Do you miss how you and your friends used to hang out when nobody had any obligations? Did you spend your Saturdays watching movies and talking shit with your mates after a heavy night of drinking? Adam & Katey talk about how socializing and the art of hanging out with friends changes with age. 

Adam talks about his imagined "wine-sipping-Italian-villa-life" and a changing perspective on career goals. Katey talks about her newfound love of suburban life and what she's been up to during the lockdown in New York.

In 2018, Irish author Sally Rooney published her second novel, Normal People. It quickly became an international bestseller and Rooney was hailed as the first great millennial novelist for her stories of love and late capitalism. In April this year, Hulu and BBC released a 12-episode TV series based on the novel. The story follows the relationship between Marianne Sheridan (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell Waldron (Paul Mescal), as they navigate adulthood from their final days in secondary school to their undergraduate years at Trinity College. It is a beautiful look at two highly intelligent but socially complex people who are constantly mislabeled and misunderstood by everyone around them except each other.

It can be hard to capture the words and feelings of a book into a visual and emotional piece of film, but this show really does. Sensual, tender, and intimate, it gently clutches your heart and makes you remember what it means to feel the complexities of love. Quiet and subtle, Normal People is simply a beautiful piece told perfectly by two brilliant young actors.

I watched the entire show last week and I have not been able to think about anything else since. So, I asked my friends, Katey Hannaby and John Gleeson to join me here today to discuss this beautiful coming-of-age story and what it taught us about love and relationships. We compare and contrast the themes of Normal People with our own lives, experiences, trials, and tribulations.

Links

Normal People by Sally Rooney

Normal People Trailer

Millennialism

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We like to think that we have come so far as a global society, but there is still so much injustice, hate, and racism out there. In the last few years, hate crimes have been on the rise. White supremacists have been emboldened. Anti-immigrant rhetoric has intensified. We condemn these awful examples of prejudice and bias and hate, but systemic racism is something different. It is less about violence or burning crosses than it is about everyday decisions made by people who may not even think of themselves as racist. As sociologist Eduardo Bonilla-Silva has said, "The main problem nowadays is not the folks with the hoods, but the folks dressed in suits." Systemic racism persists in our schools, offices, court system, police departments, and elsewhere. Why? Think about it: when white people occupy most positions of decision-making power, people of color have a difficult time getting a fair shake, let alone getting ahead.

As a white European straight male, I have never had to experience any of the prejudice many of my Black, Asian, and Hispanic friends face daily. For me and everyone else like me, it has taken the death of another innocent man and global protests for us to really reflect on these issues. To better understand the racism, prejudice, and hate millions of people in the U.S. and around the world face every day, I invited my friend Kevin Taylor to come on the podcast to talk about his personal experiences. We discuss Black Lives Matter, how you can show support for the movement, and our thoughts on people protesting for “Blue Lives Matter.” Kevin also shares some personal stories and examples of times he has been affected by systemic racism, his deeply rooted fear of being pulled over by the police, and what it is like growing up knowing that the cards are stacked against you.

Links

Kevin Taylor

Instagram @kev_taylor1

Please Watch: Dave Chappelle’s 8:46

www.blacklivesmatter.com

Donate

Millennialism

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6-bullet-Friday

What I am watching: When They See Us

Song I am listening to: Moon River by Frank Ocean

What I am reading: Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins

YouTube account I cannot get enough of: Dictionary of Obscure Sorrows

Quote I am pondering: “Character, like a photograph, develops in darkness.” – Yousuf Karsh

Every week, I sit down to chat with a guest about a topic that interests me. I have had entrepreneurs, award-winning authors, esteemed academics, pioneering filmmakers, TED speakers, philosophers, and friends come on the show to discuss everything from social media to health, business to culture, self-development to global travel. Millennialism is the podcast for anyone who wants to learn more about maneuvering life as a millennial in the 2020s.

Links

Adam Gavin

www.adamgavin.com

Instagram @adamgavin

[email protected]

Listen on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or Google Podcasts:

In this episode, I am joined by author, speaker, mountain climber, college professor, and women’s rights advocate, Sara Safari. In 2015, she received The Global Citizen award from the United Nations Association and is currently on track to become the first Iranian woman in history to climb the Seven Summits, the highest peak in each continent. Growing up in Iran after the Islamic Revolution, Sara enjoyed little personal freedom and few rights under the law, living an existence marked by oppression and limitations. In response to her childhood experiences, Sara was motivated to empower marginalized women everywhere—and what better way to show young girls that they can do anything than to stand on top of the world? Literally. She recounts her experiences of overcoming these great challenges and adversities in her books Follow my Footsteps, Above the Mountain Shadow, and Making a Difference.

We talk about Sara’s climbing experiences, setting big goals, overcoming challenges, and how a near-death experience can change your perspective on life and what is important. I also ask Sara what it means to her to have come from such adversity to become an inspiration for young girls and women all over the world. It was a privilege having her on my show, so please enjoy this conversation with the admirable Sara Safari.

Links

Sara Safari

www.climbyoureverest.org

www.sarasafari.com

Instagram @sara.safari.everest

Facebook /empoweringallgirls

Millennialism

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The tourism industry has been massively affected by the spread of coronavirus, as many countries have introduced travel restrictions in an attempt to contain its spread. The United Nations World Tourism Organization estimated that global international tourist arrivals might decrease by 20–30% in 2020, leading to a potential loss of US$30–50 billion. In many of the world's cities, planned travel went down by 80–90%. Since none of us can physically travel anywhere right now, I wanted to talk to someone who could take me on a virtual adventure around the world.

In this episode, I am joined by my good friend Caroline Sandström, a 22-year-old modern-day traveler and adventurer from Sweden. Looking at her Instagram pictures and hearing her stories about the vibrant Holi festival in India, island hopping in Fiji, scooter rides through the Vietnamese wilderness, late-night dance parties in the Philippines, and emotional sightseeing’s in Laos made me feel both jealous and incredibly alive. We talk about how she funded all her trips over the last few years, some of the people she met along the way, falling in love on the road, travelling with friends versus traveling solo, and what makes her feel most alive. If you are longing to travel, feel stuck at home, or just want a nice break from reality, just push your headphones in, turn the volume up, and enjoy this conversation with Caroline Sandström.

Links

Caroline Sandström

Instagram @carolinesandstrom

Choosing to go to college is probably one of the biggest decisions you will ever make, but some people do it for all the wrong reasons. We are pressured into paying thousands of dollars, take loans, and fully commit 3-5 years of our life into a degree we are told is necessary to have a good life. I loved going to school, but I do not think it is for everyone and no one should feel pressured into going just because our friends, parents, or academic advisor tells us to. Everyone is, thankfully, not meant to be an academic.

Some perhaps helpful questions to ponder if you are thinking about going to college.

1. Do You Know What You Want to Do?

2. Are You Going Just Because Others Expect You To?

3. Do You Like School Enough to Go Through Four More Years of It?

4. Are You Willing to Put Your Life on Hold?

Links

Adam Gavin

www.adamgavin.com

Instagram @adamgavin

[email protected]

Have you ever stopped to think about how much control social media has over your life? Measuring the self against others is normal, and in some ways, it can be helpful. The inspiration you feel about someone else's achievements can rev up the motivation to improve your own life. The recognition that your abilities are a notch above someone else's can deliver a boost to your self-esteem. But comparisons can be harmful when they leave you feeling chronically inferior or depressed. Social media is like a canvas. You can choose to portray your life however you want to. So, what will people naturally do with their social media accounts? They will put up only the best pictures of themselves and always make it look like they are having THE TIME OF THEIR LIVES. I think it is obvious to most people that social media is not an accurate representation of life, but it is important to have open conversations about it.

In this episode, I am joined by influencer, YouTuber, and blogger, Anna Reid, to discuss how we can develop a healthier relationship with social media and our current media landscape. We also talk about social media and its relation to mental health issues, anxiety, and false or unrealistic expectation on what a good life looks like. Over the last few years, Anna has amassed over 178.000 subscribers on her YouTube channel, Anna’s Analysis, where she uploads video essays and analyses on social media culture and many other interesting topics. Her most viewed video, “how social media is ruining your life… and you don’t even know it,” has over 2.5 million views and 176.000 likes. Check out her van life conversion series if you want some realistic travel inspiration.

Links

Anna Reid

YouTube: Anna’s Analysis

www.annasanalysis.com

Instagram @annas_analysis

Video: how social media is ruining your life.. and you don't even know it

Video: 4 Ways Influencers Manipulate You