What's in Your Storage Locker?
Summary
Host Kusha Navidar explores the American obsession with self-storage, noting the U.S. holds 99% of global capacity. Guest David Owen, a New Yorker staff writer, discusses his article "The American Religion of Self-Storage," linking the industry to life's "5 Ds": death, displacement, divorce, downsizing, and delusion. The conversation highlights how subscription inertia and the desire to preserve memories lead people to hoard items, often costing more than the goods themselves. Listeners share personal stories about storing seasonal gear or managing deceased relatives' belongings, illustrati…
Topics discussed
Intro: Why Americans hoard stuff in storage units
Listener call-in prompt and guest introduction
David Owen's origin story and the self-storage business model
The 5 Ds: Death, Displacement, Divorce, Downsizing, Delusion
Listener engagement and transition to texts
NYC space constraints and the cost of holding onto family items
Listener texts: emotional attachment and hospitalization
Caller Alexander: seasonal gear and downsizing after nursing home
Why 'religion'? Comparing storage facilities to churches
Subscription inertia and the friction of canceling storage
Listener texts on long-term costs and cleaning out estates
Tips for downsizing: the 'will your kids want it?' test
Credits and sign-off
Sponsorship and election information
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