The like button is more than a symbol — it’s a case study in how innovation really happens. Martin Reeves, chairman of the BCG Henderson Institute and co-author of Like: The Button That Changed the World, unpacks the messy, social, and often surprising process behind major breakthroughs — and what leaders can learn from it as they navigate the AI era.

Learn More:

Martin Reeves: https://on.bcg.com/4pWlAph

Like: The Button That Changed the World: https://www.amazon.com/Like-Button-That-Changed-World/dp/B0D8XM8GZT

What the Like Button Can Teach Us About Innovation: https://on.bcg.com/48MmONK

Vote for Georgie Here: https://vote.lovieawards.com/PublicVoting#/2025/podcasts/features/best-hosts

Chapters:

00:00-01:18 Introduction

01:19-02:50 The Story of ‘Like’

02:51-03:42 Was the like button an invention?

03:43-05:00 Why do we like to ‘like’?

05:01-05:31 Is online liking the same as real world liking?

05:32-06:38 What has been the economic impact?

06:39-08:01 How to get innovation right

08:02-08:28 How do you foster an innovative environment?

08:29-09:33 What role does storytelling play?

09:34-12:10 The like button and regulation

12:11-13:21 What lessons can be applied to new tech?

13:22-14:31 The structure of the book

14:32-16:44 Surprises when researching for the book

16:45-17:57 The business of thought leadership

17:58-18:46 What is the future of thought leadership?

18:47-19:34 What is next for innovation?

19:35-20:01 Outro

AI and data help tell us what people do, but not why. Lauren Taylor, global leader of BCG’s Center for Customer Insight, makes sense of the mixed signals that consumers give off. To truly understand what drives people, businesses of course value robust, real-time data. But they also must uncover the context, motivators, and human truth behind every choice.

Learn More:

Lauren Taylor: https://on.bcg.com/4nfwZ1A

BCG’s Latest Thinking on Customer Insights: https://on.bcg.com/46iy6Yt

The Paradox of Pessimism: Why Gloomy Consumers Keep Spending: https://on.bcg.com/3Ir7FH2

Unpacking the $15 Trillion Opportunity in Leisure Travel: https://on.bcg.com/4gGyCTI

Mapping the Consumer Touchpoints That Influence Decisions: https://on.bcg.com/3IBLBcD

GenAI’s Role in Customer Insights: Think "And" Not "Or": https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/genais-role-customer-insights-think-ajr3c/

Chapters

00:00-01:25 Introduction/Lauren’s ‘So What’

01:26-02:39 How can businesses cut through the contradictions and truly understand what customers want?

02:49-03:18 Should we just ignore what people say?

03:19-04:37 What is consumer sentiment?

04:38-05:35 What can businesses really learn from consumers?

05:36-06:20 What factors play into the say-do gap?

06:21-07:45 How much does emotion shape what people buy?

07:46-09:08 How and why should businesses deaverage the customer?

09:09-10:17: How nuanced is motivation across different regions?

10:18-12:10 What parts of the customer journey actually shape what people choose?

12:11-12:52 Has AI helped us better understand customers or made things more confusing?

12:53-13:51 How can companies make sense of conflicting signals?

13:52-14:46 How is AI changing the way that we understand consumer behavior?

14:47-16:19 With data available, why is it critical for businesses to still talk to customers?

16:20-17:07 What mistakes are companies making when it comes to listening to their customers?

17:08-17:32 What should companies look for in sentiment signals?

17:33-18:04 Lauren’s ‘Now What’

18:05-18:27 Do milestone moments matter?

18:28-18:42 Outro

M&A activity is waking up, but many companies are reluctant to leap into the fray. Daniel Friedman, BCG’s global leader of transactions and integrations, explains why bold moves now could pay off. Waiting may feel safe, but the cost could be forfeiting once-in-a-decade opportunities.

Learn More:

Daniel Friedman: https://on.bcg.com/4mWHyGW

Mid-2025 M&A Insights: https://on.bcg.com/3V6ENGF

BCG’s Latest Thinking on M&A: https://on.bcg.com/4ndP9QU

BCG’s M&A Sentiment Index: https://on.bcg.com/3VEdBzb

Chapters:

00:00-02:56 Intro/Daniel’s ‘So What’

02:57-04:34 What is different now vs. the beginning of the year?

04:35-06:13 How quickly will the market recover?

06:14-08:20 What regions and sectors are particularly active?

08:21-09:01What are risks that could impede recovery?

09:02-10:26 What is wrong with waiting on the sidelines?

10:27-12:00 Do downturn deals tend to deliver more value than boom time deals?

12:01-13:25 What can a company to do ensure that it finds the right deal?

13:26-17:02 How has M&A changed in a more uncertain world?

17:03-18:03 How will AI evolve?

18:04-19:45 What are the winners doing right in this new environment?

19:46-21:16 The ‘Now What’

21:17-21:33 Outro