After Hours

Revisit some of Felix and Mihir’s recommendations.

Revisit Felix and Mihir’s discussion about TikTok bans and why sports have become so valuable.

Mihir, Felix and NYU’s Dolly Chugh discuss the pressure on business leaders to conform to the demands of woke capitalism. Should you give in? Push back? What are the risks and rewards? Also: Feeling low lately? Chances are you are just getting older. We speculate why most people go through some sort of midlife crisis[...]

In case you missed it: In this episode, Felix, Sarah and Mihir discuss Chat GPT, if AI is truly transformational, the future of search, and how to digitally detox from all this AI talk. (Originally aired March 1, 2023).

What’s in store for 2024? Mihir and Felix are back with their celebrated predictions episode. Will OPEC implode? Are quant funds in trouble? What’s Argentina’s future? Can inflation in the U.S. really sink to 2%? Is plastic the new asbestos? Who will acquire Electronic Arts? Is AIML a verb? Listen in as the hosts (foolishly) predict what the new[...]

Felix and Mihir reflect on the most important stories of 2023 including the remarkable rise of AI, the revolution in life sciences, the rising power of employees, the trial of SBF, how product market strategies are reflecting shifting financial logics, the reasons for increased warfare, the disjunction between financial markets and the real economy, the[...]

Felix and Mihir discuss how JPMorgan has managed to succeed where others fail and how late bloomers manage to succeed after sometimes failing. 

Felix and Mihir discuss the meaning and impact of the increasing concentration of stock market performance via the “Magnificent 7” and the source and resolution of conflicts on campuses. 

Felix and Mihir discuss how Sam Altman was fired and reinstated over the course of just a few days. Was the board right to dismiss Altman? Does the turmoil change how we think about hybrid organizations that combine nonprofit and for-profit motives? What does the episode teach us about the future of AI? Plus, we[...]

Will Africa fulfill its remarkable promise in the next several decades?  Is a land tax the best kind of tax?  Would it solve our housing crisis?  All that and more on this episode of After Hours. 

Felix and Mihir discuss how copyright applies to AI-generated works. Are AI companies guilty of mass infringement? Could users be sued if they use AI to generate texts and images? Wouldn’t it be right to compensate authors for their contributions to AI models? Plus, a decade in, what has the corporate purpose movement accomplished? We[...]

Felix, Sarah and Mihir consider whether real estate brokers add value, how the world of brokers will be transformed by a recent lawsuit and consider whether investors should be buying music as an asset class.

In this episode, Mihir and Felix discuss consumer finances, which are remarkably healthy. The average U.S. household now has a net worth of more than a million dollars. But if things are this good, why are we so angry? Why lament the state of the economy? Plus, we talk about Tesla and the market for[...]

Felix and Mihir are back, and it’s time to unpack bond market bedlam!

Felix and Mihir discuss the meaning and impact of the increasing concentration of stock market performance via the “Magnificent 7” and the source and resolution of conflicts on campuses. 

This is it, dear friends of the After Hours podcast. We end our sixth season with a long list of recommendations: shows to watch, books to read, foods to savor, places to visit... Thank for spending your time with us. We will be back after our summer break, sometime in September. Have a wonderful summer everyone!

Felix and Mihir are joined by friends to discuss their stories to watch this summer, including the bust up of Sequoia, pricing, Gen AI, sports stories, the FTC and PBMs, Amazon in healthcare, and the future of theatres, travel, unions, brand activism, energy tax credits, interest rates and the war in Ukraine.   

Felix and Mihir are joined by Christina Wallace to discuss the meaning of a portfolio life and why U.S. workers are happier than ever but less productive. 

Taking a week off!

Felix, Mihir and their colleague Kristin Mugford debate the merits of using bankruptcy to shield companies from consumer lawsuits. Should we allow companies to bundle lawsuits, place them in a designated subsidiary with few assets and let that subsidiary go bankrupt? Might this actually be better for consumers who claim to have been hurt by[...]

Felix, Mihir and Jill Avery consider the merits of personal branding and how to think about the value of a brand. Why do people want to consider their personal brand?  And, why do we still struggle to understand the value of brands given all the data we swim in? 

In this week’s episode, Felix, Mihir and Bloomberg’s Sarah Green Carmichael discuss the writers’ strike in Hollywood. Why do we suddenly see a strike during “the golden era of television” and amidst intensifying streaming wars? What are the thorniest issues? How do they speak to challenges for knowledge workers more generally? Plus, why you should[...]

Felix, Mihir and Charlotte Howard discuss the recent earnings season with a spotlight on ExxonMobil, Chevron, Autozone, Apple, UPS, Microsoft and PDD – and what it all means for the economy.

Felix, Mihir and their colleague Kathleen McGinn discuss the role of gratitude at work and at home. Gratitude can be incredibly effective, so why don’t we thank others more often? What goes wrong when a thank you seems shallow and inauthentic? Can gratitude even be an impediment to change? Plus, we debate early retirement. Clearly,[...]

Felix and Mihir discuss the state of Netflix and streaming, the co-CEO model, and Incredible India.

In this episode, Felix and Mihir debate with their colleague Deborah Spar, Senior Associate Dean for Business and Global Society at Harvard Business School, the role of government in regulating AI. How do we make sure we get the best out this groundbreaking technology? Should we keep government out of the way, at least for[...]

Felix and Mihir discuss the durability of a book retailer's turnaround, the future of commercial real estate and whether all the doomsaying is correct.

Felix is joined by Bloomberg’s Sarah Green Carmichael and Harvard Business Review editor Amy Bernstein to discuss the particular challenges that women face when they first assume managerial roles. Why is it that women do not experience the increase in personal satisfaction that is typical for men? What can companies do to better support first-time[...]

Felix, Mihir and Christina Wallace consider the SVB business model, what its loss means for entrepreneurial finance and what they make of new models of philanthropy. 

In this episode, Felix, Mihir and Semafor’s Liz Hoffman debate the backlash against woke CEOs. Did America’s corporate leaders go too far when they embraced broad social and political goals? Does corporate activism ultimately undermine political action? What’s the cost of cutting business ties with corporations that are deemed too woke? Plus, we ask Liz Hoffman[...]

Mihir and Felix think about the current crisis in banking. Why did Silicon Valley Bank fail? Is the demise of Credit Suisse a result of the contagion in the United States? And what’s the future of banking? Will the big banks get even bigger? Even more prone to fail? Would we be better off if[...]

Felix, Mihir and Charlotte Howard of The Economist consider why retailers are buying primary care providers and if wage compression will last and what it means for the economy.

Felix, Mihir and The Economist’s Charlotte Howard debate the merits of a new class of weight-loss drugs that drastically lower a person’s weight. Is this incredible scientific advance the solution to the obesity epidemic that is sweeping the planet? Should health insurance companies cover the pricey drugs? Will obesity become even more prevalent now that[...]

Felix, Sarah and Mihir discuss Chat GPT, if AI is truly transformational, the future of search, and how to digitally detox from all this AI talk. 

Mihir and Felix are joined by Rawi to talk about the far-reaching consequences of the current turmoil in energy markets. Is Qatar the next Saudi Arabia? Are the oil majors actually saying goodbye to renewables? Are we seeing the de-industrialization of Europe? Plus, we debate the consequences of shrinking populations. Will it blow up social[...]

Felix and Mihir debate the latest phase of meme-stock craziness and the wisdom of retirement planning without annuities.

In our first-ever After Hours sports episode, we ask why sports teams have become so valuable (is it really just the vanity of billionaire owners), debate the merits of paying amateur athletes, and explore why tennis pros receive such a small fraction of the sport’s overall revenue. Can hedge fund icon Bill Ackman save tennis?[...]

In this episode, Felix, Mihir and Sarah consider the merits of the most recent antitrust actions against Google, the ethics of unpaid labor, and the end of Noma.

Felix, Mihir and Frances Frei discuss why many workplace issues seem so vexing—and how to fix them. We also talk about Jacinda Ardern’s resignation as New Zealand’s prime minister. Is she leaving too early? How do you best choose your exit?

Felix and Mihir celebrate Lunar New Year by talking about BYD, Electric Vehicles, and capital allocation in China.

Sarah Green Carmichael and Felix discuss the ban of TikTok by India and the U.S. Federal Government. Do these bans keep us safe? How nervous should we be on social media apps? Is the U.S. next to build a Chinese-style walled garden that keeps out unwanted companies and governments? Also, we review Southwest’s operational  collapse[...]

Curious about 2023? Youngme, Mihir and Felix are back with their celebrated predictions episode. Who will acquire Spotify? Will Twitter implode? What’s the trend in inflation and energy prices? Who will top the music charts? Space travel for all? Listen in as the hosts outguess each other what the new year will bring.

In this episode, Youngme, Mihir and Felix share what they loved about 2022. Listen in to get their take on the end of magical thinking, quiet CEOs, the latest in sneaker fashion, and the collapse of FTX. Plus, we have an After Hours poem for you. (And no, we did not write it ourselves. Thank[...]

Felix and Mihir are joined by The Economist’s Charlotte Howard and they discuss the geopolitical battle over semiconductors and the surprising victories in battling poverty.

Mihir, Felix and Bloomberg’s Sarah Green Carmichael talk about financial regrets. Why are they so widespread? Do people really make grave financial mistakes? Do they lack the information required to make smart choices? Plus, we debate the return of Disney’s Bob Iger. Will he shine once more?

We debate the choice of Qatar as the host of FIFA’s World Cup. Was it a mistake to hold the tournament in a country that criminalizes homosexuality? Was this exactly the right thing to do? Who is to judge? Mihir, Felix and their colleague Tsedal Neeley struggle with the question when to say no to[...]

In celebration of Thanksgiving, Felix and Mihir are joined by Youngme to talk about all things food! Join them as they talk about everything from the future of Kellogg’s to the explosion in Korean food around the globe. They also riff on the evolution of restaurant plating, the proliferation of QR menus, the best depictions[...]

Mihir, Felix and Charlotte Howard discuss how companies will respond to political gridlock in the United States. Is it good for business? Will it really lift markets as many observers expect? Also: We speculate how the tech layoffs will influence the job market and the long-term prospects of tech talent.

In this episode, Felix and Mihir are joined by Katy Milkman to discuss workplace surveillance and the value of a fresh start.

Mihir, Felix and NYU’s Dolly Chugh discuss the pressure on business leaders to conform to the demands of woke capitalism. Should you give in? Push back? What are the risks and rewards? Also: Feeling low lately? Chances are you are just getting older. We speculate why most people go through some sort of midlife crisis[...]

Felix and Mihir consider the future of Goldman Sachs and the limits of technology in human interactions.

Rawi 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?

On this week's episode, Felix, Sarah, and Mihir discuss the future of Twitter under Musk and bond market craziness.

Mark 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[...]

Have 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,[...]

Felix, 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,[...]

Youngme 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!

In 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[...]

Felix, Mihir and Sarah discuss how to fix commuting and the legacy of Sheryl Sandberg. 

In 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.

In 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

Felix 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[...]

In 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.

In 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.

Should you bet on a four-day work week? Felix, Mihir, and Sarah discuss the sports betting industry and the future of the work week.

Felix, 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?

Felix, 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.

Felix, 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?

In 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?

Felix, 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.

In 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. 

Sarah, 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?

What 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.

What 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

Felix 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[...]

Youngme, 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)

Youngme, 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[...]

Felix 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

Youngme, 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[...]

Youngme, 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[...]

Youngme, 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) 

Youngme, 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)

Youngme, 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

Youngme, 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[...]

Youngme, 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[...]

Youngme, 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[...]

Housing 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;[...]

Why 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) ·      [...]

It’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,[...]

Youngme, 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,[...]

Youngme, 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[...]

Youngme , 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[...]

Mihir , 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[...]

Rawi 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:  harvardafterhours@gmail.com.  You[...]

Youngme 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)[...]

Youngme , 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:  harvardafterhours@gmail.com.  You can follow[...]

Youngme 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[...]

Youngme , 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 Oberholzer-Gee) [Making Great Strategy](https://www.amazon.com/Making-Great-Strategy-Organizational-Advantage/dp/0231199481/ref=sr12?crid=1ZQLDE65RDK4F&dchild=1&keywords=making+great+strategy+arguing+for+organizational+advantage&qid=1621187182&sprefix=making+great+strategy%2Caudible%2C257&sr=8-2) (Jesper B. Sorensen and[...]

Is 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[...]

Will 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[...]

Youngme , Mihir , and Felix invite their friend and negotiations expert, Harvard Business School professor Deepak Malhotra , to discuss the art of negotiation, as well as his new science fiction novel, The Peacemaker’s Code. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: The Peacemaker’s Code (Deepak Malhotra) [The Spy and the Traitor](https://www.amazon.com/Spy-Traitor-Greatest-Espionage-Story-ebook/dp/B0782X9PFP/ref=sr11?dchild=1&keywords=the+spy+and+the+traitor&qid=1619273204&sr=8-1) (Ben Macintyre) Arrival (movie)[...]

Is the newsletter platform Substack the new media wunderkind or a flash in the pan? What can we learn from the failed effort to unionize Amazon workers in Alabama? Rebecca ,  Mihir , and  Felix  debate how Substack might change news consumption and competition for talented writers. Plus, they examine why the Retail, Wholesale, and Department[...]

Rawi , Rebecca , and Mihir discuss how and why CEOs are speaking out on politics and what China’s digital renminbi means for economics and politics. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Fela Kuti Line of Duty (Amazon Prime) [Will in the World](https://www.amazon.com/Will-World-Shakespeare-Became-Anniversary/dp/0393352609/ref=sr11?dchild=1&keywords=will+in+the+world&qid=1618336227&sr=8-1) (Stephen Greenblatt) You can visit our website at HarvardAfterHours.com. You can email your[...]

Youngme , Mihir , and Felix discuss the future of food delivery, ghost kitchens, virtual restaurant brands, and more. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Ice Cream Makers My Mister (Netflix) Nomadland (Jessica Bruder) You can visit our website at HarvardAfterHours.com. You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: harvardafterhours@gmail.com. You can follow[...]

Youngme , Mihir , and Felix discuss the wellness trends they love, hate, and aren’t quite sure about – from the fitness wars to touchless spas and more. Plus, they share their personal wellness habits and hacks. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Counterpart (Amazon Prime Video) The Bureau (Amazon Prime Video) Klara and the Sun[...]

Youngme , Mihir , and Felix discuss the hype surrounding NFTs (non-fungible tokens). They also dig into recent music industry trends and what they mean for the future of Spotify and other streaming players. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Counterpart (Amazon Prime Video) The Bureau (Amazon Prime Video) Klara and the Sun (Kazuo Ishiguro novel)[...]

Why did the Covid-19 recession affect women disproportionately and what can we do about it? Plus, what might Oprah’s recent interview with Harry and Meghan tell us about the future of the monarchy? Rebecca , Rawi , and Mihir discuss the impacts of the pandemic recession on women and why the Harry and Meghan interview[...]

Should businesses require their employees to get vaccinated before they can return to work? Rebecca , Mihir , Rawi , and Felix debate the pros and cons of mandatory vaccinations. They also discuss why the energy market in Texas failed during a recent winter storm and how best to encourage investments in infrastructure resilience. Recent[...]

Does the U.S. economy need more help right now, and is the latest stimulus package well designed for the moment? Plus, Brexit has fully arrived – what happens next? Felix , Rawi , and Mihir discuss the new $1.9 trillion stimulus package in the U.S. and the departure of the UK from the European Union.[...]

Youngme , Mihir , Felix , and Rawi discuss whether companies should allow employees to work from home permanently. They also debate whether it’s possible for small players to compete against the giant internet platforms. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Give Directly (charity) Minari (movie) Whereabouts: A novel (Jhumpa Lahiri)  You can visit our website[...]

Youngme , Mihir , and Felix discuss companies they’re keeping an eye on, including fintech lender Affirm, outdoor clothing brand Patagonia, social media app Clubhouse, and one that may surprise you. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Lupin (Netflix) Call My Agent (Netflix) Made Me Smile (subreddit) Oddly Satisfying (subreddit) Laderach Global Locations (chocolate)  You can visit our website at HarvardAfterHours.com. You[...]

What are Jeff Bezos’s most significant accomplishments at Amazon? What’s troubling about the business that he built? Rebecca , Rawi , and Felix look back at Jeff Bezos’s career. They also discuss the proposal to increase the federal minimum wage in the U.S. to $15. Would we really see more unemployment? Recent picks, and recommended[...]

Youngme , Mihir , and Rawi discuss Tesla as the competition gets heated in the electric vehicle market. They also discuss how to make sense of the bitcoin craze. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: KenKen founder documentary (New Yorker documentary) Spelling Bee (New York Times puzzle) Derek DelGaudio’s In & Of itself (Hulu) Apollonia Poilane[...]

Youngme , Mihir , and Rawi share their thoughts on how a group of individual investors went head-to-head with Wall Street hedge funds, pushing up GameStop’s stock price and raising questions for the entire financial industry. Visit our website at HarvardAfterHours.com. Email your comments and ideas for future episodes to:  harvardafterhours@gmail.com. Follow Youngme, Mihir, Rebecca,[...]

Is Google so successful because it excels at building incredibly smart products? Or is it dominant in many markets because it stifles innovation and abuses its market power, as several antitrust lawsuits allege? Rebecca, Mihir, and Felix discuss the merits of recent antitrust actions against the search giant. They also debate the promise of smart[...]

Were corporations right to stop political giving in a targeted way after the violence at the U.S. Capitol, and what is going on with SPACs? Felix , Rebecca , and Mihir discuss the role corporations should play in politics and debate the merits of special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) as an alternative to the broken[...]

Youngme , Felix , and Rawi discuss Twitter and Facebook banning Trump from their platforms, as well as Apple, Google, and Amazon banning the Parler app. They also discuss the alleged Russian hacking of U.S. government and military systems. You can visit our website at HarvardAfterHours.com. You can email your comments and ideas for future[...]

In this bonus episode, Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , Mihir Desai , and Rebecca Henderson share their thoughts and reflections on the violence at the U.S. Capitol. You can visit our website at HarvardAfterHours.com. You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: harvardafterhours@gmail.com. You can follow Youngme, Mihir, Rebecca, and Rawi on[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai invite their new co-hosts, Harvard Business School professors Rebecca Henderson and Rawi Abdelal , onto the show to share their predictions for 2021, covering everything from business to politics to fashion. You can visit our website at HarvardAfterHours.com. You can email your comments and ideas for[...]

In this first episode of Season 4, Youngme, Felix, and Mihir share their reflections on 2020 and discuss what they learned from the pandemic. They also offer their recommendations for what to watch, read, and do over the holiday break. To join the After Hours mailing list, click here: After Hours Sign-Up. You can visit[...]

In this final episode of the season, Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss the stories they’ll be watching this summer, including how businesses will re-open. They also offer an extended set of recommendations for watching, reading, and other projects during the summer months. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: White Lines (Netflix)[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai debate what they’ve learned from first quarter earnings reports from Apple, Facebook, and others. They also discuss warning signs for Uber and Lyft, and share their thoughts about the recession. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: “The Complete Robuchon” (Joel Robuchon) Chef Gabrielle Hamilton’s Story in the[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss how companies, industries, and consumers are revealing their true colors during the Covid-19 crisis. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: The Barnes Foundation Walker Art Museum The Palace Museum The Last Dance (ESPN) Dutch Baby (recipe) Listeners are invited to join our mailing list by signing[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai debate Apple and Google’s Covid-19 contact tracing plan. They also discuss the Federal Reserve, which has taken a series of unprecedented actions to prop up the economy. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Wallander (TV Show) Khan Academy Songlines (World Music site) Listeners are invited to join[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai debate how the world will be changed by coronavirus. Their predictions for the “new normal” span healthcare, education, the sharing economy, working from home, and more. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Andrea Bocelli Live Concert “Shadow” (Netflix) Only Connect (British Quiz Show) Listeners are invited to[...]

Felix Oberholzer-Gee welcomes a guest to the podcast, Harvard Business School professor Rebecca Henderson, who argues that capitalism needs to be reimagined in light of the urgency associated with climate change. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: “Reimagining Capitalism in a World on Fire” (by Rebecca Henderson) About Rebecca Henderson Listeners are invited to join our[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss companies that are standing out during the coronavirus crisis, including Zoom and World Central Kitchen (founded by Chef José Andrés‎). They also discuss breakout phenomena associated with the widespread shutdown. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Just Capital “The Korean Clusters” (Reuters) World Central Kitchen “Spillover”[...]

Listeners around the world write in to ask questions and share their experiences of Covid-19 with Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Li Ziqi: Watch Her Make Beer Bon Appetit YouTube Channel Netflix Party (Chrome Extension) To join our mailing list, click here: After Hours Sign-Up. Visit[...]

Felix Oberholzer-Gee and Mihir Desai discuss how and why countries have differed in their responses to Covid-19, with a particular emphasis on their public health and economic responses. They also debate whether or not the recent U.S. stimulus package, including the bailouts, is designed appropriately. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: The Institute for Health Metrics[...]

In this episode, Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss the housing crisis and what the coronavirus pandemic means for renters, in particular. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: The NerdWallet Refinance Calculator “The Death and Life of Great American Cities” (Jane Jacobs) To join our mailing list, click here: After Hours Sign-Up.[...]

In this bonus episode, Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss the latest coronavirus news, debate whether the airlines deserve a bailout, and share some of their personal reflections on the crisis. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Brian Eno STAT News To join our mailing list, click here: After Hours Sign-Up. Visit[...]

Youngme Moon and Mihir Desai discuss the latest economic fallout from the coronavirus crisis and share some of their personal reflections from the week. To join our mailing list, click here: After Hours Sign-Up. Visit our website at HarvardAfterHours.com. Email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: harvardafterhours@gmail.com. Follow Youngme and Mihir on Twitter[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss the impact of the coronavirus on the economy. How alarmed should people be about swings in the stock market? Should the Federal Reserve cut interest rates further? What should be the government’s fiscal policy response? Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Myth Busters: Busting Myths about[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss some of the healthcare companies they’re keeping an eye on, before sharing their favorite productivity hacks. (Listeners are invited to join our mailing list by signing up here: After Hours Survey.) Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Wolf Hall (Hilary Mantel) I Lost My Body (Animated[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai debate the future of movie theaters, as well as the controversial notion that companies should make everyone’s salary transparent to all employees. (Listeners are invited to join our mailing list by signing up here: After Hours Survey.) Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Gramophone Classical Music Reviews[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai debate the fate of DTC brands like Casper mattresses and whether independent contractors should be classified as employees under California’s new AB5 law. (Listeners are invited to fill out the After Hours Survey.) Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: The Points Guy Exhalation: Stories (Ted Chiang) Visit[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss the impact of the coronavirus; the advertising hype surrounding the rollout of 5G; earnings reports from Tesla and the big banks; and what Google’s earnings tell us about YouTube. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Wonderstruck (BBC America) Be My Eyes (app) 97,196 Words: Essays (Emmanuel[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai celebrate Academy Awards week by discussing two of their favorite nominations: the film “Parasite” and the documentary “American Factory.” Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: Shoplifters (movie) Disney Shorts (Disney Plus) 63 Up (documentary) Visit our website at HarvardAfterHours.com. Email your comments and ideas for future episodes[...]

Harvard Business School professor Clayton Christensen died January 23, 2020. Christensen, one of the world’s leading business thinkers, is remembered in this conversation with Harvard Business School Dean Nitin Nohria. You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: harvardafterhours@gmail.com. You can follow Youngme and Mihir on Twitter at: @YoungmeMoon and @DesaiMihirA.

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai mark “Dry January” by discussing trends in the alcohol industry. Then they discuss the decision by Trump and Bloomberg to purchase Super Bowl ads for their campaigns. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: HarvardAfterHours.com (website) Google’s Transparency Report and Facebook’s Ad Library Report ProRepublica’s Head to Head[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai debate whether former Nissan executive Carlos Ghosn was justified in fleeing Japan, before discussing the British Royal Family drama and what’s next for Harry and Meghan. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: HarvardAfterHours.com (website) Honeyland (documentary) Little Women (movie) Federica Fragapane (information illustrator) You can email your[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai review last year’s predictions for business, technology, politics, and culture. Then they debate their new predictions for 2020. Some Recent Picks: HarvardAfterHours.com (website) Jane The Virgin (Netflix) ROW-cub (Radio Atlas) You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: harvardafterhours@gmail.com. You can follow Youngme[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai hand out their “awards” for 2019, including best/worst trend of the year, their sleeper award, comeback of the year, most under-reported story of the year, most over-hyped story of the year, and person of the year. Some Recent Picks: HarvardAfterHours.com (website) The Man in the High[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss the good and bad of modern airports. They also discuss the end of an era at Google/Alphabet, with the co-founders now stepping away from their operating roles. Some Recent Picks: Sous Vide Cooking “The Jungle Prince of Delhi” (New York Times article) The Overstory (book[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss some of the under-the-radar companies that they think people should be paying more attention to. Some Recent Picks: Dolly Parton’s America (podcast) Ole & Steen Sugarfish (restaurant) KitchenAid Stand Mixer Radio Garden (app and website) You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes[...]

In this special Thanksgiving edition taped a few days before the holiday, Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss all things food, including food halls, the plastic problem, vertical farming, CBD menu sightings, culinary tourism, and fast whiskey. Some Recent Picks: Sugarfish (restaurant) KitchenAid Stand Mixer Radio Garden (app and website) Flighty[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss several topics from a busy news week, including the launch of Disney+ (what does it mean for Netflix?), the growing public animosity towards billionaires, and proposals to move to a 4-day work week. Some Recent Picks: Flighty (app) Downbeat (magazine) Jokes Seth Can’t Tell (YouTube)[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss the biggest money mistakes people make when managing their personal finances. They also discuss the rise of the social media “micro-influencer.” Some Recent Picks: NPR Marketplace (podcast) Catalyst cases The Economist Audio Edition “Agent Running in the Field” (by John Le Carre) Big Little Lies,[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss Google’s announcement that it’s buying Fitbit and what this tells us about the future of wearable computing. Later in the show, they discuss how Twitter and Facebook are handling political advertising. Some Recent Picks: “Agent Running in the Field” (by John Le Carre) Big Little[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss a variety of trends from the world of entertainment — including TikTok, the resurgence of museums, the audio explosion, newspaper paywalls, spiked seltzer, entertainment genres, and binge-watching vs. appointment-viewing. Some Recent Picks: “The Meritocracy Trap” (by Daniel Markovits) Conan O’Brien talks to Stephen Colbert (podcast, starting from[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai try to make sense of the firestorm sparked by the NBA’s clash with China. They also debate the merits of a wealth tax of the kind proposed by Elizabeth Warren and Bernie Sanders. Some Recent Picks: Conan O’Brien talks to Stephen Colbert (podcast, starting from 26:00) Parasite (movie)[...]

Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss the problem of household financial stress. They also debate whether current criticisms of Amazon are justified. Suggested Reading “Is Amazon Unstoppable?” (Charles Duhigg, The New Yorker) “Jeff Bezos’s Master Plan” (Franklin Foer, The Atlantic) Some recent picks: “In Hoffa’s Shadow” (by Jack Goldsmith) “Dopesick” (by[...]

Does Space represent a real economic opportunity or are expensive endeavors like SpaceX a form of billionaire hubris? Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai discuss the Race for Space, before debating the viability of the electric scooter market in cities around the world. Some recent picks: 1619: The Birth of American Music[...]

After Hours is back for Season 3! Youngme Moon , Felix Oberholzer-Gee , and Mihir Desai debate which of the Big Tech companies (Apple, Facebook, Amazon, or Google) had the best/worst summer, before digging into the WeWork saga. Some recent picks: American Factory (Netflix) Darren Brown: Secret (Broadway) Succession (HBO) You can email your comments[...]

It’s a wrap for Season 2, as Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai head off on a summer hiatus. Note to listeners: After Hours will return for Season 3 in the fall. You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: harvardafterhours@gmail.com. You can follow Youngme and Mihir on Twitter at: @YoungmeMoon[...]

Wrapping up Season 2, Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai count down the top stories they’ll be keeping an eye on over the summer. A note for listeners: After a summer hiatus, After Hours will return for Season 3 in the fall. Some recent picks: Masters of Scale Live Show (podcast) DuckDuckGo (search engine) National Bureau[...]

Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai answer questions from listeners and end up discussing everything from the U.S.-China trade dispute to Disney, CVS Health, short-termism, and how to express an opinion persuasively. Some recent picks: National Bureau of Economic Research Ingredients: A Visual Exploration of 75 Additives and 25 Food Products (Dwight Eschliman) Bel Canto (Ann[...]

Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai debate whether the FDA should crack down on teen vaping. They then discuss whether the promise of precision medicine is real or hype. Some recent picks: Ingredients: A Visual Exploration of 75 Additives and 25 Food Products (Dwight Eschliman) Bel Canto (Ann Patchett) Chernobyl (HBO) Fleabag (Amazon Prime Video) “The Best Green[...]

Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai debate the pros and cons associated with the increased use of facial recognition technology and whether San Francisco’s ban on such technology makes sense. They then discuss whether Rihanna represents the future of the world’s largest luxury conglomerate, LVMH. Some recent picks: Chernobyl (HBO) Fleabag (Amazon Prime Video) “The Best[...]

Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai discuss whether pharmaceutical players like the Sackler family members should be held accountable for the current opioid crisis. They then debate the growing reliance on artificial intelligence bots by human resource departments in the job screening process. Some recent picks: Dark (Netflix series) Mind Fixers (Anne Harrington) Trello (organization app) “The[...]

Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai talk about the Beyond Meat IPO and whether plant-based meat alternatives like Beyond Burger and Impossible Burger will become mass-market products. They then discuss Facebook’s announcement that it is pivoting to put greater emphasis on user privacy. For interested listeners: “How much does animal agriculture and eating meat[...]

Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai offer short takes on six different topics, including: Uber’s S-1, Apple and Qualcomm settling their lawsuit, Pinterest’s prospects as a public company, Brexit, and the best TV shows about business. Some recent picks: Sec.gov (to download S-1s) Billy Eilish #MidtownUniform Eater.com Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss the upcoming launch of Disney’s new streaming service (Disney+), as well as the backlash sparked by billionaires pledging money to repair Notre Dame Cathedral. They then do a bonus segment about Mihir’s new book, How Finance Works. Some recent picks: Eater.com Cribsheet: A Data-Driven Guide to Better, More Relaxed Parenting[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir debate the effectiveness of the European Union’s attempts to regulate Big Tech. They then discuss the reasons underlying the soaring price of college in the U.S. Some recent picks: Pitchfork (Music Recommendations) Homecoming King (Hasan Minhaj on Netflix) Delhi Crime (Netflix) Business Insider Briefings (subscription required) How to enjoy Game of[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss whether we have officially reached “peak car” — meaning can we now expect a steady decline in private car ownership? They then debate whether Joe Biden’s physical displays of affection are appropriate. Some recent picks: Delhi Crime (Netflix) Business Insider Briefings (subscription required) How to enjoy Game of Thrones season[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir share their reactions to Apple’s big event announcing the launch of its new TV+ service. They then discuss whether corporate debt levels are reaching crisis potential. Some recent picks: Station Eleven: A Novel (Emily St. John Mandel) How Finance Works (Mihir Desai) Netflix Subgenre Codes Bang Bar (New restaurant by David[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir debate Peloton, the high-flying exercise startup. They then discuss why partisan political prejudice is worse in some parts of the country than others. For interested listeners: US Countries and Partisan Prejudice (The Atlantic) Some recent picks: Games Magazine Museum of Failure Episode: “Aliy” from Losers (Netflix Series) Ash is Purest White[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss the food delivery war between DoorDash, Uber Eats, Grubhub, and others. Then they evaluate Boeing’s crisis management performance in the wake of two recent air disasters. Some recent picks: Reputation Rules (Daniel Diermeier) Aloft: Thoughts on the Experience of Flight (William Langewiesche) Stratechery (Ben Thompson, subscription required) Ash is Purest[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir debate how well Airbnb is managing growth amid backlash from cities like New York City. They also discuss Kraft Heinz’s controversial zero-based budgeting approach to management. Some recent picks: Ash is Purest White (Movie) Dynasties (Nature Series) After Life (Netflix) Shoplifters (Movie) Motif (Photobooks) Hopper (App) Free Solo (National Geographic Documentary)[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss why so many high-profile companies (Uber, Lyft, Pinterest, Airbnb, Slack, Postmates, Casper, Peloton, etc.) are planning to go public this year. They also debate whether it’s acceptable for bosses to throw temper tantrums at work. Some recent picks: Shoplifters (Movie) Motif (Photobooks) Hopper (App) Free Solo (National Geographic Documentary) Dreyer’s[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss how Walmart is trying to compete against Amazon and whether the strategy is working. They also debate the rise of socialism in U.S. millennials — is it a healthy phenomenon or a dangerous one? Some recent picks: Free Solo (National Geographic Documentary) Dreyer’s English: An Utterly Correct Guide to Clarity[...]

Youngme Moon, Felix Oberholzer-Gee, and Mihir Desai discuss whether WeWork’s success is sustainable. Plus, can the government really spend as much money as it wants without worrying about deficits? What in the world is Modern Monetary Theory and does it actually make sense? Some recent picks: BA Magic Videos (British Airways) General Social Survey Visualization[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir debate Medicare for All and ask whether the U.S. healthcare system is broken. They then offer quick takes on everything from Amazon’s latest HQ2 news, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s influence, Marie Kondo, the toy industry, Spotify’s aggressive push into podcasting, and more! Some recent picks: Goodbye Big Five: Life Without the Tech Giants[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir debate U.S. fears about Huawei and implications for U.S.-China relations. They also offer their interpretation of Facebook’s latest earnings results, before sharing their After Hours picks for the week. Some recent picks: Richard Brody’s Review of Roma (New Yorker) The Tangled Tree (David Quammen) Mary Oliver poetry Money Heist (Netflix) Patrick[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir debate two of the dramatic and controversial tax ideas being proposed by Democrats (a 70% marginal income tax rate and a 2% wealth tax), before discussing the trend among brands like Gillette, Nike, and Pepsi to launch “woke” advertising campaigns. They also offer their After Hours picks for the week. Some[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss why CEO departures are occurring so frequently, before unpacking the flaws in our 401(k) system. They also offer their After Hours picks for the week. Some recent picks: Salt Fat Acid Heat (Netflix) Turing Tumble (toy) You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: harvardafterhours@gmail.com. You can[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss Apple’s position in the Chinese market; debate whether payday lending is good or bad for workers; and ask whether companies should be doing more to help employees manage cash shortfalls. They also offer their After Hours picks for the week. You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes[...]

Taped a few days before heading off for the holidays, Youngme, Felix, and Mihir share their After Hours Predictions for 2019, covering everything from Big Tech, to food, to finance, to entertainment. Some recent picks: Hilma af Klint Exhibit (Guggenheim Museum) Prime Suspect (Amazon Prime Video – Britbox) Atavist Magazine Atlanta, Season 2 (Netflix) Bloomberg[...]

Taped a few days before heading off for the holidays, Youngme, Felix, and Mihir share their After Hours Awards for 2018, including their awards for Best/Worst Trend of the Year, Biggest Fail of the Year, Sleeper of the Year, Comeback of the Year, Work Cut Out for Them Next Year, Most Under-Reported Story of the[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss Verizon’s write-down on Oath (Yahoo, AOL) and the challenges with building a digital advertising business. They also debate the notion of Radical Transparency, before sharing their After Hours picks for the week. Some recent picks: Bloomberg article (“Wall Street Rule for the #MeToo Era: Avoid Women At All Cost“) and[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss staggering student debt levels, the FIRE (Financial Independence, Retire Early) Movement, and share their After Hours picks for the week. For interested listeners: The Basics of FIRE Mr. Money Moustache (FIRE blog) Some recent picks: Today, Explained Podcast, Nov. 30 Episode (Humans 2.0) Babylon Berlin (Netflix) “The Prison Inside Me”[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir debate whether Microsoft is trending up while Apple is trending down, before discussing the Marriott (Starwood) data breach. They also share their After Hours picks for the week. Some recent picks: Robert Stavins (follow on Twitter) FRED (Federal Reserve Economic Data) RBG (Documentary on Amazon Video) The Man in the High[...]

Youngme, Felix, and Mihir tackle climate change, discuss the Nissan-Renault soap opera, and share their After Hours picks for the week. For interested listeners: The National Climate Assessment Some recent picks: The Man in the High Castle (Amazon Video) The Ringer website Janesville (Amy Goldstein) Airtable (software) Small Fry (Lisa Brennan-Jobs) Educated (Tara Westover) Burn[...]

Youngme and Felix decide to “grade” The New York Times’ news coverage, before sharing their quick takes on other random things. They also share their After Hours picks for the week. For interested listeners: AG Sulzberger Interview with Kara Swisher (Recode Decode Podcast) You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: harvardafterhours@gmail.com. You[...]

Youngme, Mihir, and Felix discuss how much Uber is worth as it prepares to go public, before debating China’s controversial Social Credit system. They also share their After Hours picks for the week. You can email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: harvardafterhours@gmail.com.

Youngme, Mihir, and Felix debate whether Netflix’s success is sustainable, before trying to wrap their heads around the unthinkably high murder rate in Latin America. They also share their After Hours picks for the week. For interested listeners: Latin America is the Murder Capital of the World (Wall Street Journal) You can email Youngme, Mihir,[...]

Youngme and Mihir welcome their colleague Ryan Buell to discuss whether airlines deserve their reputation for terrible customer service. They also share other customer service pet peeves, as well as their personal “Customer Experience Picks.” For interested listeners: Ryan Buell in HBR: The Parts of Customer Service That Should Never Be Automated You can email[...]

Youngme, Mihir, and Felix discuss whether the “retailpocalypse” is real, try to figure out how companies are spending their Trump tax cuts, debate whether share buybacks are a good thing or a bad thing, and offer their picks for the week. For interested listeners: The future of retail? A report from Deloitte Mihir’s take on[...]

Youngme, Mihir, and Felix are back with Season 2 of After Hours! In this episode, they debate whether the federal minimum wage should be raised, offer their personal reflections on a year of the #MeToo movement, and share their picks for the week. For interested listeners: Early evidence on the $15 minimum wage, including the[...]

In this episode, Felix and Mihir explore the prospects for media outlets like Vice and Buzzfeed, discuss their thoughts on predictive policing, and offer their After Hours picks for the week.

In this episode, Mihir and Felix discuss trade, soccer, offer their After Hours picks.

In this light-hearted episode taped a couple of weeks ago, Youngme, Mihir and Felix discuss the #eatclean movement, their most/least favorite food trends, and offer their After Hours picks for the week.

In this LIVE! episode taped in front of an audience of Harvard Business School alumni, Mihir and Youngme discuss the #MeToo Movement and its impact on business.

In this episode, Youngme, Felix and Mihir debate whether the job of the presidency is too big even for the most competent of executives; discuss whether the vaping trend among teenagers should have us worried; and offer their After Hours picks for the week.

In this episode, Youngme, Mihir and Felix brainstorm out-of-the-box ideas for gun control; discuss whether cities like Boston should be trying to attract companies like Amazon despite the affordable housing crunch created; and offer their After Hours picks for the week.

In this special episode, Youngme asks three teenagers (including her own son) a set of 10 random questions that address everything from how they think about social media, to bullying in high schools, to how optimistic they are about the future.

In this episode, Youngme, Mihir and Felix discuss antitrust and whether we should be concerned about the size of the big tech companies; debate the propriety of corporate lobbying; and offer their After Hours Picks for the week.

In this episode, Mihir sits down with HBS economist Rafaella Sadun, who has dug deep into why and how management practices matter with award-winning large-sample empirical work. Rafaella discusses the problems and promise of family ownership, why Americans do IT better, the secrets of her productive partnership and how she came to economics, and her[...]

In this episode, Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss why voice assistants like Amazon Echo and Google Home are all the rage; debate how to punish Wells Fargo for criminal wrongdoing; and offer their After Hours picks for the week.

In this episode, Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss whether there’s a market for a Netflix for News; debate the future of newspapers like The New York Times; argue about which Big Tech company (Apple, Alphabet, Amazon, Facebook) is most and least vulnerable; and offer their After Hours picks for the week.

Youngme Moon interviews Eugene Soltes, who talks about "Why They Do It: Inside the Mind of the White Collar Criminal." Among other things, Eugene discusses his unique relationship with Bernie Madoff, the motivations behind white collar crime, how firms can prevent such crimes from occurring, and his most memorable conversations with criminals he has interviewed.[...]

In this episode, Youngme, Felix, and Mihir debate what it would take to close the gender wage gap; discuss whether retailers like Walmart and CVS entering the medical care space is good or bad for consumers; and share their After Hours picks for the week.

In this episode, Youngme, Felix, and Mihir give their quick takes on Mark Zuckerberg’s appearance before Congress; discuss the plight of the U.S. Post Office; and share their picks for the week.

In this episode, Youngme, Felix, and Mihir vent about trade deficits and potential tariffs against China; they also debate the future of Tesla. Plus, their After Hours picks for the week.

In this episode, Youngme talks to Professor Frances Frei, who was hired by Uber last year to help rebuild a broken culture. Frances describes how toxic the culture at Uber actually was and how she dealt with difficult work scenarios. She also talks about what should be done about “bad people doing bad things” and[...]

In this episode, Youngme talks to her friend and colleague, Professor Mike Norton, about how to spend money to create happiness. Mike's tips include spending money on experiences rather than on "stuff," "buying time," and investing in others. Youngme adds a few tips of her own.

In this episode, Youngme, Mihir, and Felix debate the idea of a Universal Basic Income; discuss Google and the Right to be Forgotten; and offer their After Hours picks for the week.

In this episode, Youngme, Mihir, and Felix try to make sense of online reviews, dish about their best/worst service experiences, and offer their thoughts on Spotify. Plus, their After Hours recommendations for the week.

In this pilot episode, Youngme, Mihir, and Felix discuss the NRA and whether the #NeverAgain movement has a chance; disagree about Facebook and the Russian influence campaign; and debate the idea of banning pornography. Plus, they offer their After Hours recommendations for the week and reveal what movies they’re rooting for (and against) at this[...]

Listen in as Harvard Business School faculty discuss hot topics at the intersection of business and society. (Trailer)