Hi, podcast listeners. We have something special that we're putting down the feed today from my colleagues at the podcast, New Tech City, just down the hall.

Their host is Manusse Zamorodi. She's subbed for me, so you've probably heard her before.

And she's been pondering the moral dilemmas of the digital age every week on New Tech City.

Now they're running a fascinating project called Bored and Brilliant.

And it's about the lost art of spacing out.

Hi, Manushe.

Hi, Brooke.

Tell me what this is.

It's the story of how I realized that I wasn't getting bored anymore because I was always looking at my smartphone.

I don't understand. My entire life has been a flight from boredom. Why are you trying to bring it back?

Bortem is just the starting point because boredom, then your mind goes into mind wandering and daydreaming.

And look, all is explained in the episode, Brooke.

Hello. Please state your name after the tone and Google voice will try to reach.

New Tech City.

The relationship between a baby and its teddy bear or a baby and its binkie or a baby that wants its mother's

cradle when it's done with being held by a stranger.

That's the relationship between me and my phone.

I think of my phone like a power tool.

Extremely useful but dangerous if I'm not handling it properly. If I don't pay close attention, I'll suddenly realize that I've lost an hour of time doing something totally mindless.

I think I treat my phone as sort of this like friend, like a best friend, who has all of the best and worst qualities.

I'm sort of passive and let this friend take the reins.

They'll run away with me and distract me and make my life crazy.

...