Male Vanity, More Propaganda, All-Inclusive Vacations

In this 9th solo episode, I talk about why we’re in Mexico. Two main reasons: I wanted to give the wife a break; I had another medical procedure done. After the misery of recovering from previous procedures, I figured if I had to go through it again, I’d rather recover on a beach in Cancun with unlimited good food & drink.

I share our awful experience at an all-inclusive resort. We had to leave after the first night and transferred to a Hilton property. For just $50 more per night, the difference was night-and-day.

I also discuss why I’ve been doing these podcasts solo since my return. You’ll hear my thoughts on social media engagement and the toxic comparison culture it breeds.

Other topics covered on this episode include:

• NBC TV journalist Kristen Welker’s interview of Donald Trump
• Observing media propagandists through non-verbal cues
• Staying at all-inclusive resorts vs staying in walkable areas for a more authentic local experience
• Comparing all-inclusive hotels to cruises
• Online ‘reviewers’ are more motivated
• Negative reviews are more common than positive ones
• Dark MAGA hat (black hat with a USA flag on it)
• Joe Rogan episode with Theo Von as guest
• Laughing at your own jokes
• Reactions to my mustache
• Thoughts on haircuts / sitting in the barber’s chair
• Balancing vanity with the importance of good hygiene, diet & exercise
• Posting on social media linked to greater unhappiness than consuming it
• Frequency of posting leading to anxiety or low mood
• Social media satisfaction—the Influence of likes, comments & followers
• Working with a young European client who treated me like a celebrity [until he didn’t]
• Risks of public content: handling mistakes & saying things you regret
• Theodore Roosevelt’s “Man in the Arena” speech
• Consequences of sharing your income with friends
• One way to spot a true friend
• Small-town social media dynamics
• Comparison culture & its negative effects on happiness
• My childhood neighbor who was my “kryptonite”
• Comparing yourself to yourself
• Endlessly retaking selfies to get the perfect shot
• The “duck face” trend
• Kids say the darnedest things