Shannon and Michael open with controversy after an LA County Sheriff’s deputy’s Starbucks cup — marked with a pig drawing — led to an employee’s firing, followed by a discussion of the county’s push for so-called ICE- free zones and what that could actually mean.

They’re joined by author and professor Maryellen MacDonald to discuss her book More Than Words and the real-world consequences of Gen Z avoiding verbal communication, from job searches to everyday interactions. The conversation explores how social anxiety has grown beyond shyness and why face-to-face contact now feels daunting for many young adults.

The hour also includes Shannon’s brief sports therapy after a Chargers loss, reflections on social anxiety across generations, and practical advice from Michael’s teaching experience. They wrap with a lighter moment reacting to a Wall Street Journal story about parents going broke over their kids’ sushi habits — and the ease of judging parenting choices from the outside.

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