Pushing Our Kids Too Hard: On Toxic Achievement Culture with Jennifer Wallace

Pushing Our Kids Too Hard: On Toxic Achievement Culture with Jennifer Wallace

Author: Paul Ollinger November 8, 2023 Duration: 49:29
✍️ Subscribe to Paul’s Substack ‘Money & the Meaning of Life’ here. ✍️

Jennifer Wallace is a journalist and author specializing in psychology, parenting, and health. Her new book 'Never Enough: When Achievement Culture Becomes Toxic—And What We Can Do About It' delves into our modern dilemma of busyness, achievement, credentialing, and status-seeking. Katie Couric calls the New York Times best-seller 'Never Enough; “a wake up call for all of us.” A frequent contributor to the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post, Jennifer’s work explores the intersection of societal trends and individual well-being. In this conversation, Jennifer and I discuss:


What Harvard can and can’t do for you (or your child)

The 6 factors that contribute to a great college experience

Why it matters that our kids know they matter

Stress, grind culture, and mental health\

The importance of chores for children and teens

The family chore that young Jennifer put off until Sunday night

What Alanis Morissette was telling us in her song ‘Perfect'


"Sometimes is never quite enough
If you're flawless, then you'll win my love"
-Alanis Morissette, Perfect
👂Check out the book on Jennie's website here and follow her on Instagram here.👂
🎤 See Paul’s stand-up and random thoughts on Instagram here. 🎤

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Paul Ollinger has worn a few different hats-stand-up comedian, tech executive, and now, the curious host of Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger. This isn't a lecture series or a dry self-help guide. Instead, it feels more like pulling up a chair for a series of genuinely engaging talks that wander into the places where our daily lives, careers, and inner worlds collide. The conversations, which feature authors, thinkers, and various creatives, are refreshingly candid. They dig into the practical and philosophical questions about what it actually means to build a life that feels both successful and satisfying. You'll find that each episode of this podcast approaches big themes-money, purpose, and the pursuit of contentment-with a blend of wit and thoughtful depth. The underlying idea isn't about finding a perfect, Instagram-ready version of happiness, but something more grounded and attainable. It's for anyone who's ever wondered if there's a smarter, more meaningful way to navigate the pressures of business and culture without losing sight of what matters. Tuning in, you get the sense that Paul is figuring it out alongside his guests, making the insights feel earned and relatable. The result is a consistently interesting exploration of how we can all aim for a life that feels reasonably, and authentically, well-lived.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Reasonably Happy with Paul Ollinger
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