Mark Cuban | This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von

Mark Cuban's Early Career

• Mark Cuban launched his first company, AudioNet, in 1995. (2m45s)
• AudioNet, later renamed Broadcast.com, was sold to Yahoo in 1998. (3m53s)

Yahoo Acquisitions

• Yahoo purchased the blogging website Tumblr. (4m36s)

Mark Cuban's Experiences with Celebrities

• In 2003, Diddy reached out to design a uniform for the Mavs, which was done via email, and the uniform was used for a couple of years. (6m20s)

Wealth and Paranoia

• It is surprising how long certain behaviors can be kept quiet, even with people sneaking in phones. (6m57s)
• Wealth can lead to a level of paranoia, but the speaker prefers not to live that way and values friendships from high school and college. (7m14s)

Wealth and Happiness

• Having a lot of money is better than being broke, but happiness was present even when poor. (8m5s)

Wealth and Power

• Wealth and power can affect people, making them believe they are smarter or more privileged. (8m49s)
• Some wealthy people live extravagantly with many servants, which seems unnecessary and lacks privacy. (9m29s)

Personal Preferences vs. Societal Expectations

• The preference is to live according to personal desires rather than societal expectations of wealth. (10m8s)

Luxury Items

• A heated toilet seat is mentioned as a luxury item that is highly appreciated. (10m31s)
• A heated toilet seat is considered a luxury item that enhances comfort, especially noticeable when traveling and staying in expensive hotels. (10m40s)

Wealth and Indulgence

• Historical references to the Romans suggest that extreme wealth and power can lead to indulgent and unconventional behaviors, including sexual proclivities. (11m35s)
• The movie "Caligula" is mentioned as an example of such behaviors, where people engaged in various sexual activities due to their power and wealth. (11m55s)

Seeking New Experiences

• There is a discussion about how immense wealth and power might lead people to seek new and different experiences, as they have already exhausted conventional pleasures. (12m51s)
• Buying a plane and a lifetime pass on American Airlines are cited as examples of indulging in unique experiences made possible by wealth. (13m44s)

Shifting Priorities with Age

• As people age and their family grows, priorities shift from seeking new experiences to spending more time with family. (14m20s)
• In younger years, there is a tendency to travel, party, and engage in extravagant activities, such as throwing big parties and buying expensive champagne. (14m35s)

Wealth and Sexual Orientation

• There is a notion that some people might explore different sexual orientations or behaviors due to the power and freedom that come with immense wealth, similar to historical accounts of the Romans. (14m59s)
• Terms like "Financial gays" and "power gays" are introduced, referring to people who might explore different sexual orientations due to their financial status and power. (15m20s)

Blindness and Sexuality

• A man once propositioned the speaker, saying all men feel the same with closed eyes. (15m48s)
• The speaker has blind friends who have said their sense of straightness has dissolved due to lack of sight. (16m13s)

John Leot and Lawsuits

• The speaker knows John Leot, founder of Jimmy John's, who sold his company partly due to excessive lawsuits targeting his wealth. (19m27s)

Children of Wealthy Individuals

• It is acknowledged that children of well-known individuals may face pressure due to their parent's status and the expectation of future wealth. (20m30s)
• It is stated that children sometimes desire normalcy and the absence of attention that their parent's fame can attract. (21m19s)

Mark Cuban's Children

• The speaker expresses admiration for their children's intelligence, compassion, humor, ambition, and individuality. (23m18s)

Shark Tank Investors

• Barbara Corcoran is adept at understanding people's true intentions and can identify dishonesty effectively. (28m17s)
• Kevin O'Leary embodies the role of the "bad guy" within the group of investors. (28m37s)
• Robert Herjavec has a particular interest in businesses related to pets and children. (28m39s)

Zach Do

• Zach Do is a free app and website that allows users to search for healthcare providers, compare them, and book appointments. (30m37s)

Theo Von's Podcast

• Theo Von's podcast started in his kitchen after a suggestion from his friend Thomas, who offered him $500 a month for advertising if he would start a podcast. (32m21s)

Mark Cuban's Investment in Relativity Space

• Mark Cuban invested in Relativity Space, a company that 3D prints rockets, after receiving a cold email from one of the company's founders, Tim Ellis. (34m21s)

Mark Cuban's Early Life

• The speaker taught himself about computers by reading manuals and through trial and error. (35m36s)
• The speaker's father, who had lost an eye in a work-related accident, cried when he learned his son had $100,000 in the bank. (37m18s)
• The speaker's mother, when diagnosed with cancer, refused treatment and only wanted marijuana gummies. (39m26s)

Pittsburgh

• Pittsburgh is described as a beautiful city with a vibrant tech scene. (41m15s)

Elon Musk and Twitter

• Elon Musk is described as thin-skinned and someone who says "stupid ". (42m24s)
• Twitter is described as a bizarre place with a pornography problem. (43m52s)
• Elon Musk's acquisition of Twitter was seen as a positive move, as it was believed he rescued the platform. (44m54s)

Political Climate and Social Media

• There is a perception that mainstream and social media platforms tend to lean left politically. (45m1s)
• The political climate has shifted, and it is now considered more challenging to express support for Kamala Harris on Twitter than it was to support Donald Trump in 2016. (48m0s)

Political Views and Actions

• An individual criticized Donald Trump in a CNN interview, advising him to learn about important issues if he wanted to be a successful president. (49m14s)
• Despite believing Trump was not a good president, the individual helped during the COVID-19 pandemic when asked, prioritizing country over party. (49m44s)
• The individual has not donated to any political candidate or party since 2001 to ensure their ideas are valued independently of financial contributions. (49m59s)

Lobbyists and Politics

• There is a discussion about whether presidents spend their time repaying lobbyists, suggesting that lobbyists have significant control over politics. (53m10s)

Donald Trump's Influence on Politics

• It is noted that politicians have learned from Donald Trump's approach to winning, with examples seen in Kamala Harris's campaign. (54m1s)
• Donald Trump is said to have taken over the Republican Party, making decisions such as not participating in debates, which the party accepted. (54m17s)

Political Parties and Power

• The Republican and Democratic parties are private entities that choose their candidates as they see fit. (54m52s)
• The bylaws of both the Democratic and Republican National Conventions state that they can pick their candidates in any manner they choose. (55m20s)
• Both parties are primarily focused on gaining power. (55m49s)

Kamala Harris' Political Strategy

• Donald Trump has taken control of the Republican Party, and Kamala Harris is similarly taking control of the Democratic Party. (55m58s)
• Kamala Harris is not concerned with the preferences of other prominent Democrats like Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren. (56m16s)
• The role of a senator in California is different from that of a president, and Harris is trying to position herself as a centrist. (56m34s)
• Harris is focused on what is best for the country and how to implement and communicate those ideas effectively. (56m51s)

Bernie Sanders' Influence on Kamala Harris

• Bernie Sanders is not significantly influencing Harris's candidacy. (57m4s)

Kamala Harris' Core Values

• Harris's core values include fair taxes, lowering taxes for the middle class, providing opportunities, reducing inflation, and maintaining a positive tone. (57m25s)

Kamala Harris' Communication Strategy

• Harris aims to bring people together with a positive and uplifting message, unlike Donald Trump's often negative rhetoric. (57m52s)

Public Familiarity with Kamala Harris

• Harris does not do many interviews, which leads to a lack of public familiarity with her. (58m26s)
• Only about 1% of the electorate is highly informed, and most people do not know much about Harris. (58m49s)

Kamala Harris' Campaign Strategy

• Harris is adopting a strategy similar to Trump's 2016 campaign by focusing on rallies to improve her approval and favorability ratings. (59m18s)
• Kamala Harris is conducting rallies to reach the maximum number of people directly, which has improved her favorability ratings significantly. (59m27s)

Support for Donald Trump

• Some people vote for Donald Trump because they feel America is like a shady business, and they want someone who understands and can navigate that environment. (1h0m29s)

Healthcare System Issues

• Medical debt is a major cause of bankruptcy in the U.S., and there is a significant issue with the healthcare system involving hospitals, insurance providers, and big businesses. (1h1m19s)

Donald Trump's Business Practices

• Despite Trump's alleged shady business practices, some people support him because they believe he can handle the corrupt system effectively. (1h1m32s)
• Barbara Corcoran from Shark Tank had to sue Trump to get paid for selling condos, highlighting his history of not fulfilling financial commitments. (1h2m51s)
• Trump has a history of controversial business ventures, such as Trump University and Trump Foundation, where he allegedly ripped off many Americans. (1h3m40s)
• Trump is currently selling commemorative silver coins and sneakers, which raises questions about his financial practices despite his claimed wealth. (1h3m56s)

Personal Opinions on Donald Trump

• The speaker expresses admiration for a pair of shoes, describing them as tough and ridiculous but desirable. (1h4m36s)
• The speaker believes Donald Trump enjoys being himself and has nothing against him personally but does not want him to be president again. (1h4m46s)

Leadership and Trust

• The speaker emphasizes the need for a trustworthy leader and mentions Kamala Harris as someone who can be trusted, despite not agreeing with everything she says or does. (1h5m7s)

Political Mentality

• The speaker criticizes the idea of maintaining a "gangster" mentality in politics and prefers practical solutions like fixing healthcare. (1h5m22s)

The "Deep State"

• The speaker dismisses the notion of the "Deep State" as playing the victim and questions what Trump did to stop it during his presidency. (1h5m40s)

Leadership and Solutions

• The speaker argues that putting a "gangster" figure in power will not improve the situation and prefers a leader who listens to others. (1h6m11s)

Donald Trump's Presidency

• The speaker wonders if Trump's experience as president would make him more legitimate or more "gangster" if he were to serve again. (1h6m42s)
• The speaker respects Trump but does not think he would be a good president and wishes Trump would show more of his emotional side. (1h7m12s)

Border Issues

• The speaker believes people want to feel safe and discusses issues at the border, noting that the situation has gotten out of control. (1h8m5s)
• The speaker criticizes Biden for waiting too long to address border issues but acknowledges that border crossings have decreased to levels seen under Trump. (1h8m38s)
• The speaker mentions that Kamala Harris supports signing a Republican border bill to further reduce illegal crossings, even more than building a wall. (1h8m51s)

Immigration and Deportation

• Deporting 11 million people is logistically challenging and could lead to unrest, especially given the widespread ownership of guns in the United States. (1h12m25s)
• Obama deported a large number of people while following legal processes. (1h10m47s)
• It is important for politicians to address immigration issues by following the law and communicating their plans clearly to avoid inciting fear and anger. (1h13m1s)
• Many immigrants to the United States are now from countries other than Mexico. (1h14m2s)

Bobby Kennedy Jr.

• Bobby Kennedy Jr. advocates for unprocessed foods and clean water. (1h16m20s)
• The speaker believes Bobby Kennedy Jr.'s stance on vaccines is misguided. (1h16m44s)

Donald Trump's Cabinet

• Forty out of forty-four of Donald Trump's cabinet members have stated they will not vote for him and do not believe he is qualified. (1h18m45s)

Kamala Harris' Policy Team

• Kamala Harris' team is reportedly working with policy directors on various issues, including healthcare and intellectual property theft. (1h19m46s)

Intellectual Property Theft

• A proposal has been submitted to Kamala Harris' team suggesting Chinese companies selling products on Amazon be required to register and post a bond to protect against intellectual property theft. (1h21m4s)

Lobbyists and Government Influence

• There are more lobbyists than representatives and senators, with three lobbyists for every one, raising concerns about the influence of lobbyists on the government. (1h22m58s)

Election Integrity

• Despite concerns about compromised voting, multiple audits and recounts in states questioned by Trump have upheld the results. (1h23m23s)

Roy Cohn and Donald Trump

• In 2016, Clinton expressed concerns about the fairness of the election. (1h23m50s)
• Roy Cohn, who was involved in the McCarthy trials, was Donald Trump's mentor and his approach of "deny, deny, deny" has influenced Trump's tactics. (1h24m1s)

Political Establishment and Donald Trump

• There is a perception that Trump, as a non-politician, is targeted by the political establishment, which some people prefer over traditional politicians. (1h25m0s)

Political Preferences

• There is a sentiment of being socially liberal and fiscally conservative, and a preference for a non-MAGA Republican over Biden. (1h25m11s)

Gangster Mentality and Politics

• The mafia used to run a numbers game similar to roulette, where people would bet on numbers and get paid if their number came up. (1h25m42s)
• The mentality of self-preservation in gangster culture is contrasted with the idea of putting the country first. (1h26m32s)
• There is a feeling that the country hasn't been prioritized for a long time, leading some to prefer a "gangster" approach in leadership. (1h26m44s)

Importance of Dialogue

• The conversation emphasizes the importance of respectful dialogue and understanding different perspectives. (1h27m11s)

Motivation for Political Office

• Running for political office has been considered but is unlikely due to the potential negative impact on family. (1h28m9s)
• A desire to do the right thing, effect positive change, and previous successes in various industries are cited as motivations for considering a political office. (1h28m57s)

Deterrents to Political Office

• The current political climate and intense media scrutiny, particularly towards families, are cited as deterrents to pursuing political office. (1h30m34s)

Healthcare Affordability

• Most individuals with healthcare coverage have insurance, often obtained through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which typically includes a deductible that individuals are responsible for paying before insurance coverage begins. (1h33m21s)
• A significant portion of medical debt arises from individuals who are unable to afford their deductibles, leading to financial difficulties for both patients and healthcare providers. (1h34m2s)
• A lack of transparency in healthcare pricing, particularly regarding insurance contracts and provider contracts, contributes to the challenges individuals face in affording healthcare services and medications. (1h35m0s)

Mark Cuban's Legacy

• The speaker wants to be remembered for making healthcare and medication more affordable. (1h42m17s)

Disrupting the Healthcare Industry

• The speaker believes that the healthcare industry is easy to disrupt because of the lack of transparent pricing. (1h43m1s)
• The speaker is working on a program that will help employers understand how much they are being overcharged for healthcare by insurance companies. (1h42m49s)

Selling the Mavericks

• The opportunity for selling the Mavericks was driven by the need to spend more time with family and the challenges of generating more revenue through new ventures like building casinos and stadiums. (1h46m10s)
• Partnering with Patrick Dumont and the Adon family, who are experienced in real estate, was seen as beneficial for the Mavericks. (1h46m55s)
• Retaining 27% ownership of the Mavericks allows continued involvement while benefiting from the sale. (1h47m10s)

NBA Ownership Fines

• Fines paid during NBA ownership totaled between three to five million dollars, with the largest fine being $750,000 for resting players towards the end of a season. (1h47m31s)

Shaquille O'Neal

• Shaquille O'Neal was a player that was highly desired but never acquired. (1h48m43s)

Bitcoin and Cryptocurrency

• Bitcoin is viewed as having a promising future due to its ease of use compared to gold, while the future of other cryptocurrencies like Ethereum depends on the development of widely-used applications. (1h49m2s)
• The potential for a breakthrough application in the crypto space, similar to Instagram for smartphones, could significantly increase its common use. (1h50m32s)

Artificial Intelligence

• Artificial intelligence (AI) will become increasingly advanced and impactful as processing speeds and capabilities increase. (1h51m0s)
• AI will enable the creation of personalized AI companions using collected data such as videos, pictures, emails, and texts. (1h51m26s)
• This technology could be used to create interactive holograms of deceased loved ones, allowing for continued interaction and preservation of memories. (1h52m45s)

Mark Cuban's Work Ethic

• Nobody quits something they are good at because they derive satisfaction from being the best. (1h55m57s)

Mustang, Texas

• Mark Cuban bought the town of Mustang, Texas for 1.9 million dollars from a friend dying of cancer. (1h58m44s)
• Mustang, Texas is one of the few personally owned towns in the United States. (1h58m37s)

Mark Cuban's Wife

• Mark Cuban's wife is described as having a great spirit, being feisty, smart, loving, and having a sarcastic sense of humor. (1h59m34s)

Mark Cuban's Children

• Cuban's children tell him that their role is to give him a hard time. (1h59m53s)
• Cuban states that he loves being a dad. (2h0m15s)