Intro
In this episode of the “Pivot” podcast, hosts Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway discuss a wide range of topics, including the future of threads, biotech, and education. They also touch on issues related to social media, mental health, and community engagement. With their unique perspectives and chemistry, Kara and Scott provide insightful commentary and thought-provoking discussions.
Main Takeaways
The Future of Social Media
- Achieving compliance can unlock major growth for your company and build a foundation of trust
- Listener mailbag: Do you think threads in the meta-owned universe might be a stepping stone to a single verified identity-based social media app?
- Different use cases between Instagram and threads, cannot make Instagram text-based and cannot make threads video-based
- Meta has all this data, the only difference is format, features, and functionality, so why wouldn’t these experiences ultimately be combined?
- Meta has a profile of every individual and treats them as a single app, but they have different offerings with different brand equity and business models for diversification.
- Interoperability is necessary for a seamless connection between Instagram, Threads, and other social media sites for easy posting and sign-ups.
- The ability to cross-post on different social media sites was taken away due to competition, which took away a great functionality for consumers.
The Potential of Biotech
- Biotech is a volatile sector with high risks, but also high rewards, and is a swing for the fence investment.
- Biotech needs to be fundamentally different from the tech business model to avoid horrendous outcomes, but big tech companies like Alphabet are sporting massive biotech efforts.
- Combination of technology and neuroscience is a fascinating area for innovation
- Biotech innovation can fuel advancements in cancer treatment and drug discovery
- There is significant financial potential in the biotech industry
Challenges in Education
- School involvement in extracurricular activities has been shown to improve academic performance, but some students are still difficult to engage.
- A school teacher in Nebraska is struggling to engage the 30% of students who are not involved in activities, despite efforts to create more opportunities.
- Mental health in schools is a concern, and school psychologists are discussing the issue.
- Afterschool programs can be a solution to engage students who are not involved in activities.
- Lack of interaction between hybrid school, homeschooling, and remote work is leading to sequestering from each other.
- Primary school teachers are mostly female, leading to a lack of male role models for young men.
- Teachers have a big impact on students and can create opportunities for them to succeed.
Building Strong Communities
- There is a need for more parks, leagues, and national service programs to establish empathy for people from different backgrounds and sexual orientations.
- Community-based initiatives can help young boys give back and develop as individuals
- Working can be a good way for some people to support their families and develop skills
- Charities like College Track can help support underprivileged youth with internships and other opportunities
- It is important to try and reach as many isolated or struggling youth as possible, especially with the isolation of social media
The Pivot Podcast
- Pivot podcast origin story: Kara and Scott met when Kara invited Scott to her podcast after his book “The Four” was released
- Scott was Kara’s only choice for a co-host, despite having other options
- Chemistry between Kara and Scott was apparent during their second podcast episode together
- The use of profanity and irreverence is strategic and gives people a pressure valve to release tension
- The show’s dynamic is based on offensive comments and reactions, which some people don’t understand.
- People who are economically secure have an obligation to speak their minds and avoid becoming polarized by the constant media narrative.
- The goal of the show is to make people think, even if they don’t always agree with the host.
Summary
The Future of Social Media
In this episode, Kara and Scott discuss the future of social media, particularly focusing on the relationship between Instagram and Threads, both owned by Meta. They explore the potential for a single verified identity-based social media app and the challenges of combining different formats and functionalities. The hosts also highlight the importance of interoperability and the negative impact of competition on cross-posting capabilities.
The Potential of Biotech
Shifting gears, Kara and Scott delve into the world of biotech, emphasizing its volatile nature and the potential for high rewards. They explore the need for a different business model in biotech to avoid negative outcomes and discuss the significant efforts made by big tech companies like Alphabet in the field. The hosts also highlight the fascinating combination of technology and neuroscience and the potential for advancements in cancer treatment and drug discovery.
Challenges in Education
Education-related topics are also explored in this episode, with a focus on the importance of extracurricular activities for academic performance. The hosts discuss the struggles faced by a school teacher in Nebraska to engage a significant portion of students who are not involved in activities. Mental health in schools and the lack of male role models for young men are also addressed, highlighting the impact teachers can have on students’ success.
Building Strong Communities
Kara and Scott emphasize the need for strong communities and the establishment of empathy for people from different backgrounds and sexual orientations. They discuss the role of community-based initiatives in helping young individuals develop and the importance of providing opportunities through programs like internships. The hosts also address the challenges of isolation in the age of social media and the need for interaction between different educational setups.
The Pivot Podcast
The episode concludes with insights into the origin story of the “Pivot” podcast and the dynamic between hosts Kara and Scott. They discuss the strategic use of profanity and irreverence, aiming to provide a pressure valve for tension. The hosts encourage listeners to engage with the show, send in questions, and appreciate the value of civil disagreement and diverse perspectives.
Conclusion
With their thought-provoking discussions on social media, biotech, education, and community building, Kara Swisher and Scott Galloway offer valuable insights and perspectives in this episode of “Pivot.” Their chemistry and ability to tackle diverse topics make the podcast engaging and informative. Listeners are encouraged to challenge their own viewpoints and explore new ideas presented on the show.
