TBPN
Podcast

TBPN

by John Coogan & Jordi Hays

526 episodes

Technology's daily show (formerly the Technology Brothers Podcast). Streaming live on X and YouTube from 11 - 2 PM PST Monday - Friday. Available on X, Apple, Spotify, and YouTube.
Ask about TBPNAnswers are grounded in this source's posts from the last 30 days.

Recent Posts

526 posts
Where Brad Gerstner Is Investing Billions

Despite its massive price run-up, NVIDIA (NVDA) remains a high-conviction buy as it trades at its cheapest earnings multiple in a decade; watch for an increase in capital returns to 75% as a signal for value investors to enter. In the semiconductor space, look for value in memory providers like Micron (MU) and SK Hynix, which currently trade at single-digit multiples despite explosive demand for AI hardware. Avoid traditional SaaS companies that compete with AI, and instead pivot to "enablers" like Snowflake (SNOW) and Databricks where increased AI usage directly drives higher database consumption. Monitor Anthropic for news of positive free cash flow as early as Q2, as this will serve as a critical validation for the profitability of the entire AI sector. For long-term infrastructure exposure, view SpaceX as an emerging utility and compute provider through Starlink, positioning it as a potential "Elon Web Services" for the AI era.

Blue Origin Explosion, Enterprise AI Hits Spending Limits, Dinosaur Market Booms | John Gruber, Ronak Malde, Zane Mountcastle, Jamie Cuffe, Kyle Kuzma, Brad Gerstner

NVIDIA (NVDA) remains a high-conviction buy as it trades at a historically low valuation of 13x earnings relative to its 70% growth, with potential for increased buybacks to attract value investors. Investors should prioritize "enabler" software stocks like Snowflake (SNOW) and Databricks that benefit directly from increased AI token flow and data processing. Avoid legacy SaaS providers like Salesforce (CRM), which face significant disruption risks as autonomous AI agents begin to replace traditional front-facing software tasks. Monitor SpaceX for a potential $2 trillion IPO, as the company pivots toward a "full-stack" model integrating space-based AI compute and robotics. For those seeking alternative assets, the high-end collectibles market is heating up, highlighted by the upcoming Sotheby’s auction of a T-Rex estimated at $20M–$30M.

Reactions: Ferrari’s First EV, The Enhanced Games | Diet TBPN

Investors should consider Arm Holdings (ARM) as it transitions from licensing to physical chip production, targeting $15 billion in revenue by 2031 through AI infrastructure partnerships with Meta and OpenAI. However, exercise caution with ARM at its current valuation of 90x forward earnings, as the shift to hardware will likely compress gross margins from 97% to 50%. Monitor Meta Platforms (META) and Alphabet (GOOGL) closely, as a recent "defective product" legal ruling against their app designs threatens the ad-revenue models of infinite scroll and algorithmic feeds. To hedge against potential U.S. data center construction bans, look toward companies specializing in power efficiency and energy solutions that bypass the traditional electrical grid. Finally, NVIDIA (NVDA) remains a core play in this ecosystem, as its Grace CPU strengthens the broader shift away from Intel and AMD toward Arm-based architectures.

The Lean Startup Author on What Ruins Good Companies

Investors should prioritize Costco (COST) as a core holding, as its "mission-controlled" model of prioritizing low margins and customer loyalty has built a $400 billion market cap that resists short-term market volatility. Look for companies structured as Public Benefit Corporations (PBCs) or those utilizing the Long-Term Stock Exchange (LTSE), as these frameworks provide legal protection to prioritize long-term value over destructive quarterly earnings pressure. Avoid companies owned by Private Equity firms that focus on aggressive cost-cutting, as removing brand-essential amenities often leads to a hidden 5% loss in total equity value over time. Monitor the AI sector for firms like Anthropic that use independent trusts to safeguard their mission, ensuring they remain stable during rapid technological shifts. For high-growth potential, seek out "lean" startups leveraging AI agents and SaaS to achieve massive scale with minimal headcount, potentially reaching billion-dollar valuations with unprecedented efficiency.

Ferrari EV, Enhanced Games, Alcohol & Podcasting | Christopher Hale, Sean Henry, Eric Ries, Alex Atallah

Investors should exercise caution with Ferrari (RACE) following the launch of the Luce EV, as its $640,000 price point and inferior specs compared to Tesla (TSLA) suggest significant short-term depreciation and brand dilution risks. Tesla (TSLA) remains the high-conviction benchmark for performance and software integration, maintaining a dominant moat over luxury incumbents struggling with the transition to electric powertrains. In the private markets, Stored represents a high-growth opportunity in e-commerce infrastructure, recently securing a $3 billion valuation to scale its AI-driven "physical intelligence" and fulfillment network. For those tracking the AI sector, OpenRouter highlights a shift toward "inference orchestration," suggesting that the most sustainable value lies in platforms that route queries across multiple models rather than betting on a single AI winner. Finally, look for long-term outperformance in companies structured as Public Benefit Corporations (PBCs) or those with high employee ownership, as these governance models are increasingly outperforming traditional shareholder-first structures.

IPO Giga Boom, World’s Fairs of the Past | Diet TBPN

Investors should prioritize Micron Technology (MU) as a core AI infrastructure play, as the shift toward "AI Agents" creates a structural DRAM shortage and benefits their advanced U.S.-based manufacturing. Prepare for a massive market shift next month with the potential SpaceX IPO, which is expected to debut at a valuation exceeding $1 trillion and trigger billions in automatic passive fund inflows. Monitor the upcoming IPO filings for OpenAI and Anthropic, as their entry into major indices may force fund managers to sell off existing tech rivals to rebalance portfolios. Watch for a "Giga-Boom" in space-based AI infrastructure, highlighted by Anthropic’s $1.25 billion monthly commitment to use SpaceX data centers for model training. In the EV and battery sector, BYD (BYDDY) and CATL are aggressively expanding into global branding and AI hardware, signaling a high-conviction resurgence in Chinese tech competition against Tesla.

Starship Launch, World's Fair Retrospective, Sacks Spikes AI EO | Dan Shipper, James Rogers

Investors should maintain a bullish outlook on Micron Technology (MU) as the "agent boom" in AI creates a critical industry-wide memory shortage for high-end DRAM. Prepare for a historic "Wall Street trading frenzy" with the upcoming SpaceX IPO, which is expected to carry a $1 trillion valuation and trigger massive passive index buying. Monitor the imminent IPO filings of OpenAI and Anthropic; these listings represent a massive shift of frontier tech into public markets that will force significant capital reallocation. Focus on "infrastructure plays" like SpaceX, which is evolving into a data center and telecom giant through Starlink to support massive AI model training. For long-term software plays, prioritize "Codex-native" applications and established SaaS brands that can successfully integrate agentic AI while managing high token costs.

SpaceX S-1, Anthropic Revenue Booms, OpenAI Cracks Erdős Problem | Diet TBPN

Monitor the upcoming SpaceX IPO filing expected as early as June or July, as the company pivots into a $26.5 trillion AI infrastructure play through its "NeoCloud" services. NVIDIA (NVDA) remains the primary "arms dealer" for this growth, supported by a massive $80 billion share buyback and heavy infrastructure spending from private giants like Anthropic. In the quantum computing sector, watch Rigetti Computing (RGTI) and IBM following a $2 billion government grant initiative that signals a new era of state-backed tech investment. For long-term gaming exposure, Microsoft (MSFT) is a high-conviction play as they overhaul the Xbox ecosystem to lead the future of platform distribution. Investors seeking to capitalize on AI reasoning breakthroughs should track the potential public debuts of OpenAI and Anthropic, both of which are seeing triple-digit valuation growth and a path toward profitability.

SpaceX IPO, The Erdős Problem, Spotify CEO Joins | Alex Tabarrok, Bill Clerico, Alex Norström, Jordan Schneider, Christina Lee Storm, Erik Bernhardsson

Investors should prepare for the SpaceX IPO rumored for June 12, 2026, which positions the company as a massive AI infrastructure and "Space Data Center" play with a target valuation up to $1.9 trillion. NVIDIA (NVDA) remains a high-conviction core holding following a massive $80 billion share buyback announcement, signaling management's belief in continued dominance as GPU supply remains tight for the next two years. Spotify (SPOT) is a strong growth pick as it expands margins through a landmark AI remix deal with Universal Music Group and new high-margin "Reserve Ticket" features for fans. In the public markets, Rigetti Computing (RGTI) and IBM are set to benefit from a $2 billion federal grant program for Quantum Computing, providing significant government-backed validation. For those tracking the AI sector, Anthropic's recent pivot to profitability confirms the long-term viability of the LLM business model, suggesting high enterprise "stickiness" and value.

Google I/O: Day 1 Reactions, Goldman to Lead SpaceX IPO | Diet TBPN

Consider buying the recent dip in Warby Parker (WRBY) following its partnership with Google, as analysts view the company as a prime acquisition target for tech giants seeking eyewear distribution. Investors should monitor SpaceX closely as a potential IPO or major liquidity event looms for May 20th, signaling a historic milestone for the space and satellite internet sectors. NVIDIA (NVDA) remains a high-conviction play on AI infrastructure, with leadership shifting focus toward "Agentic AI" to sustain its massive revenue growth. While Alphabet (GOOGL) faces criticism for product complexity, its proprietary data from YouTube and Street View provides a unique "moat" for long-term AI development. Avoid speculative "pivots" like Allbirds (BIRD), which has transitioned from footwear to high-risk AI infrastructure, and instead focus on the "Face Computer" race between Meta, Google, and Apple.

Google I/O Reactions, Large IPOs Incoming, Figma's AI Assistant | Dylan Field, Brian Chesky, Feross Aboukhadijeh, Tae Kim, Immad Akhund, Marcus Milione

NVIDIA (NVDA) remains a high-conviction play as it trades at a relatively low 19x forward earnings despite 85% revenue growth, with potential stock buybacks serving as a near-term catalyst. Investors should look toward the Memory & Semiconductor Sector, specifically SK Hynix, to capture the massive valuation gap in High Bandwidth Memory (HBM) which currently trades at single-digit P/E multiples. Google (GOOGL) offers a strategic entry point through its deep Workspace integration and upcoming smart glasses launch this fall, positioning it as a leader in "Agentic" productivity. The recent 14% dip in Warby Parker (WRBY) presents a potential buying opportunity, as its partnership with Google makes it a prime acquisition target for "face real estate" in the AI hardware race. Monitor the imminent SpaceX IPO prospectus, as a rumored $1.5T - $1.75T valuation could shift significant liquidity away from existing mega-cap tech stocks.

Google I/O, Fertility Decline, Spotify Logo Drama | Diet TBPN

Investors should maintain a bullish outlook on Alphabet (GOOGL) as it successfully pivots to a "full-stack AI" narrative, with Google Cloud currently outperforming both AWS and Azure in growth. Look to accumulate shares ahead of next month’s release of Gemini 1.5 Pro, as the market continues to reprice the stock as a primary winner in the AI race. The emergence of "Agentic Commerce" and the Gemini Flash model provide a clear path for Alphabet to monetize AI beyond traditional search advertising. Beyond software, keep a multi-year watch on AI Wearables and smart glasses, which are expected to eventually replace smartphones as the primary interface for ambient AI. Finally, the shift in media consumption favors long-form digital audio, suggesting continued strength for platforms like Spotify (SPOT) that dominate the podcasting and advertising ecosystem.

Google I/O Reactions, Birth Rate Debates, Spotify's New Icon | Jim Belosic, Aidan Dewar, Fai Nur, Tanay Tandon, Ajeya Cotra, Philip Inghelbrecht

Investors should maintain exposure to Google (GOOGL) as it leverages its Gemini AI models to drive a 19% surge in search revenue and outpace competitors in cloud growth. The "re-industrialization of America" theme offers a strong private equity or secondary market opportunity in SendCutSend, which is scaling domestic manufacturing through software automation. In the healthcare sector, look for opportunities in Nourish and Commure, which are capitalizing on the GLP-1 weight-loss trend and AI-driven administrative automation to improve provider margins. As AI agents become more autonomous, a new "embedded auditing" sector is emerging, making third-party verification tools a mandatory requirement for future enterprise deployments. Finally, the shift of $90 billion in TV ad spend toward streaming platforms like YouTube and Netflix provides a tactical opening for performance-oriented brands to access high-quality inventory with digital-level precision.

Musk Loses OpenAI Case, Leopold’s 13F, Data Center Backlash | Diet TBPN

The dismissal of the Elon Musk lawsuit removes a major legal overhang for OpenAI, clearing the path for future funding rounds and corporate restructuring. Investors should consider a "surgical" approach to semiconductors by maintaining long positions in NVIDIA (NVDA) while hedging against broader sector volatility via VanEck Semiconductor ETF (SMH) puts. The AI trade is shifting toward power infrastructure, with Solar assets favored for their ability to hit the grid faster than Nuclear options. Look for opportunities in the conversion of agricultural land and water rights into data center infrastructure, though be mindful of local "NIMBY" regulatory risks. Monitor the Stratos Project in Utah as a bellwether for massive $100 billion scale data center developments and their associated utility demands.

Leopold's 13F, Data Center Fixes, Shein Buys Everlane | Mike Isaac, Rowan Trollope, Dean Leitersdorf, Joanna Stern

The dismissal of the Elon Musk lawsuit significantly de-risks OpenAI, stabilizing investor confidence ahead of a potential IPO or future funding rounds. High-conviction investors are currently long NVIDIA (NVDA) while hedging against the broader semiconductor sector via puts on the SMH ETF, betting on specific infrastructure winners over commodity chipmakers. T1 Energy offers a timely play on the AI power crunch, as domestic solar is the fastest-scaling solution to meet immediate data center energy demands. For long-term infrastructure exposure, look toward "Data Ranches" and companies like Bloom Energy that provide independent power to bypass grid constraints. In the consumer sector, avoid struggling direct-to-consumer brands like Everlane and instead focus on "utility" value plays or dairy processing infrastructure to capitalize on the 50% surge in whey protein prices.

SpaceX IPO Date, ChatGPT x Personal Finance, Sanders & AOC vs. Data Centers | Diet TBPN

Investors should prepare for a potential SpaceX IPO on the NASDAQ as early as June 11th, which would likely trigger automatic inclusion in the QQQ and set a new valuation floor for the space sector. While NVIDIA (NVDA) continues to dominate through strategic venture investments that fuel its own GPU demand, investors should monitor the long-term sustainability of these subsidized revenue streams. The massive energy requirements of AI data centers make companies specializing in grid modernization, clean energy, and liquid cooling high-conviction plays to hedge against regulatory hurdles and infrastructure strain. Traditional budgeting apps face disruption from OpenAI, as new Plaid integrations allow users to perform automated financial audits and predictive budgeting directly within ChatGPT. Finally, long-term investors should consider a bearish outlook on legacy alcohol stocks like Diageo or Anheuser-Busch in favor of non-alcoholic beverage or cannabis alternatives due to a significant secular decline in consumption.

$9M Buffett Dinner, AI Monets, Patek Scarcity, Late-Career Founder, WSJ Mansion Section, 𝕏 Timeline Reactions | Rahul Sonwalkar

Investors should consider a "buy the dip" opportunity in Microsoft (MSFT), as Bill Ackman targets the stock following a 15% drop, citing an undervalued 27% stake in OpenAI and resilient subscription revenue. Monitor SpaceX closely for a potential NASDAQ IPO as early as June 2026, which would likely trigger massive institutional buying through QQQ index inclusion. While NVIDIA (NVDA) remains a dominant AI leader, investors should watch for risks in its "circular" revenue model where it finances the very startups purchasing its GPUs. For long-term stability in the semiconductor sector, ASML remains a high-conviction play due to its unique strategic co-investment model with major chipmakers. Within the AI space, shift focus toward companies that can prove a clear return on investment (ROI) on "token spend" rather than those simply replacing human labor with high compute costs.

Cerebras IPO, Warsh Confirmed Fed Chair, Musk-OpenAI Trial Nears End | Diet TBPN

Monitor Cerebras Systems as it enters the public market, as its "wafer-scale" chips are commanding a massive premium for high-speed AI inference over traditional hardware. While NVIDIA (NVDA) remains the gold standard for AI training, investors should diversify into specialized hardware and "fast AI" plays to capture the shift toward the "Orchestration Age." In the robotics sector, watch for commercial viability in warehouse automation as companies like Figure demonstrate human-level performance with their Helix 2 humanoid robots. Prepare for increased interest rate volatility and potential stagflation as Kevin Warsh takes over a polarized Federal Reserve, favoring defensive positions over debt-heavy growth stocks. Finally, track the OpenAI vs. Elon Musk trial closely, as a Musk victory could force a massive restructuring of the company and jeopardize its lucrative partnership with Microsoft (MSFT).

Cerebras IPO, WarshTime, General Catalyst Ad Reactions | Andrew Feldman, Amy Reinhard, Ben Hylak, Doug O'Laughlin, Eric Vishria, Steve Vassallo

Investors should monitor Cerebras Systems (CERE) as a high-conviction play on AI inference speed, particularly as the market shifts from model training to low-latency interactivity. While NVIDIA (NVDA) remains the dominant infrastructure leader, the persistent shortage of TSMC clean-room capacity creates a sustained "overflow" opportunity for secondary chipmakers like AMD and Intel (INTC). Netflix (NFLX) is a strong buy-and-hold candidate as it transitions to a high-margin performance marketing powerhouse by launching its proprietary ad tech stack across 15 new countries. Be cautious with legacy web builders like Wix (WIX), which face significant disruption from "vibe coding" tools like Cursor and Figma that allow non-technical users to generate front-ends instantly. For long-term infrastructure exposure, prioritize companies positioned near massive power sources or those providing observability tools for AI agents, as power and reliability have replaced location as the primary data center bottlenecks.

Trump-Xi Summit, Space Data Center Debate, Inflation Up | Diet TBPN

Investors should prepare for the SpaceX IPO this summer, which is expected to be the largest of all time and will likely catalyze a new investment theme around "Orbital Data Centers." NVIDIA (NVDA) remains the primary high-conviction play for U.S.-China tech relations, though investors must monitor potential "Rare Earth" supply chain retaliations from China. To hedge against rising inflation and "stagflation" risks, consider adding Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) as the real economy shows signs of slowing. Long-term growth seekers should look toward Google (GOOGL) and Planet Labs (PL) as they partner on satellite infrastructure to solve terrestrial data center constraints. Finally, the Defense sector and non-Chinese Rare Earth mining companies are high-priority targets as the U.S. moves toward a projected $1.5 trillion defense budget to ensure technological sovereignty.