Trading Secrets - 313. Thirty Minute Thursday: TJ Palma Recap, Taylor Swift's Wedding Buzz, Love Island Drama & Team USA's World Cup Exit

Episode Date: July 9, 2026

Jason is joined by the Curious Canadian for another Thirty Minute Thursday as the guys break down the biggest stories of the week. They recap the conversation with TJ Palma, unpack the Taylor Swift wedding, dive into all the drama coming out of Love Island, and react to Team USA's disappointing World Cup loss. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

back to another episode. Minut Thursdays. Back to back, week to week. We are in it right now. 30 minute Thursdays, what you can always expect here is we're going to talk pop culture, what's happening out there in the world. And of course, recap a little bit from our previous guest this week, which was T.J. Palma from Love Island.

So if you are a fan of Love Island, you will really appreciate that episode. If you're not a fan of Love Island, I will tell you, I even learned a lot about that episode. and things that I could do or that you can do back at home, even if you have $0 and how you can make a quick buck. So we'll get into that before we get into that, David, 4th of July behind us, obviously World Cup, which will talk a little bit about Taylor Swift's wedding, which will talk a little bit about looking forward like the summer is full speed

ahead, July, August, it's almost over before it starts with every weekend filling up. How was your past weekend? What's cooking? What's coming up? Past weekend was great, happy for the July to every. everyone out there. It was low key, honestly. The weather wasn't that great in Rochester. So we just had Ashley's family over. We had a little pool party when the weather allowed it to. We ate our hot dogs. We ate our hamburgers. We set off some fireworks. We gave the kids some sparklers. It was good. It was low key. And I just think coming at the point in the summer, like you said, I think low key was what was needed. It's been a busy summer. And it's like you said,

it's at that point, Jay, where I feel like I'm thinking about September and how busy I'm going to be way too often. And it makes when you get that feeling, it makes it feel like summer's over. And I hate that. And I need to maybe ground myself and enjoy every single day for the summer because it will be over before we know it. And man, summer's just the best. It's just the best. And I don't want it to be over. And maybe that's why I'm thinking that way.

So that was me. How did you spend your July 4th? Well, especially in upstate New York, right? Like that's, I mean, there's just no better place in the summer. It's like Chicago in the summer. It's just the absolute best. And then you got to go into the winter months, which are tough, right? So I totally hear that.

The fourth was good. I mean, listen, we were all over the place in Europe. You know what I'm saying? We went to a party on the fourth Friday night. Shout out to Ed Clay. I mean, man, this guy threw on a party. This venue, I thought I was back in Italy. It's like this Italian villa-style place, East Ivy.

He had, oh, my God, he had people walking tight ropes. He had people doing flips, shooting arrows out. with their feet to, I mean, it's like a full on circus theme. It was why I can't even imagine how much you spent. That was pretty cool. But what was interesting here, taking it up to a little bit of a trading secret side of things, one of the best gauges for inflation, David, is actually how much a cookout cost. So they will analyze what a cookout for 10 at home, like a barbecue will cost every single

year. And this year for a barbecue of 10, we hit a record high of $73 and $82. This is the highest since the survey started, which was 10 years ago. And they're saying ground beef alone is majority of the reason. So there's a lot of things happening out there, a lot of money moving when it comes of July 4th. Americans, another interesting one is Americans dropped roughly $3 billion on fireworks this year. That is great.

I was just going to say, I don't think inflation exists for fireworks because my neighborhood was popping off in Carter's 3 and he's at the age where he got a little scared of the fireworks for the first time. So that was kind of a fun father process in making sure that he understood. We said that he loves happy birthday, the song, Happy Birthday. We said, this is just America's birthday. And that's, these are the candles. And so every time, you know, every time the firework goes off, you got to blow it, blow it out for America. And he was all into that. We went on the driveway and watched a bunch of fireworks. That was great. I will say, least I've ever drank on July 4th. I had one drink all of July 4th, which is definitely a

record. And it seems to be a little bit of a growing trend between myself. And I know you're as well. We've talked about a little bit drinking, just not taking the priority in our lives that it used to. Good, bad. You like it? You hate it? I mean, I don't know if this is a Europe thing. I don't know if it's just a lifestyle thing. I came back Friday, right? That party we went to. I had three Mick Altras hanging around the house. Then we went to the party and I had three drinks at the party. So we're talking six drinks over. It was around six, seven hours. I woke up violently hungover. Violently.

I'm like, I'm just done with this. So the rest of the weekend, I didn't drink. I didn't like it on Sunday, John came over and was editing the podcast for this week. And I had one of those like CBD drinks or whatever. So I didn't drink at all. And the way I'm treating drinking right now, I look at it actually,

it's cool to this podcast. I look at drinking like savings. Okay. I will save my drinks up, my dollars up for a time that makes sense to go. The casual drinking, no, not worth it. The day-to-day drink, have a beer, glass of wine, I'm done. I'm just going to not drink until there's something

I really can't wait to do and then I'm going full speed. We have a big wedding coming up August 6, I think it is. August 8th for Hawk, August 8th, okay? I'm going ham for that. But then like a week and a half before that won't touch a drink. I love that. I love it for you because it's very money, finance related, but it is. It's like you save up for that big purchase. You feel so great about that purchase instead of spending on a bunch of stupid things in between. Save up those drinks for big because I'm a Tom and a place drinker. I'm done drinking just because I feel like I'm supposed to, maybe for social settings. I want to drink because I'm celebrating something. I want to feel good about it. I want the hangover to be worth it because hangover plus kids equals a nightmare.

And that's just where we're at. So that's the Fourth of July recap with Jay and David. And it was good. It was exactly how it should have been this year, I think. It was good. It was good. I miss, I do will say I had some of those memories of when I was a kid. You know what I think. I think with 4th of July, it's so important if you have kids to just make that such a special holiday. Like, I'm here at 37. My parents are in Charlotte. And the whole weekend, all I was thinking about was the things that we used to always host a party on the 4th of July. And I just remember it so vividly and like reflecting back on that. It was like a little bit of moment of like, okay, that's, that's beautiful. And one day I hope to pay it forward. So beautiful holiday.

You got to love it. T. J. Palma was on this week's episode. Love Island. is everywhere. I know you were a big, big watcher of his season. Just overall, before we get to the nitty gritty of this episode, I'm curious, what is your state of the union? What's your take on Love Island today? State of the Union on Love Island today. It's a great question. Season 7, TJ's season, great season. It's the runner up, I think, of the best U.S. Love Island season, which was obviously season six. We got Miguel, we got Leah Ketheb, we got Cordell Beckham, Serena. some absolutely massive hitters on that season. We had Rob, the snake guy Rob on that.

We had Kaler. We had tons of personalities. And it was because Love Island, US, was never a big deal before season six. And season six just sparked it. And so you get people on season seven coming on like the TJs, like the irises, you got the chutas. You got a bunch of people who were more trending into like, could the season be as big as last season, but not really sure.

And now, Jay, season eight, I tried. I don't know if it's the two kids in me. I don't know if it's the summertime where I just want to spend my time somewhere else. It's just not hitting with me. And I'm not loving especially the guys on the season. They're just not doing it for me. They're not representing male energy and attitude in the way that I think that I would like them to. It seems a little more, I don't want to say fabricated.

It seems a little more, just a little much. It's just disappointing. see memes all the time with people saying like, I'm tired. And it just shows like the same guy saying the same shit over and over and over again. So I think maybe are we at a tipping point with Love Island US or it's just getting too big for its britches? It's kind of overworn. It's welcome.

I don't know. Is that what you're hearing in your circles? I mean, if we talk numbers, the Love Island season premiere had 1.31 billion streaming minutes in the first week. That's up 69% year over year from 2025, making it the number one show. on Nielsen's streaming chart, and it had 2.3 billion minutes viewed in just the first two weeks alone. So I think, first and foremost, it's the biggest and best show. But there's the question is like overexposure going to be the one thing that ends up bringing the show down, especially

when you look at this season, possibly. The other thing I consider and think about is when we talk about Bachelor, right, obviously a huge fan of the franchise and wanting them to make a comeback. I have someone that's 21, 22 that works at our agency. And I asked her, why Love Island, why not The Bachelor? And her number one response was, it's live and it's unpredictable. She goes, the Bachelor format is just so predictable. We know who wins. We know who they end up with.

It's three months later. It's not in real time. This is live. It's unpredictable. They don't know what's going to happen. Do you think, like, if the Bachelor franchise actually implemented a live version like Love Island, it could go? Yes, because it gets people talking about it.

Jay, it's on Calci. Like, you can go and bet on live eliminations and recouplings and things of that nature. Like, it's getting the younger generation involved because like you've talked about before, like while you watch Love Island, you're scrolling on your phone. And maybe you're scrolling on your phone because you're trying to find those people live on Instagram or you're on Calci or you're looking at all these, you know, TikTok videos of people's live reactions because things are happening live. Yes, I think that that is just.

the way that the world is working right now. And it just, you know, Bachelors once a week for two or three hours with a shit ton of commercials and da-da-da-da-da. This is on every day except for hump day. That's like their whole thing is like Love Island every day except for hump day. It's during the summer months when there's usually a little bit less on TV, when they're showing tropical locations and you're in your own tropical location. I think they've just hit that niche really well. I just think that they're going to run into the place where I think they've already had two or three cast members kicked off because of, you know, racial videos or things have come up with their past, where they're going to run into a really hard casting process

of casting the right people for good TV who want to be able to be themselves and bring an audience member like myself in, who's seen so many and not just people who want to be there for the fame because I think that that's obviously, you know, the leading point of it. But it's also wild to me, Jay, that Love Island UK, which is the OG, the goat, right? I think they're in season 13 or 14, is running at the exact same time as Love Island U.S. which is confusing and frustrating for a fan who I would watch it all 12 months a year, but you're giving me both. And I almost, now this year I'm watching none because it's like I want to watch both.

I don't have time. So I'm going to watch none because it's just too much. You're the kind of guy that's like, I don't want to be in a gray area with the show. I want to be all in. And when you have two going on at once that all in just paralyzes you. The other thing I talked to John who's on our team, he was telling me that they are splitting producers. So the same producers that are doing.

Love Island USA and Love Island, UK are the same team. And they're just being like worked, I guess, tiredlessly. And so even that component of it, I guess it creates consistency, which is huge, but it also creates patterns. And so I feel like in this space, like we talked about Bachelor versus Love Island, patterns will lead to downfall. And it will be interesting to see what happens there. Yeah, you thought the tax accountant season was busy in April.

I'll try to be a Love Island producer with two shows, getting billions of stream minutes and you're producing both at the same time in two different time zones. That sounds nuts. Back to the live portion of Love Island, which is a viewer, I think, is really engaging. Go back to your days in The Bachelor where you know exactly what to expect. You get casted on the show, you go to the hotel, you're freaking out, but you know your first thing, Jay is getting out of that limo and making your first impression, right? Could you imagine flying to Fiji? And as T.J. mentioned, not having a clue. Are you OG cast? Are you bomb Are you getting on the show at all?

You're in a hotel for weeks at a time. Then you get on. There's established characters. You're in a live vote. You're getting voted bottom three fan favorite of Americas. What would that do to someone's psyche who's going on in this reality TVverse for the first time? Could you imagine it compared to your experience in 2018 with The Bachelor? One thing I love about summer is just how easy everything feels.

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No, I can't. I can't even fathom it because everything's live. You get no second chances. I mean, I know a lot of my peers or people we manage or people that have met in this space that won't even go live on their Instagram. for 60 seconds because they're worried they're going to say something stupid. You think about this. You are live 24-7. America's voting on you. That type of, and then what happens, the thing about reality TV that gets a little tough is it's once you're in that bubble, like once you decide you're in, and even if you feel like,

okay, I might be screwed this moment, this might not be going well. It's working against me. There's no controlling it. It's like you're in a roller coaster, you're in that seat, and you can't stop the ride. And so that pressure is tough. And then what, you know, even TJ and I talked about, just that idea that you don't know how you're being edited. You don't know how you're being perceived. You believe you're being your best version of you or you believe something to some degree.

And then you got America just being like, you suck, you're out. That's got to be like that instant vote where you're literally appealing to people that you can't see based on an edit that you don't know. That is so much fresher and so hard to measure. it is and I think that you have new contestants though like understanding that there's a there's a bunch of memes going out of this guy who's on the show right now that he's his following is skyrocketing but I don't think he's that well liked which is interesting like noticeably looking for the cameras to seek out like as he's crying on the show so I think there's people that are becoming super super conscious of that while on the show because they understand the ripple effects of okay I'm going on long violin now you have podcasts like ours and others who are explaining more about what the process is from being casted to getting on the plane, to going to Fiji, to being on the hole, to being a bombshell to dealing with these things, you definitely just see people being way more conscious and aware of that compared to the hairy jowsy days of getting on a reality TV show and just winging it and being a little bit

of a shit show. You definitely see the more calculated approach because of how popular the show has gone and what it can do for you after the show. But it just comes across as a little bit worse TV from the viewers. and that's where I think you get the like I'm tired memes coming out from viewers being like this doesn't resonate with me. I'm going to say a hot take here. There is this meme of this kid and I've never watched the show. I just saw the post about this kid who's apparently crying in front of the camera.

People are saying that he's doing it intentionally. Here's what I want to say without knowing any context. It is so hard to, I mean, these cameras that are up there are the size of your fist. Right. And they're very far away. So it's not like you're looking up and then posing for that camera. It almost feels like with those live cameras, they don't even exist. It's like a ring camera.

It's so small. I don't think it's possible. I think that's made to be looking at that little camera. You don't know if it's even on. You don't know if they're zooming properly. You don't know any of the moving takes. And you also know with those little cameras, they're less likely to use that footage because the quality of that camera is so much less. The audio is harder to pick up.

They'll use it, but they're less likely. if it was a scenario where it was like the big production and you can see the six guys with the camera coming over the scenario and then instantly you start crying and that's happening often, I would say, okay, that's a little more calculated. But with those live cameras, they're the size of your hand, it's really tough to, when they're rolling 24-7, it's tough to plant that scene and then look at one of those little ones because there's a million of them. I find that one to be a stretch. You talked about the gain of followers. This is all coming from the Game of Roses pod Instagram page. They talk about the Love Island USA stats. This is all live this week.

The top five total followers. You have Caleb. Oh my gosh. Yeah. 1.5 million. Is that right? Yeah. Oh, 1.5 million on TikTok, 929,000 on Instagram.

Sean, 500,000 on Instagram and 1.4 million on TikTok. Those are the top two for the men. Oh, they're just doing everyone. Top five total gains of last week, Caleb and Jen, and also, Corbin and Caleb McDaniel, one social tracker of the week with 929,000 Instagram followers, 1.5 on TikTok, 507,000 followers. He gained yesterday. He gained yesterday.

Dude, I mean, just these numbers are just nuts. For someone like you who does this, seeing that, it's like, okay, that person roughly had a million dollar net worth gain yesterday. Right? Like that. Well, it depends. I mean, as we've talked about on this podcast so many times, it just depends how you use it. Correct.

Suppose you use it properly, much more than a million. Yeah. Like if he uses this intelligently with the amount of eyeballs, the relevancy and like building a brand that's actually authentic to him. Oh, you're talking, I mean, much more, much, much more than. I wish that they did for all the segments they do on Love Island. I wish they were, they did like a live announcement of like, imagine they had a live tracker of social media followers. Think of like a golf tournament where like you're there and you're watching the leaderboard

and it changes and you see like all the crowd erupts because of score change. Imagine you had a live leaderboard of social media followers of people when they're in the villa and they're see like, oh my God, I just hit 100,000 and then you oh my God, I just had five. Imagine waking up in the Fiji villa and then being like, oh my God, I gained 507,000 Instagram followers yesterday. Those reactions and the changes of behaviors and the jealousy and like the that would be fucking electric. It's crazy.

Feed the beast. Feed the beast. That's why these are on the show. Feed the beast. Feed the beast. And it's also interesting when you dissect like I can. A lot of people talked about this. These days it's very hard to gain following.

Right. So they say that the number one way that someone will, a lot of people will visit. For example, on my social media, my last 90 days, I have over 100 million impressions. That means over 100 million people came to my profile. But why would they hit follow?

That's the big answer that people are trying to understand. And they're saying majority of the reason that people will hit follow is because they want to come back. They're invested in something so much so that they need to see the next something. And so it makes sense with a guy like Caleb, you're on the most relevant show. People, I think, I don't know. I haven't seen the show, but I think people like you. So they want to follow and see what comes next.

And I just find that interesting. Last take I got on Love Island before we pivot to TJ real quick is, I mean, season premiere has 1.31 billion streaming minutes in the first week for Love Island. It's the number one streaming show on Nielsen's streaming chart. The Bachelor has been out of commission for a while. David, if you are the executive director, the CEO of Bachelor Nation, what are you doing today to turn the ship around? Well, I think that I'm getting a lead that doesn't have such a troubled past, but is relevant enough across the TikTok platform to get the new generation involved. I definitely think that I am going to a live format just for spoilers, just for engagement.

I think I'm doing it that way. And it has to be recycled ideas. Like maybe it's not traveling all across the world these crazy locations. Maybe I'm investing in a type of villa setting. I'm bringing people into different times. maybe I am really taking the Love Island page out of the book instead of starting with 35 people, maybe I'm starting less and bringing in people more based off of certain elements of the show. Maybe I'm adding a competition style where you got to fight or prove or do romantic gestures to stay in the house.

I think maybe there's more of an element of that than just getting a rose at the end of it. I think some sort of flare of that would be a nice little touch. but I think it's just got to get with the times and stop doing the hot tub date in the middle of the desert after a horseback running trail. And then wait for 30 minutes of commercials to already know who the winner is. Thanks to reality TV, Steve.

I think it's great takes. I think I would do. I think you have to go live TV. I think you need a new lead that is 22 to 27, core Gen Z. They're massive. They're extremely relevant. They're very well known and likable.

And I think you do exactly what you said. Live format instead of 30 people there. Half of them are there 15. The other 15 are almost on like this new show of like, you know, dancing with the pros, Dancing with Stars want to be a pro. There's some type of competition element for them to enter the mansion. Love that.

See, now we're talking. Because then people get to vote on who enters the mansion. Yeah. Like ability, the way they compete, the way they act, thinking because they get to watch this show. live and then they get to understand who that lead is. So they get to type, take the personality and match it with someone in the house next door. And America gets to vote on who gets to enter.

And then they root for them. But then once you're in the mansion, it's not America voting. Yes. It's just the Bachelorette's opinion. That's what I do. But I do think it's like we get something's got to happen and it's got to be really big. And I'm not sure that it's going to be put this season on streaming is going to be your answer. No.

No. I agree with that. I think we're, I think we're locks. That was, that felt good. That felt like a good little recap. That was good. I feel like we made a lot of progress, not just for ourselves,

but for our listeners, but for the overall reality TV community. I like it. I like it. It was good. 30 minute Thursdays is tick, and we have seven minutes left. I'm going to ask T.J. Palma,

quick take. Any questions of the curiosities? T.J. Palmer reminded me of Jason Tarduk in 2019. This guy, not just because of the luscious flow and the hair products, which I'm sure you off the camera said, hey, give me a little treating secrets. What you got in that flow is looking nice and, you know, see salty, fresh.

But this is a guy who went on the show for the right reasons. And I believe it because he wasn't a big personality in the show. He didn't try and backstab. He didn't try and cheat and lie his way to stay on for a few extra days. And he's all about business. And he was about business before. And he's about business after. And he's not using his platform for anything really other than his business and promoting

his business. I love his love with Iris. I think that they are supportive. I think that they are awesome together. I think that they're wholesome. I think that they're, I'm really rooting for them. So I think I, I saw a lot of him and I'm sure you felt that when he was like, listen, I'm no expert. I've only been on the same out of this show for a year. I'm dealing with how to work with and deal with, you know, being seen and being in the public eye. And I'm trying to figure out how to use this platform to leverage my business. But he's not getting outside of his roots. And I think it's something that you also went through in terms of how to deal with public opinion and public press and public relationships. So I saw, I think, the last thing I'll say is I think how you've really like

associated yourself with some people from reality TV and you've become really good friends with them. I think of like a Kyle Coke or something of that nature. I can see you and T.J. really growing a really strong business relationship because of the similarities that you see in each other. That's my two sense. Perfectly said. I would chop it up with this guy all day. He seems like a smart guy, motivated guy, humble guy, gets the nature of the like the world that he's in, but also understands like, you know, this is also who I am and I'll never lose sight of that. Love this guy. Huge fan. I'm dying laughing, dude. You said you two kind look alike or whatever kind of comment you made about that. Of all people, I get a DM from Rob Grunkowski.

I put the clip up. Rob DMs me, pretty boys, you two are. I love that. I will, I will say, I don't think I've had, we've had a guest who said the word grateful and blessed more than T.J. And I don't, I don't think that that's produced. I think that that's something that he honestly feels. So I got a great vibe from him. And I love that he was the person that we had on during this whole Love Island saga because it wasn't someone that we brought on for clicks or drama, someone who was totally true to the podcast.

And he even said, I'm really looking forward to this one. That was his first words that came out of his mouth after you did the intro is a guy who clearly had listened to the podcast and wanted to come on and talk business. And I think that that was, again, a perfect opportunity for him to do so. And I think his mom helped me out a little bit on him coming on in the podcast. I don't think he had a clue to who I was or what I knew. But his mom was like, she came on before we started. She's like, I've followed you since day one. I've been telling TJ to do your podcast.

That's awesome. Thank you, Mom. We appreciate it. Last before we go to Taylor Swift's wedding, which of course we have to talk about in 30 minute Thursdays. David, do you have any questions? He talked about Airbnb. He talks about the moving parts. Any financial curiosity? You know what? I got one and I thought I was hesitant to ask, but I got to stick to my roots. Curious Canadian, voice to the viewer. If I didn't know, you didn't know, he talked about Airbnb arbitrage. What the hell is the word arbitrage? I know Airbnb. I know

the success. He, he was very clear about how he was successful in the Airbnb world. What the hell does arbitrage mean? So arbitrage, the textbook definition. you buy one asset in one marketplace, you then sell it in another marketplace, and there will be no price discrepancies. So that's the fancy way. The simple like me to you talking, you're guaranteeing your self-profit. You're essentially saying, I'm risking X and it's nothing. I can't lose here. I can only win. It's creating a win-win situation. It would be like if I put $100 today on the Buffalo bills to win the Super Bowl, they make it to the Super Bowl. So if they make it to the Super Bowl and they win that game, I'd get paid like five grand because I bet so early.

Then in that game, I bet $500 on the other team. No matter what the outcome is, I'll either win $4,500 or $500, but I'm going to win. And so this is just a situation like you can't lose. So with our Airbnb, he's taking properties. They're paid for. All the stuff's done. And he's saying, I'm going to take that property your listing. I'm going to go relist it my way.

And I'm going to make more money. I don't own the property. I'm just putting in my labor. I can't lose money. If no one gets it, I'll lose anything, I can only make money. So that's arbitrage. Genius.

I kind of love it. That was a good explanation too. But he was pumped. He said the word arbitrage like 500 times. I'm like, I got to at least find out what the hell he's talking about here. So, okay, TJ for the win.

Loved it. A lot of action. Well, we only have three minutes, but we do have to talk about the biggest event going on that happened this past weekend. Of course, that was Taylor Swift's wedding. It was estimated that Taylor Swift's wedding

was somewhere in the $15 to $20 million dollar range up to $50 million range. Some experts are saying they donated $26 million to more than 20 organizations before the wedding. I think in general, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelsey are both philanthropic people. But I also think the timing of that was of course planned strategically. Like we are going to go spend 20, 30, 40, 50 million on our wedding and just know that we can afford it. We know we can afford it, but we're also going to take those similar amounts and donate them back. And then I just got one hot take on the Travis Taylor wedding is you're hearing a lot of noise of people be like, I can't believe you did it in the biggest city in the middle of this city.

And other businesses were impacted by it and they shut down because of it. And, you know, by response to that is one, if you're going to do a party in New York City in the middle of New York City, doing it on July 4th is probably the best weekend and day to do it on because that is where there's the least occupancy because everybody is gone. everybody is going to the Hamptons, everybody's traveling. That's just what people do in New York. They leave in July, period. Number two is if you look at the economic impact that she has brought to that city from bringing her show there several, several times,

that economic impact is so much greater. And even the wedding, that economic impact, of course, a negatively impacted people, but positively impacted others, that impacts the city at such a benefit greater than any harm. So I want to just tell those people to shut up. There you go. Look at you defending the Swifty Nation. Listen, my only take is I got to, I had to stare at my, my face on the internet talking about this wedding and doubting it. What an idiot I am. I mean, you haven't seen the full release of photos, but, you know, we had Catherine on, not Karen, we had Catherine on for a quick little minute topic. And she said, she, she should be, Taylor Swift, she should be getting married into castle. And I, I'm hearing that all the decorations were castle-esque, that it was absolutely beautiful. Obviously, obviously. if it's $15 to $20 million, I'm such an idiot for doubting the beauty and the grandeur of it. It sounded like a celebration.

Pretty interesting how they gave away a lot of like really high-end gifts, designer bags and things of that nature to some of the guests. It sounded incredible. Like I said, I'm a very neutral Taylor Swift, Swifty. And I'm just happy that it looked like an absolute party and they got to get, you know, have the celebration that they deserve like everyone deserves on their wedding day. I'm just a little mad at me for a week ago, doubting that they were going to have, that it was going to be in a high school gym with folded chairs and basketball hoops in the background like an idiot.

God damn it, David, you're so stupid. It looked unreal and it sounded like everyone there had the best time of their entire lives. So I'm just mad at me. I'm just mad at me for doubting the Swift machine. Talking some numbers here, right? They are saying that Taylor and Travis probably paid up to a million dollars for the MSG for that.

venue. In 2026, the average couple will spend $12,900 on a venue. That's according to the knot. And there's also estimates that the knot has said this, that the engagement and the wedding of Travis and Taylor would drive $2.2 billion in new global wedding spend. It's called the swiftification of weddings. That is wild. And we have hit our 30, minute marker on 30 minute Thursday. David, you got anything before we wrap? I know you're trying to hide it because you're a soccer guy

and we just suffered the worst loss in the history of the World Cup. I know you were I know you were hoping I was dodging this, Jay. Can I just get a state of the union? You made me give a state of the union on Love Island. I know we're going overtime. You wish that

U.S. game went to extra time. They didn't deserve it. Give me a state of the union. and I'll just say I'll give you mine after, just a little hitter. But you give me a State of the Union on what you had to witness Monday night coming off a proud July 4th weekend for this country on the U.S. men's effort in Seattle. 30-minute Thursdays is officially in overtime. So we're talking overtime here.

State of the Union on USA soccer. One, a red card's a red card. What a complicated situation by suspending his red card one year. no matter what happens, right? If we win, we're setting us up for a loss loss. If we win and he's a crucial impact of it, you have the whole world saying USA is rigged. If we lose, it's like, you know,

you're trying to bend the rules and then you lose. So I think you're kind of setting yourself up. It's also a big distraction for the team because you have to strategize how do you play with him? And then now again, how do you readjust that to play without him? That creates headaches. But most importantly, that loss to Belgium set the USA soccer program back years. We talked that we could compete. We thought we could compete. They made us believe that for the first

time ever, USA soccer on the men's side, could compete at the global level. This was their first test. They played a Belgium team that was much weaker than years in the past. This is the global level. They got embarrassed. It was embarrassed. It's just more proof of how far behind USA soccer is. And all that height was nonsense. There was, it was, it wasn't like an unfortunate bounce or a bad 10 minutes. It was despicable. You had a huge opportunity in stage to make a statement on a global level and we got embarrassed. And that is frustrating. And it is nice to see on the opposite side, our USA women's team has always been a global superpower, always dominates on a global level. And there's been so much work and effort going into the men's side and youth soccer.

States and it's a shame to see us get embarrassed at that level. But we'll get there. It's just going to take time. Hey, shout out to big soccer, quote unquote, big soccer for charging up the machine to make everyone believe that we had a chance because we didn't. It got proven. Someone needs to check Pulistic citizenship to see if he even is America because that guy didn't give too fucks.

The effort was just abysmal. And the third goal was, quite frankly, as we celebrated, America's 250th birthday, maybe the least athleticism on a world stage in 250 years. So listen, no one's trying to suck. No one's trying to lose. As an athlete myself and someone who coaches an athlete, yeah, I feel bad for those guys. No one's trying to lay an egg. But my God, no pulse, no effort, no heart, absolutely dead stadium.

It just was, it was too bad. Shout out to big soccer for making everyone believe that they had a chance. they didn't have a chance. In four years, I'm sure we'll rev up the engines again and try and see them prevail. But, man, what a disappointment on Monday. The complete opposite of the Taylor Swift wedding, which was everyone was saying it was going to suck. It was awesome. World Cup.

It's still exciting. It's still great for the country in terms of the way that they're hosting it. But my God, was that a tough, tough scene. A tough scene, a tough loss. And we'll always be rooting from them. We'll be cheering for them. But we'll also be pissed off when they lay an egg like that. Thank you for tuning into another episode of Trading Secrets.

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