The ironic thing about our digital devices, is that they promise constant stimulation . . . and yet we find they end up making us feel numb. Numb in terms of struggling to be present. Numb in feeling overloaded with information and choices. Numb in feeling like we often view even our own experiences from a third-party perspective.

My guest today, Dr. Charles Chaffin, has written a book called Numb: How the Information Age Dulls Our Senses and How We Can Get Them Back, which explores the various ways internet-induced numbness manifests itself, from FOMO to choice overload on dating apps. On the show today we focus in particular on how the news media and social media can negatively alter the way we experience life and what to do about it. We first discuss how recovering our sense of engagement with life begins with thinking about the fact that our attention is a finite resource, and being intentional about how we direct that resource. We then discuss how to deal with what Charles calls the “attention panhandlers” who vie for our engagement online. Charles talks about the phenomenon of compassion fatigue, where there are so many worthy causes you could take up, that you end up doing nothing at all. We then discuss how Instagram can change the way you experience life in an age where we can all feel like content creators. We end our conversation with how to wrest back control of your attention, and use it towards action rather than distraction.

The Art of Manliness

#729: How to Fight Internet-Induced Numbness

Now enjoying a cult status on the national scene, Istanbul Blues Kumpanyasi 1 was founded by Sarp Keskiner and Salih Nazim Peker in 1993, modeled on early 60’s collectives namely as Blues Inc. and John Mayall’s Bluesbreakers (UK) with promoting ever changing line ups, up to who was available for live occasions. As a wayward collective, the “Company” supplied an experimental ground for nearly every musician of the era based in Istanbul, who were in a way associated with traditional blues, gospel, jazz and free improvisational music and this audio document features the band’s last line up; before they dive deep into Turkish underground psyche extravaganza in 1998.

Besides all, Istanbul Blues Kumpanyasi was the ever and last band booked to perform on phenomenal Efes Pilsen Blues Festival, sharing the bill with legendary names like Nappy Brown and Eddie Kirkland in 1997. Even today, many blues purists and musicians in Turkey who were a part of the audience then, now salute the band’s hyperactive performance and the inspiration they gave, while encouraging many names to take an excursion to dive deep into depths of unknown chapters of blues genres.

Recorded directly to DAT at Hilton İstanbul Convention Center for his personal favor by the technical director of the festival; this historical audio document features a gang of young enthusiastic musicians, sincerely in love with black music elements while enjoying their lively twenties.

Live at Efes Pilsen Blues Festival 1997 EP

The Day After Blues - İstanbul Blues Kumpanyası

Burn It All

408 - Terence McKenna: "What Do You Make Of This?"

Quick Click Kick's Kwik Clip

Rewind

This song is about consequences and responsibility for our actions. Look in the mirror and ask yourself, "what kind of world would i like my child to live in?" Now ask yourself if you're helping to build that world. If the answer is yes, great. If not, it's never too late to start.

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I Did It

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Searching for a Feeling

Artist, DJ, WaveLord. 🌊👑 Architect of the Meaningwave® Universe enquiries@meaningwave.com

Searching for a Feeling

AKIRA THE DON