EP36: Shannon Coulter - Conscious Technology: Tools for a Regenerative Future

About this episode

Shannon Coulter discusses the impact of technology on attention and wellbeing, offering practical solutions for families to reconnect with the real world.

"Phones are designed like slot machines… It's called variable rewards… and that's the same exact way the scroll works on our phone… our brains become obsessed with the next dopamine hit." Modern life trains the brain for instant rewards and endless scroll, eroding patience, attention, and real-world engagement. Replacing frictionless feeds with natural stopping cues—journaling on waking, moving the phone out of sight, stepping outside—rewires neural pathways toward delayed gratification, focus, and grounded wellbeing. Nature isn't a luxury; it's the antidote to stimulus overload and a gateway to more resilient habits. Shannon Coulter explains how our devices hijack dopamine through variable rewards and infinite scroll, keeping us chasing the next hit. Her antidote is simple and practical: small daily rituals that re-anchor attention in the real world. She calls it the "Swiss Army phone" approach—use one tool, close it, and move on. Shannon's ideas invite parents to create a culture of curiosity and play, teaching kids that joy doesn't come from pixels but from dirt, laughter, and connection. Shannon is a published author and creator of Planet FASSA—an ecosystem of stories…

People in this episode

Host: Matthieu Mehuys

Guest: Shannon Coulter

Topics covered

• conscious technology
• dopamine science
• regenerative future
• parenting
• real-world engagement

Keywords

• technology
• dopamine
• attention
• parenting
• wellbeing
• regenerative design
• offline activities

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Planet FASSA

Books & works: Fassa Tails Children Book serie

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