IBM AI resolves 94% of HR questions
IBM's AI system resolves 94% of common HR questions for its global workforce of 300,000 employees.
FedEx Slips After First Earnings Since Spinoff
Google DeepMind's AI hurricane model accurately predicted the path and intensity of Hurricane Melissa — the strongest Category 5 ever recorded — despite the storm being completely absent from its training data.
Jun 24, 2026
21:41
Difficulty: Beginner
Played
Bloomberg Intelligence
FedEx Slips After First Earnings Since Spinoff
Google DeepMind's AI hurricane model accurately predicted the path and intensity of Hurricane Melissa — the strongest Category 5 ever recorded — despite the storm being completely absent from its training data.
Jun 24, 2026
21:41
Difficulty: Beginner
Played
TL;DR
Bloomberg Intelligence covers three segments: FedEx's first post-spinoff earnings [1] — Lee Klaskow "FedEx beat on cost controls and painted a decent demand picture, but guidance topped out at $18.10 EPS — slightly below whisper numbers. Th…" 02:25 , AI's role in hurricane forecasting [2] — Ryan Ward "AI hurricane models were deployed for the first time in 2025 and immediately outperformed every model built over the past 30+ years. When H…" 08:50 , and ESPN SportsCenter legend Linda Cohn's retirement after 34 years [3] — Linda Cohn "Linda Cohn joined ESPN in July 1992, anchored 5,000 SportsCenter broadcasts — more than any anchor in history — and was inducted into the N…" 15:53 . FedEx beat on cost controls but guidance came in slightly below whisper numbers, sending shares lower despite a strong year-to-date run. Google DeepMind's AI model accurately predicted Hurricane Melissa — the strongest Category 5 on record — despite never encountering a storm of that magnitude in training data. Key takeaway: AI weather models are outperforming 30-year-old government models on their very first real stress tests.
#FedEx post-spinoff earnings
#AI hurricane forecasting
#Hurricane Melissa Cat 5
#El Niño Atlantic impact
#NOAA DOGE cuts
#Linda Cohn ESPN retirement
#SportsCenter history
#women in sports broadcasting
#FedEx B2B data centers
#Amazon logistics competition
#sports cable to streaming transition
#Google DeepMind weather AI
#FedEx earnings
#FedEx spinoff
#AI weather models
#hurricane forecasting
#Hurricane Melissa
#El Niño
#Google DeepMind
#NOAA
#Linda Cohn
#ESPN
#SportsCenter
#sports broadcasting
#B2B logistics
#Amazon logistics
#streaming sports
Bloomberg Intelligence covers FedEx's first post-spinoff earnings, AI hurricane forecasting breakthroughs, and Linda Cohn's retirement after 34 years as ESPN's longest-tenured SportsCenter anchor.
Chapter list
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Pre-roll advertisements from Brookfield asset management and Bank of America's BofA Rewards loyalty program.
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IBM advertisement highlighting AI resolving 94% of HR questions, followed by Bloomberg Intelligence podcast intro.
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Lee Klaskow reviews FedEx's fiscal Q4 earnings beat on cost controls, demand picture, data center tailwinds, and the shift to calendar-year reporting that may have confused investors. [1] — Lee Klaskow "FedEx beat on cost controls and painted a decent demand picture, but guidance topped out at $18.10 EPS — slightly below whisper numbers. Th…" 02:25
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Lee Klaskow explains why Amazon's logistics expansion isn't a direct threat to FedEx, which prefers higher-margin B2B business over consumer parcel delivery. [1] — Lee Klaskow "Amazon's logistics move is primarily about offsetting its own delivery costs, not stealing FedEx's customers. FedEx wants B2B business — hi…" 04:24
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Mid-episode advertisements for Brookfield alternative investments and IBM AI workplace solutions.
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Public.com sponsor read describing AI agents that execute investing strategies automatically based on user-defined conditions.
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Bloomberg Intelligence podcast availability reminder across Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and YouTube.
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Ryan Ward introduces AI weather models now deployed for tropical cyclone forecasting, outperforming traditional models built over 30+ years — all in just their first real-world season. [1] — Ryan Ward "AI hurricane models were deployed for the first time in 2025 and immediately outperformed every model built over the past 30+ years. When H…" 08:50
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Google DeepMind's AI model correctly predicted Hurricane Melissa's path and intensity despite the unprecedented storm never appearing in training data. [1] — Ryan Ward "AI hurricane models were deployed for the first time in 2025 and immediately outperformed every model built over the past 30+ years. When H…" 08:50
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Ryan Ward explains El Niño's suppressing effect on Atlantic hurricanes, with NOAA forecasting 3–6 storms, while the eastern Pacific may see increased activity. [1] — Ryan Ward "El Niño means the Pacific Ocean is warmer than average, which shifts wind patterns over the Atlantic and reduces hurricane formation. NOAA …" 10:30
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Discussion of DOGE-related NOAA meteorologist layoffs and rehiring pushes, raising concerns about continuity of the gold-standard US hurricane forecasting agency. [1] — Ryan Ward "NOAA is the gold standard for hurricane prediction in the US. But DOGE cuts led to meteorologist layoffs, followed by scrambled rehiring pu…" 12:08
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Ryan Ward shares how growing up in Florida under dramatic cloud formations and witnessing the BP oil spill drove him to pursue atmospheric science.
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Advertisements for LPL Financial advisory services, Public.com AI investing agents, and Venture Global US energy infrastructure.
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Linda Cohn reflects on joining ESPN in 1992, anchoring 5,000 SportsCenter episodes, and watching the score ticker go from hated innovation to television staple. [1] — Linda Cohn "Linda Cohn joined ESPN in July 1992, anchored 5,000 SportsCenter broadcasts — more than any anchor in history — and was inducted into the N…" 15:53
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Linda Cohn shares her origin story: a shy kid with thick glasses who found identity through sports and as a teenage goalie forced to play with 8-year-old boys, building resilience that shaped her career. [1] — Linda Cohn "At 14, Linda Cohn strapped on 40 pounds of goalie equipment to learn to skate — and was forced to play with 8-year-old boys because no leag…" 20:15
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Linda Cohn reflects on the challenges facing ESPN amid streaming, AI, and intensified competition, saying she is glad she is not starting out in the industry today.
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Linda Cohn argues that journalistic writing skills and conversational communication — honed through radio — give non-athlete broadcasters a lasting edge over ex-professional athletes entering sports media. [1] — Linda Cohn "Most sports commentators today are former athletes. But Linda Cohn argues that writing, preparation, and the ability to communicate natural…" 24:48
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Episode close with Bloomberg Intelligence podcast availability reminder, Windows 11 Pro, Venture Global, and 4imprint sponsor reads.
- B2B (Business-to-Business)
- Commerce between businesses rather than between a business and a consumer; in logistics, B2B shipments typically carry higher profit margins than consumer parcel delivery.
- B2C (Business-to-Consumer)
- Commerce between a business and individual end consumers; in logistics, B2C delivery is typically lower-margin and dominated by e-commerce parcels.
- Whisper number
- An informal, unpublished earnings estimate circulated among professional investors that often differs from the official analyst consensus; stocks can fall if results miss the whisper number even when beating the consensus.
- Spinoff
- A corporate action in which a parent company separates a division into an independent publicly traded company; FedEx completed a spinoff of its freight unit prior to this earnings report.
- Fiscal calendar vs. calendar year
- A fiscal year is a company's 12-month accounting period, which may not align with the January-December calendar year; FedEx transitioned to calendar-year reporting, causing some investor confusion around guidance comparisons.
- El Niño
- A large-scale climate phenomenon in which Pacific Ocean surface temperatures are warmer than average, producing downstream effects on global weather patterns including reduced Atlantic hurricane activity.
- Tropical cyclone
- A rotating storm system originating over warm ocean waters; the same phenomenon is called a hurricane in the Atlantic and Eastern Pacific, and a typhoon in the Western Pacific.
- Category 5
- The highest rating on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, indicating sustained winds exceeding 157 mph; Hurricane Melissa was described as the strongest Category 5 in the modern era.
- NOAA
- National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — the US federal agency responsible for weather forecasting, climate monitoring, and oceanic research; considered the gold standard for hurricane prediction.
- DOGE
- Department of Government Efficiency — the advisory body associated with the Trump administration's federal spending and workforce reduction initiative, which resulted in layoffs at NOAA.
- Training data
- The historical dataset used to teach a machine-learning model to recognise patterns; AI weather models trained on past storm data may struggle to predict unprecedented events not represented in that dataset.
- Bottom line (ESPN)
- The ticker of live sports scores scrolling along the bottom of the television screen, introduced by ESPN and now standard across sports broadcasting.
- SportsCenter
- ESPN's flagship sports news and highlights programme, which has run continuously since ESPN's launch in 1979.
- NSMA Hall of Fame
- The National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame, which honours distinguished sports journalists and broadcasters; Linda Cohn was inducted in 2017.
- Rejiggering
- Informal term for adjusting or rearranging; used by Lee Klaskow to describe analysts revising their earnings models to align with FedEx's new guidance.
- VIX
- The CBOE Volatility Index — a real-time measure of expected stock market volatility derived from S&P 500 options; often called the 'fear gauge'. Referenced in a Public.com advertisement.
Chapter 2 · 01:03
Sponsor: IBM AI & Show Introduction
IBM advertisement highlighting AI resolving 94% of HR questions, followed by Bloomberg Intelligence podcast intro.
Chapter 3 · 01:58
FedEx Q4 Earnings Recap
Lee Klaskow reviews FedEx's fiscal Q4 earnings beat on cost controls, demand picture, data center tailwinds, and the shift to calendar-year reporting that may have confused investors. [1] — Lee Klaskow "FedEx beat on cost controls and painted a decent demand picture, but guidance topped out at $18.10 EPS — slightly below whisper numbers. Th…" 02:25
FedEx up 35% YTD
FedEx shares were up 35% year-to-date before the earnings report, raising investor expectations ahead of results.
FedEx's First Post-Spinoff Earnings: Beat on Costs, Miss on Expectations
FedEx beat on cost controls and painted a decent demand picture, but guidance topped out at $18.10 EPS — slightly below whisper numbers. The Street is recalibrating, but management has recently shown a pattern of modest guidance followed by beats.
FedEx's Data Center Boom: The B2B Tailwind You Didn't Expect
FedEx's B2B business is benefiting directly from the data center construction wave, transporting technology components to build sites. B2B hauls are higher-margin than consumer deliveries, making this a strategically valuable growth driver.
FedEx data center logistics growth
FedEx's B2B business has been benefiting from the buildout of data centers, transporting technology components to construction sites.
Why FedEx Isn't Scared of Amazon's Logistics Push
Amazon's logistics move is primarily about offsetting its own delivery costs, not stealing FedEx's customers. FedEx wants B2B business — higher-margin freight tied to data centers and commercial shipments — not the consumer parcel market Amazon is chasing.
Chapter 4 · 04:25
FedEx vs. Amazon: Competition and B2B Strategy
Lee Klaskow explains why Amazon's logistics expansion isn't a direct threat to FedEx, which prefers higher-margin B2B business over consumer parcel delivery. [1] — Lee Klaskow "Amazon's logistics move is primarily about offsetting its own delivery costs, not stealing FedEx's customers. FedEx wants B2B business — hi…" 04:24
Guide topped at $18.10 EPS
FedEx's fiscal year EPS guidance topped out at $18.10, slightly below whisper numbers by roughly a dime to a quarter.
FedEx B2B margins > B2C
FedEx prefers B2B business over B2C because it tends to carry higher profit margins.
Chapter 8 · 07:58
AI Hurricane Forecasting: How AI Models Are Changing Weather
Ryan Ward introduces AI weather models now deployed for tropical cyclone forecasting, outperforming traditional models built over 30+ years — all in just their first real-world season. [1] — Ryan Ward "AI hurricane models were deployed for the first time in 2025 and immediately outperformed every model built over the past 30+ years. When H…" 08:50
AI Hurricane Models Just Aced Their Hardest Test
AI hurricane models were deployed for the first time in 2025 and immediately outperformed every model built over the past 30+ years. When Hurricane Melissa — the most powerful Category 5 ever — hit, the AI got it right. The storm was not in the training data. The model predicted it anyway.
AI models beat 30+ year models
AI hurricane models, deployed for the first time in 2025, outperformed all existing models that have been in use for over 30 years.
Chapter 9 · 09:32
Hurricane Melissa: AI's Ultimate Stress Test
Google DeepMind's AI model correctly predicted Hurricane Melissa's path and intensity despite the unprecedented storm never appearing in training data. [1] — Ryan Ward "AI hurricane models were deployed for the first time in 2025 and immediately outperformed every model built over the past 30+ years. When H…" 08:50
Hurricane Melissa: strongest Cat 5 ever
Hurricane Melissa was the strongest Category 5 hurricane in the modern era, yet AI models correctly predicted its path and intensity.
El Niño Explained: Fewer Hurricanes Here, More Somewhere Else
El Niño means the Pacific Ocean is warmer than average, which shifts wind patterns over the Atlantic and reduces hurricane formation. NOAA expects just 3 to 6 Atlantic hurricanes this year versus a typical 7. But the eastern Pacific may see more storms, not fewer.
El Niño: 3–6 Atlantic hurricanes expected
NOAA forecasts 3 to 6 Atlantic hurricanes this year due to El Niño conditions, down from a typical average of about 7.
Chapter 10 · 10:32
El Niño, Atlantic vs. Pacific Hurricane Season
Ryan Ward explains El Niño's suppressing effect on Atlantic hurricanes, with NOAA forecasting 3–6 storms, while the eastern Pacific may see increased activity. [1] — Ryan Ward "El Niño means the Pacific Ocean is warmer than average, which shifts wind patterns over the Atlantic and reduces hurricane formation. NOAA …" 10:30
50 years of El Niño data
Meteorologists can look back over 50 years of data to confirm the tried-and-true relationship between El Niño and reduced Atlantic hurricane activity.
Chapter 11 · 12:08
NOAA Funding Cuts and Hurricane Prediction Risk
Discussion of DOGE-related NOAA meteorologist layoffs and rehiring pushes, raising concerns about continuity of the gold-standard US hurricane forecasting agency. [1] — Ryan Ward "NOAA is the gold standard for hurricane prediction in the US. But DOGE cuts led to meteorologist layoffs, followed by scrambled rehiring pu…" 12:08
NOAA Cuts and Hurricane Season: A Worrying Combination
NOAA is the gold standard for hurricane prediction in the US. But DOGE cuts led to meteorologist layoffs, followed by scrambled rehiring pushes. In the middle of hurricane season, staffing disruptions at the world's most relied-upon weather agency are not a minor footnote.
Chapter 14 · 15:53
Linda Cohn's 34-Year ESPN Career and Retirement
Linda Cohn reflects on joining ESPN in 1992, anchoring 5,000 SportsCenter episodes, and watching the score ticker go from hated innovation to television staple. [1] — Linda Cohn "Linda Cohn joined ESPN in July 1992, anchored 5,000 SportsCenter broadcasts — more than any anchor in history — and was inducted into the N…" 15:53
Linda Cohn's 34 Years: From Radio to Hall of Fame
Linda Cohn joined ESPN in July 1992, anchored 5,000 SportsCenter broadcasts — more than any anchor in history — and was inducted into the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame. She built that career by starting in radio and learning to communicate naturally, not just read.
Linda Cohn: 34 years at ESPN
Linda Cohn spent 34 years as a SportsCenter anchor at ESPN, joining in July 1992 and retiring in 2026.
5,000th SportsCenter anchored
Linda Cohn anchored her 5,000th SportsCenter in early 2016, the most of any anchor in ESPN history.
ESPN's Score Ticker: From Hated Innovation to TV Essential
When ESPN introduced the score ticker at the bottom of the screen, every on-air talent stood up in a meeting to protest — they felt it betrayed the art of storytelling by giving away results. They lost. Today, a TV screen without it feels broken.
Chapter 15 · 18:30
Linda Cohn's Childhood, Hockey, and Path to Broadcasting
Linda Cohn shares her origin story: a shy kid with thick glasses who found identity through sports and as a teenage goalie forced to play with 8-year-old boys, building resilience that shaped her career. [1] — Linda Cohn "At 14, Linda Cohn strapped on 40 pounds of goalie equipment to learn to skate — and was forced to play with 8-year-old boys because no leag…" 20:15
How Playing Goalie With 8-Year-Olds Built a Hall of Fame Broadcaster
At 14, Linda Cohn strapped on 40 pounds of goalie equipment to learn to skate — and was forced to play with 8-year-old boys because no league would take her. Mothers whispered. She blocked it out. That same mental toughness carried her through breaking into sports broadcasting's boys' club.
Linda Cohn played goalie at age 14
Linda Cohn learned to ice skate at age 14 wearing 40 pounds of goalie equipment, initially forced to play with 8-year-old boys instead of her peers.
Chapter 17 · 24:48
What Non-Athlete Broadcasters Bring to Sports TV
Linda Cohn argues that journalistic writing skills and conversational communication — honed through radio — give non-athlete broadcasters a lasting edge over ex-professional athletes entering sports media. [1] — Linda Cohn "Most sports commentators today are former athletes. But Linda Cohn argues that writing, preparation, and the ability to communicate natural…" 24:48
What Non-Athlete Broadcasters Have That Former Pros Don't
Most sports commentators today are former athletes. But Linda Cohn argues that writing, preparation, and the ability to communicate naturally — skills honed in radio — give journalism-trained broadcasters a durable edge. You can guide the athletes; they can't always guide you.
No indexed bits in this chapter.
Show stoppers
AI Hurricane Models Just Aced Their Hardest Test
AI hurricane models were deployed for the first time in 2025 and immediately outperformed every model built over the past 30+ years. When Hurricane Melissa — the most powerful Category 5 ever — hit, the AI got it right. The storm was not in the training data. The model predicted it anyway.
How Playing Goalie With 8-Year-Olds Built a Hall of Fame Broadcaster
At 14, Linda Cohn strapped on 40 pounds of goalie equipment to learn to skate — and was forced to play with 8-year-old boys because no league would take her. Mothers whispered. She blocked it out. That same mental toughness carried her through breaking into sports broadcasting's boys' club.
FedEx's First Post-Spinoff Earnings: Beat on Costs, Miss on Expectations
FedEx beat on cost controls and painted a decent demand picture, but guidance topped out at $18.10 EPS — slightly below whisper numbers. The Street is recalibrating, but management has recently shown a pattern of modest guidance followed by beats.
Snapshots ()
Key Quotes ()
This episode
Claims & Sources
2 / 12 cited (17%)
Factual claims made this episode, and whether a source was named.
FedEx's EPS guidance for the upcoming year topped out at $18.10, slightly below analyst whisper numbers by roughly a dime to a quarter.
AI hurricane models deployed in 2025 outperformed all existing models that have been in use for over 30 years.
Google DeepMind's AI model correctly predicted the path and intensity of Hurricane Melissa despite the storm being entirely absent from its training data.
Hurricane Melissa was the strongest Category 5 hurricane in the modern era.
NOAA forecasts between 3 and 6 Atlantic hurricanes in the current season due to El Niño conditions, compared to an average of about 7.
Over 50 years of historical data confirm that El Niño years produce fewer Atlantic hurricanes.
Amazon recently announced it was broadening its logistics services to third parties, though it had been offering similar services informally for some time.
Linda Cohn joined ESPN in July 1992 and anchored her 5,000th SportsCenter in early 2016, the most of any anchor in ESPN history.
Linda Cohn was inducted into the National Sports Media Association Hall of Fame in 2017.
FedEx's B2B business has been benefiting from data center construction, which involves transporting technology components to build sites.
FedEx shares were up 35% year-to-date before the post-spinoff earnings report.
IBM's AI system resolves 94% of common HR questions for a global workforce of 300,000 employees.
This episode
Cast
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The strongest Category 5 hurricane in the modern era, used as the first major stress test for AI weather forecasting models in 2025.
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Track
Parcel delivery company that reported its first earnings since completing a freight unit spinoff; shares fell despite cost-control beats.
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Sports television network where Linda Cohn served as SportsCenter anchor for 34 years; discussed in the context of its future amid streaming competition.
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Discussed as a competitor to FedEx following its announcement to broaden third-party logistics services.
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National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration — the US gold-standard hurricane forecasting agency that faced staff cuts under DOGE.
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Bloomberg's research and analysis division; hosts the podcast and provides expert commentary on industries from logistics to weather.
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Developed the AI model that correctly predicted the path and intensity of Hurricane Melissa, outperforming all traditional hurricane models.
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Bloomberg's research arm focused on energy, environment, and commodities; Ryan Ward works there as a weather associate.
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Alternative asset manager that sponsors the episode, focusing on infrastructure, energy, real estate, and private equity.
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Industry body that inducted Linda Cohn into its Hall of Fame in 2017.
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Sponsor of the episode; an investing platform that now offers AI-powered automated trading agents.
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US energy company that appears as a sponsor, building large LNG export facilities.
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