What if your favorite ‘90s sitcom is actually an aspirational fantasy—and today’s TV is a brutally honest mirror?

In this unexpected solo episode, Tess Brigham dives into the wild evolution of 20-something life on TV, revealing what Friends got right (and wrong) about young adulthood, and why the new FX series Adults hits closer to home for Gen Z.

Tess shares her own Hollywood background before she became a therapist and coach, unpacking how pop culture doesn’t just entertain us—it reflects our deepest worries, hopes, and the messy realities of growing up. Using Friends and Adults as cultural bookends, Tess explores how economic stability, rent prices, college debt, technology, social media, and discussions around identity and mental health have radically reshaped what it means to "grow up" over just 30 years.

Key highlights include:

• The jaw-dropping gap between ‘90s economic realities and today’s housing and job market for young adults
• Why Friends never tackled race, sexuality, or student debt—and how Adults puts those issues front and center
• How social media has blown up the scale of comparison and anxiety for today’s 20-somethings
• Surprising universal truths: no matter the decade, everyone in their twenties feels lost, unsure, and desperate to find their people
• What both older and younger generations can learn from these shows

Whether you grew up wishing you could hang out at Central Perk or you’re hustling in your parents' house in Queens, this episode asks: What does adulthood really mean—and how do we redefine it together?

Timestamped Episode Overview:

00:00:01 – Intro & show mission; Tess shares her Hollywood background

00:01:33 – Why pop culture is a “mirror” for our lives

00:02:02 – Comparing FX’s Adults and Friends: then vs. now

00:03:38 – Economic realities for young adults in the ‘90s

00:04:51 – Tech, social media, and how comparison has changed

00:05:31 – How Adults depicts modern realities: housing, healthcare, and job insecurity

00:07:59 – (Ad break) Tess discusses her work with organizations

00:08:45 – Diversity, privilege, identity: from invisible to center stage

00:09:31 – Universal truths of young adulthood that never change

00:10:59 – Today’s heightened pressures: rent, debt, and fragile economy

00:12:11 – Technology amplifies awareness—and anxiety

00:13:18 – Why comparing the two shows matters for every generation

00:14:16 – What each generation can learn from Friends and Adults

00:14:58 – The enduring importance of friendship and connection

00:16:25 – Closing thoughts & where to find more from Tess

Don’t miss this episode if you’ve ever felt caught between nostalgia and reality—or want to understand how every generation tries (and struggles) to make sense of this “gen mess.”

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