What if “It’s a Wonderful Life” is actually a guide for surviving the political and cultural chaos of life right now? In this episode, we use “the George Bailey rubric” as a framework for decision-making: choosing long-term good over short-term comfort, community over convenience, and responsibility over vibes. From voting and climate change to canceled plans and paywalls, we ask: what does everyday heroism look like in 2025? Hint: It’s not a single one of the Avengers.

SOURCES:

Eldest Daughter:

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/the-deal-with-eldest-daughter-syndrome

https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2023/11/first-born-children-eldest-daughter-family-dynamics/675986/

Male Loneliness Epidemic

https://harpers.org/archive/2025/11/the-goon-squad-daniel-kolitz-porn-masturbation-loneliness/

https://www.profgalloway.com/boys-to-men/

https://lizplank.substack.com/p/male-loneliness-isnt-a-crisisits

https://www.derekthompson.org/p/the-monks-in-the-casino

George Bailey / “It’s a Wonderful Life”:

https://christandpopculture.com/george-bailey-at-the-bridge-the-costly-virtue-of-its-a-wonderful-life/

https://ashbrook.org/viewpoint/respub-2013-griffith/

https://www.meawisdom.com/the-george-bailey-effect/

God Rest Ye Merry Billionaires

https://www.instagram.com/p/DDNzyY3SyJq/