Impact of inflation, renewable Bitcoin mining in Argentina, MrBeast lives in his office, Fortnite & LEGO partner, and RC tractor pulls - #22

Welcome to Episode 22 of the irl Media NEWS Podcast. I'm your host Chris Thompson, and today we discuss chocolate and the impact of inflation, renewable Bitcoin mining in Argentina, MrBeast lives in his office, Fortnite & LEGO partner on customizable cars, and RC tractor pulls are a thing now.

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Chris Thompson
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Transcript

Welcome to Episode 22 of the irl Media NEWS Podcast. I'm your host Chris Thompson, and today we discuss chocolate and the impact of inflation, renewable Bitcoin mining in Argentina, MrBeast lives in his office, Fortnite & LEGO partner on customizable cars, and RC tractor pulls are a thing now.

​​All that and more in today's episode of the irl Media NEWS Podcast. Let’s get into it.

Business

I have a confession to make. I’m a chocolate lover!

There, I said it!

And you know who else loves chocolate? The rest of the world!

Because of growing demand for chocolate, and mix in a healthy dose of inflation, cocoa prices are hitting sky-high records.

A perfect storm of factors is brewing in the cocoa market: bad weather, supply chain hiccups, and a global hunger for chocolate goodies are all driving prices through the roof.

So what does this mean for you my fellow chocolate loves?

Brace yourself for higher prices at the checkout counter, my friends.

And for chocolate companies, it's a bitter pill to swallow (pun intended). They're facing tough decisions on how to absorb these rising costs without losing their sweet profits (punning again).

Looks like we'll all have to savor our chocolatey delights a little more sparingly as we navigate these cocoa price woes, or just dip into your cash reserves - I mean chocolate craving counts as an emergency, right?

Crypto

There’s been an interesting development in the world of cryptocurrency mining.

A Texas-based Bitcoin mining company called Giga has just struck a partnership with Phoenix Global, a firm out in Argentina, to expand their operations from their home-base of Texas in search of those almighty Bitcoins.

It turns out Argentina has a sort of renewable energy Bitcoin miners can use to power their mining rigs. Giga is turning otherwise wasted methane gas from flare pipes into energy that’s used to power Bitcoin mining rigs.

It's a strategic move, considering the growing concerns over the environmental impact of crypto mining. On top of that Argentina already has some pretty cheap electricity rates.

This partnership could also mean big things for Argentina's economy, bringing in investment and job opportunities.

So next time you hear someone say crypto mining is hurting the environment, you can tell them most crypto mining is done using renewable energy, or natural gas that would have otherwise been released into the atmosphere.

Entertainment

If you’ve ever watched YouTube you know who MrBeast is.

 He's the guy who's been making headlines for his jaw-dropping stunts and philanthropic ventures. But here's the kicker: MrBeast, aka Jimmy Donaldson, isn't just making videos in his office. He also lives there!

You heard that right. According to a recent article in Business Insider, MrBeast has been crashing in his office space for months.

Why would someone with millions of subscribers choose to bunk at work?

Well, it turns out it's all about efficiency. By living where he works, MrBeast says he's able to focus more on creating content and spends less time commuting. Plus, it's a smart financial move, cutting down on living expenses.

So does living in your office impact your love life? Turns out not so much.

MrBeast still has his own apartment where he can hangout with his girlfriend when he’s not making videos and being the most popular YouTuber of all time.

Video Games

The world of Fortnite just got a little more blocky.

I’m a 40-something self-admitted gamer, and my current fav is Fornite. I literally spent an unhealthy amount of time playing Fortnite, and as you might imagine for a guy of my age I suck at it. One of my favorite things to do right now is just drive the Mercedes G-wagon or a Dirt bike around the map running from everyone trying to kill me. Yea, I’m that guy.

But I can get behind Fortnite’s new roll out of LEGO vehicles, which adds a whole new dimension to the gaming experience. Players can now drive around in brick-built cars and trucks, bringing a fresh twist to the battle royale gameplay. You can also customize vehicles, allowing players to create their own unique cars.

I haven’t tried it yet, but this is one game enhancement that is right up my alley.

Remote Controlled Trucks

Base with me, because I’m about to go down one heck of a rabbit hole I recently stumbled into, and I hope you’ll join me in exploring the world of remote controlled tractor pulls. 

You heard that right, and yes it is a thing.

But this isn’t your typical tractor pull that you're used to from the county fair or Saturday mornings in my home growing up. Nope, we're talking about remote-controlled mini tractor pulls.

Now, you might be picturing kids playing with toy tractors in the backyard, but this is something entirely different. These mini tractors are serious business, meticulously engineered and finely tuned but grown-ass adults for one purpose: pulling heavy loads.

As if that wasn’t enough, here's the kicker – these mini tractors aren't operated by drivers sitting behind the wheel. They're controlled remotely by skilled operators who guide them down the track, adjusting throttle and steering to maximize performance.

And just like their full-sized counterparts, these mini tractor pulls are drawing crowds and creating a real sense of competition. Enthusiasts gather at events across the country to watch these pint-sized powerhouses go head-to-head, vying for victory and bragging rights.

Trust me when I tell you it's not just about the thrill of the pull. There's also a technical side to it which I can dig, and these builders are constantly tweaking their machines for better performance. From custom chassis to specialized tires, every detail counts in this high-stakes world of mini tractor pulls.

So next time you see a tractor pull advertised (if you still watch ads these days), don't be surprised if it's not the rumble of a diesel engine you hear, but the whir of electric motors powering these remote-controlled marvels down the track.

That's it for our show today. We really appreciate you sticking around to the end. 

If you don’t want to miss an episode please consider subscribing and following us wherever you get your podcasts from, so we can continue to bring you the business behind the news. 

I’m your host Chris Thompson, and this has been an irl Media NEWS Podcast.