Jamie Feldman

Our behaviors and values are shaped by its gnarly vines.

Our behaviors and values are shaped by its gnarly vines.

I want to know more. Like, who planted this seed? And can we plant something else in its place? Welcome to Deadheads. Welcome. Deadheads is an investigation into the American economy. From the perspective of people in debt. Like us. Like everybody. I'm Jamie. And I'm Rachel. And we named this podcast after ourselves.

I want to know more. Like, who planted this seed? And can we plant something else in its place? Welcome to Deadheads. Welcome. Deadheads is an investigation into the American economy. From the perspective of people in debt. Like us. Like everybody. I'm Jamie. And I'm Rachel. And we named this podcast after ourselves.

To live in denial over debt.

To live in denial over debt.

But most importantly, to start questioning why and how. America became a country full of deadheads. Shopping isn't the only reason I got into debt. It's not even the main reason. But to break out of these cycles of living beyond my means, I had to reevaluate my relationship with everything. Money, codependency, addiction, and, well, consumerism. Something that had been ingrained in me since birth.

But most importantly, to start questioning why and how. America became a country full of deadheads. Shopping isn't the only reason I got into debt. It's not even the main reason. But to break out of these cycles of living beyond my means, I had to reevaluate my relationship with everything. Money, codependency, addiction, and, well, consumerism. Something that had been ingrained in me since birth.

And in order to see what shopping was doing to me, I had to stop doing it. So I did. I challenged myself to stop buying anything but the bare necessities for a whole month. Up to this point in my life, I unwittingly associated my happiness with getting treats, whether they be meals, trips, or things.

And in order to see what shopping was doing to me, I had to stop doing it. So I did. I challenged myself to stop buying anything but the bare necessities for a whole month. Up to this point in my life, I unwittingly associated my happiness with getting treats, whether they be meals, trips, or things.

When I was sad, I'd seek out gadgets and gizmos aplenty, who's its and what's its galore, which is why I sort of expected this month of minimalism to be miserable. For example, here's my only half-joking reaction when Rachel told me we'd need to scale down my food budget. You're going to have to start eating peanut butter sandwiches.

When I was sad, I'd seek out gadgets and gizmos aplenty, who's its and what's its galore, which is why I sort of expected this month of minimalism to be miserable. For example, here's my only half-joking reaction when Rachel told me we'd need to scale down my food budget. You're going to have to start eating peanut butter sandwiches.

They're really good. What sort of avocado-toast-loving millennial monster had I become? I love peanut butter. It's cheap and filling. And it's the perfect meal to take on my new life of free activities. Like long walks. and bike rides and trips to the library. And you know, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches actually get better when they're smashed in your tote bag full of library books.

They're really good. What sort of avocado-toast-loving millennial monster had I become? I love peanut butter. It's cheap and filling. And it's the perfect meal to take on my new life of free activities. Like long walks. and bike rides and trips to the library. And you know, peanut butter and jelly sandwiches actually get better when they're smashed in your tote bag full of library books.

We definitely couldn't give up celebrating life with a couple of cold glasses of wine.

We definitely couldn't give up celebrating life with a couple of cold glasses of wine.

But I found comfort in the fact that box wine had become much more sophisticated than the yellowtail jugs that lined the counters of my sorority house. Is it filled to the top? It also lasted us through long, leisurely dinner parties that we were throwing at home. And in public parks that exist everywhere.

But I found comfort in the fact that box wine had become much more sophisticated than the yellowtail jugs that lined the counters of my sorority house. Is it filled to the top? It also lasted us through long, leisurely dinner parties that we were throwing at home. And in public parks that exist everywhere.

Okay, so I didn't invent the concept of enjoying a simple life, but it did feel revelatory to me. Especially the part where I was not miserable. At all. I was happy. Happier than I had been in years. So I kept going. And as the months went by, I felt capable of looking at consumerism more critically. Like the anthropologist I might have become had I not spent every weekend at the mall.

Okay, so I didn't invent the concept of enjoying a simple life, but it did feel revelatory to me. Especially the part where I was not miserable. At all. I was happy. Happier than I had been in years. So I kept going. And as the months went by, I felt capable of looking at consumerism more critically. Like the anthropologist I might have become had I not spent every weekend at the mall.