Giving Up

John deBary, Youngmi Mayer, Alex Pemoulié

Giving Up is the podcast where three aging Millennials talk about giving up: surrendering to the inexorable march of time and their inevitable demise. Each week we talk about why the world is mad at us and then we vote on who has the most interesting topic to talk about as it relates to our generation's unique spot as people who grew up with the internet but still remembers what life was like before it. Fueled by (un)diagnosed ADHD we cover a range of topics from pop culture, to parenting, generational warfare, and beyond. read less

ComedyComedy

Society & CultureSociety & Culture

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Giving Up Returns! ...For The Finale

Giving Up Returns! ...For The Finale

After taking a few weeks off, the crew triumphantly returns to record the final episode of season 3. Starting off with a robust discussion of everyone's current gripes before adressing an advice question about nuerodivergence among restaurant workers. See you all in 2025 for season 4! Media: Youngmi - Cold Case Alex - Lost Children JdB - Somebody Somewhere

Episodes

Giving Up Returns! ...For The Finale

Giving Up Returns! ...For The Finale

After taking a few weeks off, the crew triumphantly returns to record the final episode of season 3. Starting off with a robust discussion of everyone's current gripes before adressing an advice question about nuerodivergence among restaurant workers. See you all in 2025 for season 4! Media: Youngmi - Cold Case Alex - Lost Children JdB - Somebody Somewhere

We're Still Alive

We're Still Alive

The first post-election episode discusses the aftermath of the most recent election before going into a more on-topic restaurant subject. Media: JdB - The Boyfriend Alex - Extremely American Youngmi - Right-Wing YouTube

Tis the (Election) Season

Tis the (Election) Season

The crew comiserates about the upcoming election and Alex's recovery from Covid before diving into the Simu Liu Boba Tea controversy. The advice section discusses a common fear among the dining public. Media: Alex - Somebody Somewhere JdB - Angela Collier Youngmi - Escape at Dannemora Send us your advice questions! givingupthepod@gmail.com or send anonymously.

Confessions of a Sink Vomiter

Confessions of a Sink Vomiter

The tables have turned! This episode features confessions from John, Youngmi, and Alex about the times they were the embarrasing restaurant guests. Media: JdB - Ariana Grande's SNL Episode Youngmi - Love Is Blind (still) Alex - Random Guys on TikTok Send us your advice questions! givingupthepod@gmail.com or send anonymously.

We Can Get Angry About Cake

We Can Get Angry About Cake

The usual segments are largely abandoned in favor of a deep dive of the recent TikTok-based cake controversy where an amateur cake maker accused an NYC restaurant of pilfering uneaten cake. Media: Youngmi - Love Is Blind Alex - Mr. McMahon JdB - Interview with the Vampire Send us your advice questions! givingupthepod@gmail.com or send anonymously.

Silent Generation Pause

Silent Generation Pause

The crew kicks off by trying to figure out who exactly the "Silent Generation" is that segues into a discussion of World War 2. The Thunderdome yields a discussion of Lana Del Rey's new husband and the advice section touches on a very niche concern of restaurant people: what the tipping etiquette is when invited in for a friends and family meal before a new restaurant opens. Media: Alex - Monsters JdB - Zelda Echoes of Wisdom Youngmi - The Message

Customization Culture

Customization Culture

This episode starts with an exploration of self image and then John talks about how he's sad and mad about a tree. The Thunderdome make its triumphant return and features a discussion of Priya Krishna's article about drink customization which dovetails nicely to the advice question about getting into bartending and if bartending school is worth it. Media: Alex - In the Dark Youngmi - Sex and the City JdB - Tuesday

The crew starts out talking about the humiliations of job interviews and then about how people talk about punctuality online. The Thunderdome is waived (gasp) in order to give proper time to an advice question about aging in the restaurant industry. Media: Alex - Civil War Youngmi - Uglies JdB - EUSEXUA

The Beach That Makes You Old

The Beach That Makes You Old

The crew somewhat flinches on their commitment to talking more about restaurants by spending the episode discussing aging, perimenipaus and ambivalently critiquing astrology. However, and advice question regrounds in the topic of reporting toxic behavior in the restaurant workplace. Media: JdB: Trap Alex: Animal Crossing Youngmi: The Deliverance

Thunderingly Good

Thunderingly Good

And we're back with season three! The crew's made a soft pivot towards content that reflects their restaurant-adjacient millenial identities. The Thunderdome leads to a conversation about outgoing New York Times restaurant critic Pete Well's farewell column. Media: Alex - Kevin Can F*ck Himself Youngmi - Love Island UK JdB - Drag Race Philippines

Season Two Finale Extravaganza

Season Two Finale Extravaganza

Every ten episodes a new seaon begins, apparently. On this, the last episode of season 2, the crew debates the RNC-related Grindr spike in Milwaukee, communal tables in restaurants and answers an advice question that has it all: dead mothers, intergenerational conflict, and restaurant etiquitte. Don't forget to send us your advice questions! DM us on instagram, email us givingupthepod@gmail.com, or send us a question anonymously. Media: John: Fringe Alex: Game of Thrones (still) Youngmi: Exhibit by R.O. Kwon

I'm Glad I Didn't Go To Law School

I'm Glad I Didn't Go To Law School

John and Youngmi begin by recounting their witnessing of the deadly July 4h incident on the Lower East Side where a drunk driver drove a pickup truck into a crowd of people. The crew then discusses the pros and cons of social media-based mental health diagnoses before tackling an advice question about not ending up where you though you'd be. Media: Youngmi - A Quiet Place Part II John - Chain Gang All Stars Alex - Inside Out 2

It's Giving Feedback

It's Giving Feedback

The crew begins by discussing the dynamics of emotional expression as it relates to gender expectations and neuroatypicality. The topic of mid-life crises re-emerges before a Thunderdome focusing on how to best think about receiving critical feedback. The advice section takles the oset of adult financial concerns. [Sorry about the audio at the beginning! John's mic was turned off lol] Media: Alex: Game of Thrones Youngmi: America's Sweethearts John: Mad Max Fury Road

The crew kicks off with a discussion of what makes good service in restaurants and how long to hold on to anger. The chat dives even deeper into restaurant gripes in the Thunderdome. The advice question centers on parenting self-assured children. Media: John: The Boys Alex: Dallas Cowboys Documentary Youngmi: The Rachel Divide

Studied Abroad (Derogatory)

Studied Abroad (Derogatory)

The episode kicks off with a discussion of life's struggles that transitions to a conversation about the crew's study abroad experiences. The advice segment centers around the question of entering into a relationship with someone who is possibly entering into a green card marriage. [Please note that this episode contains discussions and descriptions of intimate partner violence.] Media: John: Hannah Einbinder's Everything Must Go Alex: Tell Them You Love Me

Intrusive Thought-Coded

Intrusive Thought-Coded

The crew kicks off the episode with some musings on TikTok-related hydration misinformation before transitioning to a discussion of what to do as parents (not John) when a child's friends are being mean to them. The Thunderdome swirls around wealth culture and the advice segement further explores economic despair by answering a listener question about the best way to critique capitalism. Media: Alex - Hitler and the Nazis Youngmi - The Life and Trials of Oscar Pistorius John - The Acolyte

The crew starts off hot and heavy with a spirited discussion of gaslighting before discussing millenial consumerism in the Thunderdome. Nether-region higene is the advice topic of the day. Media: Alex - Bridgerton and Andrew Scott Erotica Youngmi - Big Vape John - Final Fantasy VII (original)

A Very Special Episode

A Very Special Episode

This episode the crew sets aside formalities to address the difficult subject of pet death and the emotional landscape of considering creatures who's understanding of the world is so different from our own. Our advice section continues to orbit around ADHD and Autism, this time as it releates to creativity and artistic expression. Media: Alex - We're Here John - Furiosa Youngmi - Ashley Madison Documentary and The Iron Claw

Stop Trying To Make "West-Elm-ification" Happen

Stop Trying To Make "West-Elm-ification" Happen

Season two is in full swing as the crew talks about what the best age to have kids is and the show experiences an unprecedented Thunderdome result. John fields an advice question about his recent autism screening. Our Media: Youngmi: Aaron Hernandez Documentary Alex: Stranger Things John: NJ Turnpike Signs

Doing a Second Season for the Bit

Doing a Second Season for the Bit

Welcome to Giving Up Season Two! We arbitrarily took a break for a few weeks so we could come back with a slew of of innovations—including a listener advice section! Did you miss us? Our Media: Youngmi: The Roast of Tom Brady Alex: Physical 100 and Mary and George John: The Idea of You