Two Personal with Joy Taylor

Episode 30: We're Cooked: America's Literacy Crisis, Burnout & The Cost of Speaking Up

July 14, 2026·29 min
Episode Description from the Publisher

This week Joy and Hayley discuss America's growing literacy crisis, why critical thinking is disappearing, whether speaking publicly about important issues actually creates change, burnout from always showing up for everyone else, and the difference between wanting community versus committing to it. They wrap up with a hilarious Never Two Personal about girls trips, guys trips, and relationship double standards. 00:00 – Intro00:19 – America's literacy crisis: the stats02:15 – Growing up with strict reading rules04:47 – "A stupid population is easier to control"06:37 – The history of literacy as a control tactic08:56 – Has Joy's relationship with speaking up changed?11:52 – Is speaking out even making a difference?16:04 – "Everyone's person, but not many are mine"18:56 – Asking for help & letting go of shame21:47 – Burnout: "My nervous system is shot"22:33 – Never Two Personal: Girls trip vs. guys trip28:23 – OutroSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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