See more music, talk to strangers, play more games.

Ricky Mulvey, Mary Long, and Asit Sharma take a look at the business-adjacent stories that caught their attention over 2024. They discuss:

- The rise of concert ticket prices.

- Why companies trying to solve the loneliness epidemic are in a difficult business.

- The implications of widespread sports gambling.

And a heads-up, Motley Fool Money returns on Friday, December 27.

Companies mentioned: LYV, MTCH, BUMBL, GRND, DKNG, FLUT

Host: Ricky Mulvey

Guests: Mary Long, Asit Sharma

Engineer: Rick Engdahl

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If your company isn’t a growth business, what’s the advantage of being in the public markets?

(00:14) Jim Gillies and Ricky Mulvey discuss:

- Why luxury department stores are struggling.

- Disney spending $645 million to make two seasons of the Star Wars series, Andor in a ten-ish minute discussion.

- What investors should consider before using options to generate income.

Companies discussed: JWN, PTON, DISHost: Ricky Mulvey

Guest: Jim Gillies

Producer: Mary Long

Engineer: Rick Engdahl

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Tom Vice is the CEO of Sierra Space, a company building an end-to-end business and technology platform in space to benefit life on earth. Think, space planes and inflatable space habitats.

Ricky Mulvey caught up with Vice at the Sierra Space headquarters for a show that originally aired on March 30, 2024. They discuss:

- The magic of microgravity, and its impact on everything from biotech and batteries to chemistry and computing.

- How rent works in outer space.

- Defense systems and the hope of a space-based “McDonald’s Effect.”

Companies mentioned: MRK, PFE, MRNA, NVDA

Host: Ricky Mulvey

Guest: Tom Vice

Producer: Mary Long

Engineers: Desireé Jones, Dan Boyd

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For the most part, our phones work about 95% of the time. But head outside of suburbia, and things get patchy quickly. What would it take to close that final 5% gap?

Scott Wisniewski is the President and Chief Strategy Officer of AST Space Mobile, a satellite company that’s trying to bring connectivity literally everywhere – the desert, the ocean, the air, everywhere. Ricky Mulvey caught up with Wisniewski to discuss:

- What universal connectivity actually achieves.

- The operational challenges of getting something as large as a cell tower onto something as small as a rocket.

- And the developing “land grab” in low-earth orbit. 

Companies discussed: ASTS, VOD, VZ, TMUS, 

Host: Ricky Mulvey

Guests: Scott Wisniewski

Producer: Mary Long

Engineers: Rick Engdahl

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For our annual best-of interviews show, we look at the topic of the year – artificial intelligence – through two different lenses: how individuals can put the technology to use, and how companies are using it to make their products better and fuel growth.

(00:33) Wharton Professor Ethan Mollick walks through his four rules for using AI, how he pushes students to use the technology, and the research from his book Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI. 

(19:03) Reddit CEO Steve Huffman explains how the company is harnessing AI to localize content to reach new markets internationally, open up new revenue opportunities, and improve the user experience. 

Stocks discussed: RDDT, GOOG, GOOGL

Host: Dylan Lewis

Guests: Ethan Mollick, Steve Huffman

Engineers: Rick Engdahl

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The S&P 500 is still up about 25% this year, far outpacing historical averages.

(00:14) Anthony Schiavone and Ricky Mulvey discuss:

- Why traders are sour about the recent Fed meeting, and what long-term investors should focus on.

- How American diners are responding to Darden Restaurant Group’s value offers.

- Rising home sales at Redfin.

Then (13:29) Motley Fool Senior Analyst Alicia Alfiere and Mary Long look at Upwork and Fiverr and the gig workplace economy.

Companies discussed: DRI, TXRH, RDFN, FVRR, UPWK

Host: Ricky Mulvey

Guests: Anthony Schiavone, Mary Long, Alicia Alfiere

Engineer: Rick Engdahl

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Who wants to buy a struggling car company? Honda does! Well, maybe.

(00:14) David Meier and Mary Long discuss:

- What merger rumors signal about Nissan’s business.

- How retailers are leaning into the holiday spirit.

- Advice for a seasonal decoration company.

Then (13:56), Stephanie Guild, Robinhood’s Head of Investment Strategy, joins Ricky Mulvey to discuss her outlook for 2025 and what’s excited Robinhood investors in the past year.

CNBC story mentioned: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/18/holiday-decor-spending-could-help-retailers.html

Companies discussed: HMC, NSANY

Host: Mary Long

Guests: David Meier, Stephanie Guild, Ricky Mulvey

Engineers: Rick Engdahl, Desiree Jones

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Investing is a decades-long game.

(00:14) Bill Barker and Ricky Mulvey discuss:

- The Federal Trade Commission’s ruling on junk fees.

- What killed a merger between Kroger and Albertsons.

- How younger investors can prepare for the next bear market.

Then, (17:28) Alison Southwick and Robert Brokamp offer some tips on tax-loss harvesting.

WSJ column discussed: https://www.wsj.com/finance/stocks/why-this-frothy-market-has-me-scared-295c07c3

Companies discussed: KR, ACI, AZO, AAPL, ORLY, SBUX

Host: Ricky Mulvey

Guests: Bill Barker, Alison Southwick, Robert Brokamp

Producer: Mary Long

Engineer: Rick Engdahl

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Thinner, cheaper, and possibly foldable. Apple engineers are working hard to convince you to buy a new phone.

(00:14) Asit Sharma and Ricky Mulvey discuss:

- Microstrategy’s entrance into the NASDAQ 100.

- How Apple is trying to kickstart growth.

- A burgeoning competitor to Uber and Lyft.

Then, (16:56) Motley Fool Senior Analyst Anthony Schiavone joins Mary Long for a look at UPS, and its frenemy relationship with Amazon.

Sign up for Breakfast News, our free daily market email newsletter: www.fool.com/breakfastnews

WSJ Story on Apple: https://www.wsj.com/tech/apple-thin-iphone-foldable-computer-plans-dbb4286c

NYTimes story on Empower: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/technology/empower-ride-hailing-washington-dc.html

Companies discussed: MSTR, AAPL, UBER, LYFT, UPS, AMZN

Host: Ricky Mulvey

Guests: Asit Sharma, Mary Long, Anthony Schiavone

Engineer: Rick Engdahl

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Axon is on a mission to protect life. As the company works to make the bullet obsolete, the stock has soared, up nearly 160% in the past year alone and returning over 100x since going public in 2001. 

Josh Isner is the President of Axon Enterprise and has been with the company for over 15 years. He joins Fool Analyst Jason Moser to discuss: 

- Why Axon is like the Apple of law enforcement.

- How immersive technology improves police training and retention.

- The role of drones and humanoids in public safety. 

Companies discussed: AXON, MSI

Host: Jason Moser

Guests: Matt Frankel

Producer: Mary Long

Engineers: Rick Engdahl

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It’s been a banner year for banks. Even the worst performer among the big players is still up 40% year-to-date. 

Motley Fool contributor Matt Frankel joins Ricky Mulvey for a look back at some of the biggest headlines in the financial sector from the past year. They also discuss:

- Green shoots for the 2025 IPO market.

- Alex Chriss’s first full year at PayPal.

- Two promising payments processors.

Companies discussed: GS, BAC, MS, JPM, PYPL, BOC, FOUR, TOST, SQ, SOFI

Host: Ricky Mulvey

Guests: Matt Frankel

Producer: Mary Long

Engineers: Rick Engdahl

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