Thinking Out Loud With Jesse

In this episode of Thinking Out Loud, we explore the strange, growing consensus around Universal Basic Income, starting from Thomas Paine to Sam Altman, from civil rights leaders to crypto founders. With automation threatening jobs across sectors alike, UBI is being pitched as everything from a survival tool to a tech-fueled utopia. But is it actually viable? Or is it another overhyped dream from the same people who brought you the metaverse? We unpack the paradox of progress, where AI makes workers obsolete faster than systems can catch up, and ask whether UBI is the next logical step, or just a branded fantasy built on shaky promises.

Today I'll be talking about the modern conception of success and how our perceptions are often skewed by what we see online. I'llunpack how the internet distorted our perception of success and what that’s doing to our mental health, identity, and sense of direction. From the rise of hustle culture to algorithm-induced comparison loops, I'll look at how social media turned visibility into the new currency, and why that’s quietly burning so many of us out.

AI isn’t a god and it isn’t a demon. It’s a tool that reflects the systems, values, and incentives we’ve already put in motion. This episode explores the shift from people to compute, the quiet influence of algorithmic decision-making, the tension between control and empowerment, and the climate cost no one wants to talk about. The future of AI is not good or evil, it is messy, human, and still being written.

Today I'll be discussing the idea of the pendulum in societal trends. That the current state of affairs and dominating majority often give way every decade or so, only to shift back in a similar amount of time. Linked with this is Polanyi's Double Movement theory, and I introduce the parallel with a staircase. Ultimately, zooming out allows us to see these trends.

Today I am continuing where we left off last week from the Hedonic Treadmill, except this time we look at another side of the coin; The Comparison Trap. what happens when you're stuck comparing yourself to others, and how to break that cycle.

We'll start with a wonderful clip from David Whyte, an Irish poet.

What makes you special, different, unique- is often a result of going a different route, or staying true to yourself. Following a prescribed path may not always be the way. Often times what makes like beautiful are the twists and turns along the way.

Today I'll be discussing something I've been playing around with for some time; the idea of capitalism and how it hijacks our natural instincts, why capitalism leaves you unfulfilled, and searching for purpose. Many folks are caught up in a system that knows our natural instincts all too well. In this episode I'll be tackling ways to break free.

Today I'll be discussing the Hedonic Treadmill; what it means and my strategies to step off of it, so you can be more present, grateful, and enjoy your life.

Today I'll Be Sharing One of my guiding principles: Adaptability

In this episode I discuss my experiences with Office Life vs Working from Home, and I'll explore some of the larger arguments behind each side.

This Episode is an opinion piece on the idea of being self made, I'll break down what I think about it, and share my own thoughts: that self made is a myth in today's world