The Scribble with Jeremy Bradley

It's usually the people in gushing lovey-dovey relationships that use #relationshipgoals on social media posts. It often follows a long-winded paragraph of someone expressing their undying love for a partner -- usually with some kind of picture accompanying it. The declaration tends to happen on birthdays, Valentine's Day and anniversaries -- and it's for no other reason to, let's be honest, rub it in people's faces. Happily married, Jeremy Bradley, is someone who maintains a private relationship and believes you show your partner every day that you love them and doesn't feel the need to profess his happiness for validation from the social media world. Later, JB rants about people sharing too much on social media. Is it OK to feel better about yourself when reading the woe-is-me posts by people who are chronically self-proclaimed victims in a so-called unjust world?

It's week 2 of Ask JB! Jeremy Bradley addresses some life questions sent in by listeners. JB famously signed off from a popular syndicated radio show after 15 years at the age of 39... and hasn't looked back! An aspiring entrepreneur listener wants to know if JB has any career regrets or if he would change anything -- like going back into full-time work. Later, on the subject of regrets, does happily married JB have any relationship regrets? JB shares some private details about his life that, quite honestly, are shocking. Also, JB gives his advice on giving advice. You read that correctly. JB's always asked for advice so how does he advise people give advice to someone?

The cost of everything is going up but what about the fees that add even more to your already-inflated bill? Jeremy Bradley talks about surcharges that, quite honestly, are an easy money grab. For instance, on one delivery app, a few dollars is added to the order for a heavy-item fee. (Basically, the customer is charged extra just because a bag of dog food is a heavier item.) What in the shopping or delivery process justifies adding more to the bill if it's someone going to a store and driving the item to your door? This, in addition to service fees, delivery fees, taxes and tip make it unreasonable to order certain items or use certain apps/services. Speaking of tipping, is that getting too out of control? JB has thoughts on that, too.

It's an episode of Ask JB this week. Jeremy Bradley answers listener questions that seek advice about workplace drama. Is there such a thing as "smoker privilege" in the office? Do smokers feel like they can just leave and go outside for a puff whenever they choose? What if it's affecting the work of non-smokers? Later, could the same questions be asked about working parents? That's another discussion: should parents get more flexibility simply because they have kids? Or are rules the rules for everyone in the workplace? Should the business conform to an employee's needs or should the workers conform to the business needs? JB shares his thoughts on the subject.

The holiday season is fast approaching and Jeremy Bradley discusses the excitement (or dread) of the staff party. Is it something you look forward to or are people just working for the sake of working and getting the hell away from co-workers once the workday is done? He talks about a company party he attended where staff said they were forced to go so it showed that their department was represented and wouldn't look bad. Plus, what's the protocol for buying a gift or card for your boss? On the flip side, do you expect something from your boss? JB has thoughts about mixing gift giving and professional relationships. 

It's almost frightening how much has been in the news this week. From the crisis in Israel to the Taylor Swift spectacle in Los Angeles to the billion-dollar Power Ball jackpot to the Speaker of the House drama -- how can we maintain our sanity? Or can we? Jeremy Bradley tackles the dominating headlines on the show this week. With the war in Israel, JB wonders if news reporting is making an already-tragic situation worse. He comments on the media and reporting, primarily how things are presented online by traditional media outlets and random users. Plus, Taylor Swift shutdown a mall this week to premiere her concert movie. Is the world a little too into Swift? JB has some thoughts.

Happily married Jeremy Bradley chimes in on the status of relationships nowadays. After a recent dinner with two of his cousins, JB shares a story about his 50-some-year-old relative getting back into the dating scene after a divorce. She talked about the games guys her age are playing but how she also spies and even catfishes them to test their loyalty. Are shows like MTV's Catfish and ABC's The Bachelor/Bachelorette ruining relationships? Or has social media made it an open market for an endless dating pool where the next person is always a click (or swipe) away? JB has thoughts on relationships and technology. 

Credit cards are notorious for putting people in debt. (Or is it the people that put themselves in debt?) Either way, Jeremy Bradley -- a bestselling author of a "cheapskate" book -- reveals the many ways you can save money by using credit cards and how you can lower the costs of using apps. JB has creative workarounds for some transactions and how doing a little bit of planning can see big savings. Sure, all the ways are legal but some might be a little, well, immoral? Nevertheless, saving is saving!

If he's said it once, he's said it a thousand times: customer service ain't what it used to be. That's how Jeremy Bradley feels and he explains why being a customer is so exhausting nowadays. He also says he understands why people are losing their minds when they endure a bad "customer experience" with employees or a business. JB talks about a trying two hours of being a customer and how it made him not want to deal with any companies for a long time. Later, when it comes to customer service, is tipping getting out of hand? He's talked about it on the show before but now JB understands why consumers are getting offended about being asked for tips in more and more places.

Fall is here-ish and the new TV season is starting... or is it? Jeremy Bradley talks about the programming strategies the networks are having while most (all?) scripted shows are off the air because of Hollywood strikes. With writers demanding more -- and better -- pay, JB has some thoughts about their position on wages and residuals. Should TV and movie writers be paid forever because of a project? Or, should they be like any corporate writer who's paid the one time to write for someone and the money ends after that project? JB shares his opinion on his fellow writers. Later, do you find that as you get older your viewing habits change? JB talks about his "maturing TV tastes."