Notes on Notes: I Want It, But I Don't Like It

Notes on Notes: I Want It, But I Don't Like It

From Epsilon Theory Podcast by Ben Hunt

June 4, 2026 · 17 min

About this episode

Matt Zeigler discusses the hidden costs of smartphones and social media with Brent Donnelly, exploring themes of addiction and writing.

In this episode of Epsilon Theory Unplugged, Matt Zeigler talks with Brent Donnelly about his essay I Want It, But I Don’t Like It and the hidden costs of smartphones, Twitter, social media addiction, and attention capture. They discuss why phones can create a “dark zone” similar to gambling addiction, how boredom can be useful, and how Brent structures his writing process without letting AI take over his voice.

People in this episode

Host: Matt Zeigler

Guest: Brent Donnelly

Topics covered

  • smartphones
  • social media addiction
  • attention capture
  • writing process
  • gambling addiction
  • boredom

Keywords

  • smartphones
  • social media
  • addiction
  • writing process
  • attention capture
  • boredom
  • Brent Donnelly

Mentioned in this episode

Books & works: I Want It, But I Don’t Like It

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