Toxic Cooking Show

Christopher D Patchet, LCSW Lindsay McClane
  • 5.0 (1)
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  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Misogyny, $800 first dates, simps, and high-value women: Social media has been busy cooking up and feeding us an addictive but toxic slurry of trends over the past few years. Here at The Toxic Cooking Show we're two friends dedicated to breaking down these trends, terms, and taunts into their simplest ingredients to understand where they came from and how they affect our lives. Join us each week as we ponder and discuss charged topics like personal responsibility and "not all men" before placing them on our magical Scale O' ToxicityAny comments or topics you want to hear about write to us at toxic@awesomelifeskills.com

  1. NOV 18

    Situationships: We’re Not Dating But I’m Doing Your Dishes

    Send us a text Dating clarity shouldn’t feel like decoding hieroglyphs, but so many of us end up stuck in the gray zone where you act like a couple yet can’t say the word. We tackle the modern situationship head-on: what it actually means, why it’s everywhere, and how to stop investing months in “let’s see where it goes.” With real stories, clinical insight, and a few hard truths, we separate friends with benefits from the murky middle and show you how to move forward with confidence. We start by defining a situationship as an almost-relationship with couple behaviors minus the label. Then we dig into the forces that keep people circling: fear of commitment, the lure of “better” options on dating apps, and the desire for intimacy without the responsibility of showing up consistently. We also surface the less-talked-about dynamics—expecting domestic care or financial support without reciprocity—and why vague language like “I don’t like labels” often signals a preference for benefits over accountability. If you’re tired of the “what are we?” loop, we share practical scripts and checkpoints you can use today. Say what you want, set a short timeline, and watch for congruence between words and actions: introductions, dependable plans, support during stressful weeks. When answers stay muddy, treat ambiguity as an answer and choose yourself. On our toxicity scale, mutually agreed situationships are a green potato—safe with care—but dragging someone along for perks tips into toxic territory fast. Ready to trade vibes for clarity? Hit play, learn the language of clean boundaries, and tell us your best “define the relationship” line. If this helped, follow the show, share it with a friend who’s stuck in limbo, and leave a review so more listeners can find their way to healthy commitment.

    35 min

  2. NOV 4

    Reacting to Reaction Videos

    Send us a text One face in a box reacting to another face in a box shouldn’t feel dangerous. Yet the way reaction content spreads shapes what we see, what we believe, and how safe we feel in public. We dig into why this format is everywhere, how it amplifies fringe clips into cultural moments, and what happens when a small creator’s post is blasted to millions with zero context. The result isn’t just more noise; it’s a perception shift that makes isolated incidents look like widespread crises. We unpack the misinformation machine behind reaction videos: staged skits that get stripped of parody labels, dramatized narratives glued together by guesswork, and “explainers” that confidently fill gaps with fiction. From viral cheating scandals to airport meltdowns, we show how false apology letters, spoofed insiders, and misread frames muddy the truth. Then we tackle the ugliest fallout—doxxing and misidentification—where commenters expose names, workplaces, and families, and innocent people get caught in the crossfire. When the internet decides someone is guilty, the corrections rarely catch up. There’s a better path. We highlight reaction creators who actually add value: music teachers breaking down vocal technique, scientists debunking ghost videos, and experts critiquing large, public channels instead of mocking private individuals. The difference is rigor and responsibility—verify sources, add knowledge, and avoid punching down. We also zoom out to the culture-wide cost: how normalizing constant filming erodes privacy, chills everyday joy, and trains us to accept surveillance as entertainment. If you care about digital ethics, creator responsibility, and online safety, this conversation offers clear guidelines: react to ideas, not random people; skip tiny accounts; slow down before you boost; and add context or move on. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves reaction content, and tell us your line: when does a reaction help, and when does it harm?

    55 min

  3. OCT 28

    Doxing, Consequence, And The Line

    Send us a text Ever notice how a viral post can jump from your screen to your doorstep? We take you inside a series of jaw-dropping cases to map the blurry boundary between calling someone out and putting them in danger. From the Sniper Wolf vs Jack Films feud that moved from YouTube to a front porch, to a therapist’s flippant “trauma dump” TikTok that shattered trust, to a guy livestreaming smug politics in a company shirt and then blaming “the internet” for his firing—this episode pulls apart what counts as doxing, what counts as accountability, and why intent matters less than foreseeable harm. As clinicians and creators, we unpack why geolocation breadcrumbs are scarier than you think, how parasocial fandoms escalate conflict, and what responsible exposure looks like when someone’s conduct is truly harmful. We also tackle the “fuck around and win” economy—where racist or fascist statements turn into lucrative crowdfunding—and offer clear tactics to avoid accidentally boosting bad actors. You’ll hear practical guidance: how to keep your home private, when to use HR, licensing boards, or law enforcement instead of your feed, and how to speak up without handing a mob a target. The goal isn’t silence; it’s smarter guardrails. We argue for firm accountability that names behavior and cites sources, without publishing addresses or phone numbers that enable harassment. If you’ve ever wondered where your line is between necessary exposure and reckless doxing, this conversation gives you a workable test and a toolkit you can use today. If this resonated, tap follow, share it with a friend who posts online, and leave a quick review—what’s your rule for calling someone out without crossing the line?

    58 min

  4. OCT 6

    It's Rapture Time 2025!

    Send us a text Today’s countdown says the world ends… again. We lean into the joke, then pull back the curtain on how doomsday thinking has evolved—from ancient uprisings and medieval plague marches to papal numerology, Y2K jitters, and the latest TikTok rapture trend. Along the way we ask the question that matters most: who benefits when fear goes viral, and what does it cost the rest of us? We trace the lineage of failed prophecies with surprising cameos—yes, Columbus had an end date, and even Isaac Newton wandered into apocalypse math. We revisit 2011’s billboard rapture, the Mayan calendar moment, and the Doomsday Clock’s uneasy tick from seven minutes to today’s 89 seconds. Then we separate signal from noise: how real risks like climate change, AI, and near-Earth objects differ from numerology and charisma-fueled certainty. Expect practical skepticism, not doom: what evidence looks like, how grifters move the goalposts, and why sharing “for the lolz” still spreads the fire. The human cost is the heart of the episode. We talk about cult playbooks, the Jim Jones tragedy, and quieter wreckage—savings drained, jobs quit, families fractured—when a promised rapture doesn’t arrive. Our takeaway is simple: stay curious, stay grounded, and refuse to outsource your judgment to alarm clocks and hashtags. If you love history, psychology, media literacy, or just want a saner way to meet the next viral prophecy, this one’s for you. If this conversation helped steady your compass, follow the show, share it with a friend, and leave a quick review. Your support keeps thoughtful, un-hyped conversations in the feed.

    1 hr

  5. SEP 30

    You're Wrong About Women in the Past

    Send us a text Ever notice how the “good old days” always look like a movie set? We pull back the velvet curtain on the myths that won’t die—women who “didn’t work,” men who “provided alone,” teens “married off” en masse—and replace them with what the archive, archaeology, and everyday logic actually show. From hunter-gatherer bands to early farms, women hunted, gathered, planted, harvested, brewed beer that kept people safer than water, spun and wove the clothes on everyone’s backs, and shared childcare across kin and community. That picture is messier than a corseted fainting scene, and far more true. We dig into why marriage ages were historically in the early-to-mid 20s, how land access changed timelines in 18th‑century America, and why later menarche and basic biology made “child brides everywhere” a poor read of the record. We talk fertility: cycle tracking long before apps, herbal knowledge that both protected pregnancies and ended them when needed, and the tragic ways witch hunts and gatekeeping erased that expertise. Then we follow the fashion: corsets as practical support rather than torture, gowns that survived because elites wore them once, and a photographic history literally retouched to create tiny waists. If your mental image of the past is brown cloth and breathless women, blame nobility’s archive and Hollywood’s shortcuts. The stakes are current. Myths about “women at home” and “men as sole providers” feed modern policy and personal pressure, from wages to parental leave to how we judge each other’s roles. We argue for better education, smarter filmmaking, and asking a simple test of any historical claim: could you harvest in that outfit, feed a family with that schedule, and keep a village alive with those rules? If not, you’re looking at costume, not history. Listen for the full breakdown, a lively toxicity rating (how many green potatoes is this, really?), and a clear case for ditching nostalgia in favor of nuance. If this conversation challenged a story you grew up with, share the episode, leave a review, and tell us which myth you want us to debunk next. Subscribe for more sharp, funny, evidence-first takes on the past—and the stories that shape our present.

    40 min

  6. AUG 6

    I'm in Love with an AI Robot

    Send us a text The digital age has spawned a new form of emotional connection that blurs the line between technology and intimacy. As generative AI becomes increasingly sophisticated, more people are forming deep emotional attachments to chatbots designed to mimic human interaction—sometimes with devastating consequences. Lindsay and Christopher dive deep into how these AI systems actually work, dispelling the common misconception that they "think" or "understand." These large language models operate purely on statistical probability, predicting the next most likely word based on patterns in their training data. Yet our human tendency to anthropomorphize technology leads us to attribute consciousness and empathy where none exists. What makes these AI relationships particularly dangerous is their perfect agreeability. Unlike human connections that involve disagreement, compromise, and growth, AI companions never say no, never have conflicting needs, and never challenge users in meaningful ways. They're designed to be deferential and apologetic, creating unrealistic expectations that real relationships can't possibly fulfill. The hosts share the heartbreaking story of a teenager who reportedly took his life after developing an emotional attachment to a Game of Thrones-inspired chatbot—highlighting how these platforms often lack proper safety protocols for mental health crises. Perhaps most concerning is what happens to all the intimate data users share with these systems. As companies like OpenAI (makers of ChatGPT) seek profitability, the personal details, insecurities, and private thoughts you've shared with your AI companion will likely become fodder for targeted advertising. The appointment of executives with backgrounds in social media monetization signals a troubling direction for user privacy. Are you exchanging your emotional wellbeing and personal data for the comfort of a perfectly agreeable companion? Before developing a relationship with an AI, consider what you might be sacrificing in return for that seamless digital connection. Follow us for more insights into the toxic elements hiding in everyday technologies and relationships.

    49 min

  7. JUL 29

    Debunking Going Back to the 1940s American Dream

    Send us a text Ever wonder why your grandparents could afford a house, two cars, and yearly vacations on a single income while you're drowning in debt with two salaries? The answer lies in a fascinating economic breakdown that demolishes the myth of America's "good old days." When we crunch the numbers comparing a 1946 household budget to today's financial reality, the results are staggering. While the average household income has increased just 19% since the post-war era (adjusted for inflation), essential expenses have exploded. Auto-related costs have jumped from $1,666 to $12,000 annually. Healthcare has skyrocketed from $2,383 to over $12,297. Most devastating of all: housing has transformed from approximately one year's salary to over five times annual income. The math is brutally simple: a modern family attempting the traditional single-income model begins each year approximately $23,000 in debt before buying a single piece of clothing or school supply. This mathematical impossibility exposes the hollow core of nostalgia-driven politics that promise a return to an economic model that cannot function in today's reality. Beyond the economics, we explore the social mythology surrounding the "traditional family." Historical records reveal that many women worked outside the home even in the 1940s and 1950s. The perfectly content housewife in pearls was largely a television creation that bore little resemblance to reality, where undiagnosed PTSD, alcoholism, and domestic abuse were widespread yet unaddressed issues. Looking at the cold, hard numbers forces a vital question: was America ever actually "great" the way we collectively remember it? And what happens when we try forcing modern families into impossible economic models from an era that never truly existed as portrayed? The answers might surprise you.

    51 min

  8. JUL 22

    One-Downers: Because Life Always Sucks

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    44 min
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About

Misogyny, $800 first dates, simps, and high-value women: Social media has been busy cooking up and feeding us an addictive but toxic slurry of trends over the past few years. Here at The Toxic Cooking Show we're two friends dedicated to breaking down these trends, terms, and taunts into their simplest ingredients to understand where they came from and how they affect our lives. Join us each week as we ponder and discuss charged topics like personal responsibility and "not all men" before placing them on our magical Scale O' ToxicityAny comments or topics you want to hear about write to us at toxic@awesomelifeskills.com

Information

  • Creator
    Christopher D Patchet, LCSW Lindsay McClane
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    58
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Toxic Cooking Show
  • Show Website
    Toxic Cooking Show