Top Tech Voices Podcast S2 E1: Mental Health & Technology

Finally listened to the whole podcast and omg, I think I just gave my brain an update. Personally I think, Dr. Jack Lewis is the kind of guide everyone needs. The part where he explained that our phones literally rewires us and makes us less empathetic really hit home. It’s not just about having “too much screen time,” it’s about starving the part of our brain that reads emotions in others. This is going to change my entire thought process about my scroll sessions. And the AI section was a game-changer. I've been basically treating ChatGPT as a magic answer box, but his concept of treating it as a "critical thinking partner" is a huge paradigm shift. Less "do it for me," more "help me think better" it's true.

As for any potential future episodes, I think a slightly deeper look at one of these particular solutions would be great. For example, a future episode discussing a VR developer or an educator looking to incorporate "tech literacy" classes could be great building on this leadoff topic. BTW Absolutely amazing episode. Listened for neuroscience, left feeling empowered about how I can better protect my mind in a digital world. Absolutely Need More like this, please!

beacon_dave Fair question.   I think the differentiator is "active engagement".  Phones are passive engagement devices.  AI that tells you what you want to hear verges on passive.

Remote learning is HARD - because you don't have the "normal" structured environment - that also limits the easy access to distractions.  Zoom is great - for those that really want to be there.  They bring their own discipline.  And even then... as the podcast points out, we can be lured away.  For Zoom schooling, the parents that I have talked to (including my adult daughters) struggled to maintain that structure.  It was better than no schooling, but it took a toll on the socialization skills of those kids.  Some bounced back.  Some did not.  I think the only "issue" with remote teaching is... wait for it... when we become too dependent on it.  Does this sound like a similar thread?

And I think this cycles us back to "active engagement".  The medium isn't good or bad.  I think how we use it can be.  Let's teach our kids and grandkids to be less distracted by and less dependent on their devices by actually paying attention to them - the kids.  When they feel more connected to us, they will feel more connected to society as a whole.

It was a great podcast. I rarely listen to podcasts, as I usually prefer reading books, but this one was truly amazing. It covered a wide range of topics, from the use of AI to sleep patterns. I personally sometimes wake up in the middle of the night and find it difficult to fall back asleep, which made the discussion very relatable.

In today’s world, AI is inevitable, but it needs to be used with caution. Not all answers provided by AI are accurate, and there are instances where the responses are simply hallucinations generated by the AI itself.

I didn't used to hear podcasts but now while going and coming to school I get my earphones on and hear some podcast, this is the best exercise as I walk to school for around 30 mins ,it helps me staying fit while I also get some knowledge face the new day.

Finally found the time to listen to the entire podcast and I can especially relate to the section near the end about being able to solve problems in a relaxed state.  I've solved many difficult problems in my career while taking a hot shower .   Enjoyable podcast.

A Shower helps me the most to when there is too much syllabus to cover for exams

gordonmx said:

Dr Lewis started off referring to the “gut” feeling we often have, precedes our thought processes. But I believe our gut response goes back to our earlier experiences.

I agree with this. It's perhaps just one step away from the instinctive reactions that help keep us alive. In addition, in a lot of cases you probably have been mulling over a current problem for some time beforehand before the time comes to make the final decision. Unless you have received significantly new recent and compelling input to change those past thoughts, then you will probably stick with what you have already decided.

gordonmx said:

Speaking of AI, how do you program “gut feeling”? Just asking.

Give the above, then you probably don't have to as that is basically what AI is already doing, basing its outcome on statistical analysis of what previous information it has been exposed to. What it may struggle with is the ability to factor in a seemingly unrelated aspect which may or may not be beneficial to the outcome of the decision being made. ( A human may have a gut feeling about a gut feeling. e.g. option 1 appears better on face value but option 2 avoids all the bureaucratic red tape and inefficient internal processes and is more likely to get the project across the finish line more-or-less on time.)

Perhaps something to ponder is how gut feeling impacts the risk-takers amongst us. Is it just a case that risky decisions in the past have always worked for them such that gut feeling says to take the risk the next time, or is it more a case of suppressing gut feeling relating to any previous bad outcomes and being driven by the best possible outcome even if from past experience it is the least likely.

ralphjy said:

I've solved many difficult problems in my career while taking a hot shower

You mean like figuring out that fitting a thermostatic valve before the shower head hose is a good idea even if it means removing and refitting the bath tub and retiling ?   

Does your partner ever complain about all the math calculations and schematics drawn on the steamed up glass shower screen ?

Well, it doesn't have to be drawn; it'll be visualized on the ceiling, just like Beth did in The Queen's Gambit.