I think you can learn a lot about people by how they handle bullshit. When you watch someone totally lose their marbles on an airline gate agent over a delayed flight, it tells you something about them. It tells you they don’t do travel very well. It tells me they don’t do life very well, either. Cause when things go awry, it doesn’t matter who you are. Or, what your status is. Or, how important you think you are. Delays in travel are normal bullshit. And, losing all your marbles won’t change the outcome. In fact, you’re just making an unfortunate situation worse for everyone else. (And, you may never see your luggage again.)

About 90% of parents responded that it’s extremely or very important to them that their children become financially independent. Roughly the same number of parents responded that it’s extremely or very important that their children have jobs or careers they enjoy. The stunning part is that parents weigh these outcomes as four times more important than other more traditional aspirations, like getting married or having children. So, what happened to the American Dream?

Since none of us will get out of here alive, don’t you think we ought to identify the things we truly love to do? And, try to do them as many times as possible before we die? I do. And, so does Bill Perkins, the author of my new favorite book: Die with Zero.

As we travel through the various seasons of life, there is a dramatic shift in who we spend our time with. We develop relationships with friends, family, co-workers, partners, etc. But, how does our commitment to these constituencies change over time-and why?

Each season holds meaning in our lives. Some seasons, like spring and summer, create energy with their abundant light.

But, the end of Daylight Savings Time in the fall introduces a season where light becomes scarce. The transition can be difficult for some. Many suffer from seasonal affective disorder as less sunlight impacts the production of serotonin and melatonin. Yes, after 100 years of Daylight Savings Time, our bodies still struggle to process the change and prepare for winter.

Winter is a time for the plants and animals to go into survival mode. The trees shed their leaves and prepare for the storms of winter. The animals store up food or hibernate. Oddly enough, even in the harshest of winters, neither the plants or the animals seem to be bothered by the cold or the darkness. But, we humans are. So, what is the message that nature is trying to send us? And, how can we learn to weather the storm and come out more resilient on the other side?

A recent survey suggests that the happiness of today’s young adults has crashed over the last few years. So, what’s making the kids so unhappy? Let's dive in and find out together....

As grown-ass adults, we should be able to openly discuss public health policy. Not to hold executions of our public officials as Twitter suggests, but to determine the best way forward. And, we ought to be able to do that without fear of recrimination so that next time we are prepared to handle a public health emergency with a little more grace.

During the height of the pandemic, California and Florida presented two very disparate approaches to controlling the spread. California is the fifth largest economy in the world, so one might argue that their aggressive lockdowns were necessary. Florida is the 15th largest economy in the world. It remained largely open after the initial lockdowns. This is important because in about 15 minutes the governors of those states are gonna be in a slug fest for the 2024 Presidency. So, which state faired better?

When we’re unhappy we buy things to make ourselves feel better. Even if we don’t have the money. Some folks call it “retail therapy”. But, when times are tough we choose less expensive options. The advertising world knows this strategery as Premium Mediocrity. Just watch any episode of Mad Men to learn more.

Premium Mediocrity is all about creating the illusion of exclusivity. Critics might argue that my writing is Premium Mediocrity. There’s an illusion of exclusivity-and it’s sometimes mediocre. Hope you enjoy this mediocre podcast.

Leading up to the pandemic in 2020, things were generally okay in this country - for most people. The economy was hot, unemployment was low, and the stock market was on fire. We were all feeling bulletproof. Then the pandemic hit and everything changed in an instant.

The flexibility and autonomy created a greater appreciation for time. A greater appreciation for freedom, for family, for friendship and for a higher quality of life. Yes, the lasting legacy of the Pandemic is a shift in the things we truly value. Suddenly people had the autonomy and flexibility they craved. Things once reserved for Robin Leach and the “champagne wishes and caviar dreams” crowd. As if we, all at once, tasted their freedom. And, the people cheered.