Digital Habit Lab

What are these “cards” we keep talking about on the podcast? To celebrate launching the cards on Kickstarter, join host Menka Sanghvi in a conversation with the founder of Mind over Tech as they reflect on their personal experience of testing out six digital habit lab cards that they’ve found really useful. And, find out how you can get your own deck now on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/j0nathan/digital-habit-lab?ref=9rnklh

As part of her recent conversation with Menka, Tiu shared some advice on ways that you can use the Pomodoro technique as one part of a digital ritual.

How can we design rituals in the form of “moments of meaning” for ourselves to enable focus, deep work, wonder, rest, and healthy transitions from one mode to the next? Tiu de Haan is an expert in creating contexts to help us deeply connect to ourselves, to each other and to our innate creativity. Join host Menka Sanghvi in exploring with our guest how we can apply these ideas to our digital lives.  See Full Shownotes - mot.fyi/podcast/tiu

Regardless of our intentions, technology is designed with it’s own “goals” based on its success metrics. In a way, tech has its own intentions for us, leading to that misalignment we sometimes feel! This is the second of two episodes in which host Menka Sanghvi speaks to designer and author Scott Riley. This time the conversation is about autonomy, intrinsic motivation, and being more creative with the digital tools we use.  Warning: Scott speaks honestly and passionately about these subjects, and at times the language in this episode may not be suitable for young ears! See Full Shownotes - mot.fyi/podcast/scott

What if technology were designed to work in harmony with what our brains really want? In this first of two episodes with designer and author Scott Riley, host Menka Sanghvi talks with him about his personal journey and challenges with mental health, and what inspired him to write his groundbreaking book “Mindful Design”.  Listen in to discover more about how technology, even in its most “accessible” form, is designed to meet our needs only partially and superficially. Scott is deeply concerned about how this impacts people negatively, not just because of individual differences in capability, but also due to social inequality. He calls for more consideration for all kinds of cognitive load, whether it’s due to mental health, neurodivergence, poverty or racism.  In this conversation Menka and Scott take on these complex subjects with respect and humour, inviting listeners to reflect on their own relationship with technology, and consider where design decisions might be harming them. Warning: Scott speaks honestly and passionately about these subjects, and at times the language in this episode may not be suitable for young ears! See Full Shownotes - mot.fyi/podcast/scott

A special “behind the scenes” episode in which the Mind Over Tech team reflect on their lived experiences of feeling intentional. When does it happen? What does it feel like?  Menka, Jonathan, Sophie and Zak open up to share insights from their personal lives which includes playing music, mental health, burn out, parenting, teamwork and the daily challenge of being creative in the midst of tech.  It turns out that some of the most conducive factors, in their experience, include taking breaks, being part of a team and, perhaps most importantly, practicing connecting to intention as a dynamic movement in the moment, rather than a static purpose.  See Full Shownotes - mot.fyi/podcast/team This is the last episode of the year - we're taking a break until Jan 2022, and wishing you just what you need over the holidays! 

During his conversation with us in episode 3, Michael Bready kindly offered to guide Menka through a short and simple practice that he finds useful to return to throughout the day when we feel a bit disconnected.

Intention is normally something we associate with the thinking mind, but in this deeply insightful conversation, host Menka Sanghvi explores intention as an inner freedom, with mindfulness teacher Michael Bready. A wisdom that requires us to be in tune with our bodies, our emotions, our context - our whole selves. Michael and Menka discuss how much we all strive for freedom and individuality, yet are easily caught by the influences that condition us, including other people’s desires and opinions, and increasingly, algorithms.  In the face of these complex challenges, Michael emphasises that every small step we take - every moment of mindfulness - transforms us. So let’s be patient and kind to ourselves, and to each other, on this journey of improving our digital habits!  See Full Shownotes - mot.fyi/podcast/mb 

Generation Z is the first generation to have grown up with the internet and smartphones from birth. What impact has this had? In this episode host Menka Sanghvi speaks to film director Liz Smith about her new documentary “I Am Gen Z”. Liz and Menka explore themes around addiction, polarisation, perfectionism, privacy, soundbite culture and the seeming luxury of being offline. A “seismic shift” that has occurred in just one generation. One phenomenon which particularly impacts Gen Z is “social cooling” - the feeling of being constantly watched that makes you behave differently. Liz Smith is a filmmaker, mental health advocate, and host of a live event series and podcast “What’s Going On In Your Head?”.  See Full Shownotes - mot.fyi/podcast/liz

How can we be more playful in our relationship with digital tools? In this episode host Menka Sanghvi explores creative practices with the prolific writer and artist John-Paul Flintoff. We all get the sense sometimes that we’re working on our digital devices in unintentional ways. John-Paul describes this, for him, as a “free floating, disembodied, frenetic quality and a sense of urgency and impatience”. Listening to John-Paul reflecting on his personal journey, it is clear that he has become really self-aware about how he feels when he is using technology. And he’s found a whole host of creative responses to that. John-Paul Flintoff is the author of six books that have been translated into 16 languages, including How To Change The World. He previously worked for 15 years as a writer and associate editor on the Financial Times, the Sunday Times, and other papers and magazines. He is also a speaker, performer and artist. See full show notes & bonus content - mot.fyi/podcast/jp