It’s Fun Friday — and instead of politics, we’re talking TV.

When the world feels overwhelming, sometimes you just need a little escapism. Here’s what’s been filling my limited free time lately:

Selling Sunset — luxury real estate, over-the-top drama, and homes so big the primary bedroom is larger than my entire house.

Gold Rush — massive machines, Yukon mining, environmental tension, and watching Parker Schnabel build a gold empire.

Alone (Season 11 on Netflix) — survival, starvation, mental toughness, and the question: could I actually last out there? (Spoiler: probably not.)

From billionaire real estate to strip mining to bushcraft survival, it’s an odd mix — but it’s been a good mental reset.

Sometimes it’s okay to step away from current events and just enjoy some “bad” TV, massive machinery, or watching people try to outlast winter in the wilderness.

Just a guy in a truck finding small ways to recharge.

Are young people actually less independent than previous generations — or are we just becoming the “back in my day” crowd?

After hearing the author of The Anxious Generation on The Daily Show, I can’t stop thinking about what I’m seeing in real life.

Today I talk about:

Countries like Australia banning social media for kids under 16

Schools limiting phone access

The growing research linking smartphones to teen anxiety

And real-world examples from my work as a wildlife biologist

When a young professional turns down a fully paid field job because he’s afraid to live without constant connection… what does that say?

When most summer interns quit because they can’t handle being out of cell service… what does that mean for resilience, risk-taking, and independence?

This isn’t about dunking on Gen Z. It’s about asking whether constant connectivity is quietly rewiring childhood — and what we can do about it.

Just a guy in a truck wondering if we’re raising an anxious generation — and how we help them reclaim confidence.

From the New Deal to 30-year mortgages and FHA-backed loans, government decisions helped create the modern American middle class. So why does it feel like it’s disappearing?

Today I talk about:

Why homeownership feels out of reach

Down payments, rent cycles, and generational wealth

The shrinking middle class and widening wealth gap

Why trickle-down economics isn’t working

And whether it’s time for a “New New Deal”

As an elder millennial who’s been fortunate in many ways, I still feel how fragile middle-class stability can be. If it’s this hard for those of us who’ve had advantages, what does that mean for everyone else?

Maybe the answer isn’t culture wars or partisan sound bites — maybe it’s rebuilding the middle class on purpose.

Just a guy in a truck trying to figure out how we make the American dream attainable again.