This week on The Air We Breathe Pod, Tracey and Lauren dive into the world of contrived pleasures — the things we pretend to love (or even actually start loving!) because we want to fit in, impress, or feel connected.
💡 Key topics covered:
Playing pool to prove you’re the alpha in a bar full of men (and how that flex eventually becomes self-powered).
The classic “Pick-Me” chameleon phase – from fake sports fan to your dad’s movie marathon buddy.
Navigating the thin line between learning something for the hell of it vs. performing for someone else’s approval.
Family dynamics and forced group movie nights – the nostalgia of pre-Netflix bonding!
💬 Quotes to Remember:
“I get a real kick out of being unexpectedly masculine.”
“It’s a weird dichotomy of feeling comfortable with being soft and also feeling empowered by being masculine.”
“Stop wearing yourself out to make somebody else happy.”
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📚 Mentions & References:
New Girl (Jess & the Pistons)
Parks & Rec (Ann Perkins: pick-me in full cowgirl attire)
The Godfather & You’ve Got Mail — how to fake it till you make it in movie references.
The Pacifier & The Tooth Fairy — our top-tier Vin Diesel and Dwayne Johnson picks.
Reading Rainbow (the theme song of our childhood… and Little John’s remix!)
The episode’s satirical ad break: shoutout to CringeNotes, the fake app for catching up on what’s “cool” so you’re never out of the loop.
🔗 Links to check out:
