meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
ReThinking

The truth about the attention crisis with historian Daniel Immerwahr

ReThinking

TED

Worklife Podcasts, Adam Grant, Rethinking Podcast, Ted Podcast Adam Grant, Organizational Psychology, Ted Talks, Adam Grant Podcasts, Society & Culture

4.7626 Ratings

🗓️ 29 July 2025

⏱️ 43 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

In the age of social media and short-form content, many people insist that our attention spans are getting shorter. But historian Daniel Immerwahr reminds us that people have cried wolf for centuries about technology hijacking our attention. In this episode, Adam and Daniel dive into evidence that what’s changing is not our attention spans, but the objects of our focus. They also discuss moral panics of the past, compare the cognitive benefits of video games and the opera, and debate whether or not Marvel movies are a waste of time.


Follow

Host: Adam Grant (Instagram: @adamgrant | LinkedIn: @adammgrant | Website: adamgrant.net/)

Guest: Daniel Immerwahr (Website: history.northwestern.edu/people/faculty/core-faculty/daniel-immerwahr.html


Links

How to Hide an Empire: A History of the Greater United States


Subscribe to TED 

Instagram: @ted

YouTube: @TED

TikTok: @tedtoks

LinkedIn: @ted-conferences

Website: ted.com

Podcasts: ted.com/podcasts

ReThinking is produced by Cosmic Standard. Our Senior Producer is Jessica Glazer, our Engineer is Aja Simpson, our Technical Director is Jacob Winik, and our Executive Producer is Eliza Smith.


For the full text transcript, visit ted.com/podcasts/rethinking-with-adam-grant-transcripts


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

This episode is sponsored by London Business School. You know that feeling of racing between meetings,

0:06.1

trying to stay ahead of the market shifts, all while managing a never-ending stream of virtual calls?

0:11.8

Well, I'm excited to tell you about something that could help you level up. London Business School's

0:16.9

reimagined executive MBA. They've relaunched their program to match how today's executives

0:22.4

actually work, offering both in-person and blended learning in London or Dubai. Not only is LBS

0:29.4

known for its world-renowned faculty, the executive MBA has over 100 different electives to choose

0:35.1

from, so you can tailor your journey to suit your individual goals.

0:39.1

Ready to take that next step up in your career? Search London Business School Executive MBA today.

0:45.3

Hey, it's Sophie and Emma from the Secret Mum Club and this message is brought to you by Deliveroo.

0:49.6

It's getting colder and cozier, which means it's the perfect time for a film night.

0:53.7

Whether it's one for the family or one for when the children have gone to bed,

0:57.5

Deliveroo is on hand to supply the snacks and drinks in as little as 25 minutes.

1:02.3

Head to the Deliveroo app and order today.

1:04.3

Subject of availability, delivery times vary.

1:06.5

See in app, geographical restrictions, service and delivery fees and terms apply.

1:12.2

Sean has had some good ideas over the years, but using Canva was a really good one.

1:19.3

Sean designed some social posts to promote his friend's car boot sale. They looked good,

1:26.0

really, really good. Next thing he knows, someone came and bought the lot, including the car. Now Sean doesn't know I was going to get home.

1:38.8

Thanks, Canva.

1:43.3

You might not like the quality of the attention, you might not like the object of the attention,

1:46.7

but now we're arguing about something different than like, do people have the cognitive capacity to pay attention?

1:51.7

It just seems fairly obvious that we are living through an age of shortened attention spans when it comes to some things,

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from TED, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of TED and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.