Segment 1 – The Gig Economy: Flexible for Whom?

The gig economy sells us freedom and flexibility, but at what cost to the workers who hustle behind the apps? Pam explores the tension between promise and practice, and Dolores weighs in on how we may be confusing freedom with insecurity.

Segment 2 – Unions, Policy, and the Fight for Fair Wages

We zoom out to examine what happens when labor protections fail to evolve. From the erosion of benefits to long-term social costs, this segment explores how current policies either enable fairness—or sidestep it.

Segment 3 – The Global Price Tag

That $6 t-shirt or lightning deal didn’t appear out of nowhere. Pam unpacks the global chain of labor, tariffs, and trade-offs that make our “bargains” possible—and questions if the convenience is worth what we’ve lost in the process.

Segment 4 – The Human Tab Behind Every Click

Who cleans the house, packs the order, or provides your half-off massage? We explore how real people—often invisible to the consumer—make our digital lives function. Dolores offers a heartfelt reminder of the human ripple effects of our everyday choices.

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• If you're not paying the full price, who is?
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• Have we mistaken low prices for ethical progress?
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• Are we trading short-term savings for long-term societal debt?
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• Can we still enjoy convenience while making more conscious choices?
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• Gig work isn’t free—it costs someone stability, protections, and often dignity.
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• Global bargains often come at the expense of well-paying jobs at home.
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• Consumers hold power—through tipping, advocacy, and ethical spending, we shape the systems we rely on.
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As Pam says, “The cost of convenience doesn’t always show up on your receipt—but someone is paying it.” Let’s start tipping like it’s personal—because it is.

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• Reports on gig worker conditions from the Economic Policy Institute
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• Articles on labor reclassification and state legislation
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• Studies on trade policy and wage suppression
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Next time, we close the season with a full-circle reflection: What does it really mean to succeed fairly in today's world?