
After Hours
Harvard Business School professors discuss and debate current events that sit at the crossroads of business and culture. Youngme Moon, Mihir Desai, and Felix Oberholzer-Gee engage in a spirited discussion on a range of topics torn from the headlines — from Facebook, to free trade, to the #MeToo movement. Informed by their unique expertise as professors at one of the world’s leading business schools, their takes are always surprising, unconventional, and insightful. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Latest episodes

Nov 17, 2021 • 40min
Can Hertz turn it around? Are Crocs back? Plus, Are Generational Stereotypes Fair?
Youngme, Felix and Mihir discuss whether Hertz can make a comeback, why everyone seems to be wearing Crocs, and whether generational stereotypes are accurate or helpful.Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites:My Climate (website)Notability (app)In Case You Get Hit By A Bus (Abby Schneiderman and Adam Seifer) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 10, 2021 • 42min
Intel Attempts a Turnaround; Plus Zillow, Utopian Cities, and More
Youngme, Felix and Mihir discuss Intel’s attempts to stage a turnaround in the all-important chip industry; plus Zillow, utopian cities, and more.Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites:· Izipizi Eyewear· Far Flung: A Black Utopia in North Carolina (podcast)· A History of Future Cities (Daniel Brook) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Nov 3, 2021 • 35min
How Much Should We Fear Inflation? Plus, The Meta Rebrand and More
Youngme, Felix and Mihir discuss how fearful we should be about inflation; they also discuss the Facebook rebranding (Meta) and the prospects for Snap.Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites:Kottke.orgThe French Dispatch (Wes Anderson)Patagonia Provisions Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

19 snips
Oct 27, 2021 • 41min
Is Netflix winning the Streaming Wars?
Youngme, Felix and Mihir discuss the long-term sustainability of Netflix’s content strategy; plus content trends in streaming.Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites:Summer of Soul (Questlove)The Velvet Underground (Apple TV+)Beethoven x The AI Project (YouTube)Have We Already Been Visited By Aliens? (The New Yorker)Extraterrestrial: The First Sign of Intelligent Life Beyond Earth (Avi Loeb)We invite you to email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: afterhours@hbs.edu. You can also follow Youngme and Mihir on Twitter at: @YoungmeMoon and @DesaiMihirA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

7 snips
Oct 20, 2021 • 44min
Nike, Walmart, and Costco Defying the Odds, plus Letters from Listeners
Youngme, Felix and Mihir discuss how legacy retailers like Nike, Walmart and Costco have managed to defy the odds and outperform expectations, despite an onslaught of fresh competition. They also respond to more letters from listeners, including questions about President Biden’s $3.5 trillion spending plan and more. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites:The Rescue (National Geographic documentary) Seinfeld (Netflix)Weeds (Netflix)The Best Tinned FishWe invite you to email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: afterhours@hbs.edu. You can also follow Youngme and Mihir on Twitter at: @YoungmeMoon and @DesaiMihirA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 13, 2021 • 48min
Rivian Electric Vehicles, Duolingo, Gingko Bioworks, Moderna, Unicorn Valuations, Facebook, and More
Youngme, Felix, and Mihir discuss the red hot IPO market, highlighting a few of the companies reflecting a “sign of the times” including: Rivian Automotive, Duolingo, and life science companies like Gingko Bioworks and Moderna. They also answer a few letters from listeners, including questions about the soaring valuations of private company unicorns, the latest Facebook scandal, and more.Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites:· Private Company Unicorns (Crunchbase)· Run for Office (Snapchat Mini)· Career and Family (Claudia Goldin)· Journey Across a Century of Women (Claudia Goldin)· How to Make Ppopgi (Honeycomb Candy, as featured in Squid Game) We invite you to email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: afterhours@hbs.edu. You can also follow Youngme and Mihir on Twitter at: @YoungmeMoon and @DesaiMihirA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Oct 6, 2021 • 40min
The Global Housing Crisis, Amazon’s Newest Employee Benefit, Women Outpacing Men in College Enrollments, Carbon Capture Goes Online, and More
Housing prices are on the rise in cities all around the world, and Youngme, Felix and Mihir discuss whether there’s an end in sight. Plus they discuss other headlines, including: Amazon’s decision to start paying for college tuition for its workers; women outpacing men in college enrollments; the first major carbon capture facility going online; and more.Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites:· Ministry for the Future (Kim Stanley Robinson)· Buddenbrooks (Thomas Mann)· Songs of GastarbeiterWe invite you to email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: afterhours@hbs.edu. You can also follow Youngme and Mihir on Twitter at: @YoungmeMoon and @DesaiMihirA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 29, 2021 • 41min
Why Are Shelves Still Empty? Supply Chain Woes, plus Other Economic Takeaways from the Pandemic
Why are items still missing from grocery store shelves? Why are package deliveries being delayed? Youngme, Felix and Mihir unpack the global supply chain mess, while warning listeners to start their holiday shopping early! They also share their personal economic takeaways from the pandemic.Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites:· The White Lotus (HBO)· Flour Water Salt Yeast (by Ken Forkish)We invite you to email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: afterhours@hbs.edu. You can also follow Youngme and Mihir on Twitter at: @YoungmeMoon and @DesaiMihirA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 22, 2021 • 41min
Has Apple Peaked? Plus, Celebrities Changing Hollywood
It’s been 10 years since the death of Steve Jobs. Has Apple peaked after 10 years of Tim Cook’s leadership or is the best yet to come? Youngme, Felix and Mihir debate the prospects for Apple; they then discuss the celebrities changing the way Hollywood does business, including Reese Witherspoon, Rihanna, and more.Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites:· Google Lens (App)· PictureThis (Botanist in your pocket App)· Libby (Library App, by Overdrive)We invite you to email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: afterhours@hbs.edu. You can also follow Youngme and Mihir on Twitter at: @YoungmeMoon and @DesaiMihirA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 snips
Sep 15, 2021 • 42min
China Cracks Down, Fox Launches a Weather Channel, Visa Buys an NFT, and More
Youngme, Mihir and Felix talk about how to make sense of China’s crackdown on industries ranging from Big Tech to Videogaming. They also share thoughts on other stories in the news, including people behaving badly on planes, Fox launching a Weather Channel, Visa buying an NFT, and Boston Dynamics’ latest robot video. Recent picks, and recommended reading/websites:· Boston Dynamics Robots in Action· What Bobby McIlvane Left Behind (by Jennifer Senior in The Atlantic)· NYC Epicenters 9/11-2021 (Spike Lee documentary on HBO)· Crash Landing on You (Netflix)· Formula 1: Drive to Survive (Netflix)We invite you to email your comments and ideas for future episodes to: afterhours@hbs.edu. You can also follow Youngme and Mihir on Twitter at: @YoungmeMoon and @DesaiMihirA. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.