podcast, The Uncertain Hour) [How to Change](https://www.amazon.com/How-Change-Science-Getting-Where-ebook/dp/B08KPFPSNS/ref=sr11?dchild=1&keywords=how+to+...
The Shopping Episode: Retail Trends We’re Watching
June 02, 2021 13:53 - 33 minutes - 31.3 MBYoungme , Mihir , and Felix share their shopping habits and the retail trends they’re keeping an eye on. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: S’more Recipe (Epicurious.com) Herb Gardens Shabaka Hutchings (jazz artist) You can visit our website at HarvardAfterHours.com. You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: [email protected]. You can follow Youngme, Mihir, Rebecca, and Rawi on Twitter at: @YoungmeMoon, @DesaiMihirA, @RebeccaReCap, a...
Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace (with Frances Frei)
May 26, 2021 13:55 - 40 minutes - 37 MBYoungme and Felix invite their friend and celebrated author, consultant, and Harvard Business School professor Frances Frei , to discuss the challenges of bringing true diversity and inclusion into the workplace. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Scribble (a virtual collaborative whiteboard) The Man Who Sold His Skin (movie) Rad Power Bikes (electric bikes) You can visit our website at HarvardAfterHours.com. You can email your comments and ideas for future episo...
Raising the Capital Gains Tax, and Creating Better Simpler Strategy
May 19, 2021 14:47 - 37 minutes - 34.9 MBYoungme , Mihir , and Felix debate whether it makes sense to raise the capital gains tax. They also discuss how companies can create better and more creative competitive strategies – the topic of Felix’s new book, [Better Simpler Strategy](https://www.amazon.com/Better-Simpler-Strategy-Value-Based-Exceptional/dp/B08Y639VC9/ref=sr13?dchild=1&keywords=better+simpler+strategy&qid=1621186962&sr=8-3). Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Better Simpler Strategy (Felix Oberho...
Earnings Roundup: Crocs, Danone, PayPal, and More
May 12, 2021 14:37 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBIs Danone an example of failed stakeholder capitalism? Why did Zynga acquire Chartboost? Rebecca , Rawi, and Felix discuss earnings and the recent performance of Crocs, Danone, PayPal, HelloFresh, BP, and Zynga. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Max Richter (composer) “Super Natural Simple” (by Heidi Swanson) Ponzu You can visit our website at HarvardAfterHours.com. You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: [email protected]. You c...
Biden’s Climate Change Plan and Europe’s Super League
May 05, 2021 14:01 - 30 minutes - 28.1 MBWill President Biden’s plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions by 50 percent in the next decade make a real difference? Rebecca , Rawi , and Felix discuss the parts of the plan that are most likely to be implemented and how U.S. climate change policy will influence global efforts to slow climate change. Plus, they debate why the idea for a European soccer Super League failed in spectacular fashion. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Premier League Josquin des Préz ...