Being Human Now - Play

It's possible that the propensity to convince ourselves we have control over things —even when we don't— is the most uniquely human thing there is. But as we speed ever faster toward an AI world, will true agency even matter as long as we believe we have it? 

There's been an explosion of mental health content on social media, both by licensed professionals and influencers. Is that a welcome step in destigmatizing mental illness, or is it fostering a culture of misinformed self-diagnosis? 

Now that generative AI is shaking up songwriting, have we crossed a new threshold where the distinctively human talent for music is no longer ours alone? 

Aleks Krotoski asks if how we use technology has affected our attitudes to ephemerality and the transience of things.Producer: Peter McManus 

This weeks episode we are discussing the evolution of cellphones and television and why we are so addicted to our technology. 

<p>Cell phones, social media, messaging software, and multitasking are robbing our attention, as our monkey minds jump from one notification to another. Mickey McManus, a BCG senior advisor and leadership coach, explains how these distractions strip our cognitive capacity and eve ... Show More

<p>When your phone buzzes or a notification pops up your screen, do you stop what you're doing to look and respond? That's what many of us are doing. Even though we think we should be less distracted by technology, we haven't admitted the true cost of these interruptions. This we ... Show More

How is technology changing our lives? Search for Tech Life wherever you get your podcasts and subscribe or follow if you can. 

Technology is amazing! We can make video calls, find facts in an instant and watch movies on our phones. We take all this for granted, but have we let our screens and devices take over too much of our lives?  To mark Digital Wellness Day on May 3, we hear from Amy Blankson (autho ... Show More

As the summer comes to an end, we’re thinking about what unplugging, going offline — the ultimate luxury — looks like in 2025. With a growing slate of apps aiming to reduce our screen time and some tech leaders trying to reinvent the internet as it was, where are we heading? WIRE ... Show More

The role of technology in life and work has grown immensely in the midst of the pandemic. In our final episode, we speak with Dr Gloria Mark, professor of informatics at the University of California, about the strategies that people can take to remain focused and try to increase ... Show More

What is the first thing that you touch in the morning? What about the last thing you touch before you go to sleep? For many of us, it’s our phone. Digital devices are with us constantly, often putting a digital layer between us and the world. The benefits of this are enormous: co ... Show More