No Opt-Out
Two fast friends explore living in harmony with tech, one transatlantic phone call at a time. With a touch of nostalgia, Conrad and Verena blend the old and new, using analogue forms of communication to highlight how technology can enhance relationships and encourage connection. The pair also regularly writes handwritten notes to each other, a nod to the pen pal culture of their youth. Join them as they search for harmony with tech in a no opt-out world, providing listeners with a soft place to land as technology weaves its way into more and more facets of modern life. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Verena is an educator from Las Vegas, USA. She is techno-curious and deeply mindful of the impact of emerging tech on education, creativity, and the power of fun. Conrad is a content marketing manager and creative entrepreneur from George, South Africa. He has long experimented with balancing tech use to enhance creativity and sustain good mental health. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Contact: verena.tcg@gmail.com and/or conrad.tcg@gmail.com Cover illustration by Brazilian artist Régis Monteiro Music by Dvir Silver courtesy of Pixabay Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
In the final episode of the season, Conrad and Verena do a deep dive into building their dream digital hangout, which they’re calling The Treehouse. It’s not just about setting up another online space—it’s about creating a community where quality time, shared experiences, and a sense of integrating (and constantly re-integrating) comes first.
As they sketch out their vision, the duo turns nostalgic, sharing stories about family,...
In this episode, Verena gives Conrad a surprise update: she’s accidentally become a dog mum somehow! A mystery pup showed up in her neighbourhood, so now she’s navigating social media like a pro (well, sort of) to find him a new home if needed. Spoiler: He’s “nutty”. Sorta. Quite literally.
Conrad dives into his recent No Tech Retreat, where boredom lead to poetry and—gasp—fun. They also brainstorm what makes digital communities...
In this episode, Verena kicks things off with a family reunion update before claiming victory in the "Postcard Olympics." Spoiler alert: her Christmas postcard to Conrad showed up three months early. They dive into the joys of letter writing and ponder whether snail mail offers less pressure than the rapid-fire world of digital messaging.
Things get hilariously off-topic as they swap stories about traditional foods, family reuni...
Conrad and Verena explore the evolving dynamics of relationships, connection, and digital communities in this episode. The conversation kicks off with reflections on their time-zone-driven chats and the increasing trend of people "hitting pause" on tech, leading to better self-awareness and relationships.
They delve into the role of AI, with Conrad sharing a quirky experience using GPT to defuse an awkward moment and Verena's th...
In this episode, Verena and Conrad dive into how modern technology shapes how we communicate and connect.
They share personal stories—from using AI for meal ideas to navigating miscommunication through text. The conversation explores the pros and cons of tech in relationships, whether we can resolve conflicts digitally, and how tools like ChatGPT or Friend AI (do and could) affect our sense of connection.
Ultimately, th...
Conrad kicks things off with a playful stint pretending to sell a cellphone plan, while Verena shares a story about an impressively helpful internet repair guy, leading to a chat on the value of in-person customer service (and general human-to-human connection).
They quickly dive into the quirky world of generative AI. Verena addresses rumours that she might be a bot (!) and discusses her return to the postcard Olympics af...
In this episode, Conrad and Verena peel back the layers of the generative AI hype, questioning whether clever marketing has led us into a trap. As they discuss the real impact of AI on daily life, they ask the tough question: has AI truly improved our quality of life, how we learn and our productivity at work?
Conrad shares a personal story about a childhood public speaking competition, reflecting on how today’s AI tools might h...
Verena and Conrad are back from a break, and there's a lot to chat about!
They’re amazed at just how much tech was woven into the Paris 2024 Olympics—everything from ‘Victory selfies’ and ‘Athlete moments’ to the surprising tech behind those controversial Olympic village beds.
It got them thinking, though: do we really need to commercialise *everything*?
Plus, they kick off their very own “Postcard Olympics,” a...
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more inf...
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy f...
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