Press Play with Madeleine Brand
How to curb America’s shopping addiction without taking away the joy
The supply chain is still clogged and inflation is at a 30-year high , while the U.S. has been importing more overseas goods than before the COVID pandemic.
By Madeleine Brand • • 49m ListenThe supply chain is still clogged and inflation is at a 30-year high, while the U.S. has been importing more overseas goods than before the COVID pandemic. The main issue is an intense spike in demand, driven by affluent people who already have what they need. That’s all according to Amanda Mull, author of The Atlantic’s “Material World” column.
She suggests people should look at whether compulsive shopping is the best use of time, energy, and resources. She says psychological research shows that if people can refocus energy away from buying/giving gifts, and toward spending time with family and creating experiences, they’ll end up happier.
Meanwhile, California health officials have cleared COVID-19 booster shots for all adults, but that doesn’t match the CDC’s national guidance. It’s caused confusion among residents looking to book appointments.
KCRW also looks at whether big corporations have fulfilled their promises of more diversity, equity, and inclusion. Plus, when was the last time you logged onto the Neopets website?
In this episode
4 storiesClarifying booster confusion: CA tells all adults to get third COVID shot, feds haven’t said the same
Governor Gavin Newsom on Tuesday urged all California adults to get a booster shot. At a high school in the San Joaquin Valley, he said, “We are going to see an increase in cases. We have an increase in potential stress on our system.
Read the story10 minCompanies promised $50 billion for diversity, equity, inclusion. Did they deliver after George Floyd’s death?
After the death of George Floyd and the racial reckoning that followed, companies across America made commitments to more diversity and inclusion. They promised more diverse hiring and trained their employees to be more aware.
Read the story14 minToo much shopping is fueling supply chain backlog and waste. This holiday, buy nothing?
Columnist Amanda Mull suggests people should look at whether compulsive shopping is the best use of time, energy, and resources. She says psychological research shows that if people can refocus energy away from buying/giving gifts, and toward spending time with family and creating experiences, they’ll end up happier.
Read the story14 minRemember Neopets? Many users returned during pandemic due to nostalgia, community, anonymity
When the pandemic hit, a lot of 1990s Neopet fans logged back into the website. Their virtual pets were still alive but hungry and teary-eyed. Then in January 2021, a software update and the end of Adobe Flash nearly destroyed Neopia.
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