How I Stopped Letting the Algorithm Decide What I Like [Summer Read-Aloud]

I recently stood in a long line for pancakes I wasn't even sure I wanted. And it made me realize how much of what I consume, eat, buy, watch, isn't actually chosen by me anymore. It's chosen by whoever posted about it first.

This summer, I'm taking a little break from our regular episodes so I can rest, recharge, and come back to you on September 14th with a full slate of new content. In the meantime, I'm sharing a few of my favorite essays from my Substack, Sam Vander Wielen, right here on the podcast. Today's essay is all about a day I spent in New York City trying to unlearn the habit of letting algorithms and influencers decide what I like, and how I'm working to reclaim my own taste instead.

In this episode, you'll hear…

• The pancake line that made me question everything about how I make decisions
• Why I think over 80% of Instagram-hyped restaurants aren't even worth the hype
• What my no-buy Amazon year has taught me about slowing down and shopping with intention
• The conversations with local shop owners that ended up meaning more than any five-star review
• How I'm working to reclaim my own preferences, both in New York City and in my everyday life

Click here to find the full show notes and transcript for this episode.

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