AI Bringing Merit Back – feat Leia!

DiDi and Lital welcome their daughter Leia back to the show to recap prom, graduation, and her upcoming move to Reichman University in Israel to study business administration and entrepreneurship, including details about her dorm choice and family help with tuition and a car. The hosts then run through a breakup-songs theme, naming picks such as U2’s “With or Without You,” Sinéad O’Connor’s “Nothing Compares 2 U,” the Greg Kihn Band’s “The Break-Up Song,” Scorpions’ “Still Loving You,” Alanis Morissette’s “You Oughta Know,” Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats,” Hall & Oates, Phil Collins’ “Against All Odds,” Kelly Clarkson’s “Since U Been Gone,” multiple Taylor Swift songs, The Eagles, and Air Supply, and suggest a future part two. They shift to reflections on graduation, praising Leia’s “Excellence Award” and academic progress while contrasting it with her twin brother’s straight As and high SAT score but fewer recognitions and college acceptances, arguing schools and society reward hard work, relationships, and “participation” over outcomes and excellence, connecting this to hiring, sports team structure, AI’s impact on work, and the film “Broadcast News.”   Topics 00:50 Leia Returns 01:47 Prom and Graduation Recap 03:09 College Plans Israel 04:09 Dorms and Family Deal 06:47 Breakup Songs Theme 08:19 Classic Breakup Picks 10:20 Gen Z Taylor Era 12:09 80s and 90s Rage 16:23 Power Anthems Finale 18:06 Avril Lavigne Vibes 18:47 Taylor Swift Picks 19:36 Kids and Politics Talk 20:13 Eagles and Singalong 21:40 More Breakup Music Tease 22:44 Leia Graduation Wins 26:22 Ron and Merit Debate 30:14 Outcome Over Effort 32:31 Israel vs US Admissions 34:44 Hockey and A Players 41:15 AI Raises the Bar 43:02 Excellence and Curves 44:49 Movie Recommendation 45:52 Podcast Wrap Up