Right About Now with Ryan Alford - Stars, Stripes & Bottom Lines—No BS Business News From the Houseboat

Episode Date: July 4, 2025

Join Ryan Alford on this special 4th of July episode of “Right About Now”! He’s got you covered with all the latest business news and holiday cheer. From record-breaking travel to rising consumer spending, fireworks tariffs, and the S&P 500’s strong performance, Ryan’s got you covered. He’ll also share some fun pop culture moments and remind us to celebrate freedom and entrepreneurship. So, grab some popcorn, sit back, and enjoy the holiday with Ryan! He’ll keep you updated on the latest economic trends and help you embrace the opportunities that come with independence and innovation.TAKEAWAYSOverview of the podcast's success and focus on business topics.Insights on the significance of the 4th of July holiday.Travel statistics and consumer behavior during the holiday season.Economic indicators related to consumer spending and leisure activities.Discussion on the impact of fireworks tariffs and import challenges.Analysis of consumer confidence and discretionary spending trends.Stock market performance, particularly the S&P 500, and market trends.Commentary on pop culture events and their economic implications.Emphasis on celebrating freedom and entrepreneurship.Encouragement to appreciate the liberty to pursue business ventures and personal dreams.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

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What's up guys? Welcome to Right About Now. It is our 4th of July special edition here on July 4th, 2025. You captains of capital welcome aboard my floating houseboat studio here on the lovely Lake Kiwi. The beautiful Kiwi Marina coming to you live for me recording this where the only swamp we deal with this this lake not Washington and it's not swampy here let me tell you the most beautiful lakes in the country in South Carolina come to visit don't stay though don't stay kidding come stay if you want while you're testing grill temps this weekend, the U.S. economy is testing its own heat index.

72 million Americans are hitting the highway. AAA calls it the biggest Fourth of July getaway ever. Gas stations make more profit than my neighbors selling fake lakefront NFTs. Huh. Uh, maybe. Could be a thing. I see you, Rawlf. I know your game. NFT is just like being there.

Just like it. Back on shore, 92 bucks is the average grocery tab for burgers and brews. Speaking of which, got mine right here. Ultra, it's hot here in South Carolina. This thing's leaking all over me. 92 bucks. Geez, yet fireworks tariffs keep the booming business pricier than these boat slip fees.

Let me tell you, they ain't cheap. Those fireworks aren't cheap either. I went and tried to get some. Other news, the S&P 500 is on a rocket ride. It was the best May through June since 1990. Everyone's talking about how bad the economy is and somehow the S&P has done better since 1990. But remember, every rocket comes back to earth.

And Silicon Valley just slashed the price of AI tokens by 80%. That's like chartering this entire vessel for the cost of a kayak. It ain't happening today. We're mixing charter boat life vibes with bottom line clarity. Life jackets on, egos off. Let's fire it up right about now. First up today. And look, if you're not watching the YouTube, you need to be watching this. Got the 4th of July garb on.

Let's not forget the men and women who serve, that fight for our independence every day. We appreciate you and right about now salutes you. We know the reason for these seasons and we support you. Ultimately, it's the great getaway. You got 5.8 million in the air this weekend. 72 million travelers on July 4th. Lake Marina's report a 15% rate increase. I know, mine was at least that.

So let me tell you, I think consumer confidence is okay. I think it's a micro indicator. Ultimately, holiday travel is the real-time stress test for discretionary spending. And I'd say it's pretty good if you got 6 million people in the air. Barbecue economics, $92.44 is the food spend on the 4th of July.

Beef packer margins are plus 13%. Patriotic packaging plus 4%. These ribs cost more than my first apple's share. Heat plus hunger equals pricing power for FMCG, at least this weekend. Fireworks and tariffs. Look, 99% of fireworks are still made in China. Why is that?

Why are they all made in China? Why don't we make some here? We need some firework factories. Imports warn of 2025 shortages leaking into next year. What's that mean? I don't know if they get old, but you better put them on the shelf for next year. Otherwise, I don't know if we're gonna have as many

They've already cut back here on the lake. Enjoy the show now next year's kaboom might be on your budget Alright folks, it's hot here in South Cackalacki. That's what we call it, South Carolina 93 no wind you see any wind here? I don't let me tell you there is No wind. You see any wind here? I don't. Let me tell you. There is heat advisories for 150 million people. Stay cool, people. Stay indoors. And look, extreme heat has graduated from WeatherNote to the P&L line because it costs more to run those air conditioners and run everything else. A lot of people stay home and don't spend the money. The heat wave and the griff are hot, hot, hot.

We talked about this last week. We got an AI fire cell going on. O3 API is now $2 in and $8 out with the tokens. The new cost curve turns nine month AI ROI into a 90 day payback for SMEs. What's that mean? Means it's cheaper than my docking fee and twice as smart. But models are cheap fireworks. Proprietary data is the dynamite.

Don't forget it. Lock up that data folks. They need that to make these models smart. Models easy, data hard. Creativity, ideas, content that creates the ideas, generates it is where it's at. Protect it, hide it, keep it, lock it up folks. They're coming for your data.

The SP500 has had the best three month period since 1990. Lots of data, but I'm not buying it long term. Don't know what's driving all of that. Hey, I'd maybe buy some Lake property or some meme stocks, hedge your bets a little bit charts can't defy gravity forever. Better have a parachute. I do have my baseball cards here in front of me. That is one of the great American best times

and that is baseball. But then the hobby, the hobby is here. I've got some big announcements coming related to the hobby and a new show that I will be doing with my good friends that I won't name yet. Coming, it's coming though. And it's big, real big, just like Judge and Otani big. They are both locked in all star spots. Yours truly might be there for the home run derby

there's lots of Spikes and merchandise for these guys and look, you know, they're pop culture news Taylor Swift Bought a 13,000 giant friendship bracelet float in the Boston Harbor Hmm. I don't know about that 13 grand for a friendship float. I think I'll stick to my jet skis and my star float on the back. If I want a float that big, it just invites people over here taking over my dock space. Got to have my room, get my frisbee on.

Got all my patriotic stuff here on the fourth. Get my frisbee on. Got all my patriotic stuff here on the fourth. Fun fact, 1.3 miles of thread for a three by five, three feet by five feet, not these small miniature ones. Banner flag, 1.3 miles of thread. I had no idea. Fun fact of the day. Ultimately, pop culture drives search traffic. Search drives sales, even of the day. Ultimately, pop culture drives

search traffic search drive sales, even on the lake is the Fourth of July short, sweet to the point stocks up economies up sentiments up fireworks up. My now folks and look, love each other. Give a hug. Get a hug. Remember, it's the Fourth of July. We have a lot to celebrate as this country no matter what the news tries to tell you. We're taking the BS out of it every day right here. Celebrate freedom, safeguard capital, and keep the BS

overboard. And here's the bottom line on right about now. Freedom and business run on the same fuel, energy, curiosity, and a healthy dose of risk. Whether you're piloting a Fortune 500 or just mastering your first side hustle, take this holiday to celebrate the liberty you have to build, buy, break, and build again. I've done it all.

So fire up the grill, keep your margins sizzling, and remember, tariffs may raise the price of your firecrackers, but they can't tax your American imagination. From the deck of the houseboat here, on the lovely Lake Huey, to every patio, porch, and board room tuning in, have a safe, profit-packed 4th of July. Leave the politics on shore, keep the BS overboard,

and enjoy the freedom to chase whatever rocket you've been stashing in the garage. Let's get after it, right about now. This has been Right About Now with Ryan Ulford, a Radcast Network production. Visit Ryanisright.com for full audio and video versions of the show or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities. Thanks for listening!