1356: Tipflation | Skeptical Sunday

We've hit peak tip fatigue. Michael Regilio is here to explain how a century of tipping led us here — and how it can be remedied — on Skeptical Sunday!
Welcome to Skeptical Sunday, a special edition of The Jordan Harbinger Show where Jordan and a guest break down a topic that you may have never thought about, open things up, and debunk common misconceptions. This time around, we’re joined by skeptic, comedian, and podcaster Michael Regilio (threads.com/@michaelregilio)!
Full show notes and resources can be found here: jordanharbinger.com/1356
On This Week's Skeptical Sunday:
• Tipping wasn't born of kindness — it was born of swagger. In Tudor England, the wealthy pressed coins on servants to broadcast their status, a little "I'm above you" rendered in currency. From day one, the gratuity signaled hierarchy, not good service.
• After the Civil War, employers dodged paying newly freed Black workers by letting customers "tip" instead. Pullman porters lived almost entirely on gratuities. Tipping became a tidy loophole for keeping labor nearly free.
• The federal tipped minimum wage is $2.13 an hour, frozen since 1996. Servers can take home paychecks reading zero dollars, the tips quietly doing all the heavy lifting the law politely declines to.
• By retiring the old 15% option and anchoring you at 18-22-25% during the on-screen payment process, it nudges your brain toward "generous" before the food even exists. It's behavioral economics, weaponized into a swivel screen that watches you decide.
• Nobody actually likes this system, which makes it ripe for change. Europe proves restaurants flourish without it. So aim your energy at fair-wage policies rather than the person holding the iPad — they didn't build this maze, they're just surviving it.
• Connect with Jordan on Twitter (twitter.com/JordanHarbinger), Instagram (instagram.com/jordanharbinger), and YouTube (youtube.com/c/THEJORDANHARBINGERSHOW). If you have something you'd like us to tackle here on Skeptical Sunday, drop Jordan a line at jordan@jordanharbinger.com and let him know!
• Connect with Michael Regilio at Twitter (twitter.com/Michaelregilio1), Instagram (instagram.com/michaelregilio), Threads (threads.com/@michaelregilio), Bluesky (bsky.app/profile/michaelregilio.bsky.social), and YouTube (youtube.com/channel/UCpXvzUcF00hUwrjKkABEjpQ?v…), and check out War Bar (amazon.com/dp/B0FPZPPL9C/?tag=jordanharbing-20), his comedy special!
And if you're still game to support us, please leave a review here (itunes.apple.com/podcast/id1344999619?mt=2&…) — even one sentence helps!
• Sign up for Six-Minute Networking (jordanharbinger.com/course) — our free networking and relationship development mini course — at jordanharbinger.com/course!
• Subscribe to our once-a-week Wee Bit Wiser (jordanharbinger.com/news) newsletter today and start filling your Wednesdays with wisdom!
• Do you even Reddit, bro? Join us at r/JordanHarbinger (reddit.com/r/JordanHarbinger)!
This Episode Is Brought To You By Our Fine Sponsors (jordanharbinger.com/deals):
• Quince: Free shipping & 365-day returns: quince.com/jordan (quince.com/jordan)
• SimpliSafe: 50% off + 1st month free: simplisafe.com/jordan (simplisafe.com/jordan)
• ZipRecruiter: Learn more at ziprecruiter.com/jordan (ziprecruiter.com/jordan)
• ConciergeMD: 20% off all services/memberships: conciergemdla.com/jordan, code JORDAN (conciergemdla.com/?utm_source=Podcast&utm_…)
See Privacy Policy at art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.