Chip on My Shoulder

Chip on My Shoulder is a podcast of two people discussing ideas, the resentments they sometimes have, and how they're living and embracing life anyways. We're two hosts chatting about things we have a chip on our respective shoulders about...whether that's the myth of the CEO, the dream house of our childhood, the stink of celebrity on anything and everything, the entrenched stories we're told about how people think and how they act, and with one host who is a psychology PhD and the other a longtime soldier in the corporate trenches, there is always a new idea to discuss and dissect!

17: Is Wellness Expensive? We Dig into Wellness Gadgets & Devices 07/12/2025

17: Is Wellness Expensive? We Dig into Wellness Gadgets & Devices When it comes to wellness and trying to get all the latest things into your routine/regimen, it's easy to get swept up in everybody's marketing campaigns. More lasers! More whole body scans! More tests, diagnostics, assessments and supplements! We look at a few of these items, their typical costs and what other ways we might all be better served than exclusively focused on individual wellness. Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/37304160

16: Are Brand Collabs Totally Evil?! We Investigate 03/13/2025

16: Are Brand Collabs Totally Evil?! We Investigate At this point, collaborations in the format of Lululemon x McDonalds (not real yet) or El Chapo x Samsonite (again, not real, that we know of) have become very familiar to us all. But what's really behind every collab and once again, we find ourselves asking, is this really necessary? Good stuff mentioned in this episode: on "Stealth Wealth/Quiet Luxury" and why it's not really what you think it is. We use Bookshop affiliate links that support local bookstores with every purchase. Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/35661940

15: Americans Unite to Hate Meghan Markle's New Netflix Show 01/27/2025

15: Americans Unite to Hate Meghan Markle's New Netflix Show We promised not to do too much celebrity content, but when Meghan Markle's Netflix trailer came out a few weeks ago, she nearly broke the Youtube comments section (64k comments and counting!) and the overwhelming majority of them were negative, and people's frustration with the Meghan and Harry narrative reached a tipping point. Americans tend to get divided online and in public debates about many things and the duality of that division can be disheartening so watching everyone unite in their common disdain for Meghan is sadly, kind of hilarious. Why so much hate for Meghan? We dive into some of the most common complaints without getting into the undeserved vitriol that some of her haters reserve only for Meghan (when really it would apply to any insulated, wealthy celebrity). This is our first episode also published on Youtube - check that version out too. Half-Baked Harvest is an awesome food blog - ! Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! Find us on ! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/35031920

14: Fun & Light in a Dark, Dark World 01/21/2025

14: Fun & Light in a Dark, Dark World Hey guys! Don't feel like reading executive orders today? Doom and gloom (or unrestrained glee) about a new world order? What, you thought we would be exploring the impacts of 25% tariffs on your daily life? Maybe another time, today let's talk about trends that have gone viral over the years and what they are supposed to do versus what the research says on the benefits. It's going to be fun, let's talk about: Grounding Dry Brushing Gua Sha Perineum Sunning Seed Oils Oil Pulling Pre-workout supplements Trad wife/trad life Getting up at an ungodly hour to hustle Cold plunge Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! Find us on ! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/34948115

13: It's the Economy, Stupid (Or Something Like That) 01/02/2025

13: It's the Economy, Stupid (Or Something Like That) Happy 2025 y'all! And we're STILL here, talking about our favorite subject, which is how much money you're making. In the last episode (part 1 of this topic), we showed the data that Americans on average have decent purchasing power. And some costs have leveled off in recent years (healthcare) but are much higher than our say, European counterparts. So what gives? Why do we still feel like it's not enough (hint: because it's not)? From the to the Bankrate survey on , let's talk about what people are really making and if it's enough to live the life you want. Here's the survey showing in the last four years. Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/34703680

12: We Can't Afford This House. Everything Feels Expensive rn 11/26/2024

12: We Can't Afford This House. Everything Feels Expensive rn If you've ever looked at lower cost of living areas on Redfin to see what is the most house you can afford in say, Tulsa, OK, and then remembered pressing reasons why you can't just move to the most affordable place, this episode is for you. We talk about why everything feels expensive and whether Americans really do have some of the highest purchasing power in the world, or if there are key pieces of the puzzle we're still missing. Sources you can check out for more reading: Home prices in In Los Angeles, in December 2022 were affordable to a household earning the median income. Home prices in Home prices in US housing cost as a percent of real income is about 26% in 2023, versus 22% in 1993. Higher education has experienced an . Healthcare spending in the US is also than our peer countries. Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/34133331

11: We wanted diversity, we got milquetoast DEI 08/12/2024

11: We wanted diversity, we got milquetoast DEI We're back baby! Welcome to Season 2, the massive chips on my shoulder have evolved into wider malaise about the state of certain lofty goals we have for ourselves and as a nation. Let's talk about it! First up is life in the workplace and academia in pursuit of diversity, and how the path towards that worthy goal has gotten bogged down by selective self-reporting, unclear targets, and too much attention being paid to the reactionaries. We remind ourselves that when you take away the semantics (instead of using "DEI programs" asking about hiring employees from underrepresented groups and minorities), nearly . We mentioned as someone to follow on LinkedIn and here's her new book If you've never read , we highly recommend it. I joke when I say he's my "favorite" hedgie, but I still like by Pershing Square and Bill Ackman, although this definitely paints him in a more sinister (but was probably always there) light. We use Bookshop affiliate links, which support local bookstores with every purchase. Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/32523297

That's a Wrap on Season 1: Next Up, Super Duped? 05/28/2024

That's a Wrap on Season 1: Next Up, Super Duped? Thank YOU for listening. Your hosts wrap up the first season and say goodbye to these chips on their shoulders, while welcoming in the next set for Season Two. Everyone deserves peace, safety, and dignity. You can donate to to help the most vulnerable in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, Sudan, Haiti and many other locations. Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/31481562

10: Short Story Friday: Everyone Has an Accent (Including Me) 05/17/2024

10: Short Story Friday: Everyone Has an Accent (Including Me) Short Story Fridays, where I explore the depths of my insecurities, hope you guys enjoy! That short "Iranian accent" clip is from comedian Amir K, check him out, he's hilarious: Also mentioned, Sanaz Toossi's Pulitzer Prize-winning play, Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/31346867

09: Conversation Starters and Questions We Don’t Need to Ask 04/17/2024

09: Conversation Starters and Questions We Don’t Need to Ask We talk about the well-meaning but awkward questions we sometimes ask each other. Here's a Also mentioned, , who has a whole interesting body of work around microaggressions. Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/30857163

08: Short Story Friday: Getting Real about Love You Forever by Robert Munsch 03/23/2024

08: Short Story Friday: Getting Real about Love You Forever by Robert Munsch Get the bestselling and tearjerking (for most people) children's book classic, by Robert Munsch Don't take my word for it, read the We use Bookshop affiliate links, which support local bookstores with every purchase. Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/30512153

07: Celebrity Fixation and the Ubiquity of Celebrity Content 02/26/2024

07: Celebrity Fixation and the Ubiquity of Celebrity Content If you're in the US, you can You might enjoy the occasional celebrity content but you've probably had your fill of the endless celebrity gossip, Reese Witherspoon x Snoop Dogg collabs (idk if that's a thing but probably at this point), and total celebrity oversaturation in every aspect of our lives (MrBeast peanut butter wafers?!), so as usual our hosts go off on some tangents while thinking about how celebrity plays a role in our lives and what we might do about that while remembering the one time they saw Suge Knight at the mall (pre-voluntary manslaughter conviction). Show notes: A great reddit thread on Taylor Swift and her (the best article Jia Tolentino ever wrote) (another great Jia Tolentino article) (highly recommend the Ballerina Farms and Kim Kardashian episodes!) , published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics ? Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/30093608

06: Short Story Friday - The Smooth Baritone of the Verbal Advantage Guy (in memory of Charles Harrington Elster) 02/02/2024

06: Short Story Friday - The Smooth Baritone of the Verbal Advantage Guy (in memory of Charles Harrington Elster) This week's Short Story Friday features inimitable transition music from the late 90s vocabulary building program, Verbal Advantage. The program almost veered into Stephen Covey/Dale Carnegie territory, but it was way cooler because it only cared about one thing: giving you a really kick-butt vocabulary which would, according to the author, almost certainly turboboost your personal and professional success (women/men will be unable to resist a man/woman who has a way with words!) In honor of the late , who accompanied and entertained me and my dad on many a car ride throughout San Diego County. is still available, and I can personally attest to its efficacy (see that?!). We use Bookshop affiliate links that support local bookstores with every purchase. Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/29702038

05: Are all CEOs Narcissists or Do They Just Present as Such? 01/16/2024

05: Are all CEOs Narcissists or Do They Just Present as Such? You've probably had at least one boss or CEO you've come across who is insufferably self-important, but is that the narcissism or is it just a requirement of the role? We consider the CEO, why they're a glass ball waiting to shatter, and why it's not so easy to replicate their success as they move to new roles. Show notes: Read more about Jack Welch and his real legacy in GE and beyond in Mentioned briefly but an in-depth read on Donald Trump's psychology from his niece, Mary Trump, Don't worry, (how does this image make you feel?) We use Bookshop affiliate links that support local bookstores with every purchase. Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/29503658

04: Short Story Friday - Ode to the Salmon-Colored Tract Home 12/22/2023

04: Short Story Friday - Ode to the Salmon-Colored Tract Home Another Short Story Friday: where we dive into the nostalgia of growing up in the boomtown age of mid-1990s Southern California and its sea of red-tiled, salmon-colored tract homes. Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/29162448

03: Hotel Side Hustles and Privilege, continued 12/20/2023

03: Hotel Side Hustles and Privilege, continued Chip on My Shoulder is a podcast of two people discussing ideas, the resentments they sometimes have, and how they're living and embracing life anyways. In today's episode, we continue the privilege chat and dig into private collections (what is that really?), hotels as a side hobby, attitudes around universal basic income and any type of cash transfers. Plus our PhD in residence takes it a step further and ties these ideas to liberation psychology and gives us lots of additional reading to consider. SO FUN guys. Show Notes: hotel in the UK in the Dominican Republic Read this book: , a charity for direct cash transfers to recipients City of Read this book: Read this book: About Personal finance expert and commentator We use Bookshop affiliate links that support local bookstores with every purchase. Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/29162893

02: Short Story Friday - The Gym Bag Birkin 12/15/2023

02: Short Story Friday - The Gym Bag Birkin We dissect ideas we've been holding on to around status in 5 minutes or less, beginning with the woman I would obsess over at the gym and her Hermès Birkin handbag. Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/29011183

01: We Chat About Privilege 12/10/2023

01: We Chat About Privilege Chip on My Shoulder is a podcast of two people discussing ideas, the resentments they sometimes have, and how they're living and embracing life anyways. Join us on our very first episode, it can only get better from here! Show Notes: Have a question, like what you hear or want to send us a story idea? Email us! /episode/index/show/e7137ebe-b352-4e95-a12d-1acae01be8e4/id/29011118

Chip on My Shoulder

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