Episode 1 — Costco Date Night: When Did This Become Normal?

Title: Ep 1 — Costco Date Night: When Did This Become Normal?Description: Economics isn’t just numbers on a page—it’s how we actually live. In our first episode, we bring a heavy, private truth out of the silence: why does working hard feel like falling behind?Host Aleksandar Balta breaks down the "moral economy loop"—the invisible cycle where everyday financial pressure traps our minds in survival mode, steals our presence from our families, and replaces deep human connection with cheap distraction.If you’ve ever felt guilty for rescheduling dinner with a friend or looking at a regular restaurant bill with a sense of dread, tune in. You aren't failing; you're navigating a system designed to keep you reactive. Let's uncover the environment we live in so we can start making different decisions.Chapters:00:00 — Permanent Intro: The Tim Hortons Pause02:30 — Section 1: I Feel It Too (Costco Date Nights & Rationed Friendships)14:00 — Section 2: Solutions That Don't Solve Anything (The Trap of Fast Fixes)22:00 — Section 3: The Moral Economy Loop (How Survival Mode Changes the Brain)28:00 — Section 4: Why This Podcast Exists (Finding Clarity in the Pressure)