logo
episode-header-image
Aug 2023
32m 32s

When our phones are just phones with Kai...

Guy Raz | Wondery
About this episode

Most of us are dependent on our smartphones. In fact, Americans spend an average of three hours a day on these devices — devices that only came into existence relatively recently. 

Designers Kai Tang and Joe Hollier have long believed that it’s not normal for humans to be so attached to their phones. So they launched their own company in 2014 to create an alternative...called the Light Phone.

This week on How I Built This Lab, Kai and Joe talk about their work to build a simpler mobile phone - without apps or tracking of personal data - which has been adopted by users across generations. Plus, the duo discuss the impact of society’s growing reliance on tech and their hopes for a less-connected future.


This episode was produced by Casey Herman with editing by John Isabella, research by Kerry Thompson, and music by Ramtin Arablouei. Our audio engineer was Neal Rauch. 


You can follow HIBT on Twitter & Instagram, and email us at hibt@id.wondery.com.

See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Up next
Oct 9
Advice Line with Michael Dubin of Dollar Shave Club
Dollar Shave Club founder Michael Dubin joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage founders. Plus, Michael shares his latest career pivot into the screenwriting world.First, Benita from New Jersey asks how to create a “guerilla-style” marketing campai ... Show More
53m 54s
Oct 6
Pressbox and Tide Cleaners: Vijen Patel. The $1.99 Gamble That Built a National Brand
What if the best startup isn’t sexy at all? In 2013, Vijen Patel left private equity to pursue “the least-worst idea”: dry cleaning. No patents. No app wizardry. Just laundry lockers in high-rises, ruthless unit economics, and a $1.99-a-shirt price that was seared into America’s ... Show More
1h 6m
Oct 2
Advice Line with Tony Xu of Doordash
Tony Xu, founder of DoorDash, joins Guy on the Advice Line to answer questions from three early-stage entrepreneurs. Plus, Tony updates Guy on his latest ventures: expanding into grocery and retail delivery - and taking on international markets.First, we hear from Ron in Portland ... Show More
49m 13s
Recommended Episodes
Nov 2021
Blackberry vs iPhone | The Smartphone Generation | 5
It’s a GPS! It’s a camera! It’s a computer! It’s...your smartphone. And in 2021, it feels like you can’t live without it. But when Blackberry and iPhone got into the game in the mid-2000s, that wasn’t yet the case. In just 15 years, our technology has changed dramatically — and s ... Show More
26m 9s
Jul 2020
Can you live without another phone charger?
New iPhones and Galaxy phones are expected to ship without a power charger, perhaps a sign that after all these years, we already own them. And Jefferson Graham thinks that's okay. He explains why, on Talking Tech. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Pr ... Show More
3m 9s
Mar 2019
Imagine this: living without a smartphone!
Jefferson Graham will soon embark on an experiment - three days without a smartphone. What would that be like? He ruminates on it, on today's #TalkingTech. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-in ... Show More
2m 10s
Sep 2016
Inside HeadphoneGate
Consumers are furious with Apple for ditching the headphone port on the new iPhone. Jefferson Graham offers his take, on #Talking Tech. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. 
2m 44s
Nov 2021
Blackberry vs iPhone | The Jesus Phone | 2
It’s late 2005, and Steve Jobs is deciding between two prototypes for an Apple phone. His choice will go on to become perhaps the best-selling product ever. Now his team just has to make the touchscreen technology work.Thousands of miles away in Waterloo, Canada, Jim Balsillie an ... Show More
25m 5s
Feb 2023
Apple vs Microsoft | Life After Laptops | 5
The personal computer is no longer the talk of the town. Between new AI tools, sleek smartphones and web-based apps, your laptop is just one small slice of the technology pie. But where does that leave Apple and Microsoft? Are we about to undergo a regime change?  Here to help an ... Show More
39m 13s
Apr 2019
Don’t do dumb things on your smart phone!
Amazon's Jeff Bezos alleges that the Saudi's hacked into his phone. Jefferson Graham has some thoughts on this, on today's #TalkingTech podcastSee Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. 
2m 11s
Oct 2016
Google's new phones great for consumers
Jefferson Graham previews Google's new Pixel smartphone line, and tells why he thinks they're great for consumers on #TalkingTech. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info. 
2m 38s
Feb 2020
Bill Gate's Porsche Taycan & Folding Phone Controversies
In this week's episode, we recap our recent interview with Bill Gates where he launched his annual Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Annual Letter. During the interview, he decided to let us know he now owns a Porsche Taycan! Next, we cover Samsung's big week releasing four phone ... Show More
1h 6m