Tip Culture Anxiety, Project Hail Mary: Movie Review, And Sweet 16 Madness

Send us Fan MailEvery checkout screen has the question: “Add a tip?” And somehow it shows up everywhere, even when you did all the work yourself. We get into why tipping culture feels so out of control right now, how guilt got baked into the point-of-sale experience, and why I’ve gotten a lot better at hitting “no tip” without apologizing. I also talk through where I still tip generously, because there are absolutely jobs where gratuity is earned and genuinely matters. Then we switch gears into entertainment with a full review of Project Hail Mary. If you’re searching for a hopeful sci-fi movie with huge visuals, real emotion, and a lead performance that holds the whole ride together, Ryan Gosling brings it. I break down what works, why the theater experience changes the impact, and why this one deserves the biggest screen you can find. We also hit a great perspective on why it’s on filmmakers to create movies that actually pull people out of their homes. Finally, we ride the March Madness wave with Michigan and Michigan State heading into the Sweet 16, quick matchup thoughts, spreads, and my picks from the Sweet 16 through the Elite Eight and Final Four. I’m also heading to Las Vegas for the tournament, so expect the sports chaos and the vacation stories to match the energy. If you enjoy sharp takes on tipping, movies, and college basketball, subscribe, share the show, and leave a review so more people can find Cookin’ With Gas.