People Stuff

Michael Scroggins, Dan Souleles
  • 5.0 (10)
  • COMEDY INTERVIEWS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

People Stuff is a write-in, anthropology advice podcast wherein we answer all sorts of questions with the weird and wonderful wisdom that anthropology offers. From whether you should make your bed to what you owe to the dead, no dilemma is too tiny, no conundrum too vast for a little bit of anthropology. After all, as a species, we've been human-ing for like 300,000 years already. Surely we've figured some stuff out.

  1. 12/09/2025

    Dan and Michael Are a Little Stressed (With Michelle Rensel): Stress, Snacks, and Mild Emotional Collapse.

    Stress isn’t just biology—it’s culture, symbols, expectations, and the stories we tell ourselves. This week Dan and Michael are joined by UCLA’s Dr. Michelle Rensel to unpack why Americans are so stressed, why hunters get buck fever, why high-schoolers are spiraling, and why self-discipline has become a competitive sport. We dig into social prescribing, predator-prey symbolism, the high-wire act of modern work, and whether our bodies are betraying us or sending a message we should finally listen to. Chapters 00:00 — Intro 02:30 — What Stress Actually Is 06:10 — Fresh Hell: Doctors Prescribing Parties 11:45 — Question 1: Buck Fever in the Deer Stand 19:30 — Predator vs Prey Symbol Systems 25:00 — Question 2: High-School Stress Spiral 34:10 — Fixing Shit: The Cult of Self-Discipline 47:00 — Question 3: Catastrophe Thinking for Adults 58:00 — Outro + Fake Sponsorship That’s it for this week’s People Stuff — the show where two anthropologists try (and sometimes fail) to make sense of people. If you’ve got a question, a dilemma, or just something deeply weird about humanity you’d like us to unpack, send it our way at people-stuff.com   Credits Produced by Gabe BullardMusic by The Endless BummerArt by Siobhan HeneganMarketing by Bryan HautLegal support by The Law Office of Matthew Shayefar, the one true business uncle. You can also sign up for our newsletter, drop us a voice memo, or become a Friend of People Stuff — which is our fancy way of saying you get to support the show and we get to keep talking about dust, dads, and late capitalism. So go to people-stuff.com

    58 min

  2. 12/02/2025

    Dan and Michael Talk Sports (with John Florio): Sports, Scandals & the Gods of the Game

    This week, Dan and Michael welcome writer and sports scholar John Florio to dig into America’s real religion: sports. We cover the rise of prop bets, whether athletes can ethically nudge a stat or two, why AI-powered officiating is killing the pathos of the bad call, and how youth sports became an arms race disguised as “character building.” Along the way, we detour through Birkin bag lawsuits, Tommy John surgery, the death of knuckleballing, and the eternal question: Can you force your kid to play sports without turning into a meritocratic ghoul? As always: we’re anthropologists, and we know stuff about people. People Stuff. Chapters: 0:00 — Intro & Why Americans Worship Sports 4:32 — Birkin Bags and the Anthropology of Luxury 11:20 — Prop Bets and the Ethics of Self-Rigging 21:55 — MLB, Corruption & the Luis Ortiz Case 28:40 — AI Officiating & the Death of the Bad Call 37:15 — Children’s Sports & Class Panic 50:22 — Fixing Shit: Baseball Pitchers Edition 58:10 — How to Raise Non-Doughy Kids 1:08:45 — People Ball: Our Fake Sponsor 1:10:00 — Outro & Credits  Send us your dilemmas: www.people-stuff.com  Subscribe for more anthropological takes on the weirdness of modern life. That’s it for this week’s People Stuff — the show where two anthropologists try (and sometimes fail) to make sense of people. If you’ve got a question, a dilemma, or just something deeply weird about humanity you’d like us to unpack, send it our way at people-stuff.com   Credits Produced by Gabe BullardMusic by The Endless BummerArt by Siobhan HeneganMarketing by Bryan HautLegal support by The Law Office of Matthew Shayefar, the one true business uncle. You can also sign up for our newsletter, drop us a voice memo, or become a Friend of People Stuff — which is our fancy way of saying you get to support the show and we get to keep talking about dust, dads, and late capitalism. So go to people-stuff.com

    55 min

  3. 11/25/2025

    Dan and Michael Ruin the Economy (feat. Steve Black): Car-price delusion, medieval rec letters, and the AI rat with the huge penis.

    We’re joined by Steve Black, linguistic and medical anthropologist at Georgia State University, whose work spans ethics, care, Zulu gospel choirs, Indigenous youth in Costa Rica, and global health discourse. In this episode: 🚗 Why millennials think a new car should cost exactly $30k 🧮 Inflation as a vibe, not a natural law 👑 Letters of recommendation: the medieval patronage system we somehow still use 🏛️ First-generation students & the unwritten rules of academia 🤖 Why academic publishing is drowning in AI slop (and rat genitals) 🧑‍💼 How to quit your job without burning your whole life down 🏃‍♀️ Why tech workers accidentally work two jobs at once Anthropology: because the economy is mostly feelings. That’s it for this week’s People Stuff — the show where two anthropologists try (and sometimes fail) to make sense of people. If you’ve got a question, a dilemma, or just something deeply weird about humanity you’d like us to unpack, send it our way at people-stuff.com   Credits Produced by Gabe BullardMusic by The Endless BummerArt by Siobhan HeneganMarketing by Bryan HautLegal support by The Law Office of Matthew Shayefar, the one true business uncle. You can also sign up for our newsletter, drop us a voice memo, or become a Friend of People Stuff — which is our fancy way of saying you get to support the show and we get to keep talking about dust, dads, and late capitalism. So go to people-stuff.com

    1 hr

  4. 11/18/2025

    Dan and Michael Take a Punch (with Scott Freeman): Violence, Horses, Billionaires, and Swords

    This week on People Stuff, Dan and Michael explore humanity’s oldest problem: people hitting other people and calling it “order.” Joined by anthropologist Scott Freeman, we talk violence, enclosure, billionaires, medieval sword fights, and the enduring smugness of horses. Featuring: Horse violence as a disciplinary technology The Enclosure Movement, Marx, and why Madonna legally can’t stop you rambling through her estate Corporal punishment, pacifism paradoxes, and why People Stuff is firmly against child-beating but open to beating adults who think child-beating is fine Billionaire term limits (ten years and then the hoard goes back to the people—no rollover minutes) HEMA: When history nerds and jocks converge into a Darwinian crab-shaped sword fighter Utah Mom linguistic innovation, The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives, and Dan’s ongoing war with Vox Whether horses enjoy trampling (spoiler: yes, they’re smug) As always, we know stuff about people. Sometimes too much. Submit your questions or leave us a voice memo at people-stuff.com.   That’s it for this week’s People Stuff — the show where two anthropologists try (and sometimes fail) to make sense of people. If you’ve got a question, a dilemma, or just something deeply weird about humanity you’d like us to unpack, send it our way at people-stuff.com   Credits Produced by Gabe BullardMusic by The Endless BummerArt by Siobhan HeneganMarketing by Bryan HautLegal support by The Law Office of Matthew Shayefar, the one true business uncle. You can also sign up for our newsletter, drop us a voice memo, or become a Friend of People Stuff — which is our fancy way of saying you get to support the show and we get to keep talking about dust, dads, and late capitalism. So go to people-stuff.com

    1h 10m

  5. 11/11/2025

    Dan and Michael Are Not Your Type: Corporate astrology, MBTI madness, and the myth of the measurable self

    Are you a “blue brain,” a “Phoebe,” or just a person trying to do your job? This week on People Stuff, Dan and Michael dig into the strange afterlife of psychological typing — from Jungian archetypes to workplace “whole brain” seminars and gifted testing for seven-year-olds. Why do employers, schools, and BuzzFeed quizzes all want to turn us into caricatures of ourselves? They’ll also diagnose Peter Thiel’s end-times theology, dismantle the eugenic logic of IQ tests, and fix the entire school admissions system (again). Plus, a listener wonders: if your friend only speaks in Sex and the City quotes, are they still your friend… or just a Carrie with Wi-Fi? 🔹 Why workplace personality tests are corporate astrology 🔹 The dark history of IQ testing 🔹 How BuzzFeed quizzes became proto-surveillance capitalism 🔹 Why “fixing” education means letting everyone in As always, it’s academic insight meets anthropological mischief — because we’re anthropologists, and we know stuff about people. 🎧 Listen now at people-stuff.com or on Apple Podcasts: People Stuff   That’s it for this week’s People Stuff — the show where two anthropologists try (and sometimes fail) to make sense of people. If you’ve got a question, a dilemma, or just something deeply weird about humanity you’d like us to unpack, send it our way at people-stuff.com   Credits Produced by Gabe BullardMusic by The Endless BummerArt by Siobhan HeneganMarketing by Bryan HautLegal support by The Law Office of Matthew Shayefar, the one true business uncle. You can also sign up for our newsletter, drop us a voice memo, or become a Friend of People Stuff — which is our fancy way of saying you get to support the show and we get to keep talking about dust, dads, and late capitalism. So go to people-stuff.com

    59 min

  6. 11/04/2025

    Dan and Michael Eat Too Much (feat. Saanchi Shah) — Paleo Panic, Raw Meat Bros & The Golden Toilet Heist

    Are we what we eat? Should kale be a personality? Why are men suddenly shoveling raw beef into their mouths like feral crossfit raccoons? This week anthropologists Dan and Michael interview genetic counselor + legitimate adult Saanchi Shah, who tries to offer actual wisdom while the hosts spiral into food-based existentialism. Topics include: Paleo diets and why “we stopped evolving after the Ice Age” is terrible science When gardening becomes prepping and prepping becomes a personality The gym bro committed to 100% raw meat, 0% critical thought The stolen 18-karat gold toilet named America Why cities need public bathrooms more than they need tech incubators Are you pizza if you eat pizza? (anthropology says… maybe yes??) Also: squat toilets, Jain philosophy, steroid economics, and the eternal war between Neapolitan pizza and the casserole known as “Chicago-style.”   That’s it for this week’s People Stuff — the show where two anthropologists try (and sometimes fail) to make sense of people. If you’ve got a question, a dilemma, or just something deeply weird about humanity you’d like us to unpack, send it our way at people-stuff.com   Credits Produced by Gabe BullardMusic by The Endless BummerArt by Siobhan HeneganMarketing by Bryan HautLegal support by The Law Office of Matthew Shayefar, the one true business uncle. You can also sign up for our newsletter, drop us a voice memo, or become a Friend of People Stuff — which is our fancy way of saying you get to support the show and we get to keep talking about dust, dads, and late capitalism. So go to people-stuff.com

    58 min

  7. 10/28/2025

    Dan and Michael Are Definitely Out of Place: Why Some Places Feel Wrong, Why Seats Matter, and Why the Dead Deserve Space

    They tackle listener questions about what it means to feel out of place: Why do perfect towns feel fake and claustrophobic? Why do we always sit in the same seat? And should you really avoid walking on a grave? Along the way, they explore how humans build belonging through repetition, ritual, and spatial order — and how those same habits can make us feel trapped, haunted, or just plain weird. Plus: Dan fixes superheroes (they’re fascists), Michael defends ghosts, and everyone learns something about the anthropology of being uncomfortable. 🎧 People Stuff — because we’re anthropologists, and we know stuff about people. That’s it for this week’s People Stuff — the show where two anthropologists try (and sometimes fail) to make sense of people. If you’ve got a question, a dilemma, or just something deeply weird about humanity you’d like us to unpack, send it our way at people-stuff.com   Credits Produced by Gabe BullardMusic by The Endless BummerArt by Siobhan HeneganMarketing by Bryan HautLegal support by The Law Office of Matthew Shayefar, the one true business uncle. You can also sign up for our newsletter, drop us a voice memo, or become a Friend of People Stuff — which is our fancy way of saying you get to support the show and we get to keep talking about dust, dads, and late capitalism. So go to people-stuff.com

    53 min

  8. 10/21/2025

    Dan and Michael Sweep it Under the Rug: The Anthropology of Dirt and Disorder

    Dan and Michael tackle questions about: 🧹 A Zen priest frustrated by a fellow monk’s bad cleaning habits 💰 Whether kids should get paid for chores 🏚️ How to love a hoarder parent without losing your mind Plus, in Fixing Shit, Michael fixes Congress by bringing back pork barrel spending (seriously). Along the way, they dust off some anthropological wisdom from Mary Douglas, talk about pollution, capitalism, and the importance of returning your grocery cart. It’s messy, philosophical, and deeply funny—just the way we like it.   Takeaways  Cleanliness is culturally specific and varies widely. The concept of the Rapture has been a recurring theme in religious discussions. Zen practices can lead to conflicts in communal living situations. Allowance for chores raises questions about parenting and financial education. Hoarding reflects deeper cultural issues related to consumerism and identity. Memory and emotional connections to objects can complicate decluttering efforts. Cognitive dissonance plays a role in how people respond to failed prophecies. Cultural narratives shape our understanding of cleanliness and order. The relationship between consumerism and identity is complex and multifaceted. Community obligations can conflict with personal expectations in shared living spaces.   Sound bites " You can't fire your kid!"  "This is a mutiny!" " You have too much stuff!"    Segments: 00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Themes  01:43 The TikTok Rapture and Religious Prophecies  09:04 Zen Monasteries and Cleaning Duties  17:19 Exploring Perspectives on Violence and Community  19:05 Navigating Family Dynamics and Chores  30:02 Reforming Congress: A Call for Institutional Integrity  37:08 The Hoarding Dilemma  38:01 Cultural Reflections on Consumption  39:53 The Psychology of Stuff  42:16 Generational Perspectives on Hoarding  44:36 Memory and Identity in Material Possessions 47:21 Navigating Emotional Attachments to Objects  49:31 Concluding Thoughts on Clutter and Memory That’s it for this week’s People Stuff — the show where two anthropologists try (and sometimes fail) to make sense of people. If you’ve got a question, a dilemma, or just something deeply weird about humanity you’d like us to unpack, send it our way at people-stuff.com   Credits Produced by Gabe BullardMusic by The Endless BummerArt by Siobhan HeneganMarketing by Bryan HautLegal support by The Law Office of Matthew Shayefar, the one true business uncle. You can also sign up for our newsletter, drop us a voice memo, or become a Friend of People Stuff — which is our fancy way of saying you get to support the show and we get to keep talking about dust, dads, and late capitalism. So go to people-stuff.com

    52 min
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About

People Stuff is a write-in, anthropology advice podcast wherein we answer all sorts of questions with the weird and wonderful wisdom that anthropology offers. From whether you should make your bed to what you owe to the dead, no dilemma is too tiny, no conundrum too vast for a little bit of anthropology. After all, as a species, we've been human-ing for like 300,000 years already. Surely we've figured some stuff out.

Information

  • Creator
    Michael Scroggins, Dan Souleles
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    27
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 People Stuff LLC
  • Show Website
    People Stuff

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