If you've ever wondered, "should I put my alarm clock on the other side of the room?" -- this episode is for you.

Products for Waking Up Early, According to Actual Morning People (Griffin Wynne, HuffPost, Aug 19, 2022)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

condensedsoup@proton.me

It's like buying a ticket to a real-life rom com. A startup in France is helping couples sell strangers invitations to their wedding. If you pay for a ticket, do you also need to bring a gift?

‘As if we’re real guests’: the startup selling strangers invitations to weddings (Angelique Chrisafis, The Guardian, Aug 2, 2025)

French startup lets strangers buy entrance to someone else’s wedding (Trend-watching Daily, Aug 4, 2025)

The Incredibly True Story of Renting a Friend in Tokyo (Chris Colin, Afar, Feb 19, 2016)

I paid $47 an hour for someone to be my friend (Jean-Luc Bouchard, Vox, Jul 1, 2019)

I Rented a Friend to See if I Could Cure My Loneliness (Annie Lord, Vice, Feb 8, 2019)

Belly Dancing for the Dead: a Day with China’s Top Mourner (Louisa Lim, Morning Edition / NPR, Jun 26, 2013)

Professional Mourners: An Ancient Tradition (Marilyn A. Mendoza, Psychology Today, Feb 15, 2018)

Arlington Ladies (Arlington National Cemetery, accessed Aug 17, 2025)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

condensedsoup@proton.me

Before you touch every peach in the produce section (guilty!), listen to this episode -- you'll be the Best Citizen at the market.

10 of the Rudest Things You Can Do at the Grocery Store (Caroline Bologna, Huffpost, Sep 29, 2022)

11 Rude Things People Do At the Grocery Store (Betsy Cribb Watson, Southern Living, Oct 6, 2024)

Instagram: @condensedsouppodcast

condensedsoup@proton.me