Bill Gates' new job, a cure for political toxicity, and your pet codependence

🧑‍💼 Bill Gates just took your customer service job

If you're looking for a job in customer service, you're going to have to step up your game.

In possibly the most wholesome case of “bring your dad to work,” Bill Gates is spending a day on support duty at his daughter Phoebe’s fashion tech startup, Phia. Instead of asking her ultra-famous father to consult on strategy or join the board, she handed him a headset.

Sure, it’s a little Undercover Boss, a little “CEO cosplay,” but also kind of sweet. It’s not every day you see one of the world’s richest people learning the ropes by answering emails, troubleshooting bugs, and probably closing a few support tickets too soon.

Some napkin math puts Gates’ hypothetical hourly rate around $273,000 so let’s hope for Phoebe’s sake this was a pro bono gig.

PR stunt or not, we love a dad who shows up when his daughter asks.

🎯 Liberals and conservatives agree: this friend trait earns instant respect

It’s not your opinions that make you trustworthy, it’s your guest list.

In a moment when political lines feel like moral ones, forming friendships across the aisle can feel like a betrayal. However, new research suggests that those friendships might be our best chance of breaking the cycle.

A recent study found that Americans, both liberals and conservatives, are more open, less defensive, and more willing to engage when the person they're talking to has a politically diverse friend group. It demonstrates that you don’t live in an echo chamber.

That doesn’t mean compromising your values. It means creating enough social oxygen to make disagreement possible without catching fire, and it shows that you’re not just waiting to pounce.

Mixing up your social circle can be tough, though. This story, by Erik Barnes, has the tips you’ll need to start making the effort.

🐾 Do you live with a golden retriever or an emotional tyrant?

7 signs you're in a codependent relationship with your pet.

If the word pet, as opposed to fur baby or fuzziest family member, puts you on edge, this story by Mark Wales is for you because… you may have an issue.

Pet love is real. So is pet obsession. And while most of us would die for our animals, we shouldn’t be sacrificing our emotional stability in the process. According to psychologists, strong emotional over-attachment to pets is linked to greater anxiety, insecurity, and mental health burden. One study found that intense pet dependence often mirrors insecure human relationships, potentially increasing, not easing, emotional stress.

This guide offers seven practical steps to untangle unhealthy attachment habits and build a relationship that’s strong and sane.

Here’s a sneak peek:

• 🛋️ Set boundaries that serve you and your pet (no, the couch doesn’t belong to them)

• 📆 Establish routines that build trust without creating dependence

• 🤖 Stop projecting your feelings onto your cat’s blank stare

And that’s just scratching the surface. From celebrating small wins to avoiding emotional overload, this one’s for anyone who’s ever whispered “I love you more” to a sleeping golden retriever.

Until next time, try asking your customer service rep for a few million dollars, you never know who they might be.