The Best One Yet - 🪺 “Nestegging” — Live-with-Parents Financial Flex. Driscoll’s $7B Raspberry. Ukraine’s DIY Missiles. +One-night Bachelorettes

Episode Date: July 9, 2026

49% of Americans under 30 live with their folks… But now it’s a financial flex #StayAtHomeSonDriscoll’s invented the year-round fresh berry… But this $7B berry brand doesn’t grow berries.The US gave Ukraine instructions to DIY Patriot Missiles… It’s the Ikea-fication of Defense.Plus, the hot new bachelorette party trend is… The 1-night local blowout.$LMT $FDP $SPYGrab your Tickets to the IPO Tour: Our In-Person OfferingSan Francisco 9/23: https://www.ticketmaster.com/event/1C0064AFB5F688BDBoston 10/14: https://tickets.citywinery.com/event/tboy-the-ipo-tour-in-person-offering-8cdhupSeattle 11/4 (21+): https://www.axs.com/events/1446394/the-best-one-yet-ticketsNEWSLETTER:https://tboypod.com/newsletter OUR 2ND SHOW:Want more business storytelling from us? Check our weekly deepdive show, The Best Idea Yet: The untold origin story of the products you're obsessed with. Listen for free to The Best Idea Yet: https://wondery.com/links/the-best-idea-yet/NEW LISTENERSFill out our 2 minute survey: https://qualtricsxm88y5r986q.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dp1FDYiJgt6lHy6GET ON THE POD: Submit a shoutout or fact: https://tboypod.com/shoutouts SOCIALS:Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tboypod TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tboypodYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@tboypod Linkedin (Nick): https://www.linkedin.com/in/nicolas-martell/Linkedin (Jack): https://www.linkedin.com/in/jack-crivici-kramer/Anything else: https://tboypod.com/ About Us: The daily pop-biz news show making today’s top stories your business. Formerly known as Robinhood Snacks, The Best One Yet is hosted by Jack Crivici-Kramer & Nick Martell. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

This is Nick. This is Jack. It's Thursday, the new Friday, July 9th. And today's pod is the best one yet. This is a T-boy. The top three pop business news stories you need to know today. You know what, besties? We're halfway to Labor Day, so Jack and I said,

what the heck, we're both going to wear white on the pod today. What do you think? I know. But only one of us is wearing linen. But in the meantime, we got three fantastic stories for today's pod. Jack, what do we got in the funest pace in finance? For our first story, every fridge in America has Driscolls because they invented the year-round Raspberry.

But this $7 billion dollar berry biz grows exactly zero berries. For our second story, Ukraine gets to DIY America's best missiles. Because Lockheed Martin is about to email them the missile blueprint like it's a PDF. And our third and final story, a record 49% of Americans under 30 live with their parents. But here's the surprise. For Gen Z, living with your folks is now a flex. Say hello to the stay-at-home son. And stick it in your dating profile.

But yeties, before we hit that wonderful mix of stories. Oh, what a mix. No one else is doing that mix, Jack. I love the mix. The biggest new wedding trend is also the quickest and cheapest. It's the one-night-only bachelorette party. Bachelorette parties are swinging from four-day mandatory destination vacations, if you consider yourself a bestie of the bride, to a four-hour night out.

Instead of Cabo, you're kicking it local. Nashville's out, nearby, is in. Yes, the Bachelorette is still going to go hard in the paint. Yeah, but only on one wild dinner within Uber distance, Jack. Now, to sprinkle on some context, last year, the average bachelor and bachelor's party hit an all-time high $1,300 per attendee. The percent of Bacheloretts that you flew to has doubled since the pandemic. Because the maid of honor booked three Pilates classes, two private chefs, and six brunches in four days. Yeah, but Jack, plus the group van, the backup van, the Delta round trip and the trip insurance, man.

How does our Airbnb have 15 rooms, but I'm still sharing a bed with someone? I don't know, Jack. Just Venmo Jillian 2K by. Tuesday and then forget about it. But in this economy, brides are doing it more budget friendly. No PTO days necessary. Half the price, half the time, double the adrenaline rush. Besties, this isn't batch maxing. This is batch

minning, and it's winning. Same hangover, but just one of them. And you know what, Becky? Brittany will love you even more. If you ask her to love you for just one night, instead of one full credit card statement. I'm on it, Jillian. Stop reminding me. Let's hit the three stories.

Fifteen years before this song, two boys from the North met in the dorm. They had an idea that caused a cultural storm. It's the best one yet, but the best is an norm. Jack Nick, that's it. I don't even think they need to practice. 50% that's a fat tip.

Tea Boy City on your at list. If you know, you know, because we're ready to go. We can't wait no more, so just start the show. Start the show. First, a quick word from our sponsor. For our first story, the reason you can buy berries in the winter, Well, it's the $7 billion berry giant Driscoll. But big berry doesn't actually grow any berries.

No. Not a single one. Yeties, we put a man on the moon. We've eradicated smallpox. We've run the sub two-hour marathon, man. But the greatest human accomplishment? What is it, Jack? The affordable year-round raspberry.

We're talking to the 365 raspberry, baby. You've tried it. Because until 10 years ago, getting a raspberry in the winter was impossible. Back in 1712, French king Louis XIV, actually sent a 30-person expedition all the way to Chile. All just to collect a rare strawberry because it ripened one month earlier than it did in France. And that besties today, you don't need to go all the way to Chile. You can just go to Shaw's for one of those. 365 days a year, berries are in season, wherever you are.

Yeah, you're mourning musli. It is a miracle of modern agriculture, man. And berries are the fastest growing produce in America, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Hey, protein, what do you think of them apples? Well, worldwide, berry production has tripled in the last 25 years. Invidia, they sell chips, but raspberries rip. But the berry boom we're all enjoying, it all began with a small family farm that became a freak of nature.

Literally, we're talking Driscoll's. It's the most popular berry brand in the world, a $7 billion company. If you go to the grocery store and check out some strawberries, there's probably a Driscoll sticker on it. Because they're selling 4 billion clamshells of berries each year in 60 countries worldwide. More on that word, clamshells in the second. But Truscoll started with a small plot of land in California 122 years ago. They were a family-run farm. And they still are. But in 1989, they stated a very specific goal.

An ambitious goal to make all four major berry types available in all four seasons of the year in all four corners of the earth. The old triple four. You see, President Kennedy, he said we'll go to the moon. But Driscoll's, they said Jakarta will eat berries in January. And the first step to achieve that ambitious goal was to change the packaging. Are you thinking clamshell here, Jack? Driscoll invented the plastic container known as the clamshell because it makes these fragile berries more shipable to grocery stores. Yeah, spoiler, you got three of them in your fridge right now. Trust us. We know you. And then Driscoll studied plant architecture. Plant architecture, what exactly is that, Jack?

The breeding of berries for specific agricultural goals. We're talking like bigger strawberry shoulders or crunchier blueberry skin or less raspberry hair. In fact, that hairless raspberry, it was Driscoll's first patent. It was the Maravala Berry 2004 patented by Driscoll. They also bred a blueberry that naturally lasts 60 days refrigerated without spoiling. That's four times the natural average, Jack. Well, I'm not sure we should say naturally because they bred it kind of like in a lab, right? It's a story for another pot.

But now, Driscolls has joined a prestigious group of foods that have turned a commodity into a brand. The dull pineapple, the chiquita banana, and the Driscoll strawberry. In fact, Driscolls has built such a brand that last year, the trendy Los Angeles grocery store, Erwan, collabed with Driscolls. For $24 bucks, you can get a strawberry-glazed skin smoothie. And what's in that, Jack? It improves your skins glow, apparently, thanks to the Driscoll strawberries. Bessies, we couldn't get the date on this, but if you have a toddler, there's a roughly

a 130% chance you got Driscoll's in your fridge right now. And in the 1990s, Driscolls did it. They managed to grow and harvest the four major berries year around. But there's just one funny thing, right? Jack. Driscoll's berry farm doesn't grow any berries. To quote, Jamberry, the book for kids, one berry, two berry, pick me a blueberry, hatberry, shoeberry in my canoe berry. Is the pottsin like that book, Jack? Dude, we still don't have it, actually. Oh, I got to get one for the pot sign. In the meantime, what's the takeaway for our buddies making berries over at Driscoll's?

Driscoll's is the Jurassic Park of Strawberries, but they never get their hands dirty. Yet, here's what we find fascinating. Driscoll's berries doesn't make any berries. They don't even own any land. It's not a farming business anymore. It's a research and branding company. Yes, they're in the food industry. They've bred 200 raspberry varieties just this year. But they let others grow the berries,

using their specifically bred seed plants and soil treatments. That's what they sell. Driscoll then gives the farm their branded clamshells to sell those berries in as well. And the growers, which are on four continents of the world, they get 75% of the revenue, Driscoll's gets 25%. And that Driscoll's brand fetches the high price

because it's recognized from Dallas to Dubai. Driscoll doesn't own the fruit. They own the DNA. They've turned the farmer's market into their patent office. That is the wild story of how the world's biggest berry biz doesn't actually grow any berries.

For our second story, the theme of this week's NATO summit, it's war. Not even one war. We're talking two wars. War, what is it good for? This particular slice of the stock market. We'll tell you in our takeaway.

But yet he's first, just to sprinkle on some context, Jack, how would you describe NATO? Because I think you got the best analogy here. NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance. It's basically an international group project with 32 students. Yeah, like Germany is the rural follower student. France brings the flair. And Canada, what's Canada bringing Jack?

They're bringing the snacks for everybody. Oh, bring the snacks, eh? A little more syrup. Well, NATO gathered in Turkey this week, but the assignment got sidetracked. That's right, because on Tuesday night, both Iran and the U.S. accused the other side of violating the ceasefire. The U.S. says that Iran fired missiles. at tankers that were trying to cross the straight. And the Iran says that they didn't, but that the

U.S. killed eight of their armed forces in retaliation. It's a he said, Shia said situation. So, the U.S. Slavs sanctions back on Iranian oil and what do we see in the markets, Jack? Stocks fell Wednesday in reaction to that, and oil prices jumped by 8% in one day. You see, Besties investors had priced in the end of the war, but now President Trump is saying the ceasefire is over. That's the update on Iran. But there's another war still going on in Ukraine. And for four years, the eddies, Ukraine has been defending itself against Russia's attacks with one very particular wingman. The U.S. made Patriot Missiles. The Patriot, each Patriot, it can intercept and collide with incoming missiles midair for one hefty price tag.

$4 million each. Yeah, this is the Michelin Star of Missiles, besties. Costs cost a lot and it ends with a bang. What incredible technology. You shoot a missile that way, and it's so precise that it collides with a missile going in the opposite direction. Well, so incredible, Jack, we're now going to be giving them out as gifts like Oprah. Get this. President Trump said yesterday that we will give Ukraine the right to make Patriot missiles. We will show them how to do it.

This is something Ukraine's president has been pleading for for multiple years now. Well, Jack, who will show Ukraine exactly how to DIY their very own $4 million patriot missiles? Raytheon and Lockheed Martin will. That's right. The two publicly traded companies that design and manufacture these very expensive, very profitable defense product profit puppies. They're basically going to give

an instruction manual to Ukraine to build these missiles themselves in return for a fee. Yeah, it's kind of like the way you get an IKEA bassinet, Jack. But Nick, that's the beauty of licensing for Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. They just send a PDF and collect a fee, and that fee has no cost associated with it, so it's

100% pure profit. So did Raytheon and Lockheed stock jump on news they're going to make a bunch more money on their profit puppy of a defense missile? The stock's actually slid a bit, Nick, because that PDF with the DIY missile instructions that is top secret intel.

Can't talk about it. They're worried about leaks. Like, what if Ukraine sends that PDF to somebody else, Jack? Raytheon and Lockheed Martin could lose their missile monopoly. What if China gets a hold of this information? So, Bessie's added all up and Ukraine licensing Patriot missiles will increase short-term profits

for American defense, but come at the long-term risk of IP leakage. But still, these two defense companies are at all-time high as 18 And it's because of our takeaway. So Jack, what's the takeaway for our buddies making Patriot missiles? Or what is it good for? The defense industry.

Yet he's the big headline of the NATO summit this week. Before the Iran attacks, it was a pledge to increase defense spending big time. From 2.3% of GDP last year to 5% of GDP by 2035. That's what the 32 NATO members promised to do, basically because Trump asked them to. Now, the losers of that shift are peacetime initiatives, education, health care. paying down the debt, items like that. The winners are one sharp and explosive slice of the stock market. Defense, an ETF that tracks American defense stocks.

It has doubled since Election Day 2024. Compare that to just 25% increase for the rest of the market, the S&P 500. Oh, and European defense stocks? They're up 80% since Election Day 2024. What about startups, Nick? Silicon Valley wants to become stark industries these days. Totally. Besties, Defense Tech. It's raised more private funding this year already than last year.

and last year was a record as well. So to answer the 1970 Edwin Star song, War, what is it good for? The defense industry. That's about it. Now a quick word from our sponsor. For our third and final story, young adults are moving back in with mom and dad

at the highest rate in history. But living with your parents is not a sign of failure anymore. It's now a financial flex. You're nest egging. Yet he's 20 years ago. We got one of Matthew McConaughey, greatest performances ever.

Clearly, you've never seen True Detective. I mean, he got snubbed on this one, Jack. Failure to launch the movie. What is it, man? You've seen it. 2006, a rom-com, about a 35-year-old man who was still living with his folks.

Can the love of Sarah Jessica Parker finally get McConaughey to leave his parents' basement? Goused 50 million to produce and brought in 130 million at the box office. Huge ROI. But Jack and I would bet that if they made that movie failure to launch today, it would bring it even more.

more money. Because a record percentage of American adults, under 30, live with their parents right now. 49%. It was 37% before the pandemic, but now it's 49% today, according to the Federal Reserve. Your roommate is your mom. Your other roommate is dad. Oh, and one third of those adults who are living with their parents? They're over 25 years old. All of these stats are all-time highs. You're sharing your mom's herbal essence shampoo. Your dad accidentally ate your CBD gummy. And they're looking at you like, what is there a curfew? Yeah, there is a curfew, son. Yes, there is. McCona's movie looks less like a rom-com and more like a documentary, doesn't it?

Ma! The meal loaf! Now, this trend really took off during the pandemic. But unlike Peloton Jack, this trend did not die. To bring you back six years, to kick off COVID, a bunch of 20-somethings returned home. It was supposed to be a temporary move. But work from home led to a new trend. Return to the childhood home and stay in the childhood home.

Now, the reason is obvious. Housing is crazy expensive, especially in the cities with the best jobs. But interestingly, now this trend is influencing surprising parts of the economy in very physical ways. Like architecture. Totally. Home builders are now designing houses for 60-year-olds and 30-year-old inhabitants at the same time. The multi-generational home. The kitchen is there in the main room for the parents, but there's a kitchenette in the basement for the adult child. Homes are increasingly building separate entry for live in apartments for the adult kids to use too. But here's what we find most fascinating. Historically, living with your parents was a sign of failure.

name of the movie is failure to launch. My name is George. I'm unemployed and I live with my parents. It's a classic. But today, the script has flipped. Living with your parents can be a positive sign of financial responsibility. Get this, according to the journal, Gen Z perceives a move in back home with mom and dad as a financial flex. Stay at home daughters and stay at home sons. Those are two hashtags trending on TikTok right now. You're boasting about it. You're not hiding it. The way Jack and I see it, the hottest pick you could put in your Tinder bio, what is it? it, man. kicking it from your twin mattress at your parents' ADU. So Jack, what's the takeaway for all our buddies bunking it up with mom and dad? Living with parents is how Gen Z builds a nest egg.

Yet he's a general sign of successful people. It's the ability to sacrifice short-term pleasure for long-term gain, like that marshmallow test. And living with your parents is exactly that if you're saving the money on rent. And living with your parents is exactly that if you're saving the money you're not paying to rent for something in the future. Because get these numbers. Back in June 1996, housing cost 28% of Americans' income. But 20 years later, June of 2026, housing cost 35% of our income on average. Well, that's 7% point difference?

It's the difference between saving money, building equity, or going into debt. So the key, if you move in with your parents, is to save money while you're living with them. And that is why a dating profile with a picture of your parents' basement apartment, that's a green flag. It says, I'm building a nest egg. Wait till you see my next nest. You're nest egging. Coolest story in capitalism right now, it's that living with parents is a financial flex.

Jack, could you whip up the takeaways for us for Saviche? I'm sorry, for the New Friday. Driscoll's is the reason we can all eat berries year-round. They don't own the fruit. They own the DNA. They turn the farmer's market into the padden office by Jurassic Park and the thing. For our second story, Ukraine will begin the process of DIY Patriot Missiles with assistance from Raytheon and Lockheed Martin.

War. It's why defense stocks have done four times better than the rest of the market since the 2024 election. And our third and final story, 49% of American adults under 30 live with their parents right now. We need more and cheaper housing. But living with your parents can be a financial flex. It says, I'm nesting.

But besties, this pod's not over yet. Here's what else you need to know today. First, that 37-floor building in New York City that used to be the Pfizer headquarters, it was a risk of collapsing this week. It was in Midtown Manhattan, two support beams visibly buckled under the weight of the building like broken French fries.

For a day, police evacuated that whole area of Midtown, but replacement beams have now been added, so it's safe for the time being. Interesting detail, they were working to make this the biggest ever, office to residential building conversion in history, but they had a construction mishap. And second, so far,

2026 has had more startup funding than any half year in history, driven by AI. But the latest gigarays was from Jeff Bezos' his rocket company, Blue Origin. The Bezos space biz. They're raising outside capital

for the very first time in their 25-year history. And the valuation, it's $125 billion. Less than 5% of what SpaceX is today. And finally, the newest Shark Tank judge

has a lot of cash to send your way. Because it's Mr. Beast. Mr. Beast will be a guest shark in the next season of Shark Tank. And he will give you $1 million for 10% of your business if you escape from that burning

shipwreck in the middle of the ocean. It's the 18th season of Shag tank. Viewership has fallen from 8 million in the peak cable TV days to 2 million today. So they need a beast. They need Mr. Beast. Now time for the best fact yet. This one whipped up by Jack and I when we were researching July 4 stories last week and we wanted to share this one with you. Because it's about firewood. This is wild. Which used to be a massive part of the American economy. Get this. Back in 1776, one of the biggest industries in all of America was the firewood industry. Firewood was 18% of America's GDP, the year that we declared independence from Britain. In fact, by 1830, Firewood had jumped to 30% of our entire economy.

How could that possibly be? Well, firewood was the key energy source we used for heat, cooking. Before coal, one out of every $3 spent by Americans, was on firewood. But Nick still doesn't know how to start a fire. You know, it doesn't... I do, I do, Jack. I give you a call and you come over. Dude, I'm honored to be right.

one phone call. Yetis, you look fantastic today. Jack, you're glowing over there in that white linen. Not too shabby, man. Yadis, drop a link to today's episode in your favorite group chat to help grow the show. The best way to grow the show, it's the group chat. And Nick and I, we'll see you tomorrow.

If you know, you know. And before we go, a happy birthday to legendary Yeti, Isabella Lima, the Queen of Confetti from El Salvador. Happy birthday to Marimi Nyamu. In Oregon, he and his mom love potting together. And Sam Cortez, happy 19th birthday over and one. Happy birthday to Louise Vasquez in Orange County, California. The OC and Terry B in London, England have the best birthday yet.

And happy 25th birthday to Miranda Fairbanks, the finest in finance. And Alex and Maddie, we see your two-year anniversary just outside Boston. Celebrate the wins. And happy four-year wedding anniversary to Jacob and Kristen Steckham in Los Angeles. Oh, and congrats on retiring from that epic professional ballerina career, Kristen. Wish we could have seen you live. But Oliver, we see you. And you brought Jacob to our live show.

in L.A. Not too shabby. And to anyone else, I'll bring something today. Make it a T-Boy. Celebrate the wins. This is Jack. Nick own stock of Airbnb. We both own stock of Peloton and ETFs of the S&P 500, and I own one share of SpaceX, and Nick owns more than one.