🎙️Episode 023: Coffee, Chips, and Consumer Psychology

📚 Reading Habits – Leisure reading has dropped about 10% since 2003, but small daily habits like reading 10–15 minutes can help rebuild the routine.

💰 The Decoy Effect – Businesses use a third pricing option to nudge consumers toward a more profitable choice.

☕ Rising Coffee Prices – Coffee prices have more than doubled since 2020, largely due to climate-driven heat stress on crops.

⚡ Coffee & Productivity – Moderate coffee consumption may improve alertness, mood, and even social connection.

😴 Falling Asleep Faster – People who sleep quickly often manage stress well and keep consistent sleep routines.

💻 AI in Apple Notes – Upcoming updates may allow hands-free note creation and organization through Siri and AI.

🚀 Apple’s M5 Chips – The new M5 Pro and M5 Max promise major gains in CPU, graphics, and AI performance.

🖖 Star Trek Pause – For the first time in over a decade, no Star Trek series are currently in production.

🎮 Next Xbox – Microsoft is developing Project Helix, a next-gen console blending PC and console gaming.

⚾ Druw Jones & Team Netherlands – He qualifies for the Dutch team through his father’s birthplace, Curaçao.

📺 Friday Night Baseball – Apple TV+ resumes weekly MLB doubleheaders starting March 27.

🧀 Packers Ticket Policy – Season-ticket holders who repeatedly resell seats could lose them.

----------------------------

Sources:

Education

https://www.popsci.com/health/how-to-rebuild-your-reading-habits/

Economics

https://www.thecooldown.com/outdoors/coffee-price-increase-reason-climate-change/

https://www.earthsattractions.com/decoy-effect-pricing-strategy/

Productivity

https://www.earthsattractions.com/international-coffee-day-coffee-morning-routine-mental-health/

https://www.yourtango.com/self/specific-traits-of-people-who-fall-asleep-instantly

Technology

https://www.talkandroid.com/520540-youll-never-take-notes-the-same-way-again-after-this-surprising-update/

https://www.macrumors.com/2026/03/03/apple-debuts-m5-pro-and-m5-max-chips/

Entertainment 

https://nerdist.com/article/no-star-trek-tv-production-or-greenlit-first-time-since-2015/

https://mashable.com/article/microsoft-confirms-project-helix-next-gen-xbox-gaming-console

Sports

https://www.sportskeeda.com/baseball/news-why-american-druw-jones-playing-netherlands-world-baseball-classic-all-need-know-outfielder-s-dutch-connection-4aa84891

https://9to5mac.com/2026/03/11/major-league-baseball-on-apple-tv-returns-soon-heres-whats-coming/

https://www.nbcsports.com/nfl/profootballtalk/rumor-mill/news/packers-warn-season-ticket-holders-who-repeatedly-resell

----------------------------

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🎙️Episode 022: Stream, Sleep, Score

📚 Education: AI is changing how we assess learning—focus on thinking, reasoning, and the learning process, not just the final product.

🛒 Economics: Hawaii, Alaska, and several mainland states top the list for high grocery bills due to geography, labor, and infrastructure.

📝 Productivity: Handwritten to-do lists reveal habits, stress management, and thinking styles that digital lists can’t capture.

📖 Technology: E-readers may help you fall asleep faster than paper books by reducing physical and cognitive effort.

🎬 Entertainment: Amazon’s Fire TV gets a sleek redesign, and Apple TV streams big-name sports to restaurants and bars.

🎮 Gaming: Xbox names AI-focused executive Asha Sharma as new CEO, signaling a tech-driven shift in leadership.

⚾ Sports: MLB removes on-screen ball/strike indicators and introduces new rules; Diamondbacks could see realignment.

🏈 College Football: Detroit’s GameAbove Sports Bowl canceled amid declining attendance and playoff-era changes.

----------------------------

Sources:

Education

https://www.fastcompany.com/91496903/its-time-to-rethink-assessment-for-learning 

Economics

https://www.worldatlas.com/society/10-u-s-states-with-the-highest-grocery-bills.html 

Productivity

https://parade.com/living/traits-of-people-who-write-to-do-lists-by-hand-according-to-psychologist

Technology

https://www.androidpolice.com/e-readers-better-for-sleep-than-traditional-books-researcher-claims/

Entertainment 

https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/amazons-fire-tv-redesign-is-rolling-out-today-150000988.html

https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/02/19/apple-tv-f1-mls-mlb-streaming-reach-expands-to-bars-restaurants

https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xboxs-leadership-shift-proves-it-the-gamer-era-is-over-ai-runs-the-show-now

Sports

https://www.thebiglead.com/mlb-announces-that-they-will-no-longer-show-if-a-pitch-is-a-ball-or-strike-during-game-broadcasts-with-abs-taking-over/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/berniepleskoff/2026/02/24/major-league-baseball-adds-three-new-rules-for-2026-season/

https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/realignment/3612009/

https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/ncaaf/2026/02/10/detroit-bowl-game-canceled-college-football-motor-city-gameabove-sports-quick-lane/88613177007/

----------------------------

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🎙️Episode 021: From Courtrooms to Cameras: Tech Transforming Life

🎓 Education: Forbes’ Jay Adkisson says AI could replace law schools, making legal education cheaper, practical, and personalized. AI could teach contracts, motions, and legal analysis while supporting online networking. ⚖️🤖💰

💼 Economics: Josh D’Amaro becomes Disney CEO on March 18, 2026, focusing on parks, cruises, live events, and streaming. His 28+ years in Parks & Experiences ensure continuity. 🎢🏰📈

📈 Productivity: James Clear (Atomic Habits) shows small, consistent habits compound into major results—a lesson from recovering from a teen injury. 🏋️‍♂️📘✨

📱 Technology:

• Apple TV 4K: Fast, smooth, integrates with iPhone, supports Apple Arcade, and stays updated. 📺🍏

• Phone Cameras: Scan docs, translate text, measure objects, ID plants/animals, track health, enhance AR. 📸🌎🧾

🎬 Streaming: Netflix, YouTube, and Prime expand sports fandom with live games, shows, and docs for cord‑never audiences. ⚽📺🔥

🎮 Video Games: Blizzard turns 35, celebrating Warcraft, Diablo, and Overwatch; innovation continues under Microsoft. 🕹️🏰💥

🏀 Basketball: Suns’ Kevin Johnson recalls guarding Jordan in Game 3 of ’93 Finals; 62 mins, 25 points, 9 assists. 🔥⛹️‍♂️

⚾ Baseball: Zac Gallen returns to Diamondbacks on a one-year, mostly deferred deal, reuniting with Merrill Kelly. ⚾💪

🏈 Packers: Green Bay keeps coach LaFleur, GM Gutekunst, and EVP Ball, showing confidence after 2025. 🟢🏟️

🏈 ASU: Sun Devils optimistic for 2026; WR Omarion Miller highlighted, Kyson Brown leads running game. 🏈🔥

----------------------------

Sources:

Education

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jayadkisson/2026/02/08/ai-can-replace-law-schools-and-should/ 

Economics

https://www.techradar.com/streaming/entertainment/disneys-new-ceo-comes-from-parks-and-it-could-change-how-you-experience-the-magic 

Productivity

https://www.inc.com/steve-strauss/how-atomic-habits-author-james-clear-learned-that-tiny-changes-create-extraordinary-results/91297046 

Technology

https://www.pocket-lint.com/why-you-still-need-an-apple-tv/ 

https://www.makeuseof.com/phone-camera-uses-besides-photography/ 

Entertainment 

https://www.thewrap.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/2026-In-The-Frame_NRG_TheWrap-Pro.pdf

https://www.tomshardware.com/video-games/warcraft-overwatch-and-diablo-studio-blizzard-entertainment-hits-35-years-old-marks-its-first-milestone-under-microsoft-gaming 

Sports

https://www.basketballnetwork.net/latest-news/kevin-johnson-recalls-his-church-visit-before-guarding-michael-jordan-in-1993-nba-finals 

https://arizonasports.com/mlb/arizona-diamondbacks/zac-gallen-back/3611885/

https://atozsports.com/nfl/green-bay-packers-news/president-ed-policy-confirms-suspicion-about-leadership-group-matt-lafleur-brian-gutekunst-russ-ball/

https://www.si.com/college/arizonastate/sun-devils-football-legend-selects-next-star-within-program- 

----------------------------

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You & I both get a free month of Setapp with a paid subscription: ⁠https://go.setapp.com/invite/f12ydwun⁠⁠

If you liked what you heard today, please be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes.  If you want to find me between episodes, I am often on MacVoices Live, which records on Tuesday evenings 8PM eastern, 5PM pacific.

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🎙️Episode 020:Spending, Schooling & Screens

🎓 Even a few missed school days can hurt long-term learning.

💸 U.S. consumer confidence drops to its lowest in over a decade.

🤖 AI may save execs time ⏳, but most employees see little benefit.

📧 Don’t click sketchy unsubscribe links—stay safe and spam-free 🚫.

📺 Apple TV needs a sports tab ⚽🏀, Shrinking Season 3 returns 🌱, and Xbox fans get Forza Horizon 6, Kiln, and Fable news 🎮.

😂 Not a sponsor, but imagine LifeOptimizer 9000™ handling school, work, inboxes, and gaming—life made “easy” (if it existed).

🏀⚾🏈 NBA, MLB, and NFL updates round out the episode.

----------------------------

Sources:

Education

https://www.edweek.org/leadership/absenteeism-may-hurt-academics-long-before-it-becomes-chronic/2026/01

Economics

https://www.reuters.com/business/us-consumer-confidence-slumps-january-level-last-seen-2014-2026-01-27/

Productivity

https://mashable.com/article/ai-report-time-saved-workplace-executives-workers

Technology

https://www.fastcompany.com/91472824/dont-click-email-unsubscribe-link-do-this-instead-subscription-cancel-opt-out

Entertainment 

https://thestreamable.com/feature-apple-tv-needs-to-add-sports-tab

https://www.ign.com/articles/shrinking-season-3-review

https://www.windowscentral.com/gaming/xbox/everything-announced-during-the-xbox-developer-direct-2026-forza-horizon-6-fable-beast-of-reincarnation-and-more

Sports

https://www.nba.com/allstar/2026

https://apnews.com/article/costas-nbc-baseball-nba-556ff7a0562fbd70c75c585e3f13a00f

https://arizonasports.com/nfl/arizona-cardinals/jonathan-gannon-packers/3609658/

----------------------------

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🎙️Episode 019: From Classrooms to Courts: AI, Sports, and Productivity

🌐 AI in Schools: AI translation tools help K–12 schools break language barriers and boost family engagement 🏫🗣️ (Erin Brereton, EdTech Magazine).

👩‍💼 Teen Jobs: AI automation is shrinking entry-level job opportunities for teens 🤖💼 (NPR’s The Indicator).

🏀 Phoenix Suns: Owner Mat Ishbia confident in the current roster, no rush for trades before Feb. 5 🏟️🔥 (Bailey Leasure, Arizona Sports).

⚾ MLB In-Season Tournament: Debate heats up—money grab or Manfred genius? 💰⚾ (Zachary Rotman, Fansided).

🏈 Packers Recap: Frustrating season ends; offseason focus on roster building 📉📈.

🏟️ ASU Football: Transfer portal updates bring new talent for 2026 rebuild 🏈⭐.

🤖 Not a Sponsor: Omni-Translator 3000 helps with teen jobs, sports stats, and language chaos…fictionally, of course! 😂💬.

🛠️ Productivity Tips: Smooth workflows, centralizing tasks, time-blocking, and energy management boost creative output ⚡📋 (Shrey Kant, Segmind).

🍎 Apple Updates: iWork apps remain free, but Apple Creator Studio subscription adds premium tools for pros 💻📊 (Amber Neely, AppleInsider).

🚀 Entertainment: Star Trek: Starfleet Academy returns with the Doctor teaching new cadets 🖖🕰️ (Jeremy Mathai, Slashfilm).

🎮 Xbox Gaming: Developer_Direct on Jan 22 shows Fable, Forza Horizon 6, and behind-the-scenes insights 🎮✨ (Joe Skrebels, Xbox Wire).

----------------------------

Sources:

Education

https://edtechmagazine.com/k12/article/2025/12/ai-translation-breaks-down-language-barriers-k-12-schools

Economics

https://www.npr.org/transcripts/nx-s1-5672389

Sports

https://arizonasports.com/nba/phoenix-suns/ishbia-trade-deadline/3608010/

https://fansided.com/mlb/mlb-season-tournament-craven-moneygrab-stroke-manfred-genius

https://arizonasports.com/ncaa/arizona-state-football/sam-leavitt-lsu/3607377/

https://arizonasports.com/ncaa/arizona-state-football/transfer-tracker-update-2/3604481/

Productivity

https://blog.segmind.com/creative-workflow-hacks-productivity/

Technology

https://appleinsider.com/articles/26/01/13/pages-numbers-and-keynote-are-still-mostly-free-but-we-dont-like-the-trend

Entertainment 

https://www.slashfilm.com/2074968/roberto-ricardo-doctor-look-different-act-same-star-trek-stafleet-academy/

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2026/01/08/xbox-developer-direct-2026/

----------------------------

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🎙️Episode 018: Motivation, Meaning, and Momentum

🎓 Education

Motivation isn’t magic — it’s built intentionally by helping students understand the why, balancing intrinsic drive with meaningful feedback.

💰 Economics

A new AP-NORC poll shows many Americans are skipping year-end charitable giving as inflation and financial pressure squeeze household budgets.

🏀 Sports | Phoenix Suns

The Suns’ Season of Giving highlighted how teams can make a lasting community impact beyond wins and losses.

🏈 Sports | NFL Playoffs

Wildcard weekend is here, with the Packers hoping to overcome injuries and make a deep postseason run.

🔱 College Football | ASU

Arizona State rewarded its rapid turnaround by extending coach Kenny Dillingham and investing heavily in long-term program stability.

🧠 Not a Sponsor

Showing up and sticking to fundamentals still matter — in education, sports, charities, and rebuilding years.

🍳 Productivity

Skipping breakfast often reflects busy, high-stress lifestyles rather than laziness, shaping energy and eating patterns throughout the day.

🥽 Technology

Virtual reality is helping seniors connect, reminisce, and build community by turning shared experiences into conversation starters.

📺 Entertainment | Streaming

Landman on Paramount+ explores power, pressure, and consequences in the modern West Texas oil industry.

🎮 Entertainment | Gaming

The Outer Worlds 2 delivers a humor-filled RPG experience that rewards patience, exploration, and curiosity.

----------------------------

Sources:

Education

https://theeducatorsroom.com/the-ethics-and-craft-of-student-motivation/

Economics

https://apnews.com/article/poll-giving-charity-givingtuesday-571ae1e6be08bc506cc818956227079d

Sports

https://www.nba.com/suns/news/phoenix-suns-deliver-smiles-in-2025-season-of-giving

https://www.nfl.com/playoffs/bracket

https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/kenny-dillingham-contract-extension-arizona-state-coach-michigan-interest/

Productivity

https://www.thekitchn.com/what-psychology-says-about-skipping-breakfast-23763094

Technology

https://apnews.com/article/virtual-reality-senior-living-social-isolation-b20dc156f4aa0735d7f0cc7558de9bfc

Entertainment 

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt14186672/

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Outer_Worlds_2

----------------------------

If you would like to support my work, please consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/brian8944 

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If you liked what you heard today, please be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes.  If you want to find me between episodes, I am often on MacVoices Live, which records on Tuesday evenings 8PM eastern, 5PM pacific.

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📚 Education

FAFSA is adding an earnings indicator ⚠️ that flags colleges where grads earn less than the average high school graduate. With $1.7T in student loan debt 💸 and growing skepticism about degree value, the move is framed as a push for transparency 🔍.

🏙️ Economics

In San Francisco, a startup is offering shared sleeping pods 🛏️ for $700/month as a response to extreme housing costs. Supporters see a practical solution; critics call it dystopian. Demand suggests the model may expand 📈.

🏀 NBA

The Phoenix Suns may move Jalen Green into the starting lineup 🔁 when healthy, adding stability and offense. Meanwhile, Commissioner Adam Silver again points to Seattle and Las Vegas 🎰 as likely NBA expansion cities.

⚾ MLB

The Diamondbacks bring back pitcher Merrill Kelly 🔄 on a two-year deal, strengthening their rotation.

🏈 Football

College bowl season is in full swing 🏆, and the NFL & Players Union have agreed on league-approved playing surfaces 🌱🧱 by 2028, aiming for safer, more consistent fields.

🧠 Productivity

A Harvard-linked study shows minds wander nearly half the time 😵‍💫. Simple habits — goal setting 📝, less scrolling 📵, and better sleep 😴 — can help improve focus and presence.

💻 Technology

The best tech isn’t the most powerful — it’s what fits how you work ⚙️. Ergonomics, compatibility, and longevity often matter more than specs.

📺 Entertainment

Amazon has added a free news hub 📰 inside Prime Video, available even without a Prime subscription, signaling a push toward an all-in-one media platform.

----------------------------

Sources:

Education

https://thehill.com/homenews/education/5638479-education-department-fafsa-college-earnings-mcmahon/

Economics

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/san-francisco-brownstone-sleeping-pods-b2882069.html

Sports

https://arizonasports.com/nba/phoenix-suns/green-earned-start/3605385/

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/47330098/adam-silver-decision-nba-expansion-made-2026

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/47302930/reports-merrill-kelly-diamondbacks-agree-2-year-40m-deal

https://www.sportingnews.com/us/ncaa-football/news/college-football-bowl-schedule-dates-times-channels-2025-26/50cb0c9b1c9391af6d6f8fdf

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/47203298/nfl-union-agree-new-model-picking-playing-surfaces

https://sunbowl.org

Productivity

https://www.yourtango.com/self/art-being-present-simple-ways-be-fully-there-person

Technology

https://ruralmom.com/2025/12/how-to-buy-the-right-tech-for-your-job.html

Entertainment 

https://www.oregonlive.com/business/2025/12/amazon-prime-video-is-offering-its-us-subscribers-a-major-upgrade-for-free.html

----------------------------

If you would like to support my work, please consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/brian8944 

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🎙️Episode 016:What We Keep, What We Toss: Pennies, Preferences, and Productivity

This week on the desk:

📚 Education – Why students understand nonfiction better when teachers use modern sources like podcasts, documentaries, and real-world media.

💰 Economics – After 232 years, the U.S. Mint stops making the penny—rising costs and cashless payments are big reasons why.

🏀 NBA – Nearly 25% of teams have sold recently; private equity, massive media deals, and owner transitions are driving the trend.

🏈 NFL – The league’s expanding international games may spark new broadcast-rights deals across both networks and streamers.

🌞 ASU Sports – Football battles injuries and finishes 8–4; men’s basketball surprises with a strong Maui Invitational run.

🧹 Productivity – Five habits of organized people + the underrated Mac shortcut: Command + Comma for instant app settings.

📱 Tech – Is a $450 iPad setup now a better buy than a budget Chromebook? One reviewer makes a strong case.

🎮 Gaming – Xbox expands Copilot to bring real-time, screen-aware AI assistance to PC, mobile, and eventually consoles.

----------------------------

Sources:

Education

https://theeducatorsroom.com/the-struggle-with-comprehending-nonfiction-texts/

Economics

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/19/us-mints-final-penny.html

Sports

https://frontofficesports.com/why-are-so-many-nba-teams-selling-now/

https://www.the-sun.com/sport/15521079/nfl-broadcast-deals-rights-europe-games/

Productivity

https://www.apartmenttherapy.com/how-to-be-organized-37515792 

https://www.techsciencetoday.com/tech/mac-users-should-know-this-keyboard-shortcut-what-happens-when-you-press-command-comma-trick/9347 

Technology

https://9to5mac.com/2025/11/23/ipad-a16-vs-budget-chromebook-sub-500-comparison-black-friday-deal/

Entertainment 

https://news.xbox.com/en-us/2025/09/18/gaming-copilot-xbox-pc-mobile/

----------------------------

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🎙️Episode 015: Passwords, Pluribus, and Payouts

This week’s roundup brings a mix of education, economics, sports, tech, and entertainment stories.

In Education, Stephan Day’s Paper Robots article highlights how college athletes are spending their NIL earnings and why financial literacy hasn’t kept pace. With alarming data on former pro athletes facing financial trouble, Day points to key CFPB skills everyone should know: finding reliable information, understanding it, and making decisions that stay on track.

In Economics, Jessica Dickler of CNBC explains how a new Visa/Mastercard settlement could let merchants reject certain card types, group cards into acceptance categories, and add small surcharges—changes that may eventually impact credit-card rewards. Patrick Means at Schwab breaks down the core differences between investing and sports betting, emphasizing risk management, long-term thinking, and intentional behavior versus the chance-driven, emotional nature of betting.

In Sports, John Voita (Bright Side of the Sun) discusses Phoenix Suns rookies Kahman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming getting valuable G League and NBA minutes, while Justis Mosqueda (Acme Packing Company) covers Jaire Alexander’s injury-affected career and recent trade to Philadelphia. Michelle Gardner (AZ Central) reports on ASU coach Kenny Dillingham urging local businesses to ramp up NIL support.

In Technology, Ryan Christoffel (9to5Mac) highlights major upgrades to Apple’s Passwords app in iOS 26—including full credit-card entry, system-wide autofill, and version history for logins, making it a more viable alternative to third-party managers.

In Entertainment, Gina Vivinetto (Today) explores why Apple TV+’s Pluribus—created by Vince Gilligan and starring Rhea Seehorn—has scored a rare 100% on Rotten Tomatoes.

----------------------------

Sources:

Education

https://paperrobots.substack.com/p/how-college-athletes-spend-all-that 

Economics

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/11/13/visa-mastercard-legal-settlement-what-you-need-to-know.html

https://www.schwab.com/learn/story/sports-betting-vs-investing-4-key-differences

Sports

https://www.brightsideofthesun.com/suns-roster/92785/khaman-maluach-rasheer-fleming-g-league-progress-rookie-development-tempe-valley

https://www.acmepackingcompany.com/green-bay-packers-news/74435/jaire-alexander-to-step-away-from-eagles-contemplate-retirement

https://www.azcentral.com/story/sports/college/asu/2025/11/17/dillingham-lobbies-for-businesses-to-elevate-asu-football/87323189007/

Technology

https://9to5mac.com/2025/11/11/ios-26-has-made-apple-passwords-the-only-password-manager-i-need/

Entertainment 

https://tv.apple.com/us/show/pluribus/umc.cmc.37axgovs2yozlyh3c2cmwzlza

https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/pluribus-rotten-tomatoes-perfect-score-100-apple-tv-critics-watch-rcna243055

----------------------------

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🎙️Episode 014: Analog Skills, Digital Sports, and Chocolate Wars

In this episode of From Brian’s Desk, we explore how technology, tradition, and tenacity collide across education, economics, and entertainment.

Education:

Nisha Zahid’s Greek Reporter article dives into traditional skills disappearing in our tech-driven world. We explore why keeping these “analog” skills matters more than ever in a digital age.

Economics:

John Haddad of The Conversation traces the century-long chocolate rivalry between Hershey and Mars — from factory floors to theme parks — showing how business reinvention can turn sweet competition into market domination.

Sports:

🏀 NBA Cup: Anand Sharma of Total Pro Sports explains how the Emirates NBA Cup spices up the regular season with knockout rounds, Vegas finals, and financial incentives.

⚾ MLB: Terry Pluto of Cleveland.com discusses how baseball’s lack of a salary cap challenges small-market teams and fans’ faith in fairness.

🏈 NFL: The Packers’ recent losses raise questions about their playoff hopes.

🔥 ASU Sports: Despite losing QB Sam Leavitt, the Sun Devils remain bowl eligible, and Coach Bobby Hurley faces a pivotal basketball season with a nearly new roster.

Not a Sponsor:

Meet Analog Life™ — the fake sponsor reminding us that maybe it’s time to relearn how to fold a map, read a clock, and wait patiently (without scrolling).

Productivity:

Lauren Thomann’s Real Simple article highlights the “Worst First” decluttering method — tackling your messiest area first to boost motivation, decision-making, and momentum.

Technology:

Joe Rossignol of MacRumors covers iOS 26.1’s — replacement of the “stop” button with a “slide to stop” alarm gesture to help prevent those accidental sleep-ins.

Entertainment & Streaming:

Dylan Butts (CNBC) reports on the Disney–YouTube TV dispute upsetting sports fans, while Alex Weprin (MovieWeb) breaks down Disney’s merger of Hulu Live and Fubo

🎙️ Listen in for all these stories — plus some humor, insight, and a reminder that even in a digital world, there’s still value in staying a little analog.

⸻

----------------------------

Sources:

Education

https://greekreporter.com/2025/10/28/skills-quietly-disappearing-modern-world/

Economics

https://theconversation.com/how-hersheys-chocolate-survived-an-attack-from-mars-and-adopted-a-business-strategy-alien-to-its-founder-267722

Sports

https://www.totalprosports.com/nba/nba-cup-2025-explained-rules-format-prize-money-player-rewards/

https://www.nba.com/nba-cup/2025

https://www.cleveland.com/guardians/2025/10/baseball-salary-cap-money-will-they-ever-get-it-right-terry-pluto.html

https://www.packers.com

https://clutchpoints.com/ncaa-football/arizona-state-football-news-sam-leavitt-season-ending-injury-update

https://arizonasports.com/ncaa/arizona-state-football/big-12-now/3600952/

https://thesundevils.com/sports/football/schedule

https://arizonasports.com/ncaa/arizona-state-basketball/asu-prev/3600980/

Productivity

https://www.realsimple.com/the-worst-first-decluttering-rule-11835929

Technology

https://www.macrumors.com/2025/10/31/ios-26-1-includes-a-small-but-useful-change/

Entertainment 

https://www.cnbc.com/2025/10/31/disney-content-to-go-dark-on-youtubetv-amid-contract-dispute-.html

https://movieweb.com/disney-hulu-fubo-streaming-merger/

----------------------------

If you would like to support my work, please consider becoming a patron on patreon.com/brian8944 

You & I both get a free month of Setapp with a paid subscription: ⁠https://go.setapp.com/invite/f12ydwun⁠⁠

If you liked what you heard today, please be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss any episodes.  If you want to find me between episodes, I am often on MacVoices Live, which records on Tuesday evenings 8PM eastern, 5PM pacific.

Please visit my website, brian8944.com so you can keep up with all my ongoing and upcoming projects.  You can also contact me there with any feedback you may have.