Ecosystem Management

"The What Principle?"

At long last, Giving Up returns for a fifth (!) season delivering the millennial-coded and restaurant-adjacient content you crave. To celebrate the premier, our crew ditches the usual episode format in favor of a robust lore update. Consumption: Alex: The Ministry of Time [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Ministry_of_Time_(novel)] Youngmi: Too Much [https://variety.com/2025/tv/reviews/too-much-review-lena-dunham-netflix-1236448885/] JdB: Unshrunk [https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-biology-of-human-nature/202503/navigating-mental-health-without-drugs] Please send us your advice questions! And topic suggestions! Send us a voice note via our IG profile [https://www.instagram.com/givingupthepod/], email them to givingupthepod@gmail.com [givingupthepod@gmail.com] or send anonymously [https://ngl.link/givingupthepod].

"Weirdly ok"

This is the way season four ends, not with a bang but with a "weirdly ok." Alex John and Youngmi discuss the emotions that are topping them this week before discussing the topic of memory. Consumption: Alex: Last of Us Finale [https://youtu.be/kM7h4LvX6aQ?si=DQHOhnlLoL1lgL6o] Youngmi: "Bad Influence" [https://www.forbes.com/sites/monicamercuri/2025/04/09/the-insane-true-story-behind-piper-rockelle-and-netflixs-bad-influence-documentary/] JdB: Oreo Mega Stuff [https://www.oreo.com/products/17-6z-oreo-mega-stuf-12?Size=2+Pack] and Hostess Strawberry Cupcakes [https://the-snack-encyclopedia.fandom.com/wiki/Hostess_CupCake] Please send us your advice questions! And topic suggestions! Send us a voice note via our IG profile [https://www.instagram.com/givingupthepod/], email them to givingupthepod@gmail.com [givingupthepod@gmail.com] or send anonymously [https://ngl.link/givingupthepod].

Restaurant Bodies As Objects

On this, the penultimate episode of season 4, the crew explores a listener-submitted question about an all-too common occurence in hospitality spaces: when customers feel entitled to comment on—and touch—workers' bodies. Please send us your advice questions! And topic suggestions! Send us a voice note via our IG profile [https://www.instagram.com/givingupthepod/], email them to givingupthepod@gmail.com [givingupthepod@gmail.com] or send anonymously [https://ngl.link/givingupthepod]. Consumption: Youngmi: Boyfriend Forever [https://youtu.be/unPyL407Sms?si=oJf_liRirATezJg7] Alex: Waitress the Musical [https://youtu.be/k3_VSpJIaQ8?si=m6_5hAzZdSDzQkwQ] JdB: Underworld [https://youtu.be/hfhKHcej-7U?si=QGLx3EtoH__ubNwv] and Robin Tran [https://youtu.be/f3QSPt258Ak?si=RedO24COOFOiUY7L]

Ecosystem Management

In what is sure to be a therapeutic episode for many, Youngmi, Alex, and John discuss their restaurant pet peeves! Please send us your advice questions! And topic suggestions! Send us a voice note via our IG profile [https://www.instagram.com/givingupthepod/], email them to givingupthepod@gmail.com [givingupthepod@gmail.com] or send anonymously [https://ngl.link/givingupthepod]. Consumption: Alex: Brown and Friends [https://youtu.be/YDqWoqs20W0?si=UgveFirqZUZpPgK7] JdB: Jurassic World Dominion [https://youtu.be/6XKyfbJ78h4?si=Oku91mWh1emfu0K5] Youngmi: My Big Fat G--y Wedding [https://www.thelist.com/39833/untold-truth-big-fat-gypsy-wedding/]

Let It Rip

The aftershocks of Mic Noise Gate continue to reverberate as the crew tackles the very chill and uncontreversial topic of RELIGON. Please send us your advice questions! And topic suggestions! Send us a voice note via our IG profile [https://www.instagram.com/givingupthepod/], email them to givingupthepod@gmail.com [givingupthepod@gmail.com] or send anonymously [https://ngl.link/givingupthepod]. Consumption: Alex: Parable of the Sower [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parable_of_the_Sower_(novel)] JdB: Mickey 17 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xu0Bf58OzYU] Youngmi: Stop Kiss [https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/la-et-stop-kiss-review-20141112-column.html]