Mindhacking: Finding Serenity in a Tech-Obsessed World
Note to Self
WNYC Studios
4.7 • 2.7K Ratings
🗓️ 29 January 2014
⏱️ 21 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
Join our host Manoush Zomorodi for a "digital detox" at the intersection of Buddhism and technology.
Because, you see, Manoush is an addict.
A Pinterest addict.
Like many tech lovers who find it hard to unplug, she couldn't manage to power off her iPad during a recent home renovation project: "Just one more pin of Scandinavian kitchens or herringbone hardwood floors," she would plead with herself.
The solution, she discovered, was what we're calling a "digital detox," a sort of juice-cleanse for the mind (minus the cayenne-lemonade).
This week on New Tech City, you'll hear strategies and science from two experts about building a more purposeful approach to email and smartphones, on how to strengthen your IRL relationships and even rediscover the wonder of your neighborhood or town.
Priya Parker of Thrive Labs is a visioner who helps companies and leaders set goals and innovate in part by questioning the use of technology. You'll hear her tips for how to identify your core purpose and make sure tech is a tool — not an impediment — as you work to stay true to that purpose.
You'll also hear from Vincent Horn, co-founder of Buddhist Geeks, a podcast/company/conference that seeks to bridge the gap between spiritual practice and technology. Stay to the end of our podcast for a special mini-meditation session led by Horn.
Alternately, if you have just one minute, this video is a fun motivational pitch for attempting to take control of your digital vices.
Some music in this episode provided by Podington Bear from the Sound of Picture Production Library. Find a soundtrack for your own project at soundofpicture.com.
Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello friend, this is an episode of Note to Self, but from when we used to be called New |
| 0:05.8 | Text City. |
| 0:07.2 | Same good content, just the old name. |
| 0:09.6 | Enjoy. |
| 0:10.6 | Hi, it's New Text City, and I'm your host, Manu Samarodi. |
| 0:15.4 | And in this episode, we attempt to bring you peace. |
| 0:19.2 | Come along on our somewhat soothing journey as we look for serenity with our smartphones, |
| 0:25.1 | the balance between virtual and physical lives, where Buddhism intersects with technology, |
| 0:32.1 | and we've even got a guided meditation designed for the digital age at the very end. |
| 0:39.6 | But first, here's why I think we need to talk. |
| 0:45.0 | I feel like we know each other well enough by now that I can share this. |
| 0:49.5 | I am an addict, a Pinterest addict. |
| 0:54.0 | But for those of you who haven't experienced Pinterest, it's a photo-sharing app that |
| 0:58.7 | lets you create collections of pictures, like pinning them to a bulletin board. |
| 1:04.0 | And for me, it all started with renovating our home. |
| 1:09.8 | At first, I was just pinning one or two photos of Scandinavian kitchens. |
| 1:14.2 | Then I moved on to bathroom hardware, Moroccan tiles, wrought iron staircases. |
| 1:19.7 | From there, it spread to modern bedroom lighting, clever uses of chalkboard paint. |
| 1:24.5 | Every night, I'd put the kids to bed, and then reward myself by stretching out on the |
| 1:28.4 | floor with my iPad for hours, tapping, pinning, amassing hundreds of photos of my dream |
| 1:35.1 | house. |
| 1:36.1 | I'd promise myself I'd look for just one more picture of a busha-root rug, and then |
... |
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