Things I Miss About Pre Pandemic Life: Monoculture, Third Places & Hope (Ep.31)

Post concert depression is REAL, Popholics. 😭 After soaking up my first concert of the year, I've been sitting with this overwhelming feeling of gratitude, nostalgia, and appreciation for how much music can completely reset the soul. Between the changing seasons in New York and reflecting on where life has taken me over the last few years, it got me thinking about all the little things we quietly lost after the pandemic that we rarely stop to acknowledge.

This week we're taking a trip down memory lane as I unpack the parts of everyday life that I genuinely miss. From monoculture moments where it felt like the whole world was watching the same TV shows and talking about the same songs, to the disappearance of third places where communities naturally gathered, we're breaking down how technology, streaming culture, rising costs, and social media have reshaped the way we connect with one another.

We'll also get into why going out feels so much more calculated now, how celebrity culture has completely transformed, why every hobby suddenly feels like it needs to become a business, and whether we've slowly lost some of the optimism that once made the future feel exciting instead of exhausting.

This isn't about wishing to live in the past. It's about recognizing the pieces of humanity that made life feel fuller and asking ourselves what we can intentionally bring back. Community. Curiosity. Presence. Joy. Maybe the future isn't about recreating the old days. Maybe it's about carrying the best parts of them forward.

Grab your favorite drink, settle in, and let's reminisce together. 💭

Chapters

00:00 – Welcome Back, Popholics!

00:30 – Why Post Concert Depression Hits So Hard

02:18 – Things I Miss About Pre Pandemic Life

05:31 – Whatever Happened to Monoculture?

10:28 – Why Going Out Costs a Fortune Now

20:58 – Has Celebrity Culture Lost Its Magic?

26:00 – When Every Hobby Became a Side Hustle

29:06 – Can We Get Our Optimism Back?

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