Fluffy Pens and Perfectionist Pain

Episode 281 · September 1st, 2025 · 1 hr 5 mins

About this Episode

In the season premiere, RJ, Sarah and Dave talk nightmare summers, tween retailers, ethical checklists, and the deadliest addiction of all. We also learn the whole point of Sarah.

  • Click here to read Dave's post on "Lessons from a (Miserable) Summer on Crutches".
  • Click here to read Ellen Cushing's "What Claire's Once Gave Tween Girls" on The Atlantic.
  • Click here to read "The Pain of Perfectionsism" by Leslie Jamison on The New Yorker.
  • Click here to read "Bad Brains" by James Kimmel Jr on Slate.
  • Click here to read "Jesus Doesn't Care When You Wake Up" by Todd Brewer on Mbird.
  • Click here for more details -- or to pre-register -- for the Fall Mockingbird Conference in Charlottesville, VA (Nov 14&15).