Seasoned & Unfiltered

They told us inflation was “transitory.”

Apparently, “transitory” can last a little longer than expected.

In this episode of Seasoned & Unfiltered, Steveo runs the tape on one of the most repeated economic talking points of the Biden years and asks a simple question: when the numbers changed, why did the response take so long?

We dig into the inflation surge that began in 2021, the Fed’s delayed interest-rate response, the 9.1% peak in 2022, and what rising prices actually meant for American families. Then Steveo puts the Biden-era numbers next to the first part of Trump’s second term to see what the data says about inflation, wages, tariffs, grocery prices, and the cost of living.

And yes, there’s an argument for the other side. COVID disrupted supply chains. The economy reopened unevenly. Russia invaded Ukraine. Nobody had a crystal ball.
But being wrong once is one thing.
Staying wrong while the numbers keep changing? That deserves a conversation.
Prices don’t magically go back down just because inflation slows — and Americans are still living with the consequences.

This is Seasoned & Unfiltered. Check the numbers. Make up your own mind. And if it makes you a little mad… well, good.

CHAPTERS

00:00 — “Transitory.” Yeah… About That
The word that aged about as well as milk.
02:16 — The 21.2% Question
Steveo lays out the number that drives the entire episode.
02:33 — When Yellen Called Inflation “Transitory”
What Americans were being told in 2021.
04:27 — The Numbers Were Already Changing
Inflation climbs while policymakers maintain their position.
06:06 — Then Inflation Hit 9.1%
The 2022 peak and why “temporary” became harder to defend.
07:20 — What Inflation Actually Cost American Families
This wasn't just an economic chart — households felt it.
08:42 — The Best Defense of Yellen and Powell
COVID, supply chains, reopening and the argument from the other side.
11:48 — When Being Wrong Becomes Policy
Was the Federal Reserve too slow to react?
14:44 — Why Did the First Rate Hike Take So Long?
The timeline from rising inflation to the March 2022 response.
15:21 — Can You Blame Ukraine for All of It?
Separating inflation already underway from the later energy shock.
16:49 — The Accountability Problem
Officials could admit mistakes. Families still paid the bill.
19:20 — Inflation Slowed. Your Grocery Bill Didn't.
Why lower inflation doesn't mean prices return to where they started.
22:16 — Let's Actually Look at the CPI Numbers
Breaking down the Biden years one year at a time.
25:22 — 21.2% Cumulative Inflation
Prices versus earnings and why families fell behind.
28:05 — Now Let's Look at Trump's Second Term
Comparing the early numbers from 2025–2026.
29:29 — Tariffs, Inflation and What Actually Happened
Did tariffs send inflation through the roof?
31:13 — The 2026 Middle East Variable
Why energy and geopolitical shocks complicate the numbers.
33:30 — The Real-Wage Kicker
Are wages finally gaining ground on prices?
35:20 — What Aren't You Being Told?
Steveo's bottom line — and a challenge to check the numbers yourself.
35:51 — Stay Seasoned, Stay Spicy, Stay Unfiltered

What is Seasoned & Unfiltered?

Seasoned & Unfiltered is where experience leads the conversation.
No buzzwords. No polish. Just straight talk from someone who’s lived enough life to know the difference between noise and substance.

Each episode explores business, leadership, culture, money, relationships, and the lessons you only learn the hard way. The wins, the mistakes, and the moments where reality shows up unannounced—it’s all on the table. Expect direct opinions, thoughtful reflection, and conversations that don’t bend just to make people comfortable.

Hosted by Hot Steveo, a veteran of the United States Armed Forces, the show is grounded in real-world experience shaped by service, discipline, and decades of perspective.

This isn’t advice pulled from a book or a trend.
It’s insight earned over time—seasoned by life and delivered unfiltered.

New episodes available wherever you get your podcasts.