Young adults are increasingly turning to risky bets — sports gambling, meme stocks, crypto, even leveraged ETFs — not just for the thrill, but because traditional wealth-building feels out of reach. In this episode, Pete, Damian, and Kristen dig into the rise of “financial nihilism,” a mindset fueled by housing costs, student loans, job market uncertainty, and fading confidence in the American Dream.

We’ll unpack the CNBC stories of 20-somethings chasing fast money on Discord and betting platforms, explore whether these strategies are truly new or just speculation repackaged, and debate whether they’re desperation or savvy risk-taking. Finally, we’ll look at healthier alternatives: ways to channel risk appetite without blowing up your future.

Because when people stop believing in long-term financial security, they don’t stop trying — they just look for shortcuts.