Why do we keep buying things we don’t really need, even when we know they won’t make us happier for long?

In this episode of The Meaning of Everyday Things, we explore overconsumption not as hedonistic tendencies but as a compulsiveness that reflects modern life itself.

From dopamine and emotional regulation to capitalism, identity, and social media culture, this episode asks why “enough” feels so hard to find in a world of endless desires.

Here is an introspective deep dive into the psychology and sociology of needs/wants, and what our consumption habits might really be trying to tell us.

Loneliness is a universal human experience, but admitting it feels uncomfortable and shameful.

We dread the question, "Do you feel lonely?", because we don't know and can't really say. We wear an armour of self-sufficiency and try to deny or minimise it as much as possible. Maybe we don't even know the answer, or we lie to ourselves.

But this defensive nonchalance and pretentious indifference that is so common now is very telling. And the numbers tell the real story: The WHO has reported that 871,000 people die of loneliness every year.

In this episode, we unpack why loneliness is equated with weakness, failure, and social inadequacy, especially in modern urban life. The "mood of the age" seems to be one of self-love and independence. On top of this, they say, be "unbothered". But all this creates detachment and emotional distancing.

From the psychology and neuroscience of loneliness to its portrayal in films, literature, and popular culture, this episode looks at how loneliness affects the brain, distorts social perception, and quietly shapes our relationships. We also examine how today’s culture of hyper-independence, online intimacy, and the “loneliness economy” normalises isolation while making genuine connection harder.

This episode does not offer fixes nor is it an emotional appeal to "go out there' or 'get out more'. We all know that's easier said than done. Rather, this conversation explores loneliness as a deeply human condition which cannot simply be solved by staying busy, being productive, or learning to enjoy solitude.

People often say they feel fully here while doing just three things: travel, exercise, and sex. In these moments, presence seems effortless. But why does it become so laboured in everyday life?

This episode asks why being in the moment feels hard outside heightened or novel experiences. I explore 'being in the moment' not as a maxim, but as a psychological skill and a philosophical stance. Drawing from cognitive psychology, neuroscience, and everyday observation, we will discuss how much of our lives are spent replaying the past or rehearsing the future, and what has slipped away from us.

Get ready for a reflective episode about noticing, grounding yourself, and about learning to return, again and again, to what is already there, without being haunted by the phantoms in our heads.