Business & Bullsh*t: The $980 Cup of Coffee, Brand Fatigue, and the Cost of Change (EP #68)

2026-01-05

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Don and Steve are back with another round of Business & Bullsh*t, where real entrepreneurs break down wins, screwups, and what actually moves the needle, without the corporate fluff.It starts with a simple question. What is the most you would ever pay for a cup of coffee?That question gets real when a café in Dubai offers a $980 cup made from rare Nido 7 Geisha beans, with only 400 cups available worldwide. Absurd, or brilliant?From there, the conversation opens up into a deeper look at business reinvention, brand fatigue, and the real cost of change. Don ...

Don and Steve are back with another round of Business & Bullsh*t, where real entrepreneurs break down wins, screwups, and what actually moves the needle, without the corporate fluff.

It starts with a simple question. What is the most you would ever pay for a cup of coffee?

That question gets real when a café in Dubai offers a $980 cup made from rare Nido 7 Geisha beans, with only 400 cups available worldwide. Absurd, or brilliant?

From there, the conversation opens up into a deeper look at business reinvention, brand fatigue, and the real cost of change. Don and Steve unpack Panera’s return to its “apex,” focusing on value, menu refreshes, and the decision to prioritize food over flashy tech. That leads into a broader discussion about innovation versus human connection, and what brands risk losing when they chase trends instead of trust. Don also shares firsthand challenges from the ongoing Clean Eatz rebrand.

The episode wraps with sharp takes on skyrocketing Super Bowl ad costs, shifting brand loyalty among Gen Z, pop culture detours, bourbon mashups, and a fast-paced round of the Founderz Fast Five.

Timestamps:

[00:00] Trailer

[01:03] Founderz Round Up: Panera

[05:40] Super Bowl Commercials

[08:17] Pop Culture: Nicki Minaj

[10:05] Jeffrey Epstein

[11:29] Social Media Update

[11:56] Lululemon Stock

[15:06] Strange News

[17:07] Weekly Mashup

[20:41] Hot Takes: Modern Heritage

[26:18] Founderz Fast Five

Key Takeaways:

• Gen Z is cutting spending by 13% this year. Four out of five wait for sales. Brand loyalty is dead. 81% switched brands last year, not for something better, but because loyalty itself feels like they’re getting played. ~Don Varady [12:26]

• Rebranding a brand is very difficult, especially in the food space and even more so in a franchise system. ~Don Varady [24:52]

Connect with Don and Steve…

Don Varady:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/don.varady/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donvarady/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/don-varady-450896145

Steve Bon:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephenbon

Instagram: https://instagram.com/stevebon8

Tune in to every episode on your favorite platform:

Website: https://www.thefounderzlounge.com/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheFounderzLounge