Why do some people rise effortlessly while others go unnoticed? Toby E. Stuart, Leo Helzel Distinguished Professor of Business Administration at UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business, joins AJ and Johnny to reveal how social status—not just talent—shapes careers, opportunities, and success. Drawing from decades of research on social networks and status dynamics, Toby explains why recognition compounds like interest, why affiliation often matters more than merit, and how “anointing” can quietly decide who wins in today’s winner-take-most world.
From Nobel Prizes to Michelin stars to online platforms like Yelp, Stuart uncovers the paradox of prestige: success is as much about who endorses you as what you achieve. He also explores the dark side of status—scams, pressure to maintain it, and the loneliness of reaching the top. If you’ve ever felt overlooked despite strong results, this episode exposes the hidden rules of the status game and how to finally play it smarter.
What to Listen For
[00:00:00] Why affiliation and endorsements boost status more than raw merit
[00:01:17] The Matthew Effect: small early wins snowball into long-term success
[00:03:14] How identity shapes evaluation—Lord Rayleigh’s “voodoo science” story
[00:06:05] Achieved vs. ascribed status and why both determine outcomes
[00:08:32] Algorithms as modern gatekeepers of status
[00:13:16] Why “anointers” now include platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and Yelp
[00:17:26] How status transfers through networks like kinetic energy
[00:23:25] The rise (and risk) of gaming the status system
[00:27:42] The hamster wheel of high status: pressure, scrutiny, and imposter syndrome
[00:33:42] Why authentic friendships become harder at the top
[00:40:29] The future of status in the age of AI and algorithms
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Episode resources:
TobyStuart.com
Annointed
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