🎙️ The Erosion of Higher Education’s Value Proposition

College was once the ultimate success story — now it’s starting to look like a bad investment. In this episode, we break down how skyrocketing tuition, student debt, and irrelevant degrees are eroding the real value of higher education.

You’ll hear why employers are shifting from diplomas to skill sets, how alternative learning paths are outperforming the old system, and what this means for anyone rethinking college.

🎧 Against the Grain — because some traditions aren’t worth keeping.

Episode 3: "Side Hustles Are Overrated"Episode Description (Under 4000 Characters)

The side hustle grind is killing you—and you're barely making minimum wage.

Everyone's got a side hustle now. Drive for Uber after your 9-to-5. Sell crafts on Etsy. Build a "personal brand." Monetize your hobbies. Hustle culture has convinced us that one job isn't enough, that we should always be grinding, always be productive. But here's the truth nobody wants to admit: most side hustles are a scam.

Let's talk numbers. The average side hustle earns $200-500 per month. After taxes, expenses, and the time you actually invest? You're making $2-7 per hour. That's below minimum wage. You're working 60-80 hours a week, sacrificing sleep, relationships, and mental health for what amounts to pocket change.

But it gets worse. Side hustles don't just drain your bank account—they drain your potential. When you're exhausted from your "hustle," you can't focus on advancing in your actual career. You can't develop deep expertise. You can't negotiate for raises or pursue promotions. You're too tired. You're spread too thin. And that's exactly what keeps you stuck.

In this episode, we break down:

• Why most side hustles earn less than minimum wage when you calculate real hourly rates
• The hidden costs: taxes, expenses, burnout, destroyed relationships
• How hustle culture glorifies overwork while keeping wages stagnant
• Why focusing on ONE thing (your career) yields better financial results
• The survivorship bias: we celebrate rare success stories, ignore millions who fail
• Better alternatives: negotiate raises, reduce expenses, invest in skill development
• When side hustles actually make sense (spoiler: rarely)

We're not saying all side hustles are bad. If you're testing a business idea or genuinely need extra income due to financial hardship, that's different. But if you're side hustling because you've been sold the lie that grinding 24/7 is the path to success, we need to talk.

The real scam isn't the side hustle itself—it's the narrative that you need one. It's the idea that stagnant wages and unaffordable living costs are YOUR problem to solve by working more hours. It's the glorification of exhaustion as ambition.

Want real financial progress? Negotiate your salary. Invest in advancing your primary career. Rest and recharge so you can actually perform well. Stop normalizing burnout as a badge of honor.

This episode is for anyone grinding themselves into the ground, wondering why they're still broke despite working constantly. It's time to stop hustling and start living.

New to Against the Grain? We challenge everything you've been told about work and success.

The Apprenticeship Model Is Better Than College for Most People

Episode Description

What if everything you've been told about success and college is wrong? In this eye-opening episode, we challenge one of America's most deeply held beliefs: that a four-year college degree is the best path forward for young adults.

We make a compelling, data-driven case for why apprenticeships and vocational training offer superior outcomes for most people compared to traditional college. From zero student debt and immediate earnings to hands-on skill mastery and guaranteed employment in high-demand fields, the apprenticeship model delivers tangible benefits that college simply can't match.

The Financial Reality

• How apprentices earn while they learn, avoiding the $30,000+ debt trap
• Real-world salary comparisons between trades and white-collar careers
• The true ROI of college versus skilled trades over a lifetime

Why America Abandoned Apprenticeships

• The post-WWII cultural shift that stigmatized vocational work
• How higher education marketing created the "college or nothing" narrative
• Why countries like Germany still thrive with apprenticeship systems

The Skills Gap Nobody Talks About

• Why hands-on practice beats classroom theory for skill development
• The growing shortage of skilled tradespeople across America
• Which apprenticeship fields offer the most opportunity right now

• High school students weighing their options
• Parents questioning the college-at-any-cost mentality
• Career changers seeking practical, in-demand skills
• Anyone drowning in student debt wondering if there was a better way

We tackle common stereotypes head-on with facts, not feelings, while respecting that college remains the right choice for some career paths. This isn't about tearing down education—it's about expanding our definition of success and recognizing that skilled trades offer dignity, prosperity, and fulfillment.

Join us for a respectful, myth-busting conversation that could change how you think about career paths, education, and what it really means to build a successful future.

Listen now and discover why the path less marketed might be the path more traveled—if only we told young people the truth.