The life-changing magic of touching stuff
· 34 min
Episode The life-changing magic of touching stuff
We have all become desensitized. Every place is like every other place, every experience is happening at a remove and on a screen. And Ian Bogost, a Washington University professor and a writer at The Atlantic, argues that this "dematerialization" is making our life worse. Ian joins David to explain how to once again commune with the world. He tells us of the magic of paper tickets, why he's kind of obsessed with the rubber on his water bottle, and why you don't need to throw phone into the ocean — but you should probably watch more ASMR videos.
• The Small Stuff: How to Lead a More Gratifying Life
• The Cult of Delayed Gratification Is a Lie
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Links in the notes 5
- https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/The-Small-Stuff/Ian-Bogost/9781668062630
- https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/2026/06/instant-gratification-psychology-economy/687550/
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