After Hours

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-Stor...

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 Store Union failed to unionize an Amazon warehouse in Al...

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=sr 1 1?dchild=1&keywords=will+in+the+world&qid=161833...

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, M...

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 (Kazuo Ishiguro novel) You can visit our website at Harva...

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) You can visit our website at HarvardAft...

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 was so mesmerizing. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: The Good Plac...

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 picks, and recommended reading/websites: Jeffrey Eugenides qu...

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. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: “ The Most Comprehensive List of Film Festivals on...

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 at  HarvardAfterHours.com ....

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...

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 reading/websites: “ All We Can Save: Truth, Courage, and Solution...

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 Cookbook (for the Punition cookie recip...

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, and Rawi on...

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 cities, and why Cisco and Google pulled back from t...

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 IPO process. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites: OpenSecrets.or...

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 episodes to:  harvardafterhours@gmail.com .  You can follo...

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 Twitter at: @YoungmeMoon, @Desa...

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 future episodes to:  harvardafterhours@gmai...

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 our website at HarvardAfterHours.com . You can email your comments and ideas f...

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) Space Force (Netflix) Dark (...

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 New York Times The Min...

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 up here: After Hours Sign-Up ....

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 our mailing list by signing up here:...

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 join our mailing list...