It's the Brian Lear Show on WMYC.

I'm Amina Serna, a producer for the show filling in for Brian today.

These days, we have more ways than ever to keep ourselves entertained.

Endless scrolling, streaming, podcasts, games.

Yet, boredom still finds a way in.

And when it does, we often treat it like a problem to solve,

something to escape as quickly as possible.

But what if boredom isn't the enemy?

Vox senior reporter Ali Volpe

explores this idea in her essay, how to be less afraid of boredom, arguing that those

moments of restlessness aren't just empty time. They're full of potential. So what happens when

we stop resisting boredom and start paying attention to it?

Can it make us more creative, more present, maybe even happier?

Allie's bio page on Vox's website lists her many beats, which include mental health,

relationships, wellness, money, home life, and work, and she joins us to talk about the science of boredom, why we feared it,

why we fear it, and how we might use it to our advantage. Allie, welcome to WMIC.

Thank you so much for having me. Thanks for being here. And listeners, we want to hear from you.

What's your relationship with boredom? Do you embrace it, avoid it, fight against it?

Maybe you're someone who never gets bored.

Or maybe you find yourself bored all the time.

If you're a parent, how do you handle your child's boredom?

If you've tried cutting back on digital distractions,

...