Josh is on a plane today after working 18-hour days and wisely avoiding the chaos of trying to catch a flight out of DCA during rush hour. So, hello readers – I’m Mark Emerson, Josh’s silent partner in all things Dez Reads.
This week, Anne Marie Malecha dives into modern leadership and how TED is redefining its future. Mike Bova makes a strong case for team building and the power of in-person meetings as Gen Z flip-flops on whether going back to the office is truly the interaction they crave.
Jen Hirshon gives her perspective on Netflix’s latest scammer-turned-true-crime sensation. And I crack open the latest eggstravaganza in the headlines, proving once again that people will go to ridiculous lengths to make a buck.
With the Super Bowl this week, we’ll see if Taylor Swift manages to eclipse the actual game – or if we’ll all just be subjected to another 48 hours of discourse on whether or not the NFL is scripted. Enjoy the game, and we’ll catch you next week.
Thanks, as always, for reading along with us.
Here we go.
TED. An exciting new chapter for TED
TED Talks have captivated and informed audiences for 25 years. Chris Anderson, founder of TED, its philanthropic foundation, and numerous other verticals, is ready to hang it up. He has issued an open invitation for anyone who has the ideas and resources to carry TED on for the next 25 years. Anderson’s call to action is unconventional when it comes to organizational transitions, but what better way to continue an organization with crowdsourcing at its core than by crowdsourcing its next generation of leadership?
In a time when so many are eager to consolidate and hoard power and influence, Anderson’s approach is refreshing and clearly mission driven. “You all have a stake in this, and your collective wisdom is going to help us arrive at a better answer than anything I can come up with individually.” Letting go is hard, Anderson notes, but community and global impact can’t be insular, and that’s been at the heart of TED all along.
TED is seeking both ideas from anyone and everyone and a steward for its next iteration. With a lens on leadership with a commitment to editorial independence while maintaining an open tent, preserving a wide distribution, and growing TED’s reach, it’s a tall order. But Anderson’s feelings on the new chapter of TED are crystal clear: This. Will. Be. Great.
– Anne Marie Malecha
CNBC. Gen Z workers feel isolated by tech and crave more in-person interaction, survey says
There’s no doubt that AI is reshaping the communication world, but there’s one thing it can’t replicate, at least not yet. The value of in-person meetings.
People crave face-to-face interaction, and for good reason. Research shows that in-person conversations are perceived as more positive, credible, and essential for building long-term relationships. A staggering 95 percent say face-to-face meetings are critical for success. And from my own experience, these sessions offer something that no Zoom call or Teams thread ever will.
When you’re in the same room, conversations become discussions, not just directives. Clients who are true experts in their fields can walk us through complex issues in a way that a document dump never could. We get to ask the “dumb questions” that lead to smarter messaging. Seeing the work firsthand also makes us better advocates, helping us craft narratives that are authentic, not just informed by secondhand materials.
Most importantly? AI can’t do this. Not yet.
Business travel isn’t glamorous, but every time I leave an in-person session, I feel like our team is in a stronger position to win. And until AI can shake hands and read the room, I don’t see that changing.
– Mike Bova
TIME. What to Know About the Wellness Guru who Faked Cancer and Inspired Netflix’s Apple Cider Vinegar
Pop the popcorn; there’s a new scammer in town! I just saw a trailer for the new Netflix series, Apple Cider Vinegar, which tells the story of Australian Belle Gibson, who falsely claimed to have cured her terminal cancer through alternative medicine while profiting off her deception. This series follows in the footsteps of Hulu’s The Dropout, which chronicled Elizabeth Holmes’ rise and fall as the founder of Theranos, a blood-testing startup built on a lie. Both stories expose the dangers of unchecked ambition and the devastating impact of fraud in the health and wellness space.
As I delve deeper into Gibson’s story before the series launch, I can’t help but notice the striking similarities between these two women. Both built their reputations on deception, but their motivations and the nature of their frauds were different. Elizabeth Holmes aimed to revolutionize the healthcare industry with groundbreaking technology, while Belle Gibson exploited the wellness industry by preying on people’s hopes and fears about health. The impact of their actions also varied; Holmes’ fraud had significant financial and potential health implications, whereas Gibson’s deceit primarily affected her followers’ trust and well-being.
Here’s to a weekend ahead of watching unchecked ambition and the importance of skepticism in the face of extraordinary claims.
– Jen Hirshon
PennLive. 100K eggs stolen from central Pa. supplier
Egg Theft. Of all the headlines this month, I didn’t see this one coming. The price of eggs has skyrocketed over the past few months, even becoming a talking point on the presidential campaign trail. Thanks to an ongoing bird flu outbreak that has decimated poultry populations, we’re now seeing egg prices jump over 36% from last year. With no end in sight, some folks are taking extreme measures to ensure they get their morning protein – by stealing over 100,000 eggs straight off a distribution pallet in Pennsylvania.
On Saturday night, a thief swiped $40,000 worth of eggs from the back of a distribution trailer at Pete & Gerry’s Organics in Franklin County. The suspect, or suspects, vanished into the night, leaving Pennsylvania State Police scrambling for leads. Given the state of the egg market, this might be one of the most valuable food heists in recent memory.
And it doesn’t stop there. Waffle House is even adding a surcharge for eggs – a true sign that we’ve entered uncharted territory. Have eggs become the avocado toast of 2025?
I’ve always been fascinated by peculiar heists, dating back to when I wrote about the Great Yogurt Caper. The trend continues… People will go to great lengths to either make a buck or secure their coveted morning omelet. Who knew the black market for breakfast staples would be this lucrative?
– Mark Emerson
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