Sorta Sophisticated

In today’s episode, we’ll break down the subtle art of not being the workplace try-hard. Because let's face it: nothing kills relatability faster than that guy who's quoting LinkedIn influencers unironically. We’ll cover the hacks no one tells you about - like why self-deprecating humor is your best office tool, how to quit flexing and start connecting, and the surprising power of admitting you don’t know what you're doing (spoiler: nobody really does). This episode is equal parts career therapy, pop culture snark, and life advice you’ll wish you’d gotten sooner. So whether you’re climbing the ladder or quietly plotting your exit, grab your coffee (or wine - we don't judge) and let’s get relatable.

Disney is releasing Inside Out 2.

The sequel to the O. G. You know the movie about Riley, our favorite 11 year old girl who moves with her parents from Minnesota, freezing cold, to San Francisco, and freaks out a little?

So they tell the story in her head about the five personified emotions, joy, sadness, anger, fear, and disgust, and how she manages her emotional responses from mission control headquarters in her brain.

So, anyway, Inside Out 2, right, Riley's now a teenager, and they added a few new emotions. Mainly anxiety, envy, ahn wee , the French word for boredom,and embarrassment. And she's got to work herself through all this new stuff that comes with these more complex emotions, because she's a teenager.

I love me a good movie and all, but what does this even have to do with being cultured and curious Pete?

I just like going to the movies and eating popcorn and drinking Diet Coke . If you're putting a gun to my head, I would say it's got everything to do with being cultured and curious. It's psychology, man.

And in my book, psychology is fascinating. It is the ultimate way to gain insight into human behavior across our planet.

It helps us appreciate the diversity of the human experience. And if we can do that, Then we're going to be more empathetic and better handle and navigate all the social interactions we have to manage all day long. And probably most important, it encourages critical thinking and self awareness and it gets us out of our own head.

It helps us reflect on our own biases and hopefully be more open minded.

Real time satellite monitoring shows that so far in 2024, more than 10, 000 wildfires have ripped across over 20, 000 square kilometers of the Amazon across multiple countries. Never has this many fires burned so much of the forest this early in the year, and scientists are worried that the region is getting closer and closer to the tipping point, where widespread degradation, did I say that right?

Degradation and repeated burning of the forest will be essentially unstoppable.

And just last week, Brazil's. Yanomami shaman leader asked the Pope, the freaking Pope, to support President Lula in reversing damage to the Amazon left by previous governments transgressions. Literally last week. Look it up. Google it. So what does the Amazon have to do with becoming more cultured and curious?

Because everything is connected, people. Although we don't have a rainforest here at home, understanding what's going on in our world will help us expand our understanding of our diverse planet and help us become more culturally aware and environmentally conscious citizens. Right now, right now in the heart of the Brazilian Amazon thousands of people are unlawfully invading protected lands because they are struggling to make ends meet for their families and see no other way than cutting down century old forests for resources and profits. An indigenous forest guardian, Marcel Gaisazzara, and indigenous leader, Puir Tembi, are literally standing on the front line of this fight, risking their lives to protect their ancestral lands from these invasions and deforestation..

This is the narrative that is playing out right now, in our lifetime.

Listen, this is the story of We Are Guardians, an award winning documentary about hope amidst an unfolding crisis. Thanks to executive producer Leonardo DiCaprio. We have the ability to explore the human spirit and our collective responsibility to protect the fragile balance of our world, where hope and unity can guide us toward a brighter future for the Amazon and our planet.

In a series of surveys we Googled to make sure we were credible, we found that 95 percent of people think they possess an appropriate amount of perspective and self awareness, but only 10 to 15 percent truly do. Other than the fact that that math doesn't make any sense at all, that's a startling statistic.

We have a massive disconnect here, people. No wonder our world is so polarized. We're just wired to operate on autopilot, unaware of how we're behaving and why. And combine that with how much more self absorbed we are since social media has exploded in popularity, and we got dynamite. We think all this has really messed with our ability to connect and relate with one another.

The bad news is, 95 percent of us are screwed, so give up now. The good news is, 10 percent of us can be saved.

Highlights of this episode include an inspiring conversation with my dear friend, Alex Cripchuck, an immigrant whose story bridges continents and cultures. Born in Argentina to Russian parents who fled their homeland before his birth, he grew up in the politically charged atmosphere of 1960’s Argentina. At 18, he made the bold decision to move to the United States to pursue college and build a new life. Together, we’ll explore his unique journey - how his family’s resilience shaped his outlook, what it was like coming of age during Argentina’s political turmoil, and the challenges and triumphs of adapting to life in a new country. Join us for this heartfelt and captivating episode as we dive into a story of migration, identity, and the universal search for belonging.