Just so we’re all on the same page. Please ensure you’ve made yourself acquainted with my disclaimer

U.S. Population:

Approximately 331–335 million people

Top 5 Most Populated U.S. Cities

1. New York City, NY (~8.5 million)
   • Importance: Financial capital of the U.S. (Wall Street), cultural hub (Broadway, fashion, media), global tourism center, and home to the U.N. Headquarters.
2. Los Angeles, CA (~4 million)
   • Importance: Entertainment capital (Hollywood), major port city, center for innovation and creative industries, diverse immigrant communities.
3. Chicago, IL (~2.7 million)
   • Importance: Major transportation and logistics hub, strong finance and manufacturing industries, historic architectural influence, cultural landmark in the Midwest.
4. Houston, TX (~2.3 million)
   • Importance: Energy capital (especially oil and gas), home to NASA’s Johnson Space Center, major medical research and healthcare city.
5. Phoenix, AZ (~1.7 million)
   • Importance: Rapid population growth, tech and construction booms, political influence as a major swing state city, key in discussions around water access and climate.

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Staple Foods

Proteins:

• Chicken (fresh, frozen, nuggets, rotisserie)
• Eggs
• Plant-based meats (e.g., Beyond, Impossible)
• Canned tuna, beans, lentils
• Tofu and tempeh
• Peanut butter and mixed nuts

Grains:

• White and brown rice
• Pasta (including gluten-free/legume-based)
• Bread (especially sourdough)
• Tortillas and wraps
• Quinoa, oats, and granola

Vegetables:

• Broccoli, spinach, kale
• Carrots, cauliflower, bell peppers
• Pre-chopped or frozen veggie mixes

Fruits:

• Bananas, apples, berries
• Avocados and citrus fruits
• Frozen fruit for smoothies

Dairy & Alternatives:

• Milk (whole, 2%, plant-based: oat, almond, soy)
• Yogurt (especially Greek)
• Cheese (sliced, shredded, string)

Snacks & Convenience:

• Granola bars, chips, popcorn
• Frozen meals and pizza
• Air fryer-ready foods
• Dips: hummus, guac, ranch

Staple Drinks:

• Coffee (cold brew, lattes, espresso)
• Sparkling water (LaCroix, Spindrift, Liquid Death)
• Bottled water
• Energy drinks (Red Bull, Monster)
• Smoothies & protein shakes
• Soda (still popular but declining)
• Alcohol: hard seltzers, wine, craft beer
• Non-alcoholic options: kombucha, mocktails

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Everyday Fashion Trends

• Casual and comfy ruled:
  The COVID-19 pandemic shaped a huge shift toward loungewear, sweats, yoga pants, oversized tees, and athleisure. Comfort became king.
• Work-from-home influence:
  People often wore “Zoom outfits,” business up top (nice shirt or blazer) and sweatpants or shorts below the camera.
• Sustainable fashion gained traction, people were more aware of the environmental cost of fast fashion and often thrifted, reused, or supported ethical brands.

Footwear

• Sneakers were universally popular—chunky “dad shoes,” white trainers, and designer collabs (Nike x Travis Scott, Adidas x Yeezy).
• Slides, Crocs, and Birkenstocks surged thanks to comfort and remote living.

Accessories

• Face masks became the most iconic accessory of the era (2020–2022), with everything from surgical blue masks to designer prints.
• Bucket hats, scrunchies, and claw clips made a major comeback from the ’90s/Y2K fashion playbook.
• Tote bags, fanny packs worn cross-body, and mini backpacks were common, especially among younger people.
• Blue light glasses became popular due to increased screen time.

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Health

Life Expectancy

• Average life expectancy (2020–2025):
  Around 76–78 years in the U.S., depending on the year. This was a drop from the pre-pandemic average of ~79 due to COVID-19 and drug-related deaths.
• If you survived childhood, your outlook remained strong with access to healthcare—many lived well into their 80s or 90s.
• Childhood survival rate:
  Extremely high. Over 99% of children in the U.S. survived to adulthood, thanks to modern medicine, sanitation, and nutrition.

Healthcare and Medicine

• The U.S. had some of the most advanced medical technology in the world (robotic surgeries, cancer treatments, mRNA vaccines).
• Healthcare was a mix of public and private insurance, with many Americans covered by employer plans, Medicare, or Medicaid.
• However, care was often expensive and unevenly accessible, especially for uninsured or underinsured individuals.
• Mental health services saw rising demand, but access was limited in many areas, especially rural ones.

Common Health Issues

• Mental health disorders (especially among teens): anxiety, depression, and social isolation spiked during and after COVID-19 lockdowns.
• Obesity & heart disease remained leading chronic conditions among adults.
• COVID-19 itself, along with long COVID symptoms (fatigue, brain fog, respiratory issues), affected millions.
• Autoimmune disorders, diabetes, and cancer were also common chronic concerns.

Common Causes of Death

1. Heart disease
2. Cancer
3. COVID-19 (especially 2020–2022)
4. Drug overdoses (especially fentanyl and synthetic opioids)
5. Stroke
6. Diabetes-related complications
7. Suicide (notably increased among teens and young adults)

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Social Structures

Relationship Trends

• Monogamy remained the cultural norm, especially in formal relationships like marriage, though non-traditional relationship styles (e.g., polyamory, open relationships) became more visible and accepted in some social circles.
• Dating apps (like Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge) were the primary way many people met romantic partners, especially post-COVID.

Marriage

• Median age at first marriage:
  • Men: ~30 years old
  • Women: ~28 years old
  • These were historically high due to career focus, student debt, and changing priorities.
• Marriage rates declined steadily, with many choosing cohabitation over legal marriage.

Children

• Average age at first birth:
  • Around 27–30 for women
• Typical number of children per household:
  • Around 1.7 children per family, with two-child households being most common
  • One-child households were increasingly common in cities

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Challenges of Having or Being a Child

For Parents

• Childcare expenses pose a major burden for families, especially in urban and suburban areas. On average, parent pay $1,000 to $1,600 per month per child, with infant care often being the most expensive. These costs are frequently on par with, or even higher than, what many families pay for housing.
• Housing affordability crisis in many metro areas, as in many cities, the cost to rent or buy a home is much higher than what most people earn, so even people with decent jobs struggle to afford a place to live.
• Student loan debt delayed parenting and home ownership for many millennials
• Cultural Expectations
  • Work-centric culture continued, but mental health and wellness became growing priorities. Work-life balance was especially challenging for dual-income households and single parents (who made up 1 in 4 families) as they navigated long hours, rising stress, and limited support.
  • Parenting styles leaned toward:
    • Gentle/positive parenting approaches: a child-rearing approach focused on empathy, respect, connection, and guidance rather than punishment or control.
    • Intensive parenting: a highly involved and time-consuming approach where parents closely manage and structure nearly every aspect of their child’s development, education, and activities to maximize their success.
  • Milestone pressure was common (e.g., having kids by 30, owning a home), yet often unrealistic due to economy

For Children

• Mental health challenges spiked, especially among teens (anxiety, depression, social pressure)
• Screen time skyrocketed due to online school and digital entertainment
• COVID-19 disrupted key developmental years:
  • Children born around 2020 — often called “pandemic babies” — experienced early development during a time of lockdowns, reduced social interaction, mask-wearing, and heightened stress in households.
    As a result, studies showed that some of these children had delays in speech, socialization, and motor skills compared to pre-pandemic peers. This was likely due to fewer opportunities for in-person interaction with other children and adults, less exposure to facial expressions (because of masks), and more time spent indoors or with screens.
  • Children and teens who were in school during the 2020–2022 period faced significant challenges due to widespread remote learning. Many struggled with the lack of in-person interaction, which impacted their social development and made it harder to build friendships and practice communication skills. The shift to online classes also created gaps in education—some students had limited access to reliable internet or devices, leading to missed lessons and uneven learning. Additionally, the absence of hands-on activities, extracurriculars, and routine disrupted their overall school experience, contributing to feelings of isolation and decreased motivation for many.

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Average Middle-Class House

Size, Layout, and Rooms

• Square Footage: Typically 1,800–2,400 sq ft (around 2,200 was common)
• Bedrooms: 3 to 4
• Bathrooms: 2 to 2.5
• Garage: 2-car garage (usually attached)
• Backyard: Standard suburban size, often with patios or garden beds
• Bonus Room: Many homes included a home office or flex space
• Layout Style: Open floor plans were still popular early in the decade; separate rooms regained popularity post-2023 for privacy

New Tools, Appliances, and Features

Appliances

• Air fryers (extremely popular)
• Nugget ice makers (trendy luxury item)
• Bidets or bidet attachments (spiked during the 2020 toilet paper shortage)

Pandemic-Era Must-Haves

• Dedicated home offices (or at least remote workstations)
• At-home gyms (Peloton bikes, yoga mats, resistance bands, etc.)
• Upgraded outdoor areas (fire pits, patio lighting, raised garden beds)
• Mudrooms or entry spaces with sanitizing stations

Sustainability and Energy Efficiency

• Solar panel installations increased, helped by tax incentives
• Electric vehicle (EV) chargers became more common in garages

Interior Design & Decor Trends

• Modern farmhouse style (shiplap, black hardware, neutral palettes)
• “Greige” color schemes (gray + beige)
• Peel-and-stick wallpaper (easy DIY decor)
• Open shelving in kitchens
• Ultra-organized pantries with labeled containers (inspired by The Home Edit)
• Lots of indoor plants (biophilic design trend)
• LED strip lighting, especially in teen bedrooms

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Free Time Activities

Adults

Games

• Video Games:
  • Call of Duty: Warzone, Elden Ring, Fortnite, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, Baldur’s Gate 3, Cyberpunk 2077 (post-fix), Animal Crossing: New Horizons (especially early pandemic)
• Board/Card Games:
  • Catan, Wingspan, Terraforming Mars, Exploding Kittens, Unstable Unicorns, Codenames
  • Dungeons & Dragons (massive resurgence, often played virtually)

Pastimes & Hobbies

• Streaming Binge-Watching: Netflix, HBO, Hulu, Disney+, Prime Video, Apple TV+
• Home Workouts & Yoga Apps: Peloton, YouTube yoga (esp. “Yoga with Adriene”), resistance bands
• Hiking & Nature Escapes: Popular due to COVID restrictions, national parks were overwhelmed
• Crafting & DIY: Crocheting, embroidery, candle-making, sourdough bread baking
• Gardening: Indoor plant obsession & pandemic “victory gardens”
• Reading: BookTok (TikTok-based book trends) drove sales: Colleen Hoover, Sarah J. Maas, Emily Henry

Popular Events & Live Shows

Mega Concerts & Tours:

• Taylor Swift – Eras Tour (2023–2024): Historic, record-breaking
• Beyoncé – Renaissance Tour (2023)

Plays & Live Theatre:

• Hamilton (still relevant, Disney+ boosted access)
• Hadestown, Six: The Musical, MJ: The Musical, Dear Evan Hansen
• Broadway recovered slowly post-2020 but saw strong interest in bio-musicals and modern feminist storytelling

Common Social Events:

• Trivia nights, escape rooms, brewery tastings, pop-up museums (like immersive Van Gogh), and “silent discos”
• Pandemic pod game nights & Zoom trivia were huge 2020–2021

Children & Families

GAMES

• Toys & Board Games:
  • LEGO (Star Wars, Marvel, Friends), Barbie (revived by 2023 film), Hot Wheels, LOL Surprise Dolls, Squishmallows
  • UNO, Guess Who?, Connect 4, Sorry!, Mouse Trap
• Tablets & Apps:
  • YouTube Kids, ABCmouse, Prodigy Math Game, Toca Boca, Roblox, Minecraft
• Video Games:
  • Minecraft, Roblox, Among Us (massive 2020–2021), Fortnite, Pokemon Scarlet & Violet

Family Pastimes

• Baking Together: Banana bread, cookies, sourdough: pandemic-era comfort
• Drive-in Movies & Backyard Projectors
• Zoom Birthdays & Virtual Playdates (2020–2021)
• Outdoor Exploration: Nature walks, scavenger hunts, chalk art, bike rides
• Home Schooling & Pods: Many parents created education “pods” or relied on hybrid/remote school support

Family Events & Experiences

Seasonal & Local Events:

• Pumpkin patches, Christmas light shows, drive-thru zoos, Renaissance fairs, county fairs, trampoline parks
• School carnivals, sports tournaments, dance recitals, and graduation parades (2020)

Shared Family/Adult Trends

• Board Game Nights came back big: Ticket to Ride, Uno Flip, Disney Villainous
• Puzzle building became trendy again (especially in 2020)
• Animal Crossing: New Horizons was played across generations during lockdown

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Economics

• Median household income (2020–2022):
  ~ $70,000 to $75,000 per year
  (Note: This varied significantly by region and rose slightly due to inflation by 2023–2024)
• Class breakdown (estimates):
  • Lower-income: ~29%
  • Middle class: ~50%
  • Upper-income: ~21%
    (Based on Pew Research and U.S. Census definitions adjusted for cost of living)

8 Common Jobs

Job	Salary	Notes
Fast Food Works	$20,000-$28,000	Often part-time, frontline during COVID, high turnover
Retail Associate	$25,000-$35,000	Major chains like Walmart, Target, etc.
Home Health Aid/ Caregiver	$28,000-$40,000	In high demand during pandemic, low wages despite essential role
Customer Service Rep (Remote or Call Center)	$35,000-$50,000	Most transitioned to remote during pandemic
K-12 Teacher (Public School)	$45,000-$65,000	Hugely impacted by remote learning
Registered Nurse	$65,000-$95,000	COVID made this one of the critical and stressed professions
Software Developer	$90,000-$140,000	Boom in tech, remote-friendly, highly sought after
Corporate Executive/VC/Tech Founder	$200,000-Millions+	Top 1% especially in Silicon Valley or finance hubs

Common Purchases

Item	Average Price
Gallon of Milk	$3.50-$4.50
Dozen Eggs	$2.00-$8.00 (spiked in 2022)
Loaf of Bread	$2.50-$4.00
Gallon of Gas	$2.00-$5.00
New Car	$37,000-$80,000
Monthly Rent (2BR Apt)	$1,200-$2,500+
Average House	$350,000-$450,000+ (crossed $400K avg in 2022)
Netflix Subscription	$9-$20/month

Other Important Financial Info

Inflation & the Cost of Living

• Inflation spiked in 2021–2022, reaching a 40-year high (~9% mid-2022).

Housing Crisis

• Home prices exploded due to low interest rates early in the decade and high demand.
• Bidding wars became common; many young people were priced out of homeownership.

Student Loans & Debt

• Total U.S. student loan debt exceeded $1.7 trillion.

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Religion & Faith

• Decline of traditional religious affiliation: Fewer Americans, especially younger generations, identified with organized religion. According to Pew Research, the “nones” (no religious affiliation) reached nearly 30% by 2022.
• Growth in spirituality: Interest in mindfulness, astrology, ancestral practices, and nondenominational spirituality increased. Apps like Calm, Insight Timer, and Co-Star surged in popularity.
• Faith remained a major source of comfort, controversy, and community throughout this time:
  • Many religious leaders quickly adapted to the moment, moving services online, hosting virtual prayer meetings, and organizing food drives, grief counseling, and community support efforts.
  • However, some churches and religious groups pushed back against in-person gathering restrictions. These leaders saw worship as an essential part of life and challenged state mandates, citing religious freedom. This led to several high-profile legal cases and news coverage about the balance between public health and constitutional rights.

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Art & Aesthetic Culture

Art in the 2020s reflected upheaval, digital innovation, and identity:

• Defining Aesthetic: The rise of the “dissociative aesthetic”, liminal spaces, Y2K revival, and hyperpop visualsreflected a kind of anxious nostalgia. Think: glitchy digital collages, blurry photos, vaporwave, and millennial pink fading into Gen Z beige.
• Major themes:
  • Pandemic isolation, racial justice and protest, climate anxiety, digital identity & AI, reclamation of heritage

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Language & Writing

Language mirrored cultural shifts and the internet’s immediacy:

• New Vocabulary:
  • Doomscrolling, quiet quitting, nepo baby, gaslighting (Merriam-Webster’s 2022 Word of the Year), girl dinner, main character energy
• Writing Trends:
  • Memoirs and autofiction surged (e.g. Prince Harry’s “Spare”, Matthew Perry’s memoir)
  • Short-form writing via Substack and newsletters replaced blogs
  • TikTok (#BookTok) heavily influenced publishing, especially romance and fantasy books

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Major Events

The OBVIOUS Major Event: What Was COVID Like in the U.S.?

There’s no talking about life in the 2020s without acknowledging COVID-19, the pandemic that defined a generation. It changed how we worked, learned, celebrated, grieved, shopped, and even gave birth.

1. Initial Panic & Lockdowns (March–May 2020)

In March 2020, life as we knew it hit a hard pause.

• Toilet paper shortages, panic buying,
• 
  Toilet paper disappeared, hand sanitizer became currency, and empty shelves became national symbols of fear and uncertainty.
• Businesses shuttered overnight, schools moved online, travel halted, Americans were told to “stay home, stay safe.”
• New vocabulary entered everyday life: flatten the curve, social distancing, PPE, essential workers.

My story:
I threw a baby shower in March 2020, my first child was on the way. Not fully grasping what was coming, I thought it would be funny to serve Coronas as a wink at “coronavirus.” My job sent everyone home soon after. We had weekly virtual meetings for a year joking if we’d ever see each other again, and some coworkers didn’t even know I was pregnant, I hadn’t started showing before lockdown hit.

2. Social Shock & Remote Everything (Spring–Summer 2020)

• Millions began working or learning from home, while food delivery and online shopping exploded.
• Mental health became a national issue due to isolation, fear, and uncertainty.
• Holidays were celebrated virtually; funerals and weddings were postponed or livestreamed.

My story:
I was always out and about, constantly enjoying time with friends, and suddenly, I was stuck inside. It was disorienting. Marco Polo became my social life. Meanwhile, my friends and I, some also pregnant, were texting about how surreal it was. We were told we might have to labor in masks or do it without our partners present.
But… at least no strangers tried to rub my belly, and people gave me tons of space in public, “don’t get the pregnant lady sick,” so small wins.

3. Pregnancy & Early Motherhood During a Pandemic (2020–2021)

• Hospitals had strict visitor policies. Laboring while masked wasn’t uncommon.
• There was comfort in privacy, but pain in isolation — babies born into quiet homes, with no visiting grandparents or friends bearing casseroles.
• Some parents worried about long-term effects of their babies rarely seeing full human faces.

My story:

While everyone and their mom was trying to figure out what their new at home hobby was going to be, mine was preparing a nursery and keeping a new human alive.
Giving birth during a pandemic was a strange mix of peace and grief. I got uninterrupted time alone with my newborn, no pressure to entertain guests or share him before I was ready. But it was also incredibly lonely. The joy wasn’t shared in person. No one could hold him except us.
And once I returned to work in 2021, childcare was chaos. Exposure notifications came constantly. I’d barely settle into a rhythm before I had to keep my child home for 10 days again.

4. Mask Debates & Political Division

• Wearing masks became politically charged, seen by some as patriotic and by others as government overreach.
• Public trust in science fluctuated due to inconsistent messaging and politicization of public health guidelines.
• Protests against lockdowns erupted in several states, especially in spring/summer 2020.

4. Vaccines & Hope (2021)

• mRNA vaccines (Pfizer & Moderna) rolled out starting December 2020, followed by Johnson & Johnson.
• By summer 2021, mask mandates lifted in many areas and people cautiously resumed travel and socializing.
• “Vaccine selfies” and “I got vaccinated” stickers became cultural symbols of civic pride.

5. Variants, Waves & Fatigue (2021–2022)

• Delta and Omicron threw everyone for a loop. Breakthrough infections blurred the lines between “safe” and “risky.”
• Trust in public messaging wavered.
• Many felt exhausted, emotionally, mentally, financially. “COVID fatigue” was the new pandemic.

6. The “Living with It” Era (2022–2023)

• Mask mandates were largely dropped. Offices reopened with hybrid setups.
• The federal public health emergency officially ended in May 2023.
• But COVID didn’t vanish, long COVID, hospital staffing shortages, and burnout still lingered.
• People moved on, but the emotional and cultural aftershocks remained just under the surface.

This wasn’t just history happening, it was our lives in real time. If you had a child during this period, lost a loved one, graduated over Zoom, worked from your kitchen table, or just tried to stay sane, then you know: it wasn’t just a pandemic, it was a collective memory that reshaped us all.

Social Change Events

• George Floyd’s murder & nationwide BLM protests (2020): Enormous movement for racial justice across the U.S.
• 2021 Presidential Inauguration: Election of Joe Biden and historic swearing-in of Kamala Harris, the first woman, Black, and South Asian Vice President.
• January 6, 2021 – Capitol Breach:
  A group of individuals entered the U.S. Capitol building during the certification of the presidential election results, leading to disruptions, evacuations, and subsequent legal and security responses.
• Dobbs Rollback — Roe v. Wade overturned (June 2022): Removing federal protections for abortion access and allowing individual states to set their own laws on the issue.

Science, Space & Tech

• NIASA’s Commercial Crew Program (2020+): Victor Glover becomes the first Black astronaut to live long-term on the ISS.
• Great American Eclipse (April 2024): A coast-to-coast astronomical event drawing huge public and scientific attention.
• Generative AI explosion (2023–2025): ChatGPT-style tools rapidly adopted by the public, raising broad ethical and regulatory debates.

Climate & Environmental Disasters

• Hurricane season & extreme flooding events: The 2024 Midwest derecho and severe hurricane impacts.
• L.A. wildfires (January 2025):
  A series of major wildfires, including the Palisades, Eaton, Hughes, and other fires, swept through Los Angeles and surrounding counties from January 7–31, 2025. Driven by exceptionally strong Santa Ana winds and prolonged drought conditions, these fires resulted in ~ 30 fatalities, more than 200,000 people evacuated at the peak of the events, and ~57,600 acres burned across multiple fires.
• Maui (Lahaina) Wildfires (August 8, 2023):
  • Deadliest wildfire in the U.S. in over 100 years, hundreds of lives lost. Massive displacement: thousands uprooted, significant migration off Maui, estimated $50–60 million annual economic losses

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Entertainment

Quick side note: Look, we’re all currently living in this wild decade together, and if your absolute favorite didn’t make the cut…I’m so sorry. I did my best to capture the iconic, the viral, the oddly comforting, and the “wait, that was THIS decade?” moments.

That said, if I somehow skipped a song that clearly deserved to be here, or left out a show that had you in a chokehold, tell me in the comments. Let’s make this list even more painfully accurate together.

Music

Emerging or Trending Music Genres

1. Hyperpop
   • Experimental, chaotic pop with heavy autotune and glitchy beats
   • Artists: 100 gecs, Glaive, Charli XCX (post-2020), ericdoa
2. Indie Pop / Bedroom Pop
   • Soft, lo-fi, DIY aesthetic, emotionally raw
   • Artists: Clairo, Girl in Red, Beabadoobee, Rex Orange County, Laufey
3. Drill / Trap / Rage Rap
   • Dark, hard-hitting beats and street-influenced lyrics
   • Artists: Pop Smoke, Ice Spice, Lil Durk, Yeat, Lil Uzi Vert
4. Country Pop / Country Trap
   • Blends traditional country with pop and hip-hop rhythms
   • Artists: Morgan Wallen, Kacey Musgraves, Jelly Roll, Walker Hayes
5. Latin Pop / Reggaeton Crossover
   • Latin rhythms crossing into U.S. pop charts
   • Artists: Bad Bunny, Karol G, Peso Pluma, Rauw Alejandro
6. Retro Revivals (Disco, Pop Punk, Y2K Aesthetic)
   • Rebirth of older genres made modern
   • Artists: Dua Lipa (disco), Olivia Rodrigo (pop punk), Silk Sonic (70s R&B)
7. Lo-fi Beats / Study Music
   • Instrumental, calming background music dominating Spotify & YouTube
   • Artists: Various online producers like lofi girl, Idealism

Playlist:

Pop / Indie Anthems

• “As It Was” – Harry Styles
• “abcdefu” – GAYLE
• “good 4 u” – Olivia Rodrigo
• “Butter” – BTS
• “Anti-Hero” – Taylor Swift
• “Nobody Gets Me” – SZA
• “Glue Song” – Beabadoobee
• “Cupid (Twin Version)” – FIFTY FIFTY

TikTok / Viral Hits

• “Supalonely” – BENEE ft. Gus Dapperton
• “Say So” – Doja Cat
• “Savage Love” – Jason Derulo & Jawsh 685
• “Made You Look” – Meghan Trainor
• “Boy’s a Liar Pt. 2” – PinkPantheress & Ice Spice
• “Just Wanna Rock” – Lil Uzi Vert
• “Beautiful Things” – Benson Boone

Country & Crossovers

• “Last Night” – Morgan Wallen
• “Fancy Like” – Walker Hayes
• “Son of a Sinner” – Jelly Roll
• “Fast Car” (cover) – Luke Combs
• “Flowers” – Miley Cyrus

Indie / Alt Rock Favorites

• “Motion Sickness” – Phoebe Bridgers
• “Everything I Know About Love” – Laufey
• “Chaise Longue” – Wet Leg
• “Seventeen Going Under” – Sam Fender
• “Margaret” – Lana Del Rey ft. Bleachers

Rap / Hip-Hop / Trap

• “Dior” – Pop Smoke
• “Finesse Out the Gang Way” – Lil Durk ft. Lil Baby
• “RAPSTAR” – Polo G
• “Princess Diana” – Ice Spice ft. Nicki Minaj
• “Montero (Call Me By Your Name)” – Lil Nas X
• “HISS” – Megan Thee Stallion

Dance, Disco, and Retro Pop

• “Levitating” – Dua Lipa
• “Leave the Door Open” – Silk Sonic
• “Blinding Lights” – The Weeknd
• “Unholy” – Sam Smith & Kim Petras
• “Padam Padam” – Kylie Minogue

Adults

TV Shows

1. The Bear (Hulu)

• A raw, high stress dramedy about a fine dining chef returning to Chicago to rescue his late brother’s chaotic sandwich shop, offering a visceral look at post pandemic hustle culture, grief, mental health, and the food industry.

2. Euphoria (HBO)

• A raw teen drama that dives into Gen Z identity, addiction, social media, and gender exploration, following Rue and her High School classmates as they navigate growing up in a hyper connected world.

3. Abbott Elementary (ABC/Hulu)

• Uplifting mockumentary sitcom about underfunded public schools.

4. Reservation Dogs (FX/Hulu)

• First show with all Indigenous writers/directors. The show follows four Indigenous teens as they make their way through life on the rez.

5. Succession (HBO)

• Billionaire family drama, legacy media, corporate power — American elite at its most chaotic.

Movies

1. Nomadland (2020)

• A woman who loses everything in the Great Recession, embraces life as a modern day nomad, traveling across America in her van.

3. Don’t Look Up (2021)

• A dark satire where two astronomers discover a planet killing comet, only to face a whirlwind of media distraction, government inaction, and public indifference. Brilliantly mirroring real world responses to existential threats like climate change and COVID.

4. Barbie (2023)

• Barbie leaves her perfect pink world for the real one, embarking on a journey of self discovery, while Ken tags along and accidentally sparks a revolution that critiques American society and its patriarchal norms.

5. The Social Dilemma (2020, documentary)

• Opened conversations about social media addiction, privacy, and manipulation — very of-the-moment.

Books

1. The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennett (2020)

• A multigenerational novel set across America that follows twin sisters, one who embraces her Black identity and the other who secretly passes as white.

2. Such a Fun Age by Kiley Reid (2020)

• A young Black babysitter and her well meaning white employer find themselves in a viral incident at the grocery store, which unravels their lives.

3. Happy Place by Emily Henry (2023)

• A couple fakes being together for one last vacation with friends.

Children/Families

Movies

1. The Mitchells vs. the Machines (2021, Netflix)

• A tech-crazy American family on a cross-country road trip

2. Yes Day (2021, Netflix

• Parents say “yes” to everything for 24 hours, from messy adventures to wild requests. Pure chaos, pure fun, and totally heartwarming.

3. Flora & Ulysses (2021, Disney+)

• A comic loving girl rescues a squirrel with actual superpowers

4. Ron’s Gone Wrong (2021, 20th Century Studios)

• A socially awkward kid gets a glitchy robot bestie, and together they navigate friendship, digital chaos, and what it really means to connect in the world.

TV Shows

1. Craig of the Creek (Cartoon Network, ongoing)

• American kids exploring creeks, treehouses, and imagination-fueled adventures

2. Alma’s Way (PBS Kids, 2021– )

• Latino-American family life, urban culture, music, and problem-solving

3. Karma’s World (Netflix, 2021– )

• Modern Black American childhood, music, and identity

• Setting: American city
• Depicts: Diverse group of kids solving mysteries through literature
• Iconic For: Blending mystery, reading, and digital-age storytelling

5. Gabby’s Dollhouse (Netflix, 2021– )

• A curious girl and her magical cat crew dive into whimsical adventures, crafts, and surprises inside a fantastical dollhouse

Books

1. Change Sings by Amanda Gorman (2021)

• A young girl shows kids that even small voices can spark big change in the world and within themselves. Written by the first National Youth Poet Laureate and inaugural poet

2. I Am Every Good Thing by Derrick Barnes (2020)

• A young boy who knows he’s full of greatness, even when the world tries to tell him otherwise

3. Eyes That Speak to the Stars by Joanna Ho (2022)

• A young Asian boy inspired by the men in his family, embraces the beauty and strength in his eyes, realizing they connect him to his heritage, his future, and the stars above

• Celebration of the bond between fathers and sons though
• Iconic For: Promoting inclusive family structures

4. What If, Pig? by Linzie Hunter (2021)

• A sweet story about a lovable, worry prone pig who spirals into “what if” anxiety while planning a party, with the help of his mouse friend, learns that optimism can turn worries around

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The Now Meal Plan

Breakfast:

Avocado Toast with a Twist

• Base: Toasted multigrain or sourdough bread
• Topping: Mashed avocado, lemon juice, sea salt, red pepper flakes
• Extras: Soft-boiled egg, microgreens, Everything But the Bagel seasoning
• Optional: Drizzle of chili crisp

Beverage: Oat Milk Latte (hot or iced)

Light Snack:

Charcuterie Board Mini Sampler

• Prosciutto or salami
• Brie, gouda, or goat cheese
• Grapes or blackberries
• Almonds or pistachios
• Crostini or seeded crackers

Dinner

Entrée:

Viral Green Goddess Salad Bowl w/ Baked Chicken & Quinoa

• Salad Base is the viral Green Goddess salad
• Add-ons to make it a full meal:
  • Baked chicken breast (simple seasoning: garlic, lemon, olive oil)
  • Cooked quinoa (warm or room temp)

Side:

Thick-Cut Sourdough with Butter & Flaky Salt

From that loaf of sourdough that everyone and their mom started during lockdown.

Dessert:

Crumbl Cookie

Beverage:

Choose Your 2020s Signature Drink

• White Claw – the drink that defined the decade of “no laws”
• Liquid Death (sparkling water) – because hydration now comes with branding and edge