Exponent

In this week’s episode, Ben and James briefly discuss Jony Ive’s promotion, the future of Apple, Google I/O, and Tim Cook’s speech on privacy. Links Ben Thompson: The Apple Car and Jony Ive — Stratechery Daily Update Ben Thompson: Google IO: Android and Serving the World; Photos, Google Now, and the World’s Information; Google’s Turning Point — Stratechery Daily Update Ben Thompson: The Funnel Framework — Stratechery Matthew Panzarino: Apple’s Tim Cook Delivers Blistering Speech On Encryption, Privacy — TechCrunch Ben Thompson: Tim Cook’s Unfair and Unrealistic Privacy Speech, Strategy Credits, The Privacy Priority Problem — Stratechery Daily Update Ben … Continue reading Episode 047 — Apple, Google, and Privacy

In this week’s episode, Ben and James discuss ad-blockers, both personal ones and the rumored carrier-implemented one, as well as Internet.org and the moral quandary that is the Internet. Links Ben Thompson: Carriers to Implement Ad-Blocking — Stratechery Daily Update (members-only) Laura McGann: How Ars Technica’s “experiment” with ad-blocking readers built on its community’s affection for the site — Nieman Lab Ben Thompson: Open Source Apps — Stratechery Ben Thompson: The Changing — and Unchanging — Structure of TV — Stratechery Hosts Ben Thompson, @benthompson, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes SoundCloud Twitter Feedback Stratechery … Continue reading Episode 046 — Everything Has a Price

In this week’s episode, Ben finally has an Apple Watch: James has lots of questions about it. (And yes, we should have talked about Google Now.) Links Horace Dediu: The Battle for The Wrist — Asymco Ben Thompson: Mobile Makes Facebook Just an App; That’s Great News – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Why Now for Apple Watch – Stratechery John Gruber: Watch, Apple Watch – Daring Fireball Hosts Ben Thompson, @benthompson, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes SoundCloud Twitter Feedback

In this week’s episode Ben and James discuss why Twitter needs new leadership, its massive potential, and why Google probably should acquire it Links Ben Thompson: Twitter Needs New Leadership – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Twitter’s Marketing Problem – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Facebook and the Feed – Stratechery Ev Williams: Sometimes Things Stay Stuck – Medium Ben Thompson: Twitter Acquires MoPub – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Peak Google – Stratechery Hosts Ben Thompson, @benthompson, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes SoundCloud Twitter Feedback

In this week’s episode Ben and James discuss the prospects for Google’s Project Fi as well as Facebook’s decision to change their News Feed algorithm Links Project Fi – Google Ben Thompson: Google Launches Project Fi – Stratechery Daily Update (members-only) How Google’s Project Fi pricing stacks up to the competition – Ars Technica Ben Thompson: Google to Become MVNO? – Stratechery Daily Update Google Fiber plans expansion, then TWC makes speeds six times faster – Ars Technica Ben Thompson: Facebook and the Feed – Stratechery Hosts Ben Thompson, @benthompson, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed … Continue reading Episode 043 – Project Fi and Facebook’s Feed

In this week’s episode Ben and James thank John Siracusa then dive into the EU’s antitrust investigation of Google and discuss whether or not antitrust is more or less important in technology. Links John Siracusa: OS X Reviewed – Hypercritical John Siracusa: OS X 10.10 Yosemite Review Conclusion – Ars Technica Ben Thompson: Growing Apple at WWDC – Stratechery Danny Sullivan: Analyzing the EU’s Antitrust Charges Against Google Over Shopping Search – Search Engine Land Chris Dixon: Proprietary Services vs Open Protocols – Medium Ev Williams: Sometimes Things Stay Stuck – Medium Exponent Episode 005: The World Has Changed – … Continue reading Episode 042 — Monopolizing Your Ears

In this week’s episode Ben and James discuss whether or not there is a bubble, as well as a bit on the Apple Watch. Please note this was recorded before the Apple Watch reviews were released. Links Ben Thompson: It’s Not 1999 – Stratechery The Unicorn List – Fortune Ben Thompson: The Multitudes of Social – Stratechery Bill Gurley: Investors Beware: Today’s $100M+ Late-stage Private Rounds Are Very Different from an IPO – Above the Crowd Turd on the Front Porch – The Talk Show Ben Thompson: Apple Watch’s Bad Messaging – Stratechery (members-only) David Pierce: iPhone Killer: The Secret … Continue reading Episode 041 – Bubbles

In this week’s episode Ben and James discuss BuzzFeed in the context of the Brother Orange story, then talk about Amazon’s Dash Button and Home Services initiative, along with a dive into the technical details of Amazon’s balance sheet (sorry, it’s a bit dry) and why Ben is nervous. Links Matt Stopera: I Followed My Stolen iPhone Across The World, Became A Celebrity In China, And Found A Friend For Life – BuzzFeed Ben Thompson: Why BuzzFeed is the Most Important News Organization in the World – Stratechery Matt Stopera: Who Is This Man And Why Are His Photos Showing Up … Continue reading Episode 040 – BuzzFeed and Amazon

In this week’s episode Ben and James follow up on last week’s episode, introduce the Toilet Bowl philosophy of career development, and then dive into the future of publishers in the world of Facebook. Due to some technical issues there is a rather abrupt stop at the end – sorry about that! Links Ben Thompson: The Facebook Reckoning – Stratechery How Vox.com Approaches Publishing on Facebook – Vox Marketing Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes SoundCloud Twitter Feedback

In this week’s episode Ben and James discuss why California is unique, diversity and inequality, James’ work on “How Will You Measure Your Life”, making decisions, and whether or not business school was worth it for us. Links Clayton Christensen, James Allworth, Karen Dillon: How Will You Measure Your Life – Website, Amazon Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes SoundCloud Twitter Feedback

In this week’s episode Ben and James discuss the recent Apple Event, including the MacBook and Apple Watch Links Ben Thompson: Mobile First – Stratechery Ben Thompson: “Geeks are not just unqualified to explain the new MacBook, they’re anti-qualified” – Twitter Ben Thompson: How Apple Will Make the Wearable Market – Stratechery Matthew Panzarino: The Apple Watch is Time, Saved – TechCrunch “Really” Windows Phone commercial – YouTube David Platt: Apple iPhone Debut to Flop, Product to Crash in Flames – Suckbusters Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes SoundCloud Twitter Feedback

In this week’s episode Ben and James discuss tradeoffs in the context of net neutrality, AT&T’s new gigabit service, and Lenovo’s Superfish debacle Note: when talking about the history of cable, Ben kept saying “companies” instead of “communities.” Sorry for the confusion! Links Ben Thompson: Netflix and Net Neutrality – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Net Neutrality! (analyzing the current proposal) – Stratechery (members-only) This Week in Tech: Superfishy – Twit.TV Ben Thompson: Lenovo’s Superfish Debacle, AT&T Prices Privacy – Stratechery (members-only) Jon Matonis: Silent Circle And Vertu Partner On $10,000 Phone – Forbes Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard … Continue reading Episode 036 – Tradeoffs

We apologize for the late delivery of this podcast! In this week’s episode Ben and James discuss why Apple is so fascinating, why the Mac lost to Windows, debate whether or not Google should have open-sourced Android, and discussed the implications of Apple’s new market – your entire life Also, please note that there will no episode later this week due to Chinese New Year. Links John Gruber: Dazzling Results – Daring Fireball Ben Thompson: Apple’s New Market – Stratechery Rita McGrath: The End of Competitive Advantage – Kindle Ben Thompson: The Uncanny Valley of a Functional Organization – Stratechery … Continue reading Episode 035 – Fascinating

This is the story of Stratechery, presented with much sheepishness on Ben’s part. How Ben thought about the market, his business model, and more. We apologize that this is a little long and perhaps a bit choppy. It’s hard to talk about us! Links Andrew Sullivan: A Note to my Readers – The Dish Ezra Klein: What Andrew Sullivan’s Exit Says About the Future of Blogging – Vox Ben Thompson: Blogging’s Bright Future – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Dear Zoë Keating: Tell YouTube to Take a Hike – Stratechery Taylor Swift: For Taylor Swift, the Future of Music is a Love … Continue reading Episode 034 – The Story of Stratechery

We discuss Apple’s recent results, why analysts get Apple wrong, the fraught nature of fans, epistemic closure, and whether the iPhone can continue to grow. Links Ben Thompson: Bad Assumptions – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Apple the Black Swan – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Best – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Smartphone Truths and Samsung’s Inevitable Decline – Stratechery James Allworth: Who Cares if Samsung Copied Apple? – Harvard Business Review (note: due to a website redesign the comments have been lost) Marco Arment: Apple Has Lost the Functional High Ground – Marco.org Marco Arment: What It’s Like to be too Popular for a … Continue reading Episode 033 – Apple Fans and the Future

Note: I originally uploaded the wrong file. The correct file is 1:07 long, not 1:17. I am reposting this as many podcast clients download the file immediately. We briefly follow-up on last week’s copyright discussion, discuss Ben’s article on what the technology adoption curve gets wrong about Apple and Xiaomi, and then react to Microsoft’s Windows 10 (and Project HoloLens) presentation Links Stratechery Forum Discussion about Episode 30: Flabbergasted – Stratechery Forums (members-only) Ben Thompson: The End of Trickle-Down Technology – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Part 1 of an Interview with Xiaomi VP of International Hugo Barra on India and Xiaomi’s … Continue reading Episode 032 – Follow-up and Frustration (Updated)

James thinks the idea of copyright is outdated and should be abolished. Ben is, well, see the title. Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes SoundCloud Twitter Feedback

Ben and James discuss Xiaomi’s ambition to own the home, why we’re frustrated with patents, why the West is unfair to the developing world, and what makes China unique. Links Jordan Lewis: Exponent Bingo – Twitter Ben Thompson: Xiaomi’s Ambition – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Handicapping the Internet of Things – Stratechery When Charles Dickens fell out with America – BBC To Live (The film about the Cultural Revolution) – Wikipedia Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes SoundCloud Twitter Feedback

Ben and James discuss the problems with drones, how they could be used for terrorism, and how you balance upside and downside. Links Felix Salmon: Whither Nanopublishing? – Medium James Allworth: Thinking Twice About Drones – Stratechery (Members-only) FBI: Man plotted to fly drone-like toy planes with bombs into school – CBS News Warthox with Warpquad the fastest Quadrocopter in the Universe – YouTube Mark Manson: Five Lessons from Five Years of Traveling the World – MarkManson.net Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes SoundCloud Twitter Feedback

Ben and James discuss the recent App Store controversy and how a person – or company’s – greatest strength is also their greatest weakness. Plus a special 2nd recording about the Harvard business school professor and the Chinese restaurant. Links Cabel Sasser: Transmit iOS 1.1.1 [Updated] – Panic blog Greg Gardner: Launcher Followup and Thoughts on the App Store Review System – Cromulent Labs Ben Thompson: App Store Anguish, Old Apple’s Last Stand, Time for a Change? – Stratechery (members-only) Ben Thompson: Why Doesn’t Apple Enable Sustainable Businesses on the App Store? – Stratechery Ben Thompson: The Diminished iPad – Stratechery … Continue reading Episode 028: Squirrel!

Ben and James follow up on last week’s Uber discussion, talk about the problem with regulation, and worry about stagnation and the different cultures of Europe, America, and Asia. Links Nicole Campbell: What Was Said at the Uber Dinner – Huffington Post Lane Wood: Here Ego Again – Medium Chase Madar: Why It’s Impossible to Indict a Cop – Nation Peter Sterne: Jack Schafer on Losing his Job and the State of Things – Capital New York Ben Thompson: Why Uber Fights – Stratechery Zenefits Faces Shutdown In Utah For Giving Its Cloud-Based HR Software Away For Free – Techcrunch … Continue reading Episode 027 – Regulation, Stagnation, and Culture

Ben and James briefly discuss Ben’s belief in the Internet opportunity for content creators, and then dive in to the recent Uber controversy. Links Publishers and the Smiling Curve: Ben Thompson – Stratechery Differentiation and Value Capture in the Internet Age: Ben Thompson – Stratechery The Internet Rainforest – Exponent Ang Lee and the Uncertainty of Success – Jeff Lin The Uber Problem – Stratechery Daily Update (members only) Uber and the Tyson Zone – Stratechery Daily Update (members only) Look How Uber’s Investors Have Also Funded Some Of Its Biggest Critics – Forbes Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James … Continue reading Episode 026: GROW GROW GROW FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT

Ben and James discuss Twitter and its strategic options, as well as YouTube’s new music service, Taylor Swift and Spotify, plus the special return of the garbage truck song. Links Twitter Sharpens Its Strategy to Win Over Investors – Wall Street Journal Ben Thompson: There are Two Twitters; Only One is Worth Investing In – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Twitter’s Marketing Problem – Stratechery Daniel Ek: $2 Billion and Counting – Spotify Taylor Swift: For Taylor Swift, the Future of Music Is a Love Story – Wall Street Journal Ben Thompson: What Taylor Swift Gets Right – Stratechery (members-only) Hosts Ben … Continue reading Episode 025: Twitter and Taylor

The idea for Exponent was hatched when Ben and James were arguing about Ben’s article What Clayton Christensen Got Wrong a year ago. In this episode, we finally reach a resolution to the question about how Apple escapes disruption. Plus, whether or not Xiaomi is a threat to Apple, personal development philosophies, and more (sorry, we went a bit long…) Links Ben Thompson: How Apple Creates Leverage, and the Future of Apple Pay – Stratechery John Siracusa: OS X 10.10 Yosemite: The Ars Technica Review (Conclusion) – ArsTechnica Ben Thompson: What Clayton Christensen Got Wrong – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Growing … Continue reading Episode 024: A Celebratory Goblet of Champagne

In this week’s episode Ben and James discuss Apple Pay and its impact on retailers and banks. Links Glenn Fleishman: A Week of Apple Pay: Chips, PINs, and…signatures? – Six Colors Ben Thompson: The Problem with Payments – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Why Apple Pay was Blocked, Why Apple Pay Will Succeed – Stratechery Josh Constine: CurrentC is the Big Retailers’ Clunky Attempt to Kill Apple Pay and Credit Card Fees – TechCrunch Charles Duhigg: How Companies Learn Your Secrets – New York Times Ben Thompson: Publishers and the Smiling Curve – Stratechery Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, … Continue reading Episode 023: Apple Pay

In this week’s episode Ben and James discuss Ben’s article “Peak Google” and the future of advertising. Links Ben Thompson: Peak Google – Stratechery Benedict Evans: The Irrelevance of Microsoft – Ben-Evans.com Peter Kriss: The Value of Customer Experience, Quantified – Harvard Business Review Ben Thompson: Mobile Makes Facebook Just an App; That’s Great News – Stratechery Ben Thompson: I Love the Blackberry Passport (on Generic Strategies) – Stratechery (members-only) Ben Thompson: The Cord-Cutting Fantasy – Stratechery Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes SoundCloud Twitter Feedback

In this week’s episode Ben and James discuss why Ben thinks the Internet is totally overreacting to HBO’s announcement that they will sell subscriptions directly to customers, and then delve into what might be the underlying motivations behind Gamergate. Links Ben Thompson: The Cord-Cutting Fantasy – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Why TV Has Resisted Disruption – Stratechery Ben Thompson: The Jobs TV Does – Stratechery Kyle Wagner: The Future of the Culture Wars is Here, and It’s Gamergate – Deadspin Paul Graham: Before the Startup – PaulGraham.com Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed … Continue reading Episode 021: Gamergate of Thrones

In this week’s episode Ben and James discuss the problems with Ello’s business model, James’ discomfort with Facebook, and why Social Networks always have ads. We also talk about incentives and something surprising Ben learned from the notorious Episode 18. Links Ben Thompson: Ello and Consumer Friendly Business Models – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Facebook Launches Atlas – Stratechery (members-only) Ben Thompson: Friction – Stratechery Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes SoundCloud Twitter Feedback

In this week’s episode Ben and James reflect about last week’s episode and the personal feedback that resulted, then move on to discuss why Minecraft is a big deal as well as a bit about Apple’s new focus on privacy. Links Ben Thompson: Why Now For Apple Watch – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Microsoft’s Good (and Potentially Great) Minecraft Acquisition – Stratechery Ben Thompson: American Girl, Minecraft, and the Next Generation of Builders – Stratechery (members-only) Ben Thompson: Apple Takes Aim at Google – Stratechery (members-only) Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes … Continue reading Episode 019: Me, Myself, and Minecraft

In this week’s episode Ben explains why he has changed his mind about Apple Watch. James is not convinced. We go on for a while. Links Ben Thompson: What I Got Wrong About Apple Watch – Stratechery John Gruber: Apple Watch: Initial Thoughts and Observations – Daring Fireball Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes SoundCloud Twitter Feedback

In this week’s episode we follow-up on Episode 15’s console discussion, and then dive into the Apple Watch introduction. We cover why we were disappointed in the presentation, and discuss the luxury market in Asia and why the Edition will cost thousands of dollars. And then we go back for seconds. And thirds. (Note: This is an updated version that removes a gap present in the previous version) Links Ben Thompson: Gaming and New Market Disruption – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Friction – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Apple Watch: Asking Why and Saying No – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Whither Liberal Arts? – … Continue reading Episode 017: Let’s End it There (Updated)

In this week’s episode we follow-up on Episode 15’s console discussion, and then dive into the Apple Watch introduction. We cover why we were disappointed in the presentation, and discuss the luxury market in Asia and why the Edition will cost thousands of dollars. And then we go back for seconds. And thirds. (Note: There is a gap at around the 12:30 mark due to an editing error. We apologize) Links Ben Thompson: Gaming and New Market Disruption – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Friction – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Apple Watch: Asking Why and Saying No – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Whither Liberal … Continue reading Episode 017: Let’s End it There

In this week’s episode we discuss James’ first ever trip to Burning Man, ugliness in modern culture and on the Internet, the new divide in politics, and ultimately why we have hope for the future. Links Grover Norquist: My First Burning Man: Confessions of a Conservative from Washington – The Guardian Devin Faraci: Why I Feel Bad For – And Understand – The Angry #GamerGate Gamers – Badass Digest Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes SoundCloud Twitter Feedback

In this week’s episode we discuss whether or not consoles will be disrupted. This episode was recorded a week ago (immediately after last week’s episode), before Ben wrote his pieces Games and Good Enough and Games and New Market Disruption. Links Ben Thompson: How Apple TV Might Disrupt Microsoft and Sony – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Games and Good Enough – Stratechery Ben Thompson: What Clayton Christensen Got Wrong – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Gaming and New Market Disruption – Stratechery Medallia Receives $50M in New Funding to Meet Growing Market Demand for Software that Makes Companies More Customer Centric – Medallia … Continue reading Episode 015: Consoles and Disruption

In this week’s episode we spend a good bit of time revisiting the native ads discussion, then dive into the different ways that Twitter and Facebook have handled the news this week. From there we discuss Twitter’s timeline changes, the realities of venture capital, and whether or not our entire economic system will survive the automation revolution. Yes, it gets deep quickly! Links Ben Thompson: Print, Chinese Walls, and “Objective” Journalism – Stratechery (members only) Clay Shirky: Last Call – Medium Jay Rosen: When Quoting Both Sides and Leaving it There is the Riskier Call – PressThink Hamilton Nolan: Time … Continue reading Episode 014: The Rise of the Algorithm

In this week’s episode we discuss feedback about Ben’s Android criticism, then dive into Andreessen Horowitz’s $50 million investment into BuzzFeed. Is there a real business here? We also discuss native advertising: Ben is quite a bit more optimistic than James. Links Ben Thompson: Is BuzzFeed a Technology Company? – Stratechery Chris Dixon: BuzzFeed – Chris Dixon’s Blog Marc Andreessen: Introducing our new venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz – Blog Pmarca Ben Casselman: Corporate America Hasn’t Been Disrupted – 538 Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes SoundCloud Twitter Feedback

In this week’s episode we discuss how the Internet is enabling not only big winners, but also small, focused niche players, and why that’s exciting. We also discuss the impact this transition will have on society, follow up on last week’s integrated/modular discussion, and in a special “After Dark” segment briefly discuss Ben’s recent experience with Android and theorize that the Android/iOS are at equilibrium. Links Ben Thompson: Daily Update: Micromax Wins on Local Taste – Stratechery (members-only) Rohin Dharmakumar: Can Micromax Become India’s Leading Smartphone Maker? – Forbes India Ben Thompson: How Technology is Changing the World (P&G Edition) … Continue reading Episode 012: The Internet Rainforest

In this episode we discuss this tweet of Ben’s: Apple has a monopoly on the iOS market. And monopolies are profitable. — Ben Thompson (@monkbent) July 25, 2014 We also discuss the news that OKCupid and Facebook are running tests on their users. Links Fabian Giesen: What I mean when I say “I think VR is bad news” – Github Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes Twitter Feedback

In this episode we discuss feedback about Uber and pricing, then discuss Ben’s recent articles on Microsoft and Apple/IBM. Ben Thompson: It’s Time to Split Up Microsoft – Stratechery Ben Thompson: Big Blue and Apple’s Soul – Stratechery (Note: We recorded this show before this piece was written) We had some technical difficulties while recording this show, so we apologize in advance if there are any issues. Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes Twitter Feedback

In this episode we first defend surge pricing before continuing our debate from last week: is society better off when corporations try to innovate, or would we be better off if we left the innovation to startups? Your answer to this question may change your opinion of Silicon Valley. Nick Kokonas: Tickets for Restaurants – Alinea Restaurant James Allworth: Heavy Rain and Black Cars – Medium Note: In the podcast Ben talks about owning a lot of Microsoft stock; to be clear that was while he was an employee. As a matter of policy he does not hold any individual … Continue reading Episode 009: The Societal Perspective

In this episode we take on the validity of Disruption Theory in three parts: A discussion of Jill Lepore’s New Yorker article attacking disruption, as well as the debate that surrounded the article Ben’s article from last fall “What Clayton Christensen Got Wrong” A deeper discussion about whether or not managers can really do anything about true disruption, and whether or not they should even try The quote referenced at the ending from Jill Lepore’s article on political polarization is as follows: “But intellectuals, as Bruno Latour once pointed out, are nearly always one critique too late: “entire Ph.D. programs … Continue reading Episode 008: Debating Disruption

There’s a bit of a consensus building post WWDC: Apple has grown up, and it’s great. But is it great? Is it possible that something essential has been lost? After all, a lot of the praise being heaped on Apple and Tim Cook was once used for another company – Microsoft. In this episode we examine what it is that makes Apple unique, and why things might turn out different this time – and why they might not. In addition, we discuss the end of privacy and what might be done about it. Also! We would love it if you … Continue reading Episode 007: “Growing Up” v “Hungry and Foolish”

In this episode we discuss why James was less excited by WWDC than was Ben, why the Beats acquisition may actually be a textbook response to the Innovator’s Dilemma, whether Apple has every truly faced disruption, as well as James’ review of Michael Lewis’ Flash Boys Links Ben Thompson: Growing Apple at WWDC – Stratechery James Allworth: Steve Jobs Solved the Innovator’s Dilemma – Harvard Business Review Max Wessel and Clay Christensen: Surviving Disruption – Harvard Business Review James Allworth: High Frequency Trading and Finance’s Race to Irrelevance Harvard Business Review Hosts Ben Thompson, @monkbent, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard … Continue reading Episode 006: Product versus Profit

This episode surprised us; through a discussion of who is at fault in the latest series of new vs old-world spats, we realized that not only has the Internet fundamentally changed winners-and-losers, but also the very nature of economic competition and the type of regulation that is required. Topics & Links Mathew Ingram: Giants Behaving Badly – GigaOm Google v MetaFilter Matt Haughey: On the Future of MetaFilter – Medium Journalism v Facebook Mike Hudack: A Rant About the State of Media – Facebook Ben Thompson: Newspapers are Dead; Long Live Journalism – Stratechery Amazon v Publishers Ben Thompson: Publishers’ … Continue reading Episode 005: The World Has Changed

Are the recent debates on net neutrality, the protests of Google buses, even SOPA a sign of things to come? Building on Ben’s article The Net Neutrality Wake-up Call Ben and James discuss the intersection of technology and politics. Why do people in technology tend to dislike politics? Is net neutrality really that important and understanding open loop unbundling The tech industry and creative destruction: is it good for society when companies go out of business? The impact of money on politics Why tech and politics are on a collision course What we can do to effect change on an … Continue reading Episode 004 – Technology and Politics

This episode is all about the (alleged) Apple Beats acquisition. While it may make a certain amount of business sense, does it signify a small but significant change in Apple’s priorities, and is it a cause for concern? Topics covered include: The rationale for the acquisition The difference between making and recognizing market opportunities What makes Apple uniquely capable of building revolutionary products Apple’s previous responses when threatened in music How to think about mergers and acquisitions How to best motivate employees Links: Why Apple is Buying Beats – Ben Thompson The New M&A Playbook – Clayton Christensen One More … Continue reading Episode 003: Valiantly Defending Jobs

This episode was actually recorded on February 18; however, due to circumstances, we had to hibernate Exponent and the episode was never actually edited and posted. Now that the show is back – for good this time – we wanted to post the “missing episode” plenty of folks have asked us about. There are a couple of dated references, but the content is still very applicable. In this episode we talk about privilege and whether Silicon Valley is solving the right problems. It’s certainly not a new question, but has it become more pressing in the last few months? Links: … Continue reading Episode 002: The Missing Episode

In this, the first episode of the Exponent podcast, we talk about our background, Microsoft and disruption, and the meaning of culture. We also explore our goals for this podcast, and just a bit about Taiwanese garbage trucks. Show Notes: If Steve Ballmer Ran Apple link The Halo Effect:…and Eight Other Business Delusions that Deceive Managers link Skating Towards the Goal link Bill Gates’ Steve Jobs Moment link Friction link Note: The Internet Explorer rendering engine is called Trident, not Triton