The Best One Yet

🏀 “3-Pointer Economics” — NBA’s shot problem. Zelle is beating Venmo. Jamie Dimon’s rant.

Feb 18, 2025

Zelle is taking the lead in peer-to-peer payments, leaving Venmo in the dust. Meanwhile, the NBA faces a three-point shooting dilemma fueled by economic factors. Jamie Dimon’s fiery comments on remote work spark a debate about workplace engagement. Additionally, uncover the quirky origin story of the Patagonia fleece, highlighting its sustainable practices. Tune in for insights that blend business trends with fascinating stories!

23:12

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Zelle's dominance in digital payments stems from its direct bank integration, eclipsing Venmo and Cash App's reliance on digital wallets.

The NBA's excessive focus on three-point shooting is diminishing fan engagement, indicating a need for strategic changes to restore excitement.

Deep dives

Zelle Surpasses Competitors

Zelle has emerged as a dominant player in the digital payments space, surpassing Venmo and Cash App combined by processing over $1 trillion in annual transactions. This growth is attributed to its integration with major banks, enabling instant transfers directly from bank accounts without additional wallet transfers required by its competitors. With 151 million Zelle accounts compared to Venmo's 60 million and Cash App's 24 million, Zelle's user base is nearly double that of these popular alternatives. Essentially, Zelle operates more like a utility in finance, designed by major banks to disrupt the disruptive fintech services that posed a threat to traditional banking.

Intro

4min

Zelle's Rise and Market Dynamics

14min

Critique of Remote Work Culture and the Value of Commuting

5min

Gold Arbitrage and Vermont's Independence

2min

Celebrating Connections and New Beginnings

3min

Venmo & Cash App are getting crushed by Zelle… The boringest app disrupted the disruptors.

The NBA has a problem: Too many 3-pointers… but there’s an economic reason for them.

Jamie Dimon just went on an expletive-laced rant about Work From Home… and we got the tapes.

Plus, the untold origin story of… The Patagonia Fleece.

$XYZ $JPM $BAC

Want more business storytelling from us? Check out the latest episode of our new weekly deepdive show about the Patagonia Fleece 🐑. Subscribe to The Best Idea Yet: Wondery.fm/TheBestIdeaYetLinks to listen.

“The Best Idea Yet”: The untold origin stories of the products you’re obsessed with — From the McDonald’s Happy Meal to Birkenstock’s sandal to Nintendo’s Super Mario Brothers to Sriracha. New 45-minute episodes drop weekly.

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