debrief

Cece Xie

Join Cece as she works through the perils and frisson of being alive. Sometimes extremely online investigation, sometimes advice, tips, and tricks, and sometimes just yapping--debrief is a thoughtful and analytical foray into ourselves, society, and the ties that bind (whether we like it or not). cecexie.substack.com

  1. 01/08/2025

    i had a beautiful chinese wedding... and absolutely hated it

    What is the perfect wedding? Who is the perfect bride, the perfect daughter? In this episode, I unpack the push-pull of wanting to honor my family's customs while also staying true to myself. Interludes include the meaning of marriage in the modern world, friendship, and navigating one's own identity amidst familial roles and expectations. VIDEO PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/oqw49mbvB2Y FULL ESSAY ON SUBSTACK: https://cecexie.substack.com/p/i-had-a-beautiful-chinese-wedding This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cecexie.substack.com/subscribe

    22 min

  2. 06/07/2025

    educated, partnered & financially stable... i still don't want kids.

    Men have asked me, "When are you going to have kids? You don't have much time left." To which I say: ALL THIS!! In this episode, I explore my complex feelings around the decision to have children. I draw from philosophy, the pro- and anti-natalist movements, and my own recent experience with the embryo freezing (IVF) process. Segues include climate change, personal identity as a parent, and the influence of late-stage capitalism on the modern baby question. Am I overthinking this? Probably! But I wouldn't have it any other way. VIDEO PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/1vtGqEzxDkc FULL ESSAY ON SUBSTACK: https://cecexie.substack.com/p/educated-partnered-and-financially TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 04:06 - Procreation as Morality 07:28 - Climate Change & Identity 11:07 - Late-Stage Capitalism 13:21 - Doubt This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cecexie.substack.com/subscribe

    18 min

  3. 06/06/2025

    A "Good" Job or Your Dream Career?

    Don't know what to do with your life? Me neither! In this episode, I reflect on my own path of pursuing a stable career first and passion second. I examine the allure of "stability," the risks of over-prioritizing passion, and whether it's possible to have both in contemporary life. Tangents include Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs, Elizabeth Gilbert's advice, and the parable of the Sword of Damocles. VIDEO PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/IvZduiKtGO8 FULL ESSAY ON SUBSTACK: https://cecexie.substack.com/p/a-good-job-or-your-dream-career TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 07:41 - Stability 11:14 - Passion 13:10 - Both? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cecexie.substack.com/subscribe

    22 min

  4. 02/05/2025

    The Fall of (Big)law

    Why are the world's most powerful and wealthiest lawyers abandoning the rule of law? In this episode, I go over the chaos wrought by the Trump Administration on the legal profession and the cowardice I see from elite law firms--Paul Weiss, Skadden, Willkie Farr, Milbank, Cadwalader, Kirkland & Ellis, Latham & Watkins, A&O Shearman, and Simpson Thacher. I discuss how much money these firms actually make, how their leaders are weaponizing fear for their own greed (and fears), and what it means to live your values as a lawyer. Stay tuned until the end for concrete actions you can take to uphold the rule of law. VIDEO PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/Y1t7ytUojFg FULL ESSAY ON SUBSTACK: https://cecexie.substack.com/p/the-fall-of-biglaw ☎️ chat with me about your firm & the executive orders/EEOC letter ➪ https://forms.gle/muvDuY7Fk4yizYPJ9 (or email me at hello[at]cecexie.com) LAW STUDENT TOOLKIT: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/14CNZozCrjCTs_e06fSoldZYaReJPqNWe?usp=sharing LAW FIRM ASSOCIATE TOOLKIT: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1Hy7Mo9xhUpsDFcBu5ujN3iY7Ehcaw8qc TIMESTAMPS 0:00 - Intro 03:20 - The Executive Orders Targeting Law Firms 05:32 - Biglaw Money 07:16 - A Masterclass in Fear-Mongering 11:45 - Living Your Values 15:51 - What You Can Do This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cecexie.substack.com/subscribe

    20 min
  5. my publisher and i got divorced

    11/04/2025

    my publisher and i got divorced

    This is the most embarrassing announcement I've ever had to make, but I'm still making it. VIDEO PODCAST ON YOUTUBE: https://youtu.be/C37UkGJLI8E FULL ESSAY ON SUBSTACK: https://cecexie.substack.com/p/my-publisher-and-i-got-divorced TIMESTAMPS 00:00 - Intro 02:02 - How It Started 04:09 - Getting Orphaned 08:43 - What Did I Do Wrong? 09:47 - Shame 15:45 - What's Next? This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cecexie.substack.com/subscribe

    18 min
  6. Big Tech vs. Biglaw with Jenny Wood, Google exec-turned-author

    21/10/2024

    Big Tech vs. Biglaw with Jenny Wood, Google exec-turned-author

    Surprise (episode)! I talk to Jenny Wood about our workplace anxieties—am I too weird? too bossy? too shameless when I promote my work? or *gulp* manipulative when I fake run-ins with my bosses?—and how she overcame them during her 18-year tenure at Google, where she went from an entry-level employee to an executive who ran a team that helped drive tens of billions of dollars in revenue. We go into specific advice about internal and external networking, knowing when to leave a role/company, how to figure out who you *really* need to impress, and more—all while comparing and contrasting our respective experiences in Big Tech vs. Biglaw. You can preorder Jenny’s book WILD COURAGE: Go After What You Want and Get It at https://itsjennywood.com/book Preorders before November 1 receive special bonuses like a live Q&A and the chance to be coached by Jenny! FIND JENNY ELSEWHERE Big Small Things newsletter: https://itsjennywood.com/newsletter YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@itsjennywood LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jennyilles Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsjennywood/ TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Surprise! 02:43 Be Proactive about Scheduling Time with Your Boss (and their Boss) 11:56 When to FLIP (i.e., leave) Roles/Organizations 14:50 Embrace Your Weirdness 22:52 Informational Interviews 25:17 Work-Life Balance 34:05 Increase Your Failure Rate 37:29 Figure Out Who to Impress at Work This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cecexie.substack.com/subscribe

    44 min
  7. the IRS cleaned out my savings

    16/04/2024

    the IRS cleaned out my savings

    Happy Tax Day! Or if you’re like me and navigating taxes while self-employed for the first time: condolences. I thought that being in a lower tax bracket meant that I would pay a lower percentage of my income in taxes (because that would make sense, right?), but it turns out this is just further evidence that I am terrible with money and finances. In this video accompaniment to my newsletter, I talk about the shock of seeing my tax bill, why high-salaried people can still be terrible at personal finance, and how I think through whether to apply to jobs again or liquidate my investments/withdraw early from my 401(k). When do you call, when do you fold, and when do you raise? Read the full essay on my newsletter, debrief: https://cecexie.substack.com/p/the-irs-cleaned-out-my-savings This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cecexie.substack.com/subscribe

    21 min
  8. every influencer and their mom is starting a podcast

    14/12/2023

    every influencer and their mom is starting a podcast

    Let’s get meta, baby! In this episode, I explore why it seems like every influencer and their mom is starting a podcast. Surprise—it’s not for the money! (Or it might be, but most influencers are going to be sorely disappointed if that’s the case.) I also reflect on my own podcasting journey since I started in October 2022. Barside (my new podcast with Alex Su and Matt Margolis) covers the latest and greatest (and sometimes not-so-greatest) in the legal industry and is available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, YouTube, and wherever else you listen. I’ll be doing a reading at the New York Public Library on Friday, December 15, in partnership with Substack! Come hang out with me :) References * Goodreads publishing drama * Pew Research Center Fact Sheet: Audio and Podcasting * Media 2023: Podcasting After The Hype, By The Numbers * Buzzsprout stats (scroll down for episode downloads in first seven days) * Study reveals that podcasters are now more influential than traditional influencers * Share of weekly podcast listeners influenced by podcast hosts and social media influencers in the United States as of May 2023, by generation * FTC sends warning to trade associations and individual health influencers * Mikayla Nogueira mascara ad controversy This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit cecexie.substack.com/subscribe

    35 min
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About

Join Cece as she works through the perils and frisson of being alive. Sometimes extremely online investigation, sometimes advice, tips, and tricks, and sometimes just yapping--debrief is a thoughtful and analytical foray into ourselves, society, and the ties that bind (whether we like it or not). cecexie.substack.com

Information

  • Creator
    Cece Xie
  • Years Active
    2022 - 2025
  • Episodes
    23
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Cecillia X. Xie
  • Show Website
    debrief