No Jobs, No Ladder, No Relief — Except, For Some, a Cigarette

About this episode

The episode discusses the resurgence of smoking among young Hollywood workers amidst career challenges and generational debates.

Sean Penn, puffing away inside the Beverly Hilton at the Golden Globes. Kylie Jenner, with a cigarette dangling out of her mouth, on the cover of Vanity Fair. Nurse Dana, taking a drag on The Pitt. Smoking is back — both IRL and on screen — just as Hollywood’s shrinking career ladder leaves many millennials feeling stuck and a stressed-out Gen Z, inheriting the collapse, searches for connection and release. Editor, writer and former pack-a-day smoker Degen Pener joins Elaine Low and Sean McNulty to explain what’s driving young Hollywood workers to light up after talking to young industry workers outside clubs across Los Angeles — and what Gen Xers like him and Sean make of it. Plus, Elaine and Sean debate which generation really has it worse in today’s business — and whether boomers are to blame. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

People in this episode

Hosts: Elaine Low, Sean McNulty

Guest: Degen Pener

Topics covered

• Hollywood
• smoking
• millennials
• Gen Z
• career challenges
• generational debate

Keywords

• smoking
• Hollywood
• millennials
• Gen Z
• career ladder
• generational issues
• Degen Pener

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Vanity Fair

Places: Beverly Hilton, Los Angeles

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