CM 309: Toby Stuart on How Status Works

Decisions tax our brains. Whether it’s deciding which shows to watch or which products to buy, the choices are endless and can feel exhausting. That’s where status comes in. Researchers have learned that status is a mental short-cut we turn to when we’re feeling stuck. It’s an invisible force that guides decision-making and drives our choices. And it comes at a cost. Toby Stuart has written a book on status called Anointed: The Extraordinary Effects of Social Status in a Winner-Take-Most World. Given how important status is in our society and how invisible of a force it can be, I wanted to talk to him about what he’s learned and what role he thinks AI might play in dismantling it. Episode Links The Extraordinary Effects of Status on Society by Vikas Shah Where Success Really Comes From by Guy Kawasaki When Status Outranks Skills at Work by Freda L. Thomas The Team Learn more about host, Gayle Allen, and producer, Rob Mancabelli, here. Support the Podcast If you like the show, please rate and review it on iTunes or wherever you

You can listen to CM 309: Toby Stuart on How Status Works online on Radio and Podcast. Open the player on this page to stream the available audio.

CM 309: Toby Stuart on How Status Works is an episode from Curious Minds: Innovation in Life and Work by Gayle Allen.

This episode is 52:56 long.

This episode was published on Jan 10, 2026.

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