Down to Business English

Hot Ones, the wildly popular YouTube interview show where celebrities tackle spicy chicken wings, has a new home. BuzzFeed recently sold the production company behind the hit series, First We Feast, to a group of investors led by an affiliate of George Soros’s fund. Skip Montreux and Samantha Vega examine the financial pressures that led BuzzFeed to sell Hot Ones. They explore BuzzFeed’s rise as a digital media pioneer, its decision to go public through a SPAC, and the acquisition of Complex Networks in 2021. They also explain how these moves impacted BuzzFeed’s finances and led to the eventual sale of First We Feast. D2B 351 examines how financial struggles led BuzzFeed to sell Hot Ones, the challenges of navigating the digital media landscape, and the exciting future ahead for the spicy interview show.  Do you like what you hear? Become a D2B Member today for to access to member-only episodes, our --NEW!!! -- INTERACTIVE AUDIO SCRIPTS, PDF Audio Script Library, Bonus Vocabulary episodes, and D2B Member-only episodes. Visit d2benglish.com/membership for more information.

The coffee industry is brewing big changes as Starbucks navigates high CEO turnover and faces a new challenge from Luckin Coffee, China’s largest coffee chain. These developments signal a potential shake-up in the competitive landscape of the global coffee market. Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan report on two major developments in the coffee world. First, Skip examines Starbucks’ history of leadership changes, highlighting its recent struggles with CEO turnover and the challenges of balancing innovation with operational efficiency. Dez then explores Luckin Coffee’s rise to dominance in China and its ambitious plans for international expansion, including breaking into the US market in 2025. D2B 348 explores the evolving dynamics in the global coffee market, from Starbucks’ internal struggles to Luckin Coffee’s ambitious international strategy. Skip and Dez discuss how leadership changes, business models, and pricing strategies are shaping the future of coffee consumption. This episode offers valuable insights into how established brands like Starbucks are navigating competition from innovative newcomers like Luckin Coffee. Do you like what you hear? Become a D2B Member today for to access to member-only episodes, our --NEW!!! -- INTERACTIVE AUDIO SCRIPTS, PDF Audio Script Library, Bonus Vocabulary episodes, and D2B Member-only episodes. Visit d2benglish.com/membership for more information.

The BRICS nations — Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa— are taking steps to challenge the influence of the G7 by promoting economic cooperation, reducing reliance on the US dollar, and creating opportunities for the Global South. Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan explore the origins and evolution of BRICS, from its beginnings as a term coined by a Goldman Sachs economist to its expansion as a formal organization. They discuss the group’s goals, including fostering economic collaboration among member nations, reducing dependence on Western-dominated systems like SWIFT, and advocating for a multipolar world order. Skip and Dez talk about how BRICS’ growing membership positions it as a potential counterweight to the G7.  D2B 346 examines how BRICS is evolving to challenge the G7’s dominance and support the interests of developing nations. Skip and Dez discuss the group’s initiatives, including fostering trade, advocating for a new global reserve currency, and encouraging a multipolar world order. They also highlight how BRICS+ nations could reshape global economic policies while navigating their internal differences. Do you like what you hear? Become a D2B Member today for to access to member-only episodes, our --NEW!!! -- INTERACTIVE AUDIO SCRIPTS, PDF Audio Script Library, Bonus Vocabulary episodes, and D2B Member-only episodes. Visit d2benglish.com/membership for more information.

China is taking action to boost its slowing economy with different types of economic support. By lowering interest rates, making it easier to borrow money, and helping local governments buy unsold real estate, China hopes to increase growth.  Skip Montreux and Dez Morgan talk about how the Chinese government is using economic stimulus to improve its economy. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) recently took steps to encourage more borrowing and spending, including lowering interest rates and loosening rules for bank lending. Another important step allows local governments to sell bonds to help fund the purchase of unsold real estate, which indirectly supports property developers. D2B 345 explores China’s recent economic stimulus measures and what they mean for the country’s economy. Skip and Dez discuss how these government actions are helping key sectors like real estate and technology. They also look at the risks involved if government support ends. This episode of D2B provides a look at the benefits and challenges of economic stimulus in a major global economy. Do you like what you hear? Become a D2B Member today for to access to member-only episodes, our --NEW!!! -- INTERACTIVE AUDIO SCRIPTS, PDF Audio Script Library, Bonus Vocabulary episodes, and D2B Member-only episodes. Visit d2benglish.com/membership for more information.

Big Tech is turning to an unexpected solution to meet the soaring power demands of artificial intelligence — nuclear energy. With Microsoft, Amazon, and Google investing heavily in nuclear technology, this move could reshape energy use in the tech industry.  Skip Montreux and Samantha Vega explore the surprising steps that Big Tech is taking to secure power for their AI-driven future. Microsoft recently made headlines by signing a 20-year agreement to source energy from the infamous Three Mile Island nuclear plant, while Amazon and Google are betting on new nuclear technology with investments in Small Modular Reactors (SMRs). Samantha and Skip discuss the enormous energy requirements of AI, the environmental goals of these companies, and the potential risks and benefits of Big Tech’s nuclear power ambitions. D2B 343 looks into how Big Tech’s move into nuclear power marks a critical step in the evolution of the energy landscape. Skip and Samantha examine how companies like Microsoft, Amazon, and Google are balancing the advantages of clean energy with the potential risks that nuclear power entails, creating a thought-provoking look at the future of energy in the tech industry. Do you like what you hear? Become a D2B Member today for to access to member-only episodes, our --NEW!!! -- INTERACTIVE AUDIO SCRIPTS, PDF Audio Script Library, Bonus Vocabulary episodes, and D2B Member-only episodes. Visit d2benglish.com/membership for more information.