179: Telegram & Pavel Durov, $100m Podcast Deals (Alex Cooper, Kelce Bros), Oasis Reunion & Costco Japan

Not Investment Advice

The NIA boys discuss Telegram & Pavel Durov, $100m Podcast Deals (Alex Cooper, Kelce Bros), & Costco Japan

Timestamps:

• (00:00:00) - Intro
• (00:01:51) - Meme of the Week
• (00:08:17) - Telegram Founder Arrested
• (00:31:35) - Censorship vs. Misinformation
• (00:48:35) - $100m Podcast Deals (Alex Cooper, Kelce Bros)
• (01:06:34) - Costco In Japan

1) Pavel Durov, Telegram founder, arrested in Paris

• Warrant out since July

• Charged with crimes happening on platform

• Raises questions about platform liability

• Free speech concerns vs. content moderation

• Key issue: Telegram's encryption approach may have led to arrest

2) Telegram's encryption dilemma:

• Not end-to-end encrypted by default

• Secret chats require 4-5 steps to activate

• Group chats (200k users) & channels aren't E2E

• Helped growth, but now govt pressure

3) Podcast acquisition frenzy continues:

• Alex Cooper (Call Her Daddy): $125M deal with SiriusXM

• Travis & Jason Kelce: $100M deal with Wondery

• Podcast power law: Top 25 shows = 50% of US listens

4) Spotify's podcast strategy:

• Spent $1B+ on tech & content since 2019

• Goal: Diversify from music, own more content

• Mixed results: some hits, many misses

• Now pivoting to more sustainable deals

• Example: Trevor Noah's new contract structure (recoup + rev share)

5) Costco opens in Okinawa, Japan to MASSIVE crowds

• 5-hour line just for parking

• Why so popular? Bulk buying, Kirkland brand, low prices

• Adapts to local market (e.g. amazing prepared foods)

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