Remote Work is Hurting Gen Z & Whey Protein is Facing a Shortage

The shift to remote work, not AI, is the primary driver behind the worsening job market for recent college graduates, according to two new studies cited in this episode. Researchers from the New York Fed and the London School of Economics found that remote work accounts for nearly two-thirds of the rise in Gen Z unemployment since 2019, as companies prioritize experienced workers who can thrive without in-person mentorship. Younger workers, who overwhelmingly prefer hybrid roles, are being left behind in a system that values 'work osmosis'—the informal, on-the-job learning that only happens when people are physically together. The consequences are long-term: early career setbacks lead to lasting wage and promotion disadvantages. Meanwhile, a separate crisis is unfolding in the food industry as a global whey protein shortage threatens to disrupt everything from protein bars to Pop-Tarts. Driven by surging demand and limited processing capacity, prices have jumped over 50% since January, with facilities costing up to $1 billion to build. Companies are scrambling to secure supply, with some—like David Protein—buying their suppliers outright to avoid being left stranded. The episode also covers Anthropic’s surprise IPO filing, a strategic move to beat OpenAI to market and capture early investor attention in a crowded AI public market, and the quiet death of Vegas buffets, replaced by food halls as health trends and GLP-1 drugs reshape dining habits.