Why do we make choices that don’t really make sense for us—just so we’re not the last in line?

No one wants to be the loser at musical chairs—but what happens when that same fear runs our social and political choices? In this episode, I explore how the anxiety of “not being last” sneaks into our decisions.

Starting with David Ricardo’s comparative advantage theory (don’t worry, it’s more fun than it sounds), we’ll connect the dots to modern life.

Why do some women throw feminism under the bus?

Why people vote far right just to keep a scapegoat below them?

Don't we all sometimes play moves that make no real sense—except to soothe that deep fear of being left behind?

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Related readings

Explaining in-group/out-group dynamics and strategies individuals use to balance belonging to the in-group

1. Tajfel, H., & Turner, J. C. (1979).
An integrative theory of intergroup conflict. In W. G. Austin & S. Worchel (Eds.), The Social Psychology of Intergroup Relations (pp. 33–47). Brooks/Cole.

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/348648205_Tajfel_and_Turner_Intergroup_Conflict_Theories_1997

2. Brewer, M. B. (1991).
The social self: On being the same and different at the same time. Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, 17(5), 475–482.

https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0146167291175001

This episode was sparked by a Netflix dating show (because of course). We dive into how conservative religious ideas continue to shape how we date, love, and plan our futures—even if we’ve long stopped going to church. From timelines to “shared values,” these old scripts are hard to shake. Breaking free can feel like a liberation... until you’re left staring into the abyss of “figure it all out yourself.”

In the second half, we zoom out to look at the bigger picture: yes, conservative dogmas and religious institutions can be deeply problematic—especially when it comes to gender roles, social rights, and individual freedoms. But they also give people something many of us still crave: moral guidance, belonging, and a space to grow. So what fills that gap for the non-religious?

This episode isn’t about choosing sides. It’s about questioning both the baggage and the benefits— sit with contradictions, and rethink the foundations we build our lives on.

Let’s take a ride through one of the most intimate and existential questions of our time:
Why bring a child into a world unraveling?

Climate collapse, rising authoritarianism, nuclear tension, and a society losing its voice—no wonder so many of us hesitate. But here’s the twist:
If those who care about the future stop having children, who are we leaving the future to?

This episode is about the quiet, radical question behind parenthood today:
Do I still believe in us?

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Related readings:

1. On the 2°C global warming "target"

Harvey, F. (2025, February 4). Climate change target of 2C is dead, says renowned climate scientist. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2025/feb/04/climate-change-target-of-2c-is-dead-says-renowned-climate-scientist

“The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPPC) defined a scenario which gives a 50% chance to keep warming under 2C – that scenario is now impossible,” he said. “The 2C target is dead, because the global energy use is rising, and it will continue to rise.”

2. On the Global Disease Burden from Climate Change (e.g Air Pollution)

Corvetto, J. F., Simion, R., Boutros, P., Kassem, N., & others. (2024). The global burden of diseases attributable to climate change: A systematic review and meta-analysis. SSRN. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4891729

2. Scientific Literature on climate change anxiety as an influencing factor reproductive decisions in Europe

- Hickman et al. (2021). Climate anxiety in children and young people and their beliefs about government responses to climate change: a global survey. The Lancet Planetary Health, 5(12), e863–e873. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2542-5196(21)00278-3 :

"39% of respondents are hesitant to have children due to the crisis."

- Szczuka, B. J. (2022). Climate change concerns and the ideal number of children: A comparative analysis of the V4 countries. Social Inclusion, 10(3), 206–216. https://doi.org/10.17645/si.v10i3.5228

"[...] there may be a relationship between climate change‐related concerns and ideal family size, although it is not uniform [between countries].