Market Outsiders

In this episode, Jenny Rae and Namaan unpack one of retail’s most unexpected survivors: Build-A-Bear. Build-A-Bear is a mall-based stuffed animal retailer in an AI-driven world – and yet it’s a profitable public company with rising stock performance. We cover: What the company really sells – and how customization drives pricing power What the financials reveal about profitability and scale The nex...

Once Upon a Farm went public, and the stock jumped. But this isn’t the standard path for a consumer brand. In this episode, Jenny Rae and Namaan examine why a single-brand baby food company chose an IPO instead of selling to a large CPG player - and what role Jennifer Garner’s involvement really plays in that decision. We break down the business fundamentals behind the headlines, from refrigerated...

Boeing’s rebound isn’t about brilliance. It’s about not losing in a brutal duopoly. In this episode, Jenny Rae and Namaan break down what Boeing’s post-crisis recovery really signals — and why its future depends less on innovation and more on execution over time. We cover: Why Boeing’s biggest advantage is the Airbus duopoly, not outperformance How long delivery timelines distort cash flow, pricin...

Brex was once valued at $12.3B. Capital One just bought it for $5.15B. In today’s episode of Market Outsiders , Jenny Rae and Namaan break down why Capital One was willing to buy Brex at a $7B discount – and what the deal actually tells us about fintech valuations, banking strategy, and the future of credit cards. We unpack: Why the 50% cash / 50% stock structure reveals who really had leverage Wh...

College football isn’t just a game anymore, it’s a business. On this episode of Market Outsiders , Jenny Rae Le Roux and Namaan Mian break down how wins on the field translate into dollars off it, sparked by Indiana University’s surprising national championship run.  From media deals and ticket sales to donations and NIL money, Namaan lays out the six revenue engines powering modern college footba...

Saks Fifth Avenue has filed for bankruptcy. After years of warning signs – including its Neiman Marcus acquisition and Amazon’s investment – the iconic luxury retailer is officially on life support. In this episode, Namaan and Jenny break down what actually went wrong behind the headlines. They cover: Why the Neiman Marcus deal failed to deliver real synergies How junk-bond financing and cash-flow...

The average new car now costs over $50,000, with monthly payments nearing $760. So how did Ford post its best U.S. sales year since 2019 ? In this episode of Market Outsiders , Namaan and Jenny Rae break down how Ford defied expectations in 2025 – despite tariffs, high rates, and weakening EV demand. They cover: Why 2025 may have been the first “normal” auto year since COVID How financing, hybrids...

Cannabis just moved from Schedule I to Schedule III — and the biggest implications have nothing to do with lifestyle or politics. In this episode of Market Outsiders , Jenny Rae and Namaan break down what reclassification means for the market: who benefits, who loses, and why cannabis stocks dropped on “good” news. They unpack the real unlocks behind the headlines — Medicare and Medicaid eligibili...

Thrive Market just became the first major online grocer to drop alcohol completely , and the internet is cheering… but the business case isn’t what it seems.  In this episode, we break down the real reasons behind the move, what the data actually says about drinking trends, and why households, not individuals, tell the true story. We cover: Why “54% of adults drink alcohol” is the wrong metric for...

Netflix just shocked Hollywood with a $72B bid for Warner Bros, the biggest media deal of the decade. But behind the headlines is a fight over market share, regulation, and the future of streaming. In this episode, we break down: Why Netflix is suddenly willing to buy instead of build How HBO, Warner Bros, and gaming change Netflix’s strategy The regulatory risk (and why Trump and Paramount matter...

Best Buy was supposed to be dead. Instead, it just raised its full-year sales and earnings outlook. In this episode, Jenny Rae and Namaan dig into why Best Buy is outperforming in a “K-shaped” economy, even as everyone keeps blaming the consumer and inflation. They break down: How Best Buy is still winning on laptops, gaming, and smartphones Why AI-enabled laptops and new consoles are quietly driv...

Bath and Body Works used to own the mall fragrance space. Now traffic is shrinking, margins are squeezed and a new CEO is blaming the old playbook. In this episode, we break down what went wrong and whether the turnaround plan has a real shot. We cover: How chasing “adjacent” categories like shampoo and laundry backfired Why discounting destroys price integrity in a brand-led business The missed o...

Panera used to dominate fast casual. Now traffic is falling and leadership is scrambling to turn it around. In this episode, we unpack: How cost cutting changed salads, sides, and the in-store experience Why menu complexity and pricing confuse customers The barbell strategy Panera is betting on for its comeback What we’d do differently on pricing, testing, and customer research A practical breakdo...

The U.S. stops minting new pennies. Cost savings help, but do second-order effects matter more? We dig into: Why it cost ~4¢ to make 1¢ $56M savings vs real economic impact Rounding rules, cash users, and pricing behavior Card mix, tipping culture, and “two-way door” policy A quick, practical look at what this means for consumers and businesses. Partner Links: Learn more about NordStellar's T...

CoreWeave isn’t OpenAI or Nvidia, but it’s powering both. We unpack how this lesser-known company became essential to the AI ecosystem, including: What CoreWeave actually does and why it matters How $55B in backlog signals explosive demand Why data centers, not apps, may define the next AI wave What an “AI capex bubble” could look like A fast, insightful breakdown of the infrastructure race behind...

Retailers plan the lightest holiday hiring since the Great Recession, but spending is still projected to top $1T. We dig into: Why demand smoothing and e-comm shift cut seasonal roles How “slower” in-store flow can increase basket size What segmentation and channels mean for labor needs Why tariff headlines often overstate price impact Actionable takeaways for leaders on staffing, ops, and margin...

The FAA just announced flight cuts at 40 U.S. airports, all tied to the government shutdown. In this bonus episode: Why air traffic control staffing is reaching a breaking point How airlines like Delta and United will decide what to cancel What smart leaders do when government policy hits business operations A quick 15-minute breakdown on policy, pressure, and decision-making when the skies (and D...

Pinterest just had one of its worst trading days ever, and blamed tariffs. We dig into what’s really behind the drop: Why ad revenue might be a Pinterest problem, not a tariff problem How user behavior has shifted away from “mood board” culture What it would take for Pinterest to stay relevant in an AI-driven shopping world Plus, Namaan and Jenny Rae debate whether Pinterest’s next move is reinven...

Namaan and Jenny Rae break down PayPal’s new integration with ChatGPT and what it means for e commerce. They cover how checkout could live inside AI, who wins and loses across retailers and suppliers, and why PayPal’s first dividend signals a new chapter. They also map OpenAI’s business model today. Subscriptions. Enterprise licensing. Future transaction fees. Possible ads. What shifts when 800 mi...

UPS posted a surprise beat and a bold turnaround. Jenny Rae and Namaan break down where the 34,000+ cuts land, why Amazon volume fell 21 percent, and how route consolidation, asset light moves, and small business focus could reshape holiday shipping.  We also cover tariffs and the de minimis change, plus why supply chain consulting is set to boom. Chapters 02:58 Understanding UPS's Business M...

Pokémon and Taylor Swift trading cards are making a billion-dollar comeback, and Target and Walmart are cashing in.  Jenny Rae and Namaan break down what this craze says about retail strategy, consumer behavior, and the strength of the U.S. shopper heading into the holidays. Links Mentioned Pokémon, sports trading card boom boosts Target, Walmart ahead of holiday season (CNBC) Labubu Dolls and the...

Nestlé just announced 16,000 job cuts, one of the largest in modern CPG history. Jenny Rae and Namaan break down what this massive restructuring says about the company’s new strategy, how it mirrors the playbooks of Kraft Heinz and Hershey, and what it reveals about the future of global consumer brands. They unpack how Nestlé defines “winning,” why the market rewarded layoffs, and what every busin...

Walmart is making a push on U.S. manufacturing, and says it’s good business. Today, Jenny Rae and Namaan break down what’s signal versus spin, where onshoring can actually cut costs, and why category-by-category moves matter more than headline percentages. We get into supplier power, inventory timing, vertical integration in beef, and pharma basics like bringing amoxicillin back onshore. Plus, a p...

Delta just posted blockbuster earnings, and it’s not because more people are flying. Jenny Rae and Namaan unpack how Delta’s $8B profit engine runs on premium seats, credit card partnerships, and a bet on wealthy travellers. They dive into what makes Delta’s “premium economy” the most profitable cabin in the sky, why Buffett once got airlines wrong, and how rivals like United and Southwest are scr...

Private markets are courting everyday investors. Why now, and what should you do about it? In this episode of Market Outsiders , Namaan and Jenny Rae unpack the “retail revolution” in private investing, explaining why firms like Ares are turning to individuals and how private credit is reshaping access to capital. You’ll learn: Why private funds suddenly want retail investors How private credit wo...