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October 13, 2025 84 mins

We explore the hidden forces of status and anointment with Professor Toby Stuart, author of Anointed: How Status Shapes Our Lives. Status influences careers, relationships, and how we perceive art, yet as AI blurs traditional markers of merit, society is increasingly relying on shortcuts like pedigree and recognition. We examine the risks, opportunities, and compounding effects of status, revealing how small advantages snowball into lifelong impacts and challenging listeners to rethink how status shapes their world.

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

Topics

[0:00] Intro and Speed Round with Toby Stuart

[8:43] Status-based Bias

[13:49] Status in Art, Music, and Science

[26:34] The Power of Anointment and Status Transfer

[39:39] Status Hierarchies, Networks, and Social Groups

[43:23] The Cosmic Lottery

[48:06] The Future of Status in an AI World

[58:47] What is the Matthew Effect?

[1:01:50] Grooving Session - What Does Status Really Mean?

©2025 Behavioral Grooves

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