The State of Us

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Go beyond mainstream cable news and party lines, with a Millennial and a Boomer, as they work to push past the noise and bring attention to all the issues that matter. Justin T. Weller and Lance Jackson examine the topics that are often overlooked by most major media outlets, but are critical for Americans to be educated about. There’s a world beyond the noise and it begins with Justin & Lance on The State of Us.

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    • Mar 21, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • weekdays NEW EPISODES
    • 38m AVG DURATION
    • 691 EPISODES

    5 from 11 ratings Listeners of The State of Us that love the show mention: lance.



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    Latest episodes from The State of Us

    With Guzzling Gas Prices, is it Time to Buy an Electric Car?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2024 38:51


    Buying an electric car may be financially responsible, but it may not be the right decision for you. Justin and Lance break down the math behind owning an electric vehicle and discuss how driving an EV might change the way you travel. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, car, electric, EV, gas, travel, road, trip, money, finance, price, charging, chevy, ford, GM, tesla, environment

    Congress is Ignoring Student Debt - Why?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2024 38:51


    Should a student be allowed to take on $400,000 of student loan debt for a degree that leads to a $75,000 salary? Justin and Lance address the underlying causes of the student loan crisis in America and propose some real changes congress could make to solve this issue. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, student loan, education, money, school, college, university, degree, study, career, salary, planning, finance

    Where Have the Missing Workers Gone?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2024 38:51


    4.3 million workers are missing and U.S. jobless claims reach a 52 year low. Justin and Lance discuss three potential options to solve the labor shortage issue in the United States. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, politics, labor, immigration, money, capitalism, automation, jobs, career, worker, unemployed, hiring

    Rethinking the Grading System & Unvaccinated Cost Colleges

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 12, 2024 38:48


    How are schools rethinking grade levels for students and the amount of time they spend in class? Justin and Lance discuss how education should shift towards application-level understanding and how unvaccinated college students are costing schools millions of dollars. tags: justin weller, lance jackson, education, school, learning, teaching, teacher, vaccine, money, loans, taxes, technology

    Get Your Dream Job: Relationships Thrive in Tough Times

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 7, 2024 38:51


    How can you best leverage your skills in the strong labor market to get your dream job? Justin and Lance outline some tips on how to gain dream employment and finish the show with anecdotes on how to sustain a fruitful relationship. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, jobs, economy, hiring, employment, relationships, professional, development, work, ethic, money, romance

    Should College be Free & Student Loans Forgiven?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2024 38:51


    Should every college program publicly share the return on investment they provide? Justin and Lance are joined by Richy Richardson, a finance and economics student at the University of Cincinnati, to discuss the value of a college degree and how people should attain them. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, richy Richardson, economy, school, college, university, money, loans, education, finance, future, investment, interest

    What If We Doubled Life Expectancy?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 1, 2024 38:51


    The human species was able to double its own life expectancy in under 100 years - could we do it again? Justin and Lance discuss the history of preventative medicine and what a future with humans regularly living to be 100+ years might look like. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, age, old, medicine, antibiotics, elderly, healthcare, economics, disparities, history, aging, immortality, science, policy, activism

    Challenges for Kids Lack of Trust, Location & Mental Health

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 27, 2024 38:51


    A recent survey found that 93% of college freshmen trust their parents while only 36% of them trust major media outlets. Justin and Lance discuss how children are struggling with mental health, and how rural America is disproportionately affected by mental health challenges because of desolate economic, healthcare, and labor statistics. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, rural america, jobs, mental health, healthcare, economics, children, trust, politics, college

    Are You Using Your Time Correctly? A Simple way to Tame Stress

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 22, 2024 38:51


    Gen Z spends half of their waking hours tied to a screen. Justin and Lance discuss a simple way to reduce stress and manage time while touching on the benefits of being more intentional with your time. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, phone, tik tok, screen time, walking, nature, family

    Failures of Globaliziation

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 20, 2024 38:51


    Globalization has led to the creation of large new labor markets, better technologies, and the prevention of a third world war. Justin and Lance discuss how events in recent history have slowed the success of globalization and ask what price we are willing to pay for the benefits of globalization. tags: tsou, podcast, justin weller, lance jackson, globalization, jobs, money, economy, united states, india, china, russia, africa, politics, war

    Bosses Are Back and Will a 4-Day Work Week Work?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 15, 2024 38:51


    More companies are implementing a 4-day work week, but will employees work more hours under this system? Justin and Lance discuss the post-pandemic labor force, repurposing vacant office spaces, and reimagining retirement. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, work, labor, boss, office, retirement, week, money, invest, economy, savings

    Oil & Christianity in America

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 8, 2024 38:51


    Corporate and political power brokers with access to Washington framed big oil and Christianity as the twin pillars of American exceptionalism in the modern age. Justin and Lance are joined by Darren Dochuk, author of Anointed With Oil, to discuss how Christianity and crude made modern America.tags: tsou, darren dochuk, oil, Christianity, crude, Christian, economy, money, God, Rockefeller, politics, history, america, middle east, canada, justin weller, lance jackson

    Why Do People Get Hacked?

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 6, 2024 38:51


    What is making you more susceptible to being hacked? Justin and Lance breakdown the behavioral science of habituation, task switching, and multi-tasking and their role in increasing your risk of facing an online threat. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, online, internet, scam, safety, attention, memory, task, multi, web, car, EV, computer

    Buy a Cheap Old Home - Women Say No to Stocks

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 1, 2024 38:51


    Are you thinking about purchasing a new home? You may want to consider a big old house. Justin and Lance discuss the advantages of buying an old home and break down women's investing tendencies as more women take on the breadwinner role. tags: tsou, investing, house, home, family, women, economics, ownership, justin weller, lance jackson, land, career, stock market

    Why we Keep Forgetting Stuff & Vinyl Spins Back

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 30, 2024 38:51


    People of all ages are becoming more forgetful. Justin and Lance discuss what may be the cause of our memory issues, and how to improve our cognitive ability. Finally, Justin connects these topics to music and shares his personal vinyl collection. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, music, memory, forget, health, physical, walking, partner, cognition, brain, psychology, neuroscience

    How to Like Annoying People & AARP for the Young

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 25, 2024 38:51


    How did one couple go from despising each other to being happily married for over 20 years and what can we learn from them about how to like people we find annoying? Justin and Lance break down four key ways to get to know people better and touch on AARP for the young. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, relationships, people, communication, annoying, aarp, young

    What Americans Think About Critical Race Theory

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 23, 2024 38:51


    How we teach history to our children will shape how they make decisions in the future. Justin and Lance discuss how schools should approach teaching the good and bad things about our nation's history.tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, race, theory, school, education, politics, democrat, republican, truth, debate, racism, America, united states, school, children

    Apartment Owners in Trouble? Investors Love Self-Storage

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 18, 2024 38:51


    Why are the debt costs of landlords skyrocketing in 2023? Justin and Lance discuss why more are investing in storage units with the expectation that Americans will continue to accumulate more stuff and what these trends mean for you as a consumer. tags: tsou, podcast, justin weller, lance jackson, property, money, investment, land, storage units, apartments, wealth, home, stuff, items, land, debt, landlord, cost, rent

    Why Do People Get Hacked & Could EVs get Hacked?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2024 38:51


    What is making you more susceptible to being hacked? Justin and Lance breakdown the behavioral science of habituation, task switching, and multi-tasking and their role in increasing your risk of facing an online threat. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, online, internet, scam, safety, attention, memory, task, multi, web, car, EV, computer

    Who Should Get to Vote? Becoming a Citizen

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 11, 2024 38:51


    What should be required to gain American citizenship? Justin and Lance discuss how voting rights in America have changed throughout history, and suggest new ways to attain an involved, informed populous. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, voting, citizenship, rights, immigration, election, service, family

    Paper Money & Newspaper Cut-Out Diehards

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 9, 2024 38:51


    Will paper money be replaced or integrated into modern society and what might the future of spending look like? Also, young people are taking classes on how to better relate to older adults. Justin and Lance discuss the importance of having intergenerational interaction and the term 'senior.'tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, money, credit, generations, spending, education, learn

    A Shrinking Workforce Could Mean Economic Danger

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 4, 2024 38:51


    What is causing fewer people to work and how are baby boomers and generation z contributing to the falling labor force participation rate? Justin and Lance discuss the economic threat of a shrinking workforce and identify the root causes of this issue. tags: tsou, podcast, justin weller, lance Jackson, work, labor, job, market, mental health, money, family, parent, baby bommer, generation z

    The Threat of a Shutdown & Powerless Speaker

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 2, 2024 38:51


    Kevin McCarthy made a series of promises to conservative Republicans to win the house speakership and keep legislation on track, but with a possible government shutdown and his own job on the line, things are coming due. Justin and Lance discuss the turmoil between McCarthy and the republican party. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, Kevin McCarthy, speaker, republican, house of representatives, government, politics, voting, laws, bills, united states

    What You Must Know About Your Food & Modern Agriculture

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 28, 2023 38:51


    How much do you know about the foods you eat every day? Justin and Lance break down how your food is made and how to decode all the labels you come across in the grocery store.tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, meat, food, agriculture, cattle, sheep, chicken, farming, midwest, population, eating, grocery store

    Voters Dread the 2024 Election and GOP Shifts Tactics

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 26, 2023 38:51


    Voters are not looking forward to a repeat of the 2020 election - how will this impact voter turnout and the outcome of the 2024 election? Justin and Lance discuss the candidates running for the presidency and how the parties manipulate voter consensus. tags: tsou, podcast, justin weller, lance jackson, voting, president, 2024, election, government, politics, money

    Moving or Traveling: What's Necessary for A Good Life?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 21, 2023 38:51


    What's more important - life experiences or money and can you have both? Justin, Lance, and Levi discuss one homeowner who left the American dream behind to find more life experiences at the expense of his finances. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, money, finance, experience, life, house, apartment, family, career, planning

    Debt Ceiling Fight & How to Fix It

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 19, 2023 38:51


    The national debt is significantly larger than the national GDP yet there is no clear path forward to resolve the debt crisis. Justin and Lance discuss how Democrats and Republicans are clashing over strategies to address the nation's mounting debt. Tags: tsou, Debt ceiling, National debt, Democrats, Republicans, Political debate, Economic policy, Fiscal responsibility, US economy, Financial future, Policy implications, justin weller, lance jackson

    Bad Commutes, Costly Childcare, The $200,000 Job & China Alternatives

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 14, 2023 38:51


    Is it ever necesary for all employees to come into the office? Also, what industries and companies are compensating their employees the most? Justin and Lance discuss office logistics, wage growth, and global business in China. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, china, business, money, salary, office, work, job, meeting, economy, capitalism, communism, america

    Is Life Better Than in 1980?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 12, 2023 38:51


    How have real wages grown since 1980 but the quality of life has decreased? Justin and Lance discuss modern financial problems like housing, family dynamics, and cost of living. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, money, finance, cost of living, housing, family, planning, college, house, retirement, mortgage, wages, salary

    Supermarkets of the Future vs Small Towns

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 38:51


    What does the supermarket of the future look like and how will it impact small towns around the country? From in-store restaurants to data tracking, Justin and Lance discuss the changes that could be coming to a supermarket near you. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, supermarket, shopping, walmart, target, kroger, grocery, money, spend, savings, food, meal, budget, information, data

    Gen Z is Rising in the Workforce: What We All Must Know

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 7, 2023 38:51


    Justin and Lance are joined by Robin Erickson, Vice President of Human Capital at the Conference Board, to discuss what Generation Z values in the workplace and how employers can prepare to recruit the next generation of workers. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, robin erickson, conference board, economics, labor, gen z, boomer, millennial, money, salary

    Farmland vs. Solar - Who Wins?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 30, 2023 38:51


    National debate continues to determine the optimal relationship between farmland and solar panels. Do we have to choose one at the expense of the other or can they coexist and benefit each other? Justin and Lance breakdown new agricultural research that highlights the promising future of solar panels and farmland. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, farm, land, solar, panels, energy, renewable, research, ohio, Indiana, corn, beans, farmer, economy, climate, change

    How Will 60-Year Careers Work?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 28, 2023 38:51


    How will career and retirement planning change as life expectancy increases? Justin and Lance discuss the possibility of the 60-year career and how it will change how we view retirement, education, and career switching. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, retirement, planning, job, career, social security, government, boss, money, paycheck, school, education

    Build a Library or Police Station? Cities Must Decide

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 23, 2023 38:51


    How does a community with a rising crime rate decide between offering the community a library or a more prominent police presence? Justin and Lance dissect this dilemma in a small Californian town and ask if compromises can be made to keep both. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, police, library, violence, crime, community, town, poverty, safety, children, school

    How to Judge Thomas Jefferson and Other Founders?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 21, 2023 38:51


    Is it fair to judge past generations with the lessons and values of the modern day? Justin and Lance break down the complex character of Thomas Jefferson and ask how the United States should approach teaching its history. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, andrew jackson, history, America, united states, great britian, revolution, independence, founding fathers, adams

    Thanksgiving in 2023 - History and Recipes

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 16, 2023 38:51


    How did Thanksgiving become a customary holiday in American culture? Justin and Lance break down the history of Thanksgiving and how they celebrate the holiday with traditions, meals, and time with family. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, thanksgiving, family, time, cooking, turkey, dinner, lunch, cook, meal, food, America, history, holiday, tradition

    Is AI Dumb? The Future of Facebook & Streaming

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 14, 2023 38:51


    What are the strengths and areas of most potential improvement for artificial intelligence? Justin and Lance discuss if AI is actually intelligent and how big tech companies are using it to better garner your attention. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, ai, artificial, intelligence, technology, education, economy, facebook, apple, meta, google, streaming

    Is Marriage Good or Bad for Americans?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 9, 2023 38:51


    Marriage has proved to improve people's health, finances, and longevity - so, why are fewer people getting married? Justin and Lance discuss dating for lower-income males and how the dynamic between men and women has changed in modern marriage. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, money, career, men, women, family, children, caretaker, domestic, chores, school, marriage, dating, relationship, health

    Harmful Apps: Balancing Education, Discipline, and Child Safety

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 7, 2023 38:51


    At the root of the mental health crisis and falling test scores may be the relationship that kids have with their phones. Justin and Lance cover the issues of phone usage in the classroom and apps putting children at risk of being exploited. tags: tsou, podcast, Justin weller, lance jackson, children, school, phones, technology, social media, tiktok, instagram, youtube, addiction, mental health, dopamine, reward

    Left & Right Face a Deep Divide & Loss of Identity

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 2, 2023 38:51


    The political right and left are both convinced that the ideology opposite to theirs will lead to the downfall of American society. Justin and Lance discuss the data behind the political polarization in the United States and question what will be needed to reach a compromise. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, politics, voting, republican, democrat, right, left, government, polarized, compromise, social, culture

    8 Essential Tips to Manage Your Money in College

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 31, 2023 38:51


    With the cost of college rising it is more important than ever to enter college with a detailed financial plan. Justin and Lance discuss 8 things that parents and students should consider before starting higher education. tags: tsou, podcast, justin weller, lance jackson, money, finance, school, college, university, tuition, loans, credit, score, debt, purchase

    Interest Rates Impacting All Areas of Society Into the Future

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 26, 2023 38:51


    More than $1.5 trillion in commercial property loans come due by the end of 2025 and banks are becoming more conservative with their lending. Justin and Lance discuss how continued high interest rates will impact buying cars, houses, and apartments. tags: tsou, podcast, justin weller, lance jackson, money, finance, tax, interest, loans, bank, policy, card, credit, property, home, apartment, car

    Venmo, Cash App, Digital Wallet, Credit Card - What's Best?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 24, 2023 38:51


    Today's consumers have many options to pay for goods and services. Justin and Lance break down how each payment method works, which methods they use, and the inherent risks involved with each payment method to help you decide what is best for you. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, payment, cash, credit, debit, apps, venmo, cashapp, money, saving, bank, spending, debt, interest, wealth, interest, score

    Toxic Lead Cables Across America - Kids at Risk?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 19, 2023 38:51


    Telecom giants have left behind a large network of cables covered in toxic lead and they are contaminating the places that Americans live, play, and learn. Justin and Lance discuss the severity of lead exposure and how this issue has been neglected by large corporations and government agencies. tags: tsou, podcast, justin weller, lance jackson, lead, cables, verizon, att, tmobile, poisioning, school, playground, children, public health, epa, government, safety

    5 Ways the 2024 Election Will Make History

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 17, 2023 38:51


    The 2024 election could be the second time in American history that there is a rematch for the presidency, and the novelties do not stop there. Justin and Lance break down 5 ways the expected rematch in the 2024 election will make history. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, donald trump, joe biden, america, united sates, voting, president, democracy, states, electoral college, politics, republican, democrat, government

    Apartment Owners in Trouble? Investors Love Self-Storage

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 12, 2023 38:51


    Why are the debt costs of landlords skyrocketing in 2023? Justin and Lance discuss why more are investing in storage units with the expectation that Americans will continue to accumulate more stuff and what these trends mean for you as a consumer. tags: tsou, podcast, justin weller, lance jackson, property, money, investment, land, storage units, apartments, wealth, home, stuff, items, land, debt, landlord, cost, rent

    Nursing Homes, Living Rooms & Bathtubs Decline

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 10, 2023 38:51


    The United States has lost 100 nursing homes per year over the last six years. Justin and Lance discuss how this is connected to the new housing trend of ditching bathtubs and combining essential rooms in the home. tags: tsou, justin weller, lance jackson, housing, home, family, money, finance, mortgage, bank, loan, interest, market, wealth, america, dream

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