All our hopes and fears about technology in 2025

Lauren Goode: I don’t remember that.

Zoe Schiffer: I think she did.

Michael Calore: I don’t know why everyone is looking at me.

Lauren Goode: Yes. Mike, what is your recommendation?

Michael Calore: In fact, I have a weird connection to the unboxing we just did, because I want to recommend the spice. So, everyone has that thing that they like to put on their food. I have a friend who puts Jordanian thyme on everything. I have a friend who loves his expensive and wonderful lemon olive oil at $25 a bottle and drizzles it on his breakfast every day. Maybe there’s a hot chili pepper that someone…

Zoe Schiffer: Oh, my God. I was just going to say.

Michael Calore: That’s right, because chili flakes can cost $20.

Zoe Schiffer: Very expensive.

Michael Calore: Very expensive. So just get them a year’s supply. You know they’ll use it. And it’s quite thoughtful. It shows that you care, and that you have enough insight into their lives to know them well as a person to know how to make them happy. So yes, this is…

Zoe Schiffer: That’s a good idea.

Michael Calore: If you can’t decide, I don’t know what size it is. I don’t know if they have read this book. I don’t know if they’ll actually use this, get them something that you know they like and that you know they’ll use.

Zoe Schiffer: That’s a good idea. It’s a good idea, because it’s hard to get your own. I constantly face this problem because my brother and mother are both chefs. So they’ll come home, and they’ll give me these expensive things, for example, Momofuku Chili Crisps, and then I’ll say, “Okay, I’m totally addicted to that. I need it for all my meals all the time.” Then I went to buy it, and I said, “$18 for that little money…” No, I can’t.

Lauren Goode: This is actually, this is my favorite dish. Momofuku Chili Crisp.

Zoe Schiffer: You can put it on everything.

Michael Calore: Have you tried Flyby Jing?

Lauren Goode: no.

Zoe Schiffer: Oh, also really good. It’s Sichuan chili pepper.

Michael Calore: amazing.

Zoe Schiffer: Really delicious.

Lauren Goode: This is great. Oh my gosh, I feel like I literally recommended snake oil and everyone was like, “Oh, Mike. Yes. Thank you.” Now I’m hungry.

Michael Calore: Okay, that’s our show for today. We will be back in the new year. Thanks for listening Uncanny Valley. If you liked what you heard today, be sure to follow and rate our show on your podcast app of choice. If you would like to contact us with any questions, comments or suggestions, you can write to us at [email protected]. Today’s program is produced by Kayana Moghaddam. Amar Lal is on macrosound mixing this episode. Jordan Peele is our executive producer. Condé Nast’s head of global audio is Chris Bannon.