Former CEO and tech millionaire Philip Su is saved from spiraling depression when he becomes an Amazon warehouse worker during Peak 2021, the company‘s busiest season from Black Friday to Christmas. Philip explores not only what it‘s like to go from earning seven figures in an air-conditioned office to working mandatory overtime for just above minimum wage, but also the impact of technology and automation on our collective futures and the unexpected blessing of resetting the hedonic treadmill.
On his first anniversary of working peak season at Amazon, Philip reflects on life after Peak, and on the career decisions he's made in the months hence. Full transcript at https://peaksalvation.com/where-are-they-now (https://peaksalvation.com/where-are-they-now).
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Thank you all for your continued support! Please write me at philip@peaksalvation.com (mailto:philip@peaksalvation.com), and rate Peak Salvation on iTunes and Spotify. I'd love to hear from you.
25 Mar 2022
15: Hello From The Outside
It's the end of Philip's time at Amazon. The warehouse, BFI4, celebrates Christmas with a free lunch, and Philip gets, at last, to enter Bezos's Balls.
18 Mar 2022
14: The Major Lift
Philip is encouraged when meeting an associate who also joined Amazon in order to combat depression. He reflects on the benefits of his journey thus far, and encounters an incredibly rare event that's full of wonder.
Full transcript: https://peaksalvation.com/the-major-lift
11 Mar 2022
13: Gonna Make You Sweat
The tendinitis plaguing Philip reaches fever pitch, forcing him to navigate the labyrinthine process of getting a medical accommodation from Amazon. The whole process proves farcical, calling into question whether the system works at all. Full transcript: https://peaksalvation.com/gonna-make-you-sweat
4 Mar 2022
12: Socioeconomic Bends
Philip is invited to a private event at the Space Needle where only multimillionaires are allowed. Such things apparently do exist — and they're as surreal as they sound. Full transcript: https://peaksalvation.com/socioeconomic-bends
25 Feb 2022
11: Thank You Very Much, Mr. Roboto
The tide of basal talent required to participate in our winner-take-all economy is rising beyond the capabilities of many. Computers used to serve our needs; we now increasingly serve robot overlords. What will happen to skilled labor in this future?
Full transcript: https://peaksalvation.com/thank-you-very-much-mr-roboto.
18 Feb 2022
10: Chasing That Paper
Philip spends all the money he makes in a day during that same day, and finds it doesn't last long at all. Turns out there are tons of surprising ways to make money once you already have some. It's not a zero sum game; we can all be better off. Full transcript at https://peaksalvation.com/chasing-that-paper.
11 Feb 2022
9: Mother Brain
All sorts of shirking happen inside an Amazon warehouse, including impromptu basketball games tossing customer packages. But there are also associates who inspire, with their dedication and drive. Finally, the entire warehouse system goes down for eight hours, giving Philip the time to learn about parts of the warehouse he'd otherwise never be able to. Full transcript: https://peaksalvation.com/mother-brain
4 Feb 2022
8: Eleventh Day One
Philip survives Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but his eleven-hour shifts with overtime begin to cause injuries to his hands. He contrasts the job with white-collar work, and the tradeoffs aren't at all clear.
28 Jan 2022
7: Peak Begins
The long-awaited Peak season begins, with Amazon giving all warehouse associates a Costco pumpkin pie worth $5.99. Philip recounts two below-minimum-wage jobs he's held and the odd management strategies used at Amazon. Eleven hours a day, five hours a week, are now required of all workers. There's also a bit about Georgian economics, and a tax that many economists call "the perfect tax."
21 Jan 2022
6: You Get What You Measure
Philip begins to get the hang of various warehouse jobs and is confronted with associates' different approaches to the work. He questions the consequence of ways performance is measured. Full transcript at https://peaksalvation.com/you-get-what-you-measure
14 Jan 2022
5: Day Two - The Real Job Begins
Philip experiences his first full day of the real job, getting a feel for not only the job but the characters within. Full transcript at https://peaksalvation.com/day-two.
7 Jan 2022
4: Day One
Philip enters an Amazon warehouse for the first time and beholds its splendor. He's given a hilarious gift by Amazon. Full transcript at https://peaksalvation.com/day-one.
31 Dec 2021
3: Day Zero
Philip tells his family he's accepted a job in an Amazon warehouse. He watches the surprising mandatory training videos and discovers gems in the employee newsletter prior to his first day. Full transcript at https://peaksalvation.com/day-zero.
26 Dec 2021
2: Landing the Job
Philip secures a warehouse job at Amazon in surprisingly little time and engages in his first-ever drug test. Full transcript at https://peaksalvation.com/landing-the-job
21 Dec 2021
1: Prelude to Peak Salvation
Philip explains what led him to go from high-paying tech jobs to becoming an Amazon warehouse worker.
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