top of page
logo.png

Business & Bullsh*t: Phone Books, Cemetery Rent, and the End of Sex Sells (EP #99)

Aug 10
2 min read

Updated: Aug 12

Watch the full episode on Youtube:

The Founderz Lounge Episode #99 with Don Varady and Steve Bon.


In this Business & Bullsh*t episode, Don and Steve break down the weird, funny, and surprisingly useful business lessons hiding in marketing, consumer behavior, AI, and old-school advertising that somehow still exists.


They talk McDonald’s clear McValue bag for baseball games, the shift away from “sex sells” advertising, cemetery rent, Cheez-It and Coors Light’s beer cheese cracker collab, and why AI-generated ideas can sound smart while missing the real-world context businesses actually need.


Then Steve brings in a real phone book in 2026 and asks the obvious question: why the hell are we still printing these things?


Come for the banter. Leave thinking more like a founder.


Timestamps:

[00:00] Trailer + Intro

[01:16] Founderz Roundup

[01:28] McDonald’s McValue bag

[05:56] The end of “sex sells”

[10:03] Random Bullshit

[10:06] Cemetery rent

[11:19] Cheez-It and Coors collab

[12:18] Hot Takes

[12:23] The AI second opinion

[17:52] What The Hell Is This?

[17:59] Phone books in 2026

[22:12] Final Thoughts


Key Takeaways:

• McDonald’s clear McValue bag is a smart example of solving a real customer friction point. ~Don Varady


• Ballpark food is not just food. It is part of the customer experience. ~Don Varady

• Advertising is shifting from “get their attention” to “show them you get them.” ~Steve Bon


• Sex sells is losing power as brands lean more into self-awareness, humor, and audience vulnerability. ~Steve Bon


• The “vampire effect” happens when the attention-grabbing part of an ad steals attention from the actual brand. ~Steve Bon


• AI can make ideas sound better, but that does not mean they fit the business, brand, or real-world execution. ~Steve Bon


• AI-generated contracts and strategies still need human judgment because they may not match the company’s policies, systems, or reality. ~Don Varady


• Phone books in 2026 are a reminder that outdated business models can keep running long after customers stop caring. ~Steve Bon


Connect w/ Don and Steve:

Don Varady:


Steve Bon:

—

Tune in to every episode on your favorite platform: 


The Founderz Lounge Is Powered By:

Clean Eatz:


Bon's Eye Marketing:

Comments

bottom of page