Ben Thompson on Business and Tech
Conversations with Tyler
Conversations with Tyler
4.8 • 2.4K Ratings
🗓️ 24 October 2018
⏱️ 60 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Not only is Ben Thompson's Stratechery frequently mentioned on MR, but such is Tyler's fandom that the newsletter even made its way onto the reading list for one of his PhD courses. Ben's based in Taiwan, so when he recently visited DC, Tyler quickly took advantage of the chance for an in-person dialogue.
In this conversation they talk about the business side of tech and more, including whether tech titans are good at PR, whether conglomerate synergies exist, Amazon's foray into health care, why anyone needs an Apple Watch or an Alexa, growing up in small-town Wisconsin, his pragmatic book-reading style, whether MBAs are overrated, the prospects for the Milwaukee Bucks, NBA rule changes, the future of the tech industries in China and India, and why Taiwanese breakfast is the best breakfast.
Read a full transcript enhanced with helpful links.
Recorded October 15th, 2018
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Conversations with Tyler is produced by the Mercatus Center at George Mason University, |
| 0:08.4 | bridging the gap between academic ideas and real-world problems. |
| 0:12.5 | Learn more at mercatis.org. |
| 0:15.2 | And for more conversations, including videos, transcripts, and upcoming dates, visit |
| 0:20.4 | ConversationsWithTyler.com. |
| 0:30.4 | I am here today with Ben Thompson, who is the founder and author of Stratekery, which is |
| 0:36.1 | about the strategy and business of technology. |
| 0:39.6 | There's a free article once a week, but there's also more extensive material which you |
| 0:44.1 | pay to subscribe to. |
| 0:45.7 | I am myself a loyal subscriber and payer. |
| 0:48.7 | I recommend that you all do the same. |
| 0:51.0 | And Ben, welcome to Mercatus. |
| 0:52.7 | Thank you. |
| 0:53.7 | I'm happy to be here. |
| 0:54.7 | We're mostly going to talk about tech. |
| 0:55.7 | So let me just plunge right in. |
| 0:58.3 | Why aren't the big tech companies very good at public relations? |
| 1:01.7 | Or are they? |
| 1:04.0 | The add-on is an excellent question. |
| 1:05.9 | I think there's an aspect where they haven't needed to be for a long time. |
| 1:11.5 | And this is both a broader context and that they've been like American heroes in many |
| 1:16.3 | respects and where is American innovation that everyone looks to Silicon Valley and from |
... |
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