In this episode, Jenny Rae and Namaan unpack one of retail’s most unexpected survivors: Build-A-Bear. Build-A-Bear is a mall-based stuffed animal retailer in an AI-driven world – and yet it’s a profitable public company with rising stock performance.

We cover:

• What the company really sells – and how customization drives pricing power
• What the financials reveal about profitability and scale
• The next move: U.S. focus, international expansion, or partnerships

A sharp look at retail economics, defensibility, and what it actually takes to survive.

Episode Links:

• Annual Report - SEC Form 10-K Filing for Fiscal Year 2024 (Build-A-Bear)

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Chapters:

00:00 – Should Build-A-Bear Be Dead?
01:45 – The “Pay Your Age” Hook
04:30 – Chipotle for Teddy Bears
06:40 – Public Company Surprise
09:00 – Breaking Down the Financials
12:30 – Retail vs AI Disruption
16:45 – Growth Levers That Matter
22:30 – U.S. Core vs Global Expansion
29:00 – What Would You Do Next?

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Once Upon a Farm went public, and the stock jumped. But this isn’t the standard path for a consumer brand.

In this episode, Jenny Rae and Namaan examine why a single-brand baby food company chose an IPO instead of selling to a large CPG player - and what role Jennifer Garner’s involvement really plays in that decision.

We break down the business fundamentals behind the headlines, from refrigerated supply chains to retailer economics, and question how much of the early momentum can translate into long-term scale.

The episode closes with what comes next - and whether this business is built to stay public.

We cover:

• Why this IPO breaks the usual consumer brand playbook
• The real economics behind refrigerated, organic consumer products
• How celebrity-backed trust does - and doesn’t - scale over time

A clear-eyed look at IPO strategy, consumer economics, and where this bet could break.

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Chapters:

• 00:00 – Why This IPO Is Different
• 02:30 – What Is Once Upon a Farm?
• 05:20 – The Jennifer Garner Effect
• 09:10 – Refrigerated Food Economics
• 13:40 – Retail Shelf Space and Margins
• 17:30 – Why IPO Instead of Selling
• 21:40 – Losses, Growth, and Valuation
• 25:40 – How This Business Scales
• 29:40 – What Comes Next

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Boeing’s rebound isn’t about brilliance. It’s about not losing in a brutal duopoly.

In this episode, Jenny Rae and Namaan break down what Boeing’s post-crisis recovery really signals — and why its future depends less on innovation and more on execution over time.

We cover:

• Why Boeing’s biggest advantage is the Airbus duopoly, not outperformance
• How long delivery timelines distort cash flow, pricing, and leverage
• What it would actually take for Boeing to reach $10B in free cash flow

This is a case study in capital intensity, regulation, and survival in one of the hardest businesses in the world.

Episode Links:

• Boeing’s quarterly sales jump 57% as CEO says there’s ‘a lot to be optimistic about’ (CNBC)

Partner Links:

• Learn more about NordStellar's Threat Exposure Management Program; unlock 10% off with code SIMPLIFIED-10

Chapters:

• 00:00 Boeing’s Crisis and Lost Trust
• 02:52 Boeing vs Airbus: The Duopoly
• 05:05 A “Comeback” Driven by Demand
• 08:47 Orders vs Deliveries vs Cash
• 12:04 Regulation, Quality, and Bottlenecks
• 16:22 Can Boeing Reach $10B Free Cash Flow?
• 19:56 Defense as the Real Growth Engine
• 27:50 Innovation vs Execution
• 33:26 Why Deliveries Matter Most

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Brex was once valued at $12.3B. Capital One just bought it for $5.15B.

In today’s episode of Market Outsiders, Jenny Rae and Namaan break down why Capital One was willing to buy Brex at a $7B discount – and what the deal actually tells us about fintech valuations, banking strategy, and the future of credit cards.

We unpack:

• Why the 50% cash / 50% stock structure reveals who really had leverage
• What Capital One is actually buying
• Whether this is a smart buy vs. build move or a risky integration bet

The bigger question: Is this how banks future-proof growth in financial services – or an example of catching a falling knife?

Episode Links:

• Capital One is buying startup Brex for $5.15 billion in credit card firm’s latest deal (CNBC)

Partner Links:

• Learn more about NordStellar's Threat Exposure Management Program; unlock 10% off with code SIMPLIFIED-10

Chapters:

• 00:00 The $7B Brex Discount
• 05:40 What Brex Actually Does
• 09:30 Why the $12B Valuation Broke
• 14:50 What Capital One Is Buying
• 18:30 Cash vs. Stock Leverage
• 22:05 Revenue Synergies vs. Risk
• 26:40 Fit with Capital One’s Card Strategy
• 30:55 Market Reaction Explained
• 34:30 Smart Bet or Falling Knife

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College football isn’t just a game anymore, it’s a business. On this episode of Market Outsiders, Jenny Rae Le Roux and Namaan Mian break down how wins on the field translate into dollars off it, sparked by Indiana University’s surprising national championship run.

From media deals and ticket sales to donations and NIL money, Namaan lays out the six revenue engines powering modern college football - and why performance is everything.

Finally, Namaan and Jenny Rae explore the high-stakes decisions university leaders face as they invest in their programs, align leadership, and compete in a rapidly changing sports economy.

Chapters:

• 00:00 The $7B Brex Discount
• 05:40 What Brex Actually Does
• 09:30 Why the $12B Valuation Broke
• 14:50 What Capital One Is Buying
• 18:30 Cash vs. Stock Leverage
• 22:05 Revenue Synergies vs. Risk
• 26:40 Fit with Capital One’s Card Strategy
• 30:55 Market Reaction Explained
• 34:30 Smart Bet or Falling Knife

Partner Links:

• Learn more about NordStellar's Threat Exposure Management Program; unlock 10% off with code SIMPLIFIED-10

Learn more about Executive Presentation and Storytelling Training with Management Consulted

More Market Outsiders:

• Connect with Namaan and Jenny Rae on LinkedIn
• Follow Management Consulted on LinkedIn and subscribe on YouTube

Saks Fifth Avenue has filed for bankruptcy.

After years of warning signs – including its Neiman Marcus acquisition and Amazon’s investment – the iconic luxury retailer is officially on life support.

In this episode, Namaan and Jenny break down what actually went wrong behind the headlines. They cover:

• Why the Neiman Marcus deal failed to deliver real synergies
• How junk-bond financing and cash-flow missteps pushed Saks into bankruptcy
• What happens next – and whether Saks can realistically be rebuilt

This isn’t just a retail story. It’s a case study in leverage, dealmaking, and what happens when strategy can’t outrun structural change.

Episode Links:

• Amazon says its Saks investment is now worthless (CNBC)
• How the Neiman Marcus acquisition pushed Saks into bankruptcy (CNBC)

Previous episode:

• Saks on Amazon Signals Luxury in Crisis – Our original breakdown of Amazon’s stake and why the strategy looked fragile from the start

Partner Links:

• Learn more about NordStellar's Threat Exposure Management Program; unlock 10% off with code SIMPLIFIED-10

Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction to Saks Fifth Avenue's Bankruptcy
• 02:31 Understanding the Acquisition of Neiman Marcus
• 05:47 Revenue and Cost Synergies Explained
• 09:33 The Role of Cash Flow in Business
• 13:24 Amazon's Investment and Its Implications
• 16:47 Potential Paths for Saks's Revival
• 21:36 The Future of Luxury Retail

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• Connect with Namaan and Jenny Rae on LinkedIn
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The average new car now costs over $50,000, with monthly payments nearing $760.

So how did Ford post its best U.S. sales year since 2019?

In this episode of Market Outsiders, Namaan and Jenny Rae break down how Ford defied expectations in 2025 – despite tariffs, high rates, and weakening EV demand.

They cover:

• Why 2025 may have been the first “normal” auto year since COVID
• How financing, hybrids, and product mix drove Ford’s outperformance
• What Ford must change in 2026 as margins shift beyond unit sales

This is a forward-looking strategy conversation on how automakers adapt when cars start behaving more like platforms than products.

Partner Links:

• Learn more about NordStellar's Threat Exposure Management Program; unlock 10% off with code SIMPLIFIED-10

Chapters:

03:05 — 2025 Auto Industry Overview
06:33 — Ford's Unexpected Success
08:56 — Consumer Behavior and Car Buying Trends
13:53 — Analyzing the Automotive Market Trends
16:40 — Consumer Behavior and Financing Strategies
19:51 — The Shift Towards Hybrid and Electric Vehicles
22:46 — Sales Performance and Market Share Insights
25:38 — Future Strategies for Automotive Companies
28:30 — Monetizing Customer Relationships Post-Purchase

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Cannabis just moved from Schedule I to Schedule III — and the biggest implications have nothing to do with lifestyle or politics.

In this episode of Market Outsiders, Jenny Rae and Namaan break down what reclassification means for the market: who benefits, who loses, and why cannabis stocks dropped on “good” news.

They unpack the real unlocks behind the headlines — Medicare and Medicaid eligibility, federally funded research, banking access, and why Big Pharma, consumer giants, and even beer companies may now have the edge.

This is a regulatory shock case study: how one policy change reshapes competition, pricing power, supply chains, and long-term winners across healthcare and consumer markets.

Partner Links:

• Learn more about NordStellar's Threat Exposure Management Program; unlock 10% off with code SIMPLIFIED-10

Chapters:

01:05 — What Cannabis Reclassification Actually Changes
03:15 — Schedule I vs Schedule III: Why It Matters
05:45 — Banking, Taxes, and the Industry’s Hidden Constraints
08:20 — Medicare, Medicaid, and the Real Demand Unlock
11:10 — Why Cannabis Stocks Fell on “Good” News
13:30 — Big Pharma, Big Beer, and New Market Entrants
19:40 — Supply Chains, Compliance, and Rising Costs
25:00 — Who Wins, Who Loses, and What Comes Next

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More Market Outsiders:

• Connect with Namaan and Jenny Rae on LinkedIn
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