In this darkly hilarious short story from the collection "Influenced," we follow Augustine Hall, a digital wellness guru who charges wealthy clients £8,500 for "Radical Disconnection Therapy" while secretly maintaining six backup phones to feed his own social media addiction. When his devices mysteriously stop working during a retreat, Augustine's carefully constructed facade begins to crumble in spectacular fashion.
Listen as we explore the ultimate irony of our digital age: the influencer who built an empire teaching digital detox while being utterly unable to disconnect himself.
Key Themes Explored
Digital addiction and hypocrisy - The gap between what we preach and what we practice online
Wellness industry fraud - How authentic healing gets commodified and performed
Social media dependency - The psychological withdrawal of digital validation
Authentic vs. performed spirituality - The difference between genuine growth and Instagram aesthetics
Class and privilege in wellness culture - Who can afford to "disconnect" and what that really means
Story Highlights
Augustine's six hidden backup phones strategically placed around his manor
The £295 meditation cushion with discount code AUTHENTIC20
His complete meltdown when forced to experience actual digital detox
The brilliant reveal of who sabotaged his devices and why
His journey from fake guru to genuine recovery
Perfect For Listeners Who Enjoy
Black Mirror-style tech satire
Wellness industry exposés
Dark comedy about modern life
Stories about digital addiction
Ironic character studies
Discussion Questions
How do we distinguish between authentic and performed wellness?
What drives our need for constant digital validation?
Can someone truly help others with problems they haven't solved themselves?
How has social media changed the nature of spirituality and self-help?
Related Content
This story is part of "Influenced," a collection examining humanity's complex relationship with digital technology and social media. Other stories explore online dating algorithms, content moderation trauma, and digital conspiracy theories.
Keywords
digital detox, wellness fraud, social media addiction, influencer culture, digital wellness, tech satire, modern spirituality, authentic healing, digital dependency, wellness industry, mindfulness comedy, social media withdrawal
Content Warnings
Mild language, depictions of anxiety and digital addiction, satirical treatment of wellness culture
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#DigitalDetox #WellnessFraud #TechSatire #InfluencerCulture #DigitalAddiction #ModernFiction #LiteraryPodcast #SocialMediaSatire
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