Corporate Gossip

A playful psychoanalysis of Larry Ellison’s life, from childhood trauma to a taste for public stunts and samurai swords. They dig into his Lanai land grab and failed tech‑farm experiments. Corporate power plays, Oracle’s bullying culture, Hollywood money moves, and the family dynamics behind big bets all get roasted in short, sharp bursts.

Robby Slovic, the 'out of office reply guy' and corporate gossip aficionado, joins to unpack Bezos, a $40M Amazon licensing flap, and the odd Melania film saga. Short, spicy takes on CEO payoffs, documentary pricing versus marketing blows, and why powerful figures might bankroll controversy. Quick, entertaining, and scandal-forward.

An earlier version of this episode was uploaded with only the good news segment - please refresh if you suspect you have the older version. Apologies!!!! Stop your protesting! Stop your organizing! The only thing we need is 🤑 MANIFESTATION 💸 It's time to talk about the Pyramidschemification of America. This episode has so many fun characters: 17th century Puritans, Tammy Faye Baker, Amanda Frances, an MLM hun on a regional jet somewhere over Sandusky, Ohio, and Elizabeth Holmes??? Thanks to our sponsor Orange Marketing Watch on YouTube Advertise with us For bonus episodes and book club join us on Patreon Timestamps: 10:30 - The Puritanical roots of Mulitilevel Marking 21:00 - Stop organizing! Start manifesting! 30:00 - Turns out, Regan pyramidschemified America 35:00 - Betsy Devos putting in 40 hours at the Stupid Idea Factory Links: Little Bosses Everywhere 2023 FTC report on MLMs The Unkillable Appeal of Multilevel Marketing They Spent Their Life Savings on Life Coaching The 'Exciting Business Opportunity' That Ruined Our Lives The Miseducation of Betsy DeVos These Activists Want to Dismantle Public Schools. Now They Run the Education Department. DeVos held in contempt for violating judge's order on student loans DeVos-Linked Adoption Agency Exposed Highly Sensitive Children's Medical Data Blackwater Guards Found Guilty in 2007 Iraq Killings Email our good news correspondant with tips: elizabethliu526@gmail.com Good News: Media, the nation's first Fair Trade Town, marks 20 years supporting farmers in the developing world Learn more about Fair Trade Certification

Please rate and review this podcast!! For bonus episodes and book club join us on Patreon Advertise with us We're willing to bet that there's a 92% chance that Prediction Markets are a pyramid scheme! Prediction markets like Kalshi and Polymarket are EVERYWHERE. Are the the future of democracy powered by collective wisdom? OR just another product of the 30 under 30 grift factory? Thanks to our sponsor Orange Marketing You should hire Jennifer Tisdale! Pictures Watch on YouTube Timestamps: 00:00 - An orgy at a SF Area tech convention?? WHO COULD HAVE GUESSED!!! 11:30 - BREAKING NEWS: A group of isolated white 20 something men with a high risk appetite have it all figured out! 21:00 - It's not called insider trading, it's called "having an edge" 35:00 - Do you like my new app? I designed it on the toilet 53:00 - Good News: Meta on trial Links: Resources for problem gambling The Wager That Betting Can Change the World The CEOs of Kalshi and Polymarket Are Betting On the Most Hated Experiment in Business They quit their day jobs to bet on current events. A look inside the prediction market mania Polymarket shouldn't allow people to profit by betting on the L.A. firestorm On Polymarket, 'privileged' users made millions betting on war strikes and diplomatic strategy. What did they know beforehand? America's financial markets are ready for a golden age Email our good news correspondant with tips: elizabethliu526@gmail.com Good News: Social media companies face legal reckoning over mental health harms to children

Palantir - a new custom hellscape or same sh*t different toilet? Has Silicon Valley gone completely red-pilled or was technofacism in the valley's DNA all along? Adam and Becca trace the cookie crumbs from a pioneering mid-century nobel prize winning white supremacist to the post-9/11 origins of Palantir and ultimately meet CEO Alex Karp. Lately, he's been hitting the eject button on his own brain and twisting himself into pretzels both physically and metaphorically to justify his belief that he personally should be rich and successful! Toronto Copy Editing (Use code OLD-F for 10% off!) Join us on Patreon Watch on YouTube Pictures on Substack Advertise on the Corporate Gossip Podcast Submit a good news story by email to our good news correspondent elizabethliu526@gmail.com Links: Democrats Drove Silicon Valley Into Trump's Arms How a racist genius created Silicon Valley by being a terrible boss Headed for technofascism': the rightwing roots of Silicon Valley Unlocking Secrets, if Not Its Own Value Trump Taps Palantir to Compile Data on Americans 'ELITE': The Palantir App ICE Uses to Find Neighborhoods to Raid Palantir CEO Alex Karp Recorded a Video About ICE for His Employees Alex Karp Goes to War CEO of Palantir Says He Spends a Large Amount of Time Talking to Nazis. Tech Workers Coalition Central Ohio businesses form mutual aid network to help families impacted by ICE Minnesota Mutual Aid Fund Instagram of Columbus Mutual Aid Fund: @corazonhilado Immigration and Mutual Aid Resources

We'll be back with season 7 on February 13th! This Patreon episode is free for all (no paywall) in solidarity with the National Strike on January 31st. If you like what you hear, please consider joining us on Patreon. It seems that for every person energized to activism this year, there's another three ready to shit on their efforts (it's not organized enough! it's not widespread enough! You'll never make a difference!). They're wrong. We're going to prove it by getting on our mumus and night caps and becoming the ghosts of general strikes past. We take you with us to the Minneapolis General Strike of 1934 (05:50), the Bahamas General Strike of 1958 (16:00), and the NYC Hard Hat Riot of 1970 (27:30). Three events that are essential to understanding where we are today. Hopefully when we deposit you back to the present, you feel jacked up on history and ready to rip in 2026. Then, we'll wash it all down with an investigation into Larry Ellison and the biggest AI deal of 2025 (37:00). Was it a shrewd business move? Or a foolish plot by an old man desperate to conquer his inner demons before he croaks? Links: Watch on YouTube Advertise on the Corporate Gossip Podcast Pictures from the episode Join me in Albany on Feb 25 Q1 Book Club: Little Bosses Everywhere Minneapolis: Labor then and now: 90 years after the Minneapolis Teamsters' strikes Minneapolis Teamsters Strike Documentary Part 1 Minneapolis Teamsters Strike Documentary Part 2 The Citizens Alliance of Minneapolis Bahamas: 60th Anniversary of The General Strike: 19 Days That Changed The Bahamas The 1958 General Strike and the Making of the Modern Bahamas – Bahama Pundit The Bahamas: Bad News for the Boys Hard Hat Riots: The riot that started the culture wars Watch Hard Hat Riot | American Experience - PBS The Coffee Klatch with Robert Reich Larry Ellison: TikTok Is Now Collecting Even More Data About Its Users. Here Are the 3 Biggest Changes TikTok users say they are being censored after change to U.S. ownership Oracle, OpenAI Sign $300 Billion Cloud Deal Larry Ellison Is More Interesting Than Ever at 81 The Billionaire, His Mystery Wife and College Football's Wildest Recruiting Saga Big Tech tax breaks could've funded benefits for millions, Senator Warren finds

Delve into the fascinating but tragic story of Tony Hsieh, the charismatic CEO who transformed Zappos. Explore his unconventional management style and the quirky workplace culture that flourished under him. Witness how a quest for happiness spiraled into addiction and chaos, culminating in a series of alarming events, including public substance use and interventions. Amidst grand ambitions to revitalize downtown Las Vegas, the darker aspects of his life emerge, revealing a poignant narrative of success and personal struggle.

Travelers are caught off guard as the hospitality startup Sonder abruptly locks guests out of their hotel rooms, leaving chaos in its wake. Executives, seemingly in disarray, ignore frantic customer concerns while Marriott's minimal support adds to the frustration. The discussion connects Sonder's downfall to historical failures like Wow Air, unveiling deeper issues of cash mismanagement and an overreliance on venture capital. Employee accounts reveal a shocking lack of communication from leadership, painting a stark picture of corporate mismanagement.

Ty Haney makes a comeback at Outdoor Voices, but can she revive the brand's glory days? The hosts dive into the chaos surrounding Ashley Merrill's purchase, discussing product launch blunders and financial mismanagement. Allegations of a toxic culture unravel as they explore the dramatic fallout from Haney's exit and Merrill’s attempts to reposition the brand. Community backlash mounts due to quality declines and price hikes. Plus, legal troubles resurface with a new lawsuit against Haney over a recent venture. Will the brand regain its authenticity?

Delve into the dark underbelly of the Victoria's Secret empire, where toxic culture and corporate misdeeds reign supreme. Discover how Les Wexner’s childhood shaped his management style and the bizarre influence of Ed Razek on the fashion show’s toxic dynamics. The podcast dives into Wexner's unsettling ties with Jeffrey Epstein, revealing how their relationship spiraled into scandal and controversy. As they explore the brand’s trajectory, the hosts reflect on both its past glory and current struggles in redefining itself.