Progression to Analog

"I think we have a listening problem" -Stephanie from NYC (name changed) I interview six people, explore expert opinions (and share my own) re: why it can be tough to have difficult conversations today.

A year ago today, I launched the trailer for Progression to Analog. Twelve months later, I'm reflecting on what a year it was—speaking about Progression to Analog at conferences and universities across the United States and Europe. From Columbia University and keynoting AESC in New York; to re:publica and Tech Open Air in Berlin; to MOME and Brain Bar in Budapest; to World Summit AI in Amsterdam, I shared the core tenants of Progression to Analog and sociotechnical design with thousands live, as well as listeners across 39 countries. I can't wait for what's ahead! Tune in next Wednesday for more.

Just as hostages affected by Stockholm Syndrome may rationalize their captor’s actions, we often rationalize inappropriate or manipulative behaviors related to screens. This is a phenomenon that I call “coincé dans l’écran”, or being “stuck in the screen”.

In this episode of Progression to Analog, listen to Harvard Business School Novartis Professor of Leadership and Management Amy Edmondson & Authentic Social Founder and Sociological Researcher Caitlin Begg speak about who has the freedom to fail, failure as a privilege, technology's tendency to exacerbate these issues, and what to do about them. This video is from their joint talk together at re:publica in Berlin on 28 May 2024. Edmondson and Begg will explore the paradox of failure in the context of technological advancements, highlighting how digital platforms and AI can both facilitate and hinder equitable opportunities for failure and growth. They'll address the critical role of organizational culture in creating spaces where failure is not merely tolerated but is seen as a vital component of learning and discovery. The dialogue aims to dissect the mechanisms through which technology perpetuates workplace inequality and propose actionable strategies to mitigate these effects, fostering a more inclusive environment where all individuals have the liberty to fail and learn.

On 26 April 2024, I delivered an educational seminar at Columbia University. This episode of Progression to Analog is an audio / video (slides) transcription of this talk on Neurodiversity in the Workplace! By some estimations, neurodiverse people make up ~17-20% of the workforce. A myriad of studies and outlets such as Harvard Business Review highlight neurodiversity as a competitive advantage to be embraced in the future of work. For example, neurodivergent people tend to have higher chaos tolerance. In my seminar, (among other topics) I discussed how the unique abilities of neurodiverse individuals, such as hyperfocus, creativity, and exceptional pattern recognition, can dramatically enhance team performance and drive innovation. I also highlight how "Progression to Analog" as a tool for neurodiverse workplace success. I will be following up with more tips related to this in a future episode of this podcast. If you're listening to this via Apple Podcasts and want to see the slides, the talk may also be accessed on YouTube via this link.

Radical futurist, tech critic, independent industry analyst, and interdisciplinary researcher Sara M. Watson and I discuss "A People's History of Technology" in this episode, which she co-founded and curates (with Emily Best). Recently featured at SXSW and Sundance, A People’s History of Tech is a collective storytelling project. Popular histories of technology often focus on lone inventors or technical innovations. A People's History of Tech wants to capture the full spectrum of the lived experience of technology. We also speak about Sara's prior research at Oxford Internet Institute re: data privacy and social impacts of technology. Additionally, I reference University of Cambridge Professor Caroline Bassett's "Anti-Computing". You can learn more and submit your story to A People's History of Tech here, and you can keep up with Sara via her LinkedIn and website. A People's History of Tech will also be at The Conference 2024 in Malmö, Sweden (27-28 August)!