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For the most part, our phones work about 95% of the time. But head outside of suburbia, and things get patchy quickly. What would it take to close that final 5% gap? Scott Wisniewski is the President and Chief Strategy Officer of AST Space Mobile, a satellite company that’s trying to bring connectivity literally everywhere – the desert, the ocean, the air, everywhere. Ricky Mulvey caught up with Wisniewski to discuss: - What universal connectivity actually achieves. - The operational challenges of getting something as large as a cell tower onto something as small as a rocket. - And the developing “land grab” in low-earth orbit.  Companies discussed: ASTS, VOD, VZ, TMUS,  Host: Ricky Mulvey Guests: Scott Wisniewski Producer: Mary Long Engineers: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

For our annual best-of interviews show, we look at the topic of the year – artificial intelligence – through two different lenses: how individuals can put the technology to use, and how companies are using it to make their products better and fuel growth. (00:33) Wharton Professor Ethan Mollick walks through his four rules for using AI, how he pushes students to use the technology, and the research from his book Co-Intelligence: Living and Working with AI.  (19:03) Reddit CEO Steve Huffman explains how the company is harnessing AI to localize content to reach new markets internationally, open up new revenue opportunities, and improve the user experience.  Stocks discussed: RDDT, GOOG, GOOGL Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Ethan Mollick, Steve Huffman Engineers: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The S&P 500 is still up about 25% this year, far outpacing historical averages. (00:14) Anthony Schiavone and Ricky Mulvey discuss: - Why traders are sour about the recent Fed meeting, and what long-term investors should focus on. - How American diners are responding to Darden Restaurant Group’s value offers. - Rising home sales at Redfin. Then (13:29) Motley Fool Senior Analyst Alicia Alfiere and Mary Long look at Upwork and Fiverr and the gig workplace economy. Companies discussed: DRI, TXRH, RDFN, FVRR, UPWK Host: Ricky Mulvey Guests: Anthony Schiavone, Mary Long, Alicia Alfiere Engineer: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Who wants to buy a struggling car company? Honda does! Well, maybe. (00:14) David Meier and Mary Long discuss: - What merger rumors signal about Nissan’s business. - How retailers are leaning into the holiday spirit. - Advice for a seasonal decoration company. Then (13:56), Stephanie Guild, Robinhood’s Head of Investment Strategy, joins Ricky Mulvey to discuss her outlook for 2025 and what’s excited Robinhood investors in the past year. CNBC story mentioned: https://www.cnbc.com/2024/12/18/holiday-decor-spending-could-help-retailers.html Companies discussed: HMC, NSANY Host: Mary Long Guests: David Meier, Stephanie Guild, Ricky Mulvey Engineers: Rick Engdahl, Desiree Jones Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Investing is a decades-long game. (00:14) Bill Barker and Ricky Mulvey discuss: - The Federal Trade Commission’s ruling on junk fees. - What killed a merger between Kroger and Albertsons. - How younger investors can prepare for the next bear market. Then, (17:28) Alison Southwick and Robert Brokamp offer some tips on tax-loss harvesting. WSJ column discussed: https://www.wsj.com/finance/stocks/why-this-frothy-market-has-me-scared-295c07c3 Companies discussed: KR, ACI, AZO, AAPL, ORLY, SBUX Host: Ricky Mulvey Guests: Bill Barker, Alison Southwick, Robert Brokamp Producer: Mary Long Engineer: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Thinner, cheaper, and possibly foldable. Apple engineers are working hard to convince you to buy a new phone. (00:14) Asit Sharma and Ricky Mulvey discuss: - Microstrategy’s entrance into the NASDAQ 100. - How Apple is trying to kickstart growth. - A burgeoning competitor to Uber and Lyft. Then, (16:56) Motley Fool Senior Analyst Anthony Schiavone joins Mary Long for a look at UPS, and its frenemy relationship with Amazon. Sign up for Breakfast News, our free daily market email newsletter: www.fool.com/breakfastnews WSJ Story on Apple: https://www.wsj.com/tech/apple-thin-iphone-foldable-computer-plans-dbb4286c NYTimes story on Empower: https://www.nytimes.com/2024/12/16/technology/empower-ride-hailing-washington-dc.html Companies discussed: MSTR, AAPL, UBER, LYFT, UPS, AMZN Host: Ricky Mulvey Guests: Asit Sharma, Mary Long, Anthony Schiavone Engineer: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Axon is on a mission to protect life. As the company works to make the bullet obsolete, the stock has soared, up nearly 160% in the past year alone and returning over 100x since going public in 2001.  Josh Isner is the President of Axon Enterprise and has been with the company for over 15 years. He joins Fool Analyst Jason Moser to discuss:  - Why Axon is like the Apple of law enforcement. - How immersive technology improves police training and retention. - The role of drones and humanoids in public safety.  Companies discussed: AXON, MSI Host: Jason Moser Guests: Matt Frankel Producer: Mary Long Engineers: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a banner year for banks. Even the worst performer among the big players is still up 40% year-to-date.  Motley Fool contributor Matt Frankel joins Ricky Mulvey for a look back at some of the biggest headlines in the financial sector from the past year. They also discuss: - Green shoots for the 2025 IPO market. - Alex Chriss’s first full year at PayPal. - Two promising payments processors. Companies discussed: GS, BAC, MS, JPM, PYPL, BOC, FOUR, TOST, SQ, SOFI Host: Ricky Mulvey Guests: Matt Frankel Producer: Mary Long Engineers: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

2024 was another stellar year for investors, but a lot of money is piling into the same places in the U.S. and globally.   (00:46) Bill Mann and Matt Argersinger discuss: - Why 2024 was such a good year for investors, and the concerns they have about valuations and market concentration as they look ahead to 2024. - The winners and losers of 2024 and the front-page stories you may have forgotten about – the Crowdstrike outage and Yen Carry Trade.  (19:05) James Zahn, Editor in Chief at The Toy Book, talks through the toys at the top of wish lists this holiday season and how toymakers and retailers are trying bring value to cash-strapped shoppers - James Zahn’s now-published article on Moxie: https://toybook.com/death-of-moxie-and-the-trouble-with-tech-toys/  (34:35) Bill and Matt break down two ideas on their radar: Nebius and Cambria Foreign Shareholder Yield Stocks discussed: NVDA, NBIS, FYLD Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Tim Beyers, Mary Long, Ryan Henderson Engineers: Tim Sparks, Dan Boyd Learn more about yo

The new Willow chip performed a computation in under five minutes that would take a supercomputer 10 septillion years. That’s longer than the universe has been around. (00:14) Nick Sciple and Ricky Mulvey discuss: - The potential futures and lingering questions for quantum computers. - A restructuring at Warner Bros. Discovery that’s pleasing its investors. - Why the media conglomerate may be a falling knife. Then, (18:42) Motley Fool Contributor Lou Whiteman joins Mary Long for a look at FedEx, and holiday shipping season. Visit our sponsor: Get $1,000 off Vanta at www.vanta.com/fool Companies discussed: GOOG, GOOGL, WBD, PARA, TKO, FDX Host: Ricky Mulvey Guests: Mary Long, Lou Whiteman Engineers: Rick Engdahl, Chace Przylepa Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

As if everything weren’t already enough, Amazon now sells cars. (00:14) Asit Sharma and Mary Long discuss: - Disruptions to traditional car dealerships. - Amazon’s next potential venture. - The rise and fall of GM’s driverless ambitions. Then, (18:40) Jim Gillies and Ricky Mulvey look at Aercap, an airline leasing company that sees debt as a “raw material.” Companies discussed: AMZN, CVNA, HYMTF, GM, GOOG, GOOGL, AER Host: Mary Long Guests: Asit Sharma, Ricky Mulvey, Jim Gillies Engineer: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Riding coattails isn’t a bad thing in investing. (00:14) Jim Gillies and Ricky Mulvey discuss: - The alleged killer of Unitedhealthcare’s CEO getting caught. - A sporting goods retailer buying back a lot of stock. - Aritzia’s comeback year. Then, (17:17) Alison Southwick and Robert Brokamp address listener questions about diversification in the S&P 500 and foreign stock sales. Companies/tickers discussed: UHC, ASO, LULU, TSE: ATZ Sign up for Breakfast News: breakfast.fool.com Host: Ricky Mulvey Guests: Jim Gillies, Alison Southwick, Robert Brokamp Producer: Mary Long Engineer: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Global advertising spend is growing faster than expected and beginning to eat into other ways businesses have historically put budget to use – who are the unexpected winners?   (00:14) David Meier and Dylan Lewis discuss: - The global ad market eclipsing $1T in 2024, what’s driving the spend, and the lesser known stocks to watch in the industry.  - Reddit’s new “Reddit Answers” tool, the company’s latest foray into AI, and how the online community continues to lead publishers in AI efforts.  - How the market continues to give investors a discount on small caps, and why one ETF might be better than another for exposure. (17:41) Analyst Asit Sharma joins Mary Long for a look at LVMH’s Bernard Arnault and what he shares with Warren Buffett Companies discussed: GOOG, GOOGL, META, AMZN, CART, TTD, IAS, RDDT, IJR Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: David Meier, Asit Sharma, Mary Long Producer: Ricky Mulvey Engineers: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Motley Fool Senior Analysts Matt Argersinger and Anthony Schiavone join Mary Long to discuss:  - How a company enters into the Dividend Seven. - If Home Depot can still be a growth stock. - The metrics that dividend investors need to understand.  - Companies that have raised their dividend for decades. Companies discussed: PLD, JPM, PEP, HD, ABBV, MCD, BLK Host: Mary Long Guests: Matt Argersinger, Anthony Schiavone Producer: Ricky Mulvey  Engineers: Desireé Jones, Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s not talked about too much, but energy stocks have sneakily been some of the best performers in the S&P this year.  Fool analyst Nick Sciple joins Ricky Mulvey for a conversation on the biggest energy stories of the past year. They also discuss: - How the US has gotten more efficient at extracting oil from the ground. - The challenges facing companies hoping to build small nuclear reactors. - Flatlining investor interest in renewables. Companies discussed: VST, OKLO, SMR, GEV, BWXT, FSLR Host: Ricky Mulvey Guest: Nick Sciple Producer: Mary Long Engineers: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Some stocks defy gravity, others drive Warren Buffett to sell in less than a year. We wade through them all and put our own twist on Spotify’s annual Wrapped release.   (00:14) Jason Moser and Asit Sharma discuss: - Ulta leveling out, and why a cheap valuation isn’t enough to keep Warren Buffett and Berkshire interested. - Docusign’s strong 2024 and how Veeva Systems is seemingly back on track with their AI efforts.  - What reinvention Airbnb might be scheming up for 2025. - Spotify’s 2024 Wrapped and Jason and Asit’s “Portfolio Wrapped” for this year. (19:03) Ricky Mulvey and Mary Long dig into the early holiday box office numbers for Wicked and offer up some stocks inspired by L. Frank Baum and the world of Oz.  (33:51) Jason and Asit break down two stocks on their radar: Block and Wingstop. Stocks discussed: ULTA, VEEV, DOCU, ABNB, SQ, WING Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Asit Sharma, Jason Moser, Ricky Mulvey, Mary Long Engineers: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The crypto bulls were right. Bitcoin's market cap is now about the size of Alphabet. (00:14) Jason Moser and Ricky Mulvey discuss: - The murder of Unitedhealthcare’s CEO. - What’s contributed to Bitcoin’s rise to $100,000 per token. - Chewy’s trouble finding new customers. Then, (17:23) Motley Fool Senior Analyst Sanmeet Deo joins Ricky to check in on a mall retailer that’s showing signs of a turnaround. Companies/Tickers discussed: UHC, BTC, PLD, KNSL, MKL, CHWY, SPG, ONON, GAP Host: Ricky Mulvey Guests: Jason Moser, Sanmeet Deo Producer: Mary Long Engineer: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Okta achieves profitability; another CEO gets a software lesson from a torn Achilles. (00:14) David Meier and Mary Long discuss: - Okta’s earnings and the future of logging in - Marc Benioff’s ability to turn vision into performance - Salesforce’s AI-driven future Then, (17:37), Robert Brokamp and Alison Southwick talk about how to avoid outliving your money in retirement. Visit our sponsor: Get 15% off the Amazfit T-Rex 3 at US.Amazfit.com/fool Companies discussed: OKTA, CRM Host: Mary Long Guests: David Meier, Robert “Bro” Brokamp, Alison Southwick Producer: Ricky Mulvey Engineer: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

More shoppers bought from Shopify merchants and foot traffic declined in physical stores. (00:14) Bill Mann and Ricky Mulvey discuss: - Shopping data from the holiday weekend and what retailers should be cautious of. - South Korea’s tense political situation, and what it means for the country’s companies. - Why Wall Street is rewarding a more focused AT&T. Then, (18:20) Dave Hatter, cybersecurity consultant at IntrustIT, continues his conversation with Ricky about big tech data collection, and how you can better protect your information. Check out the Giving Done Right Podcast: https://givingdoneright.org/ Companies discussed: SHOP, INTC, T, CPNG, KRX, LON: BC94, TSLA Host: Ricky Mulvey Guests: Bill Mann, Dave Hatter Engineer: Rick Engdahl Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Under Pat Gelsinger, Intel fell behind rivals and was late to the game in AI and its foundry business. Is the outgoing CEO to blame?   (00:14) Tim Beyers and Dylan Lewis discuss: - Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger stepping down, why “GPU” is the key focus of his time at the helm of the company.  - The multi-year planning cycle that goes into chipmaking, and why we may wind up praising Gelsinger’s investment in the foundry business several years from now.  - How Fastly will have one fewer name to compete with in the content delivery network market, but why it might spell trouble for the business long-term. (20:30) What’s your data worth? Ricky Mulvey talks with Dave Hatter, a Cybersecurity Consultant at Intrust IT, about the “surveillance capitalism model” and where your digital data winds up. Get a two week free trial of 1Password at www.1password.com/MOTLEYFOOL Companies discussed: INTC, NVDA, AMD, ASML, TSM, FSLY, AKAM, GOOG, GOOGL, META, OTCMKTS: EXPGY Host: Dylan Lewis Guests: Tim Beyers, Dave Hatter, Ricky Mulv