This week we considered some different concepts that we don’t understand (plants, engines, snowflakes, WiFi, etc.). We realized we have no idea how anything works, and with some things we’d like to keep it that way! We are awed by some things in the world and we don’t need to know how they happen. With that said, we did look some things up and learn a few things. This was a fun episode for us and we hope you like it!

This week, we put our American knowledge to the test by taking the civics portion of the U.S. citizenship exam. With only one-third of Americans able to pass, we wanted to see if we’d make the cut (some of the questions were… humbling). We also discuss the real barriers the two-part test can create for those seeking U.S. citizenship. It’s important to know some things, but the reasons Ben Franklin is famous shouldn’t be at the top of the list. Join us!

U.S. Naturalization Civics Test**

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/questions-and-answers/100q.pdf

Sources**

https://www.uscis.gov/citizenship-resource-center/naturalization-related-data-and-statistics/naturalization-test-performance

https://www.uscis.gov/sites/default/files/document/questions-and-answers/100q.pdf

https://citizensandscholars.org/resource/national-survey-finds-just-1-in-3-americans-would-pass-citizenship-test/

https://www.uschamberfoundation.org/civics/new-study-finds-alarming-lack-of-civic-literacy-among-americans

https://scholar.harvard.edu/files/mbaum/files/science_of_fake_news.pdf

This week, we catch up per usual (minor existential crises and menty b’s included). Then, Alex brings some fascinating and slightly concerning psychology info from college to the table, because who doesn’t love a fun fact? Lastly, we chat about the genius that is IFS therapy. Join us as we connect some of these concepts to our own lives.

Sources**

Internal Family Systems Therapy for Shame and Guilt by Martha Sweezy

No Bad Parts by Richard Schwartz

This week Alex and Cass broke down the houseless crisis, particularly in Oregon, and the many factors that fuel it— cost of living, lack of affordable housing, etc. Fair warning, it's bleak and we don't have a solution, but talking and thinking about it is a step in the right direction.

Sources**

US Homeless Population

Chronically Homeless

Poverty in America

Cash Assistance

Decline in Assistance

Why Do People Experience Homelessness?

Oregon’s Homeless Population

Slow Job Growth

Inflation

CPI

Portland affordable housing

Housing report

The Problem

Causes of Homelessness

State of the State’s Housing

End Homelessness in America

Evan's Story

Experience Homelessness

This week, we took a fun little road trip to get Cassidy some tattoos. The drive back, however, was a true test of our survival skills. We also chat about our week, including whatever deranged AI hell Donald Trump has been posting as well as the disgusting actions of American companies. Spoiler: they all suck!. And, of course, we try to figure out what we can actually do about the political chaos. Join us!

Sources**

https://www.thenation.com/article/economy/rei-soho-strike/

https://www.instagram.com/reiunion/p/DF595j5pwnM/?hl=en&img_index=1

https://apnews.com/article/apple-dei-shareholder-proposal-annual-meeting-96637c8d4fa3d5e2a73dc59a59c2485b

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/nov/05/bernie-marcus-home-depot-dead

This week we’re discussing crashing out, Alex’s recent psychic reading, and how we’re finding joy where we can. If you’re feeling deeply unhinged yet also hopeful, you’re not alone. Life is hard, but somehow we still find reasons to laugh—probably because we have no other choice!

**Correction**

Hi, Cassidy here! The TikTok I was referencing, with regards to the queer community finding joy during the HIV/AIDS epidemic was not in fact from a documentary but the wonderful creator and activist Pattie Gonia! Your girl's memory is fried from doom scrolling, so I apologize for the misunderstanding! Nonetheless, I will link the TikTok I was referencing below and Pattie Gonia's Ted Talk, which is incredible and you should totally check out, they slayed! Love y'all and chat next week!

Sources**

Pattie Gonia's TikTok https://www.tiktok.com/@pattiegonia/video/7471247347830345006?_r=1&_t=ZT-8u8d6IvwEh8

Pattie Gonia's Ted Talk https://www.ted.com/talks/pattie_gonia_why_joy_is_a_serious_way_to_take_action

This week, we're talking about how Karl Marx high key ate, why healthcare in the United States is a scam and Tik Tok's favorite hitman Luigi Mangione. We may not have the answers or know what to do about the horrors of late-stage capitalism, but we break down some of Marx's theories and share some (super fun!) facts about our healthcare system. Spoiler: if you don't have health insurance, or even if you do, don't get sick! #SendHelp

**Sources**

https://www.britannica.com/biography/Karl-Marx

https://www.britannica.com/topic/communism

https://openbooks.library.umass.edu/radicalsocialtheory/chapter/basic-definitions-of-marxian-terminology/

The Communist Manifesto, Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels

https://www.thoughtco.com/conflict-theory-3026622

https://sociology.plus/glossary/base-and-superstructure/#google_vignette

A Contribution to the Critique of Political Economy, Karl Marx

https://www.britannica.com/topic/Occupy-Wall-Street

Edward Ongweso Jr.'s Substack (The Tech Bubble)

U.S. Census Insurance Stats

Physicians For a National Health Program (Insurance Stats)

This week, Alex and Cassidy play We’re Not Really Strangers. Grab a drink, light a candle, or maybe touch some grass, and join us for a laid-back episode where we answer questions about ourselves in the hopes of giving you a better glimpse into who we are as people and friends. We shared our weekly horrors, laughed a lot, and had some sweet moments that we’re excited to share with you. If you’re in need of a 30-minute distraction from the hellscape, find your sanctuary here.

In the very first episode of Scraping By, hosts Alex and Cassidy dive into the messiness of being in your twenties — and why adulting is way harder than we thought. We start by sharing how we became friends and why we decided to start this podcast in the first place. From there, we tackle the overwhelming struggles of post-grad life, the crushing pressure to figure out a career, and the struggles of finding a direction when everything feels up in the air. Whether you’re deep in the trenches of your twenties or just trying to keep it together, you’ll feel right at home with us.

Sources**

Bakhtiari, Kian. “Gen-z, the Loneliness Epidemic and the Unifying Power of Brands.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024, www.forbes.com/sites/kianbakhtiari/2023/07/28/gen-z-the-loneliness-epidemic-and-the-unifying-power-of-brands/.

“Charts Related to the Latest ‘The Employment Situation’ News Release | More Chart Packages.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, www.bls.gov/charts/employment-situation/civilian-unemployment-rate.htm. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

“The Deloitte Global 2024 Gen Z and Millennial Survey.” Deloitte, www.deloitte.com/global/en/issues/work/content/genz-millennialsurvey.html. Accessed 24 Jan. 2025.

What do you do when dating doesn’t go your way? Work on yourself? Try again? Or… descend into a rabbit hole of misogyny, conspiracy theories, and self-pity? In this episode, we’re breaking down the Manosphere, where incels, red-pillers, and black-pillers unite in their shared frustration with women, society, and reality itself. We do our best to understand what draws some young men to this online space, and why they’re vulnerable to radicalization. It paints a bleak picture of the impacts of toxic masculinity, but helps us humanize those who have been sucked in. Grab your popcorn (or your nearest therapist), because this one’s a ride.

Sources**

“Swallowing and spitting out the red pill: young men, vulnerability, and radicalization pathways in the manosphere”

Incel Ideology, Radicalization and Mental Health: A Survey Study

The 'Incel' Ideology Continues to Build a Strong Following in the Online 'Manosphere'

Masculinity and U.S. Extremism: What Makes Young Men Vulnerable to Toxic Ideologies

Book: He/She/They: How We Talk About Gender and Why it Matters by Schuyler Bailar

Involuntary Celibacy: A Review of Incel Ideology and Experiences with Dating, Rejection, and Associated Mental Health and Emotional Sequelae

YouTube's Recommendation Algorithm is Left-Leaning in the United States

YouTube's Algorithm More Likely to Recommend Users Right-Wing and Religious Content, Research Finds

Gamers, Memes, and Incels: A Review of Online Anti-Feminism and Misogyny

How a Masculine Culture That Favors Sexual Conquests Gave Us Todays ‘Incles’