Episode 158 — A Significant Shift

Episode 158 — A Significant Shift

Author: Ben Thompson / James Allworth January 11, 2019 Duration: 48:34
Ben and James discuss Apple’s revenue warning and the company’s shift to services. Links Ben Thompson: Apple’s Errors — Stratechery Letter from Tim Cook to Apple Investors — Apple Ben Thompson: Two Bears — Stratechery Ben Thompson: Apple’s China Problem — Stratechery Ben Thompson: CES and the Unification of Computing and Consumer Electronics, Google Assistant and Integration, The Modular Competition — Stratechery Daily Update Ben Thompson: The Android Detour — Stratechery Ben Thompson: Apple Should Buy Netflix — Stratechery Hosts Ben Thompson, @benthompson, Stratechery James Allworth, @jamesallworth, Harvard Business Review Podcast Information Feed iTunes SoundCloud Twitter Feedback

Hosted by Ben Thompson and James Allworth, Exponent is a conversation that digs into the deeper currents shaping our world. The discussion moves beyond mere gadget reviews or Silicon Valley hype, focusing instead on how technology fundamentally reshapes business models, industries, and the very fabric of society. Thompson, known for his Stratechery blog on tech business strategy, and Allworth, a writer and co-author of "How Will You Measure Your Life," bring distinct but complementary perspectives. Each episode feels like a thoughtful dialogue, where ideas are examined from multiple angles. You’ll hear them analyze how a single platform can upend entire sectors, or debate the societal trade-offs that come with rapid innovation. This podcast is for anyone who wants to understand not just what is happening in tech, but why it matters. The conversations are detailed and often forward-looking, connecting strategic insights with their broader human implications. Listening feels like being a fly on the wall for a compelling weekly discussion between two sharp observers, making sense of the complex forces driven by technology.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

Exponent
Podcast Episodes
Episode 127 — The Worst-Case Scenario [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:26
Ben and James discuss Facebook and where both its critics and executives go wrong. It’s time for everyone to consider the worst-case scenarios. NOTE: We unfortunately had significant audio issues this week on both sides…
Episode 126 — Getting to the Future Faster [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:11
Ben and James discuss the development of theory, why blogs have disrupted books, and why too many in tech are too pessimistic about humanity. Presented by MailChimp Links Ben Thompson: Defining Aggregators — Stratechery…
Episode 125 — The Super-Aggregators [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:08:51
Ben and James discuss the different levels of aggregation, Facebook and Russian ads, and why it’s worth defending the future. Presented by MailChimp Links Ben Thompson: The Super-Aggregators and the Russians — Stratecher…
Episode 124 — The Watch, The Phone, The Beatles [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:43
Ben and James discuss Apple’s the cellular Apple Watch, the iPhone X and 8 markets, and whether the opening was over-the-top. Presented by MailChimp Links Episode 018: Agree to Disagree — Exponent Ben Thompson: The Lesso…
Episode 123 — There Is No Going Back [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 55:00
Ben and James discuss the why it is Ben can’t stop talking about Aggregation Theory, and the future of regulation. Presented by MailChimp Links Episode 016: Naked People (James first trip to Burning Man) — Exponent Ben T…
Episode 122 — From Intel to Disney [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:05
Ben and James discuss the Theory of the Conservation of Attractive Profits, Intel, Netflix, and how it all applies to Disney. Presented by MailChimp Links Ben Thompson: Disney’s Choice — Stratechery Ben Thompson: Disney…
Episode 121 — The Uber Mutation [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:57
Ben and James discuss Benchmark’s lawsuit against Uber and Cloudfare’s ban of Daily Stormer. Presented by MailChimp Links Ben Thompson: The Uber Dilemma — Stratechery Ben Thompson: Venture Capital and the Internet’s Impa…
Episode 120 — Google, Antitrust, and Aggregation Theory [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:38
Ben and James discuss the European Commission’s antitrust ruling against Google and the challenges of antitrust in a world governed by Aggregation Theory. Presented by MailChimp Links Ben Thompson: Ends, Means, and Antit…
Episode 119 — Amazon and Avocados [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:54
Ben and James discuss Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods, when acquisitions make sense, and the potential future of antitrust law. Presented by MailChimp Links Ben Thompson: Amazon’s New Customer — Stratechery Ben Thomp…
Episode 118 — Podcasting and Centralization [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:02:30
Ben and James discuss the business of podcasting specifically and advertising generally, and why Apple’s recent changes will have less of an effect than people think. Presented by MailChimp Links Ben Thompson: Podcasts,…