It has been a fun ride and a welcome outlet for my pettier side to indulge in not one, but two episodes centered around a reality show drama. II’m making a characteristically Steep pivot this week in to more serious matters. The small matter of a certain sector of societies direct and concerted assault on joy. I know it sounds dramatic, but let us explain how a slew of videos of CEO’s trying to shame us plebeians for doing unthinkably frivolous things like eating lunch and taking time off for honey moons for example. It made me reflect on what other anti-enjoyment messaging may be informing our society. There has to be a reason why 14 year old girls want to dress like they play bridge at a country club in nantucket, why people want their homes to look like med spa and to completely conceal any evidence that you live in it. Our cars are uglier, our clothes are made of plastic, we want a clean girl aesthetic, a rapid weight-loss, a nonchalant aura. I mean say you want to disappear without saying it.  But who is making us feel this way and why? Is the call coming from inside the house or from the top? Yeah…let’s just say it is no reunion recap this week.

#ceo #greed #corporateamerica #currentevents #kevinoleary #jimsexton #oldmoney #cleangirlaesthetic #ozempic #currentaffairs #corporategreed #middleclass #wealthgap #spirituality #podcast #podcasting #interview #conversation #longformconversation #humor #funnyvideo #deepdive #subliminalmessagiing #tinfoilhat

I am on a prediction losing streak-but it’s a win for all of us bravo viewers. Summer House reunion P.2 actually delivered. I thought we cashed it in the first part but it turns out we had more juice. I think the first part really solidified Amanda’s mindset. It showed us that she was seated firmly in her victimhood if not on the reunion stage. The second part really is the peeling of the pungent West Wilson onion. We get a whiff of what is under the thin brittle facade layer in to all of his dirty deeds, his game-plan, his absolute lack of concern for anyone but himself. If he has learned anything between last year and this year it’s that the three words he contributed were 2.999 too many. He knows that if he parts his ‘Pathy’ lips it’s an instant liability.

#bravo #reunion #summerhouse #bravotv #andycohen #amandabatula #ciaramiller #realitytv #reality #popculture #realitydrama #podcast #podcasts #podclips #humor #funnyvideo #summerhousereunion #tvtalk 

Put your mind on airplane mode with me this week and let’s indulge a bit of brainless salacious gossip.Summer House reunion Part.1 dropped last week so here’s my commentary ahead of the next part. I get in to my general feelings about the cast over time, my expectations going in to the reunion, my reactions and impressions of this reunion, and  my projections about the next parts. I’m of the mind that most of the real meat was in this first part so I likely will not recap the next two. I actually had to take a rare L in predicting that this reunion would be a dud. It actually delivered, and I wonder if the edit is more satisfying due to the leak. Either ways I mentioned this may be my last word on Summer House for  a while(the fatigue is real)but-much like me having a rare wrong projection-I never say never!

 #podcast #podcasts #podcastclips #socialmedia #summerhouse #summerhousereunion #bravo #bravotv #reality #realitytv #amandabatula #ciaramiller #debate #viralvideo #contentcreator #kylecooke #recap #humor #funnyvideo 

This week my social media was unexpectedly flooded with Clavicular(infamous Looksmaxxer)interview clips, and let’s just say it was fascinating if a little disturbing. I did find myself wanting to figure out how he came to his methods and his general outlook on attractiveness and external appeal. As is our tendency on Piqued, we ended up turning those questions inwards  and zooming them way out as well. What is mine and Charlie’s relationship to our looks? How much or little do we think it has to do with our over all appeal as people? What are the cultural implications of people focusing their energy on maximizing their external appeal at any cost...potentially at the cost of internal growth and well roundedness. Whether you consider yourself a full on ‘Looxmaxxer’ or not, we are all somewhat focused on relaying something through how we present ourselves, so what are we trying to express, hide or resemble?

#clavicular #looksmaxxing #influencer #selfimprovement #podcast #podcasts #podcastclips #socialmedia #loganpaul #jakepaul #selfimprovement #debate #humor #manosphere #viralviedeo #looksmaxx #hustle #contentcretor 

The Roast of Kevin Hart came out and it brought up some loaded dynamics in comedy, media, and society in general. My decision not to watch it after seeing some alternately funny and then really distasteful clips, culminated in me really coming to grips with how much of a stranglehold the bid to appear ‘unbothered’ has on our culture. I am realizing that some deeply uncharismatic, anti-social characters, be they famous or merely in possession of a keyboard, have found a way to hold us all hostage to accepting and touting mediocrity and degeneracy simply with the threat of being called a drag if we question it.. At the end of the day all this edge-lord, shock jock culture is really doing is elevating mediocrity, and encouraging apathy in a bid to weed out conviction, integrity, discernment and backbone from people so that they can thrive despite their crushing inadequacy. If they devalue merit, nobody will notice that they have none. 

 It’s an activated one this week,so drink your coffee, and let me know where you find a good one if you’re in ATX! 

#kevinhart #killtony #joerogan #ATX #roast #netflix #edgelords #shockvalue #chelseahandler #shanegillis #bobbylee #unbothered #usa #currentevents #sociology #popculture #socialmedia 

#podcast #podcastclips #popular #bravo  #famous #socialmedia #shortsviral #shortvideo #shorts #humor #shortvideos #reality #short #clips

There is a whole lot of talk about female gold diggers, star fu**ers, clout chasers and so ons, I figured I’d balance the dialogue and explore some men in the zeitgeist who I think have some grifter, coattail rider, clout-chaser-well just THIRSTY-energy. It’s not always about financial gain or who has the most star power. People are thirsty myriad things. Some latch on to someone for identity, others for fame and some seem to just want to live the high life. What they all have in common is they view their female partners as vehicles to ride to their own desires, aspirations and destiny.  

00:38-03:36 - Opening musing:Becoming someone you can rely on, who keeps promises to yourself builds your confidence

#thirsty #clout #podcasts #podcasting #podcastclips  #bradpitt #jenniferaniston #gwynethpaltrow #angeliajolie #summerhouse #bravo #popculture #reality #fame #parishilton #funnyvideo #humor #cloutchasers #opportunists #daxshepherd #jlo #rhony 

Watching Hulu doc “The Cult of NatureBoy” sent me and Charlie in to veritable orbit and it sparked an interest in what causes some people to view certain people as magnetic and charismatic when to us they seem unhinged or just plain creepy. We have watched many a cult documentary in our time and I’m always struck by how unsavory or inept some of these cult leaders seem. How do they amass a following? What draws people to them? Where in our lives have we maybe encountered cult dynamics and can we relate to some of the lack of direction that can cloud people’s judgement enough to be vulnerable to indoctrination? You don’t have to follow someone to the jungle to be in a cultish dynamic. There are cults of politics, personality, some friend groups and romantic relationships operate with the same construct of isolation, control and group think. Are we drinking the kool-aid?

#cults #cultmemebers #nxivm #netflix #hulu #documentary #viral #followers #indoctrination #freethinker #natureboy #manson #osho #selfhelp #seekers #selfimprovement #interview #rabbithole

n his Episode I am running down some epic flip floppers in culture. This was spurned by the veritable onslaught of prominent Trump apologists turning coat lately, but in pure piqued fashion, my skittish swarthy brain wanders over to the epic change-up of the front line warriors of body positivity in the skinny shot era. It is not long before I’m in influencer territory talking about the MJ Gray’s 180 from de-centering luxury and men to designer hauls and an engagement in Paris. Now to really stay true to the Piqued ethos, I turn the mirror on me and us and get in to how as a society we have whip lash inducing change-ups on public figures. It really just ends up being a rant about the collective amnesia about what was always problematic about Lena Dunham simply because she was her characteristically smart and charming self  on her book publicity circuit. Piqued and peeved as ever.  

#reality #currentevents #podcasting #popular #celebrity #celebritynews #famous #debate #podcasts #popculture #podcastclips #tuckercarlson #candiaceowens #joerogan #theovon #marjorietaylorgreene #mtg #usa #uspolitics #trump #lenadunham #lizzo #bodypositivity #ozempic #plussize #weightloss #meghantrainor #haileybiebers #haileybeiber #mjgray #feminist #4bmovement #decentermen

This week I discuss my take-aways from watching Lamar Odem’s Documentary(Untold:The life and Death of Lamar Odem,Netflix)and reflect on the period in my late teens and early 20s when young Hollywood(Lindsay Lohan, Nicole Richie,Amanda Bynes etc), was racking up mugshots and showing early signs of active addiction, publicly at that. It’s an eery feeling looking at some of these older prominent figures(eg.Tiger Woods, Shaia LaBeouf Justin Timberlake) still battling these demons later in life, but, of course, it echoes the truly non-linear and lifelong battle that is recovery. Addiction doesn’t discriminate and I wish we as a culture would have more open dialogue about relapse and not perpetuate the falsehood that it is at all common to have a ‘one and done’ recovery story. Relapses are the norm, not the exception. People hiding their stumbles and fearing judgement over crying for help could send their struggles in to isolation and compile them. We’ve seen some catastrophic outcomes of that(RIP Amy Weinhouse, Heath ledger,Phillip Seymore Hoffman and so many more)

  I also unpack the attitudes towards people in the lives of addicts. The expectations thrust on them, the lack of education about enabling, rock bottom, boundaries and the realities of intervention. Not just the event of an intervention, but the actual concept of intervening and what that looks like in practice.

#podcasts #popculture #addiction #reality #currentevents #lamarodem  #tigerwoods #shaialabeouf #usa #netflix #recovery #12step #alanon #substanceabuse #dui #justintimberlake #natashalyonne #intervention #healing #soberlife #podcasting #addictionrecovery #wedorecover #popular #celebrity #celebritynews #famous #debate #amandabynes #lindsaylohan #justinbeiber #britneyspears #parishilton #amywinehouse

I have husband/producer Charlie on this week, and seeing as we just celebrated our 15 year anniversary (on April fools day no less), I thought we should reflect on what has made our relationship successful. We give a run-down of our dating histories before this coupling, to give a clearer picture of where we were in our lives mentally and emotionally when we met. We discuss communication, compatibility, conflict resolution, trust ,power dynamics and all the elements that structure our relationship foundation. We wouldn't be the April-and eternal-fools we are if laughter didn't ensue, but we genuinely do want to share our experience of a dynamic that is healthy and functional. In a time when many are describing relationships as veritable humiliation rituals, hear us out on one that isn't the arduous work and slog that some portray it as...just for variety. #podcast #humor #relationships #couple #couples #couplestherapy #marriage #healthy #interview #couplesgoal #relatable #relationshipgoals #selfimprovement #healing #healingjourney #conversation #consciousliving #cute #reality #powerful #hope #soulmate #life #lifestyle #lifehacks