Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard Toby Stuart (on social status)
Oct 8, 2025
Toby Stuart, an organizational theorist and UC Berkeley professor, dives into the fascinating world of social status. He shares insights from his book, discussing how status impacts art values and dating app dynamics. Toby explains the concept of 'anointing' and its ripple effects across social hierarchies. He explores why small advantages can lead to monumental disparities in status and warns about the implications of AI on our perception of status. Toby's blend of humor and research makes for an enlightening conversation you won't want to miss!
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Choosing Research Over Consulting Shaped Career
- Toby described taking a case‑writing job at Harvard Business School instead of consulting because it allowed travel and learning from executives.
- He loved the role and it shaped his career path despite not being a graduate student position.
Interdisciplinary Academic Background
- Toby described his PhD from Stanford Business School with sociology emphasis and broad training in economics.
- He framed himself as a sociologist turned computational social scientist.
Rankings Reshape Academic Culture
- Campus cultures differ but elite faculties share excellence; resources and rankings shape mission and behavior.
- Rankings incentivize institutions to manage to metrics, changing character over time.
