Topic: Austin Market

The hosts speculate that investment firms like BlackRock and Blackstone are purchasing residential properties in anticipation of a Universal Basic Income (UBI) rollout. They argue that these firms will benefit from government-subsidized rents once UBI is implemented. Meanwhile, markets like Austin, Texas, are seeing a 20% decline in home prices as tech workers and transients leave the area.

A real radio advertisement from Urology Austin promotes "March Vast Madness," encouraging men to get vasectomies during the college basketball tournament so they can recover while watching sports. The hosts initially suspected the ad was a hoax but confirmed its legitimacy. The marketing tactic is cited as an example of the unique and sometimes bizarre nature of American commercial culture.

A dinner with a former New York banker in Austin reveals the "VIP hotline" system used by wealthy residents to bypass restaurant reservation shortages. The banker's dismissal of Bitcoin as a "scam" is analyzed, with the hosts suggesting that the banking establishment's real fear is Bitcoin's potential as a sovereign currency.

The "Zephyr" train, a local economic indicator based on car counts, was observed with eight cars, signaling a stable or recovering economy. This observation coincides with a significant surge in the stock market and the emergence of the "checkmark recovery" theory. The host notes that the train's length is a frequent topic of discussion among listeners at local meetups.

The coronavirus outbreak has led to the cancellation of major tech and entertainment events, including Google I/O and various conferences in San Francisco. While Austin Mayor Steve Adler initially resisted canceling South by Southwest, major participants like Netflix began withdrawing from the festival. The Federal Reserve responded to market volatility with an emergency interest rate cut as global travel and hospitality sectors faced mounting losses.

Austin, Texas, is currently experiencing "Hatch Chile Month," with local supermarkets incorporating the New Mexico pepper into a wide variety of products including cheese, sausages, and cereal. The seasonal trend is characterized as a successful regional branding effort similar to the protected designation of Champagne.

Adam Curry notices a trend in Austin restaurants where "microgreens" are used as a garnish on almost every dish. John Dvorak explains that these are often hydroponically grown and marketed as a premium ingredient to justify higher prices. They jokingly decide to rename them "micro veggies."

Following the legal scandal involving Subway spokesman Jared Fogle, Adam Curry observes that a local Subway in Austin remained packed with customers. The hosts discuss the "no such thing as bad publicity" phenomenon and Curry shares his specific routine for ordering a veggie sandwich at the South Congress location.

A conversation with an Austin-based Uber driver reveals the daily financial struggles of rideshare workers, with the driver reporting earnings of less than $100 for a full day's work. The discussion covers the safety concerns of working after midnight and the "Uber Select" clientele. The segment concludes with a host handing out a promotional "No Agenda" disc and business card to the driver.

A discussion on travel safety includes tips to avoid eating seafood or warm fruit before flights to prevent illness. The hosts also praise the quality of ripe peaches currently available at the Austin farmers market and provide advice on storing them in paper bags.

Adam Curry describes his Thanksgiving plans in Austin involving a molecular biologist and a "cowboy" Fox News enthusiast. They contrast this with Rush Limbaugh's recent claims that the original Thanksgiving was actually a celebration of the emergence of the free market after the failure of a pilgrim "commune."

Adam Curry shares an anecdote about meeting a Deutsche Bank executive at a spin class in Austin. When the banker asked if Curry was an "end the Fed" supporter, Curry jokingly pivoted to advocating for even more quantitative easing to avoid social awkwardness. The hosts discuss the "pump and dump" nature of current markets, where political theater is used to create volatility that benefits institutional investors.

Adam Curry describes an impromptu meetup at the Austin farmers market with several show producers. The conversation transitions into a discussion about the No Agenda peerage system and the roles of sheriffs and constables. Dvorak shares an anecdote from Las Vegas about the specific duties of a constable, such as serving eviction notices and restraining orders.

The hosts celebrate their 500th episode milestone and acknowledge an email from Molly Wood. They discuss the growth of their listener base in Austin, including local vendors at the market who distribute No Agenda CDs. Artist Jay Young is thanked for his contributions to the show's visual identity.

An account of a biking trip to a farmers market in Austin, Texas, during the South by Southwest festival. The trip resulted in a severe sunburn after falling asleep in a hammock while listening to a previous podcast episode using No Agenda branded headphones.

Bitcoin's market price surpassing $33 triggers a discussion on the viability of cryptocurrency. The hosts decide to officially accept Bitcoin donations for the show, providing a specific wallet address. They compare digital currency to the wooden coins used at the Austin Sustainable Center's farmers market and debate whether Bitcoin will eventually crash or gain mainstream acceptance.

A personal anecdote describes a "douchey sales trick" encountered during a search for a rental property in Austin. The host recounts a bait-and-switch tactic where a landlord attempted to drive up the price by claiming other interested parties were offering more.

An anecdote describes a meeting in Austin with a researcher for hedge funds who claimed responsibility for exposing a "scam" involving Sealy Posturepedic. The researcher noted the suspicious volume of mattress advertisements on television despite low consumer turnover. The hosts discuss the potential of using their deconstruction skills for financial gain in the private sector.

The hosts discuss whether the housing market has bottomed out, noting significant regional differences. While national trends show a continued slide, specific areas like Austin, Texas, and the San Francisco Bay Area are seeing increased construction and stabilizing prices.

New regulations at Austin sustainable living markets have made it illegal for vendors to provide free samples of products like honey. Vendors claim they face arrest if they allow customers to taste products before purchase, though selling the same product remains legal. The hosts suggest these "health and safety" rules are pushed by large agricultural lobbyists to disadvantage small, independent producers.