The Penta Podcast Channel

Latest Episodes:

Macrocast: The economics of holiday shopping Dec 01, 2023

Show notes

In this week's episode of the Macrocast, hosts Ylan Mui, John Fagan, and Brendan Walsh are joined by Matt Dell Orfano, Discovery Capital senior analyst and professor at Columbia Business School. The group sheds light on holiday shopping activity and its wider impact on the economy, specifically highlighting changes in pricing and shifts in consumer behavior.

The group unpacks credit card usage and debt, and how they're reshaping consumer financing. They cite the steady rise in aggregate credit card debt and discuss how fluctuating wages and inflation could skew future consumer spending habits. The group also discusses the potential repercussions of a Fed policy misstep and the need for small businesses to have adequate access to financing.

Back to the future of money Nov 30, 2023

Show notes

How should we think about the future of money? On this week's episode, join Penta Managing Director Elliott Owensby and Director Oliver Edelmann as they delve into digital currency and its impact on payments. In this discussion, they explore central bank digital currencies (CBDCs), U.S. dollar-backed stablecoins, and insights gleaned from Atlantic Council's "Exploring central bank digital currency" event on November 28-29, 2023. The conversation emphasizes blockchain's transformative potential, the importance of interoperability, and global standards in the evolving financial landscape.

The pair discussed some of the enduring developments following the crypto news boom over the last few years, and the challenges in regulating and governing these projects as the world moves toward a more digital future.

Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of tokenization's role in revolutionizing the financial sector.

*Note: This episode was recorded on November 29, 2023 and references an event that took place the day prior.

Exploring generational labels, values, and culture shifts Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

Explore generational labels and their impact with this week's host Bryan DeAngelis, head of the Washington, D.C. office, and guests Lauren Wolfson, a Penta Partner, and Daniel Cox, Director and Founder of the Survey Center on American Life and senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute (AEI), and Kelsey Eyre Hammond, research associate at the Survey Center on American Life. They delve into recent studies on the key differences between Generation Z and older generations, examining how major events and technology shape each generation's perspective.

The group discusses the effects of the global pandemic on Gen Z's social and educational journey, including personal struggles and weakened social ties. They also address the potential for tech proficiency and social connectivity of generations that have had less exposure to technology than Gen Z. The group also addresses the generational divides and social media's role in responses to the Israel-Hamas conflict and analyzes the decline in institutional trust. Take a listen for a discussion on how these divisions reshape our culture and values.

Macrocast: Giving thanks for economic data Nov 17, 2023

Show notes

What if the slowdown in retail sales and inflation was actually a good sign? Join your hosts Ylan, Brendan, and John, as they discuss the latest on the Federal Reserve. They also chat about lowering inflation and retail sales data, examining how these numbers might be an indicator of the market's cooling phase. With holiday shopping on the horizon, they also weigh in on Walmart CFO's slightly dampened expectations for the season and the role a decrease in food prices is playing in consumer behavior.

As the conversation progresses, Ylan, Brendan, and John also cover the housing market, including the consumer adaptation to steep mortgage rates, and potential ceilings on home prices. The group also breaks down the Fed's stance on rate hikes and their preference for a hard landing over an inflation surge. The group also delves into China's current economic landscape, the country's stimulus attempts, and its relationship with the U.S., including a readout from the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation this week and the news about a potential return for the pandas.

Claudia Goldin and women in the workplace with Betsey Stevenson Nov 10, 2023

Show notes

This week on a crossover episode of What's at Stake and the Macrocast, host Ylan Mui is joined by Betsey Stevenson, economics professor at the University of Michigan, to discuss the real-world impacts of Claudia Goldin's work. This October, Goldin became the first solo woman to win the Nobel Prize in Economics for her work on women's labor market outcomes and the gender pay gap. Goldin was Stevenson's mentor and professor at Harvard, and Stevenson provides incredible insights into Goldin's groundbreaking research.
A former member of the Council of Economic Advisers under President Obama and former Chief Economist of the U.S. Department of Labor, Stevenson herself is a leading expert on women's labor market experiences and the economic forces shaping the modern family. Tune in to hear an illuminating conversation about the importance of flexibility in the workplace, "greedy" jobs, and more.

Introducing Penta's Asia team! Nov 08, 2023

Show notes

On this week's special edition of What's at Stake, join us as we journey through Asia's business landscape with Penta Managing Directors Deb Giam and Thomas Kwan, hosted by D.C.-based Partner Bryan DeAngelis. From their offices in Singapore and Hong Kong, the guests share data-informed insights on global trends, environmental concerns, geopolitical tensions, and economic growth in the region, drawing from their extensive corporate and financial experience.

In the discussion, the group uncovers how Penta provides objective perspectives through data intelligence and analysis of government action to equip clients to navigate crises. Tune in to hear more!

Macrocast: Powell's balancing act Nov 03, 2023

Show notes

In this week's episode of the Macrocast, John and Brendan of Markets Policy Partners, alongside guest host Bryan DeAngelis, Partner and Head of the Washington Office at Penta Group, dissect the Federal Reserve's decision to maintain status quo and Chairman Powell's understated approach. They also weigh in on potential economic storm clouds such as China's economic outlook, rising energy costs, and the impending government shutdown. The latest jobs report revealed a major slowdown in job gains, but our hosts contextualize the data by calling out events, like the UAW strike, that may have contributed to lower numbers. Additionally, they discuss how the upcoming electoral season's uncertainty could possibly sway the Fed's behavior.

Matt McDonald on The Crux: Engaging Stakeholders in a Volatile & Digital World Oct 30, 2023

Show notes

This week for What's at Stake, we're cross-posting an episode from communications podcast, The Crux. Penta's President Matt McDonald joined the Crux with Gary Sheffer, Professor of Public Relations at Boston University, and Mike Fernandez, Chief Communications Officer at Enbridge to talk about Penta's work and the latest issues at the forefront of public affairs and communications.

The conversation focused on explaining Penta's unique approach to counseling our clients on public affairs and communications challenges. It also covered Matt's tips on how business leaders can decide when and how to weigh in on social and political issues and current events, including asking questions about the event's relevance and severity and how to weigh in proactively on relevant issues during "quiet times." The episode also covered the latest on AI and the advice Penta is giving our clients on the technology: embrace it.

Tune in!
Listen to more episodes of The Crux here.

Macrocast: Retail therapy or essentials only? Oct 27, 2023

Show notes

In this week's episode of the Macrocast episode, Ylan, Brendan, and John guide us through core PCE inflation rates, GDP surprises, and Fed Chair Powell's likely next moves. Looking forward to 2024, they predict what a recession would mean for presidential campaigns and the future president elect. They also examine how major players like the European Central Bank and President Trump have been influencing economic policies and markets around the world. Ylan, John, and Brendan also chat about how the powerful U.S. dollar is affecting exports and emerging markets, and how countries like Japan and China are fighting to stabilize their own currencies. They wrap up with a conversation about the joy of affordable Halloween fun during a year of record-breaking holiday spending.

Generative AI brings new brand risks. Are businesses prepared? Oct 26, 2023

Show notes

Today, we're re-running one of our favorite episodes of What's at Stake. Generative AI is as relevant as ever—this week, Senator Schumer held the second of what is expected to be several AI Insights fora and President Biden is widely expected to issue a long-awaited Executive Order next week. In this converastion, Bryan DeAngelis, Andrea Christianson, Oliver Edelmann, and Blake McGill break down Penta's new framework to help companies assess the brand risks of AI. After describing some of the scenarios when a brand may be at risk from AI, Bryan, Andrea, Oliver, and Blake discuss how Penta is helping companies think through minimizing that risk.

The group discusses how companies convening the right group of experts, including staff from legal, HR, IT, communications, and other departments, is crucial to ensure that the company's brand is not negatively impacted by its use of, or policy on, AI technology. Companies must also audit their current and future use of AI to triage areas of potential internal, external, and personal risk. Despite the risks, the group explains that generative AI technology is here to stay, and companies must engage to minimize brand risks.

For more on how companies should think about the impact of AI on their brand, read our full AI brand risk framework.