#103 - Alex Shahidi: Top 10 Insights of 2025 (Part 2)

Dec 30, 2025

Guest

Bob Prince

Join Greg Chernow, a fixed income expert, and John Gray, president of Blackstone, as they dive into inflation’s unpredictability and the essentials of great leadership. Rajiv Jain raises caution about the AI boom while Dr. Leonard Kleinrock reminisces on the internet's origins, highlighting valuable lessons for AI. Brock Sutton discusses AI as a general-purpose technology, emphasizing collaboration with humans. Jeffrey Gundlach warns of a new era marked by rising interest rates, while Bob Prince identifies critical U.S. fiscal vulnerabilities.

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INSIGHT

Inflation Is Back And More Volatile

Inflation returns when supply and demand diverge, and profiling generational bias helps explain investor blind spots.
Greg Chernow warns deglobalization, energy transitions, tariffs, and fiscal stimulus make inflation higher and more volatile than recent decades.

ADVICE

Prepare For Inflation Volatility

Expect more inflation volatility rather than a permanently high inflation baseline and prepare for shorter cycles.
Stress test portfolios and plan for more volatile monetary and fiscal policy according to Liz Ann Saunders.

ANECDOTE

Family Motto Became A Leadership Mantra

John Gray describes a family motto, "stay calm, stay positive, never give up," and used it across Blackstone during crises.
He credits equanimity and persistence for steering teams through the financial crisis and COVID disruptions.

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As 2025 draws to a close, we’re proud to present the year’s top 10 insights, ranked from 10 to 1. This episode features the top 5 insights. Last week we unveiled insights 10 through 6.

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(As of December 22, 2025)