Are human minds capable of coping with social media? Political polarization, teen bullying, rising depression...no wonder our ability to ‘social network’ responsibly has come under question.

The internet is a wonderful place, full of knowledge, resources, and funny cats. But it can also be a cesspool full of violent videos, nudity, racist propaganda, and bullying. Someone, somewhere has to clean up all that hateful garbage we don’t want to see. Which is where Cognizant - a group of underpaid contractors for Facebook - come in. On The Re-Engineered You, we’ll talk about a series of TheVerge articles by reporter Casey Newton. And we’ll ask the question: if contractors with access to proper training, experience, and cautionary seminars can’t handle the anxieties of the internet, what chance do the rest of us have?

In Part 2 of this two-parter, we’ll also look at the human cost of social media. We’ll discuss the Myanmar genocide that utilized Facebook to spread their hate message. And we’ll look at the rising depression and suicide rates, and try to find a reason other than social media for the historic mental health crisis we’re facing. Finally, we’ll talk about how to unplug from the social network in a way that won’t leave you feeling out of the loop, and away from your friends.

History Links:

https://www.theverge.com/2019/6/19/18681845/facebook-moderator-interviews-video-trauma-ptsd-cognizant-tampa

Science Links:

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/15/technology/myanmar-facebook-genocide.html

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-46105934

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/nvsr/nvsr69/NVSR-69-11-508.pdf?_ga=2.57817962.1595091322.1600113401-938738154.1600113401

https://www.healio.com/news/psychiatry/20201005/social-media-use-may-play-important-role-in-youth-suicide-expert-says

https://time.com/5550803/depression-suicide-rates-youth/

https://www.forbes.com/sites/petersuciu/2019/12/06/why-quitting-social-media-may-not-make-you-happier/?sh=5f06909a37c5

https://www.businessinsider.in/tech/news/heres-how-keeping-your-new-years-resolution-to-quit-facebook-twitter-and-instagram-could-change-your-life/articleshow/80095064.cms

Are human minds capable of coping with social media? Political polarization, teen bullying, rising depression...no wonder our ability to ‘social network’ responsibly has come under question.

The internet is a wonderful place, full of knowledge, resources, and funny cats. But it can also be a cesspool full of violent videos, nudity, racist propaganda, and bullying. Someone, somewhere has to clean up all that hateful garbage we don’t want to see. Which is where Cognizant - a group of underpaid contractors for Facebook - come in. On The Re-Engineered You, we’ll talk about a series of TheVerge articles by reporter Casey Newton. And we’ll ask the question: if contractors with access to proper training, experience, and cautionary seminars can’t handle the anxieties of the internet, what chance do the rest of us have?

In Part 1 of this two-parter, we’ll also look at the mechanisms and dopamine tricks that Facebook uses to keep us clicking and scrolling. We’ll investigate which ideas, precisely, rise to the top of the social media pile. And why lies seem to spread faster than the truth...because they do, according to science.

History Links:

https://www.theverge.com/2019/2/25/18229714/cognizant-facebook-content-moderator-interviews-trauma-working-conditions-arizona

Science Links:

https://news.cornell.edu/stories/2019/09/online-reviews-shoppers-believe-pretty-face

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gish_gallop#:~:text=The%20Gish%20gallop%20is%20a,or%20strength%20of%20those%20arguments.

https://qz.com/905252/donald-trumps-lies-are-all-part-of-a-debate-tactic-called-the-gish-gallop/ https://science.sciencemag.org/content/359/6380/

Having a child in America is the most expensive it’s ever been, historically, and state populations are shrinking for the first time. So why can’t we fix this?

Last week we talked about the elderly Americans who are quietly grieving a future without grandchildren. This week, we flip the lens and look at the cost, in dollars and cents, of becoming a parent for younger Americans. Because it turns out that raising kids isn’t just an emotional decision anymore—it’s a financial cliff. The ruling political party claims the ideal household is one two loving, working parents, an owned home, and grandparents who can help take care of the children…which, it turns out, is a shockingly low percent of us, far, far below replacement rates necessary to survive as a country.

This episode is all about the cold, hard census data surrounding the plummeting U.S. birthrate, and the hidden math behind America’s looming population crisis. What does it really cost to raise a child from birth to adulthood in 2025? Why are Millennials and Gen Z increasingly deciding that having kids is financially impossible? What kind of income would you need to afford even a single child without falling into poverty? (Spoiler: It’s a lot more than you’d think.)

We’ll also talk about the politicians on both sides who are offering unsustainable solutions: like praying that grandma can babysit eight hours a day indefinitely, or throwing money at the corporations driving up the cost of children in the first place. Then we’ll we shine a light on the one U.S. state that’s getting it right; the New Mexico childcare program, which is being funded through state land grants, and is already bringing up birthrates for their state.

Links:

https://www.nbcnews.com/business/economy/new-mexicos-free-child-care-program-bringing-relief-millions-us-famili-rcna176421

https://www.visualcapitalist.com/mapped-the-cost-of-raising-a-child-by-u-s-state/

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/10/09/millennial-moms-share-the-money-moves-they-made-before-having-kids.html

https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/more-republicans-support-spending-on-child-care-saying-its-an-economic-issue

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/16/kamala-harris-child-tax-credit.html

https://www.cnbc.com/2024/08/12/jd-vance-trump-raise-child-tax-credit.html

Half of all adults say they can’t have children… So what happens to the boomers who realize they’ll never have grandkids?

This week we confront one of the most emotionally charged topics facing America’s aging population: the coming wave of “forever empty nesters.” Inspired by a viral New York Times article, The Unspoken Grief of Never Becoming a Grandparent, we explore the profound generational divide around childbirth, parenting, and economic survival. While millions of Boomers quietly mourn the grandkids they’ll never meet, younger generations are too busy surviving debt, housing costs, and a crumbling job market to start families of their own.

In Part 1 of this two-part series, we take on the myths and the moral panic surrounding America's falling birthrate. Are Millennials and Gen Z really too selfish or “soft” to have kids? Or is it simply no longer economically possible? And what happens to America when the schools start to empty out, and family reunions start to look like BINGO night at the retirement home?

Links:

https://www.nytimes.com/2024/11/11/well/family/grandparent-grandchild-childfree.html

https://www.buzzfeed.com/kelseyborresen/parents-not-having-kids-grandparent-grief

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Ts7oWw_Ebs&ab_channel=SaturdayNightLive

https://people.howstuffworks.com/culture-traditions/generation-gaps/nope-boomers-xers-dont-work-harder-millennials.htm

https://brightside.me/articles/my-selfish-daughter-doesnt-want-to-have-kids-and-preserve-our-family-so-i-was-forced-to-have-babies-for-her-819648/

https://www.statista.com/statistics/999919/share-people-registered-vote-age/

https://www.cbpp.org/research/a-punishing-decade-for-school-funding

https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-department-of-educations-budget-tug-of-war-congress-vs-presidents/

https://edlawcenter.org/research/600-billion-lost/

https://www.foxnews.com/us/us-births-notable-decrease-2023-marking-end-late-pandemic-rebound-experts-say

https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R45184

https://www.pewresearch.org/social-trends/2024/07/25/the-experiences-of-u-s-adults-who-dont-have-children/

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/pressroom/nchs_press_releases/2024/20240525.htm

What can we pass on to our kids? What leaves a lasting effect, statistically? Money? Reputation? Reasoning skills…?

On recent episodes we’ve explored trust funds, affluency, and wealth insulation. So a natural stone for us to look under next: Legacy. What can we leave our kids? And, more importantly, what can we leave our kids that will be worthwhile in the generations to come?

In Part 2 we’ll look at one very specific aspect of Legacy: Talent. Can we pass on our talent through our children? Can we give our children special talent by sending them to expensive schools? Can we turn our children into sport legends by putting them on the field at an early age, or can we produce a Yo-Yo Ma by sending them to bed with a Cello every night? We’ll also ask the question: is it really unhealthy to live vicariously through our kids? What if we’re just...you know...really supportive, and our kids are really, really good at little league?

For historical context we’ll talk about Butch O’Hare, son of Easy Eddie, and how he defended an American aircraft carrier in WWII, solo, against a squadron of Japanese bombers. Then we’ll look at how Butch O’Hare met his end during a heroic mission.

History Links:

https://www.sportscasting.com/todd-marinovich-admits-robo-qb-upbringing-contributed-to-his-life-of-drugs-prison/
https://www.si.com/nfl/2019/01/11/todd-marinovich-dad-marv-quarterback-drugs-rehab
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R23k6l8Pj-E

Science Links:

https://qz.com/317570/making-your-kid-play-organized-sports-could-cost-them-their-creativity/
https://www.inc.com/amy-morin/science-says-there-is-a-surprising-upside-to-living-vicariously-through-your-kids-unfortunately-theres-a-major-downside-too.html
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tiger_parenting#Views_on_success_and_achievement

What can we pass on to our kids? What leaves a lasting effect, statistically? Money? Reputation? Reasoning skills…?

On recent episodes we’ve explored trust funds, affluency, and wealth insulation. So a natural stone for us to look under next: Legacy. What can we leave our kids? And, more importantly, what can we leave our kids that will be worthwhile in the generations to come?

In Part 1 we’ll discuss the money side Legacy. We’ll take a look at national statistics for inherited businesses, trust funds, and the mega-wealthy Scrooge McDucks who leave their kids mountains of cash...and how quickly that gets spent. We’ll also look at family reputation, and look at the psychology of growing up in a successful or popular parent’s shadow.

For historical context we’ll be covering the death of an infamous mob lawyer - Easy Eddie - and how his sacrifice might have paved the way for his son to become one of the greatest military heroes of WWII...and eventually have an airport named after him.

History Links:

https://allthatsinteresting.com/butch-ohare-easy-eddie

https://www.navytimes.com/news/your-navy/2018/12/26/the-incredible-life-and-terrible-death-of-the-navys-first-world-war-ii-ace/

https://www.stlmag.com/The-Butch-OHare-Story/

Science Links:

https://hbr.org/2012/01/avoid-the-traps-that-can-destroy-family-businesses

https://www.newretirement.com/retirement/average-inheritance-how-much-are-retirees-leaving-to-heirs

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/one-in-three-americans-who-get-an-inheritance-blow-it-2015-09-03

https://www.thecut.com/2018/04/what-its-really-like-to-have-a-trust-fund.html

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/heres-why-90-of-rich-people-squander-their-fortunes-2017-04-23

https://www.businessinsider.com/how-parents-influence-kids-popularity-2017-8

Did you grow up with a gaming console and a ton of games? A cellphone? Ever borrow your folks’ car? Well, so did Affluenza Kid. So what’s the difference between his entitlement and ours?

As far back as there have been kings, commoners have known to mistrust spoiled rich princes. Our subject today is so spoiled-rich, he’s the Prince Joffrey of the upper-middle class. On The Re-Engineered You we’re talking about entitlement, and we’re asking the question; could Affluenza Kid’s defense team actually have been telling the truth? Is it really possible Ethan Couch, who killed four innocent people while drunk, high, and speeding, could be so wealthy and bratty he didn’t have a concept of morality or punishment? What about our own kids? Will getting them that brand-new iPhone be enough to tip them into Affluenza? What about when Grandma and Grandpa show up with a bag of toys and electronics? How much wealth and class insulation does it take to turn our little princes and princesses into cold-hearted bastards who smile for the camera during their manslaughter mugshots?

Then, finally, we’ll talk about “Moral Licensing” - something we all do. And we’ll attempt to reverse the damages of the Ethan Couches of the world by administering a vaccination against Affluenza. With a little cure backed by science, called Social Conscientiousness.

History:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ethan_Couch#Trial_and_sentencing
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/04/02/us/ethan-couch-affluenza-jail.html
https://www.atlasobscura.com/articles/the-history-of-hermits-in-gardens
https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/wealth/popular-instagram-account-shows-off-the-elite-lifestyles-of-worlds-richest-young-people/news-story/5047eb9ca4ccf1fd9d81917f239113b7
https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east-africa/saudi-arabias-major-inward-outward-investments-2021-03-04/

Science:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bJ8Kq1wucsk
https://www.psychologicalscience.org/news/minds-business/feelings-of-entitlement-enhance-creativity.html#:~:text=But%20a%20recent%20study%20finds,surprisingly%20positive%20outcome%E2%80%94increased%20creativity.&text=Researchers%20have%20found%20that%20people,and%20engage%20in%20hostile%20behavior.
https://www.marketwatch.com/story/who-is-more-likely-to-return-someone-elses-money-the-rich-or-the-poor-2017-03-14
https://www.forbes.com/sites/sarahwatts/2019/02/14/our-brains-trick-us-into-trusting-rich-people-heres-how/?sh=9eb136b1e7ca

If you spent your whole life chasing greatness, would you recognize it when you finally caught it?

This week we pay respect to the strange, tragic, and ultimately inspiring career of Val Kilmer—the Juilliard-trained actor who became a Hollywood heartthrob, but never stopped chasing the deeper meaning in his work. We’ll start by delving into the autobiographical documentary Val, which Kilmer made about his own life. This documentary serves as both a scrapbook of his time as an actor, and a heartbreaking goodbye letter.

Then, we’ll talk about some of the early career setbacks that pushed Val into becoming more serious and “method” about the roles he took, like losing the lead to Kevin Bacon and Sean Penn, or being cast as Batman—a role he famously hated.

Finally, we’ll talk about the work ethic that made him so great as an artist, but also made him insufferable as a co-worker. We’ll discuss the Val behind the cameras, who was both difficult and deeply self-aware, obsessed with greatness yet filled with regret. And we’ll ask ourselves; did his commitment to art sabotage his career, or was it the only thing keeping him honest in a business built on compromise?

Links:

https://www.amazon.com/Val-Kilmer/dp/B09888KKZK

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YLUG_hSwOnQ&t=11s&ab_channel=LarryKing

https://valkilmer.com/citizen-twain-by-val-kilmer/

Is being “street smart” enough to earn a living these days? Or do you need a bachelor’s degree to not end up in an Amazon warehouse?

During an interview at SATELLITE, Elon Musk went on-record saying that he didn’t believe college was necessary. In his opinion, a degree shouldn’t be the hot item employers are looking for in skilled candidates. Nor is earning a degree necessary for someone seeking a good education. “You can learn anything you want for free,” Musk said. Then he went on to tell the crowd that Tesla isn’t looking to hire someone because they have a degree - they want people who have demonstrated exceptional ability, like Steve Jobs.

So today we’re putting Elon’s theory to the test. The Re-Engineered You’s going to answer, statistically, whether a degree is necessary to achieve success in today’s job market. How much more do you earn, on average, having various degrees? How many degree-holders actually work in fields related to their education? Is a degree necessary to do “the” job, or are jobs hiring graduates just because there are so many graduates floating around? And if college prices are getting so wildly out of control, and information is free online, then why are people still shelling out the big bucks to get a diploma?
By the end of the show we’ll also put Elon’s claim about not giving a damn about college degrees to the test. Todd and Joe will both fill out applications to become SpaceX astronauts. If we’re lucky, maybe next week we’ll have new show hosts!

History:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLbi6jGsVEk

https://savingjournalism.substack.com/p/i-talked-to-elon-musk-about-journalism

https://www.insidehook.com/article/history/errol-musk-elon-father-myths

https://www.investopedia.com/articles/personal-finance/061015/how-elon-musk-became-elon-musk.asp

https://evannex.com/blogs/news/tesla-is-just-one-of-many-companies-with-roots-in-paypal#:~:text=In%201999%2C%20Elon%20Musk%20founded,stop%20shop%E2%80%9D%20for%20financial%20services.&text=Confinity%20had%20developed%20a%20clever,payments%2C%20which%20it%20called%20PayPal.

https://www.spacex.com/careers/

Science:

https://www.statista.com/statistics/633660/unemployment-rate-of-recent-graduates-in-the-us/#:~:text=U.S.%20%2D%20unemployment%20rate%20of%20recent%20graduates%202016%2D2020&text=This%20statistic%20shows%20the%20unemployment,were%20unemployed%20in%20the%20U.S.

https://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0511/work-ex

Enough of these ‘basic bitch’ concerns about the government or economy. Here are the real existential threats facing humanity, ranked by how thoroughly they could wipe us out.

This week we take a break from self-improvement to dig into something much more pressing: the vast, incomprehensible ways the universe could erase us from existence. It all started when Joe, in his usual tactful manner, dismissed his friends’ everyday anxieties (housing, jobs, relationships) as "basic bitch worries" and invited them to contemplate something truly terrifying: the heat death of the universe, and the fact that all the stars will burn out and existence itself may just...stop. But why wait that long when we have plenty of other things to panic about right now?

From cosmic horrors to atoms becoming ‘unglued’ to the Y Chromosome losing its powers, we go through the biggest existential threats on our list, ranked by sheer magnitude. Can a gamma-ray burst wipe us out instantly without warning? Are we due for another asteroid impact? And what happens if artificial intelligence decides that humans are inefficient and quietly tanks the economy while we’re all asleep? If you’re looking for a list of apocalyptic scenarios that make your day-to-day problems seem tiny in comparison—this is your episode.

Links:

https://www.forbes.com/sites/startswithabang/2019/03/18/5-killer-events-from-space-that-could-wipe-out-human-life-on-earth/

https://theconversation.com/six-cosmic-catastrophes-that-could-wipe-out-life-on-earth-71178

https://epic.uchicago.edu/insights/2024-poll-americans-views-on-climate-change-and-policy-in-12-charts/

https://longnow.org/ideas/shining-a-light-on-the-digital-dark-age/

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0025326X10001864

https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-58997-2