The Diff
Byrne Hobart
The Diff is a newsletter exploring the technologies, companies, and trends that are making the future high-variance. Posts range from in-depth company profiles, applied financial theory, strategy breakdowns and macroeconomics.
Episodes
Mentioned books
Apr 22, 2024 • 16min
Who's Afraid of Index Funds?
This is an audio version of the free newsletter. Read the newsletter at thediff.co, and subscribe for an additional 3 posts (and podcasts!) per week.
(00:00) - Who's Afraid of Index Funds?
(10:25) - The Market for Data
(11:52) - Crowded Careers
(12:42) - Black Boxes, Everywhere
(13:32) - Externalities
(14:45) - Intra-Elite Conflict
Apr 15, 2024 • 12min
Most Market Phenomena are Older than they Look
This is an audio version of the free newsletter. Read the newsletter at thediff.co, and subscribe for an additional 3 posts (and podcasts!) per week.
(00:00) - Most Market Phenomena are Older than they Look
(06:58) - Labor Arbitrage
(07:40) - Reddit and Search
(09:23) - On-Prem
(10:21) - Audience of One
(11:07) - Ads Everywhere
Apr 8, 2024 • 15min
The Data Business, At Three Resolutions
This is an audio version of the free newsletter. Read the newsletter at thediff.co, and subscribe for an additional 3 posts (and podcasts!) per week.
(00:00) - The Data Business, At Three Resolutions
(08:45) - The Instagram Numbers
(09:57) - Trader Pay
(11:08) - The Distribution of Near-Misses
(12:54) - Benefits
(13:34) - Funding Cycles
Apr 1, 2024 • 13min
Algorithmic Collusion
This is an audio version of the free newsletter. Read the newsletter at thediff.co, and subscribe for an additional 3 posts (and podcasts!) per week.
(00:00) - Algorithmic Collusion
(08:38) - Operationalizing Secrecy
(09:36) - Product Convergence
(10:00) - Black Box Update
(10:49) - Data Scarcity
(11:41) - Cash Management
Mar 25, 2024 • 13min
The Duolingo Disaster That Wasn't
This is an audio version of the free newsletter. Read the newsletter at thediff.co, and subscribe for an additional 3 posts (and podcasts!) per week.
(00:00) - The Duolingo Disaster That Wasn't
(07:34) - Chatbots
(08:31) - Alpha Capture
(09:45) - Coreweave
(10:58) - Preannouncements
(11:41) - AI's ROI
Mar 18, 2024 • 12min
The Case for Marking More to Market
This is an audio version of the free newsletter. Read the newsletter at thediff.co, and subscribe for an additional 3 posts (and podcasts!) per week.
(00:00) - The Case for Marking More to Market
(06:47) - Petrodollar Recycling
(07:44) - Importing Talent
(08:19) - Self-Regulation
(09:38) - Apple/Google
(10:39) - Exits
Mar 11, 2024 • 10min
Death Spirals
This is an audio version of the free newsletter. Read the newsletter at thediff.co, and subscribe for an additional 3 posts (and podcasts!) per week.
(00:00) - Death Spirals
(05:19) - Ads!
(06:10) - Healthcare and Insurance
(07:01) - Transition Economics
(07:46) - Volatility
(08:49) - Strategic Investments
Mar 4, 2024 • 13min
Should You Hedge It All?
This is an audio version of the free newsletter. Read the newsletter at thediff.co, and subscribe for an additional 3 posts (and podcasts!) per week.
(00:00) - Should You Hedge It All?
(07:22) - Apple Car
(08:35) - State-Directed Investment
(09:26) - Flywheels and Bubbles
(10:28) - Inflation Impacts
(11:42) - Vertical Integration
Feb 26, 2024 • 15min
Exposed! Your Torrid Love Affair With Airline Fees
This is an audio version of the free newsletter. Read the newsletter at thediff.co, and subscribe for an additional 3 posts (and podcasts!) per week.
(00:00) - Exposed! Your Torrid Love Affair With Airline Fees
(08:43) - Malicious Compliance
(11:01) - Sanctions and Third Countries
(12:00) - Bing and BATNAs
(13:19) - Celebrity Endorsements and Binary Outcomes
(14:10) - Supply/Demand Balance
Feb 20, 2024 • 16min
Building for Power Users
This is an audio version of the free newsletter. Read the newsletter at thediff.co, and subscribe for an additional 3 posts (and podcasts!) per week.
(00:00) - Building for Power Users
(10:16) - Adtech and "Sky Bridges"
(11:04) - SuperMicro!
(12:57) - GDP YoY
(13:43) - Black Boxes
(14:43) - Pods and Cycles
