Dr. Devon Price unpacks “the laziness lie,” how AI and “bullshit jobs” distort work and higher ed, and why centering human needs—not output—leads to saner lives.

Guest bio: Devon Price, PhD, is a Clinical Associate Professor of Psychology at Loyola University Chicago, a social psychologist, & writer. Prof Price is the author of Laziness Does Not Exist, Unmasking Autism, and Unlearning Shame, focusing on burnout, neurodiversity, and work culture.

Topics discussed:

• The laziness lie: origins and three core tenets
• AI’s effects on output pressure, layoffs, and disposability
• Overlap with David Graeber’s Bullshit Jobs and status hierarchies
• Adjunctification and incentives in academia
• Demographic cliff and the sales-ification of universities
• Career choices in an AI era: minimize debt and stay flexible
• Remote work’s productivity spike and boundary erosion
• Burnout as a signal to rebuild values around care and community
• Gap years, social welfare, and redefining “good jobs”
• Practicing compassion toward marginalized people labeled “lazy”

Main points:

• The laziness lie equates worth with productivity, distrusts needs/limits, and insists there’s always more to do, fueling self-neglect and stigma.
• Efficiency gains from tech and AI are converted into higher expectations rather than rest or shorter hours.
• Many high-status roles maintain hierarchy more than they create real value; resentment often targets meaningful, low-paid work.
• U.S. higher ed relies on precarious adjunct labor while admin layers swell, shifting from education to a jobs-sales funnel.
• In a volatile market, avoid debt, build broad human skills, and choose adaptable paths over brittle credentials.
• Remote work raised output but erased boundaries; creativity requires rest and unstructured time.
• Burnout is the body’s refusal of exploitation; recovery means reprioritizing relationships, art, community, and self-care.
• A humane society would channel tech gains into shorter hours and better care work and infrastructure.
• Revalue baristas, caregivers, teachers, and artists as vital contributors.
• Everyday practice: show compassion—especially to those our culture labels “lazy.”

Top three quotes:

• “What burnout really is, is the body refusing to be exploited anymore.” — Devon Price
• “Efficiency never gets rewarded; it just ratchets up the expectations.” — Devon Price
• “What is the point of AI streamlining work if we punish humans for not being needed?” — Devon Price

🎙 The Pod is hosted by Jesse Wright
💬 For guest suggestions, questions, or media inquiries, reach out at https://elpodcast.media/
📬 Never miss an episode – subscribe and follow wherever you get your podcasts.
⭐️ If you enjoyed this episode, please rate and review the show. It helps others find us.

Thanks for listening!