The Journal. - The Wall Street Journal & Spotify Studios

Latest Episodes:

The Rise of the Minions Oct 28, 2022

Show notes

Minions, the yellow, pill-shaped sidekicks that debuted in the 2010 animated film “Despicable Me," have emerged as one of the best-known franchises in recent Hollywood history. WSJ’s Erich Schwartzel explains the mix of luck and strategy that made the Minions so successful.

Further Reading:

-How the Minions Became Hollywood’s Mightiest Franchise

Further Listening:

-A Tale of Two Top Guns

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Disney CEO Bob Chapek on Whether the Company Is “Too Woke” Oct 27, 2022

Show notes

Disney CEO Bob Chapek talks with WSJ’s Editor in Chief Matt Murray about the challenges of weathering controversies and keeping his nearly 100 year-old company relevant.

Further Reading and Watching:

-News from WSJ Tech Live 2022

-Video Highlights from WSJ Tech Live 2022

Further Listening:

-How Disney’s CEO Got Caught in Florida’s Fight Over Gay Rights

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The Collapsing U.S.-Saudi Relations Oct 26, 2022

Show notes

An unofficial oil-for-security pact between the U.S. and Saudi Arabia has survived 15 presidents and seven kings, but is now fracturing under two leaders who don’t like each other. WSJ’s Stephen Kalin explains why the U.S. and Saudi Arabia’s relationship has hit a new low.
Further Reading:

- U.S.-Saudi Relations Buckle, Driven by Animosity Between Biden and Mohammed bin Salman

- Saudi Conference Draws Wall Street Executives Amid Strained Ties With U.S.

Further Listening:

- As Saudi Arabia Cools on the U.S., It Warms to China

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Is Big Money Souring Pickleball? Oct 25, 2022

Show notes

Pickleball is a big dill. It’s also the fastest-growing sport in America. Meanwhile, superstar investors like Tom Brady and LeBron James are pouring cash into pro pickleball. WSJ’s Sara Bosworth explains the rise of the paddle sport and why investors are flocking to it.

Further Reading:

-Since When Do Millennials Love Pickleball?

-LeBron James Is Buying a Professional Pickleball Team

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The Rise of Botox and the Wrinkle in Its Future Oct 24, 2022

Show notes

No longer just for celebrities, Botox's multi-billion dollar success has helped kickstart a new industry of medical cosmetic procedures. But now, a competitor is on the horizon. WSJ's Rory Satran and Jared Hopkins on the new anti-wrinkle shot that's trying to take on Botox.

Further Reading:

- FDA Approves New Botox Rival

- Getting Botox Used to Be a Secret. Now It’s Not.

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Why Florida's Coast Is Becoming the 'Preserve of the Wealthy' Oct 21, 2022

Show notes

Stronger hurricanes, higher insurance premiums and stricter building codes are changing who can afford life on the coast. After Hurricane Ian, WSJ's Arian Campo-Flores headed to southwestern Florida to see how the state's coastal communities are faring and transforming.

Further Reading:

- Florida Coastal Living Reshaped by Hurricane Housing Codes

- Hurricane Ian Is Latest Blow to Florida’s Struggling Home Insurers

- Home Buyers Flock to Florida Cities Devastated by Hurricane Ian

- Flattened by Hurricane Michael, Florida Town Tries to Stave Off Big Development

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Will There Be a Recession? America's Top Bankers Weigh In Oct 20, 2022

Show notes

The CEOs of the nation’s largest banks, JPMorgan Chase and Bank of America, are sending different messages about the economy. One is more optimistic, the other more pessimistic. WSJ’s Ben Eisen explains what’s driving their differences.

Further Reading:

- Bank of America CEO’s Optimism Defies Economic Gloom

- Jamie Dimon Says U.S. Consumers Still Have Six to Nine Months of Spending Power

- JP Morgan Chase Earnings Show Economy is Resilient, but Jamie Dimon’s “Hurricane” Looms

Further Listening:

- The Fed’s Plan to Curb Inflation

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How a Miami Couple Used Empty Mansions to Pocket Millions Oct 19, 2022

Show notes

Southern Florida is awash with empty luxury properties. For one Miami couple and their accomplices, that looked like prime hunting ground for nearly $10 million in mortgage fraud. Their targets? Venezuela’s sanctioned elite. As WSJ’s Konrad Putzier reports, it was fun while it lasted.

Further Reading:

- Florida Couple Turned the Empty Miami Mansions of Venezuela’s Elite Into Personal Piggy Banks

Further Listening:

- An Undercover Operation to Reveal an Alleged Ponzi Scheme

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How a New 'Anti-Woke' Bank Stumbled Oct 18, 2022

Show notes

A new banking startup, GloriFi, was created to counter a perception among some conservatives that mainstream banks are too liberal. But despite major investment and celebrity backing, GloriFi now finds itself in disarray and on the verge of bankruptcy. WSJ’s Rachel Ensign breaks down the latest.

Further Reading:

- How a New Anti-Woke Bank Stumbled

- CEO of Anti-Woke Bank Startup GloriFi Resigns

Further Listening:

- Can My Stock Portfolio Save The Planet?

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How Xi Jinping's Dream Slowed China's Economy Oct 17, 2022

Show notes

As China’s top leaders gather for the 20th Communist Party congress, all eyes are on China’s economy. A decade ago, President Xi Jinping set out his “China Dream" and promised it would boost the economy. But as WSJ’s Lingling Wei explains, Xi’s state-centered approach isn’t delivering on that vision.

Further Reading:

- China’s Xi Jinping Stakes Out Ambitions, With Himself at the Center

- China Abruptly Delays GDP Release During Communist Party Conference

- Xi Jinping’s Ideological Ambition Darkens China’s Economic Prospects

Further Listening:

- The Political Cost of China’s Faltering Economy

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