Alex Danco, Director of Product at Shopify, shares his unfiltered views on the decline of Twitter likes and the complexities of social media narratives. He emphasizes the importance of mystery in business and design, stating that intrigue can enhance consumer engagement. Danco also discusses the challenges faced by small businesses navigating profit margins and competition. The conversation touches on evolving strategies in asset management and the necessity of authenticity in education to foster creativity and agency among learners.
01:27:58
forum Ask episode
web_stories AI Snips
view_agenda Chapters
menu_book Books
auto_awesome Transcript
info_circle Episode notes
insights INSIGHT
The Death of Twitter Likes
Hiding likes on Twitter removes a key signal for understanding narratives.
It disrupts the reconstruction of jokes and the identification of influential users.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Discovering Elaine Bennis
Jim O'Shaughnessy recounts discovering the Australian breakdancer Elaine Bennis through memes.
This illustrates how reactions and memes drive engagement and discovery on Twitter.
insights INSIGHT
Where Are the Journalists?
Mainstream media has become less critical of political figures.
Journalists seem to be missing in action on important issues.
Get the Snipd Podcast app to discover more snips from this episode
The Gervais Principle, formulated by Venkatesh G. Rao, is a theory that divides people in organizations into three groups: sociopaths, who are ruthless and power-driven; the clueless, who are unaware of the dynamics and are often manipulated; and losers, who are exploited and lack leverage. This principle offers insights into the complex power dynamics and behaviors within corporate structures, drawing inspiration from the TV show 'The Office'.
The Fifth Science
Exurb1a
The Fifth Science is a collection of 12 interconnected science fiction stories that delve into themes of existentialism, the nature of reality, and the ethical dilemmas posed by scientific progress. Set in a future where humans have mastered the manipulation of matter and consciousness, the narratives challenge readers to consider the consequences of humanity's relentless pursuit of knowledge.
Genius of the Beast
Howard Bloom
In this book, Howard Bloom presents a compelling argument that capitalism, despite its imperfections, is a system that allows the best and brightest to emerge. He advocates for reviving businesses by injecting them with emotion, desire, and passion. Bloom draws on his diverse experiences, from his work in popular culture to his insights into human and mass behavior, to illustrate how all life, from bacteria to human beings, is programmed to flourish under the free market system. The book is filled with personal anecdotes and historical examples, making it both captivating and thought-provoking.
What works on Wall Street
The Classic Guide to the Best-Performing Investment Strategies of All Time
James P. O'Shaughnessy
In 'What Works on Wall Street', James P. O'Shaughnessy provides an in-depth analysis of over 90 years of stock market data to identify the most effective investment strategies. The book examines various factors such as price-to-earnings ratios, price-to-sales, price-to-book value, dividend yields, and more. It challenges conventional wisdom and offers multifactor strategies that have historically generated the best returns. The book is designed to help investors of all levels, from conservative to aggressive, in selecting the best strategies for their investment objectives.
As the saying goes, only three things in life are certain: death, taxes & Alex Danco.
Armed with sizzling hot takes on the sad death of Twitter likes and a new secret weapon in the form of his catchphrase-turned-episode theme (“Without mystery, there is no margin”), Alex returns for his eighth episode.
Despite our intentional lack of preparation, somehow this ended up as one our most cohesive conversations yet.
As usual, we’ve included links and an episode transcript over on our Substack, where we’ve also made the foolhardy attempt to distil one overriding theme from eight episodes of fiercely unstructured, defiantly unplanned, proudly meandering conversation.
Infinite Loops 
