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The Atlantic · Health

How to Touch Grass

It may be time to rethink our relationships with our devices.

Episodes

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An Experiment in Healing Attention

24 Aug 2026
40m
AI processed

Modern digital environments frequently hijack human attention, leaving individuals feeling fragmented and unable to focus on meaningful tasks. Reclaiming cognitive agency requires shifting from a passive, compulsive relationship with smartphones toward intentional, tool-based usage. Author Jenny Odell suggests that cul...

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Why Learn Something That a Machine Can Do for You?

17 Aug 2026
33m
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The purpose of learning in an era of rapid technological advancement centers on maintaining human agency and intentionality rather than outsourcing cognitive processes to machines. While AI can efficiently handle tasks like coding or arithmetic, the true value of learning lies in the effort and inconvenience required t...

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The Internet Is More Image-Focused Than Ever

10 Aug 2026
37m
AI processed

Online body image standards have shifted from the body positivity movement of the 2010s to a relentless, algorithm-driven culture of extreme thinness and cosmetic optimization. This transformation, accelerated by the rise of GLP-1 medications and a "pivot to video" on social media, encourages the conspicuous display of...

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How AI Could Make People More Anxious

03 Aug 2026
28m
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AI chatbots are increasingly functioning as digital crutches for individuals experiencing anxiety, yet this interaction often reinforces harmful avoidant behaviors. By providing immediate, validating, and personalized reassurance, these systems create a feedback loop that prevents users from developing the tolerance fo...

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The Power of Pre-Internet Nostalgia

27 Jul 2026
37m
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Nostalgia for the pre-digital era serves as a psychological self-regulatory resource, helping people navigate modern uncertainty by fostering agency and community. While often dismissed as an impediment to progress, this yearning—prevalent among two-thirds of Gen Z—is a forward-looking, creative process aimed at reclai...

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Introducing How To Touch Grass

06 Jul 2026
1m
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How to Age Up on a Warming Planet

12 May 2025
42m
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This episode explores the phenomenon of "climate anxiety," particularly among younger generations, and strategies for coping with the overwhelming feelings of dread and helplessness it can induce. Against the backdrop of increasing exposure to climate-related fears through social media, the hosts, Yasmin Tayag and Nata...

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How to Define Old Age

05 May 2025
32m
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This episode explores the complexities of aging, challenging the notion of old age as a disease and promoting a more positive perspective. Against the backdrop of personal anxieties about aging and potential health declines, the hosts, Natalie Brennan and Yasmin Tayag, delve into the World Health Organization's proposa...

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How to Age Up Together

28 Apr 2025
37m
AI processed

This episode explores the increasing age diversity in society and the paradoxical age segregation within institutions and infrastructure. Against this backdrop, the conversation features Eunice Nichols, co-CEO of CoGenerate, who highlights the societal benefits of intergenerational partnerships. More significantly, t...

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How to Fuel Up

21 Apr 2025
37m
AI processed

This episode explores the complexities of food trends and their impact on individual health and societal perceptions of nutrition. Against the backdrop of rising cottage cheese sales and the pervasive influence of social media, the hosts delve into the reasons behind the popularity of various dietary trends, such as pl...

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How to Wish You Were 66 Instead of 35

14 Apr 2025
40m
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This episode explores the cultural narratives surrounding aging, particularly for women, and challenges the prevailing negative stereotypes associated with menopause. Against the backdrop of societal pressures to maintain youthfulness, the hosts and guest discuss the misconceptions surrounding menopause, highlighting t...

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How to Defy Death

07 Apr 2025
40m
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This episode explores the current longevity culture and its relationship to science, wellness, and public health. Against the backdrop of a discussion about the historical pursuit of defying death, the hosts and guest delve into the increasingly popular biohacking movement. More significantly, the conversation highlig...

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Introducing: How to Age Up

10 Mar 2025
2m
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This podcast episode explores evolving perspectives on aging, contrasting modern age-obsession with historical indifference to precise age. The hosts discuss the influence of marketing trends on health advice (e.g., the fluctuating emphasis on plant-based diets versus high-protein diets) and the pressure to optimize o...

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Best of “How To”: Make Small Talk

30 Dec 2024
38m
AI processed

In this episode from the "How to Talk to People" series, we dive into the art of small talk—its challenges and useful techniques. Featuring insights from hairstylists and a social scientist, the discussion sheds light on why many struggle with casual conversations and offers practical tips to improve. Hairstylists reco...

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Best of “How To”: Identify What You Enjoy

23 Dec 2024
43m
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In this podcast episode, the hosts delve into the three key components of happiness: enjoyment, satisfaction, and purpose. They discuss how to discover and nurture enjoyment, even when life gets hectic. The conversation also distinguishes between "satisficers," who find contentment easily, and "maximizers," who often s...

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Best of “How To”: Waste Time

16 Dec 2024
35m
AI processed

In this episode of "How to Keep Time," the hosts delve into the pressure society places on us to be constantly productive, making it challenging to embrace the idea of "wasting time." They introduce the term "chronophobia," which refers to the anxiety of time slipping away, and consider how our always-connected lives h...

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Best of “How To”: The Infrastructure of Community

09 Dec 2024
41m
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In this podcast episode, the focus is on the vital role of "social infrastructure"—the physical spaces and organizations that help us connect with one another—in building strong communities and enhancing our well-being. It examines how the design of public areas, like cafes and libraries, affects our ability to interac...

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Best of “How To”: Rest

02 Dec 2024
35m
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In this episode of "How To Keep Time," the hosts delve into the often-neglected significance of rest and its effects on creativity and productivity. They challenge common misconceptions about rest, arguing that it’s not just about passive recovery but an active process that rejuvenates both mind and body. Featuring an ...

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Best of “How To”: Spend Time on What You Value

25 Nov 2024
34m
AI processed

In this podcast episode, we dive into the tension between how we spend our time and how we ought to spend it. Experts discuss two types of individuals: "strivers," who tend to overwork, and "fritterers," who often waste time. The conversation highlights the societal pressure that equates busyness with success. Listener...

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How to Know What's Real: How to Know What’s Really Propaganda

04 Sep 2024
23m
AI processed

This podcast episode examines the transformation of propaganda from historical mediums to contemporary platforms, illustrating how it employs emotional manipulation to achieve its goals and shape public opinion. Featuring insights from Peter Pomerantsev, the discussion reveals the duplicitous nature of propaganda, part...

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