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September 17, 2025 9 mins

Indifference is sneaky. It doesn’t look like hate or anger—it shows up as a quiet shrug, a sense of “I don’t care enough to act.” On the surface, it seems harmless. But indifference has real consequences. It shapes how we show up in relationships, how communities respond to injustice, and even how we connect with ourselves.

In this episode, we explore why indifference is never neutral. We discuss the psychology behind apathy, the difference between indifference and healthy detachment, and how neutrality can reinforce harm in moments that call for courage. As we explore psychology, philosophy, social justice, and spiritual practices, one question rises again and again: what are the consequences of choosing indifference?

Topics We Cover
  • What indifference really is—and how it shows up in everyday life

  • How burnout and depression can look like indifference

  • Why neutrality often sustains injustice

  • The difference between indifference and Stoic/Buddhist detachment

  • Desmond Tutu’s warning about neutrality

  • Elie Wiesel’s speech on the danger of indifference

  • How empathy and reflection can break through apathy

Practical Takeaways
  • Check your motivation: burnout vs. avoidance

  • Re-engage with small, local actions

  • Practice mindful detachment to avoid overwhelm

  • Reconnect with empathy through stories and relationships

  • Reflect on where you’re withdrawing—and why

Keywords

Indifference podcast | Indifference vs detachment | Psychology of apathy | Stoicism non-attachment | Buddhist detachment | Why neutrality is dangerous | Desmond Tutu quote neutrality | Elie Wiesel indifference speech | Social justice podcast | Spiritual but not religious podcast | Overcoming apathy | Empathy in activism | Burnout and social change

Who This Episode Is For
  • Anyone curious about the psychology of indifference

  • Spiritual seekers exploring meaning beyond religion

  • Activists and community members facing burnout

  • Listeners wanting practical ways to stay engaged in a noisy world

Subscribe to the None But Curious podcast on your favorite platform, follow @nonebutcurious on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook and share this episode with someone you know who might be rather indifferent about things happening around us.

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Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Welcome to the None But Curious podcast. We're all about finding inspiration in life's uncertainties.
Whether you're still figuring things out, questioning your beliefs, or just curious
about the world, come hang out with us as we celebrate the beauty of not having all the answers.

(00:22):
Hey, it's been a while, but we are back. And today I want to talk about something that's sneaky,
but really powerful. Indifference. Indifference shows up when we stop caring,
not with dramatic anger or sadness, but with a quiet shrug. It can creep into how we relate to

(00:42):
the world, to other people, or even to ourselves. On the surface, it looks harmless, but indifference
has real weight. It shapes not only our personal well-being, but also the health of our communities
and movements for justice. In today's episode, we're going to explore what indifference really
is, how it impacts social and spiritual development, even if you don't identify with

(01:07):
the religion, and why it matters so much for creating a more just world. Along the way,
I'll share perspectives from psychology, philosophy, and cultural voices that challenge
us to consider what happens when we choose not to care. So what is indifference?
Indifference is often described as a lack of concern or interest. It's not dramatic,

(01:31):
it's not even loud. It's the absence of emotional energy. It's that sense of,
I don't care enough to engage. From a psychological lens, indifference can show up in burnout,
when emotional reserves are drained, or in depression, where energy and motivation just
shut down. It can also be a defense mechanism. If caring feels too costly,

(01:57):
we sometimes default to indifference to protect ourselves. But when we zoom out, indifference also
shows up socially. Think about all the injustice, racism, poverty, climate change, and I can go on
and on. These problems persist not only because of active harm, but because so many people look away.

(02:20):
So many people look away. Silence and neutrality can reinforce systems of oppression.
As Desmond Tutu said, if you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the
side of the oppressor. If an elephant has its foot on the tail of a mouse,

(02:40):
and you say that you are neutral, the mouse will not appreciate your neutrality.
Philosophers have written about it too. In his White House speech delivered in 1999,
Elie Wiesel stated, it is so much easier to look away from victims. It is so much easier to avoid
such rude interruptions to our work, our dreams, our hopes. It is, after all, awkward, troublesome

(03:07):
to be involved in another person's pain and despair. Yet for the person who is indifferent,
his or her neighbor are of no consequence. And therefore, their lives are meaningless.
Their hidden or even visible anguish is of no interest. Indifference reduces the other

(03:28):
to an abstraction. His point was that hate at least acknowledges the other person's existence.
Indifference erases them. It turns people and problems into something absolutely invisible.
At the same time, there is a distinction worth making. Some traditions, like Buddhism or Stoic

(03:53):
philosophy, value a form of detachment. This can look a little like indifference on the surface,
but the intention is different. Detachment isn't about ignoring suffering,
it's about engaging without being consumed by fear, hatred, or despair. It's about staying
present without being paralyzed. So the real question is, are we withdrawing out of indifference

(04:20):
that sustains harm? Or are we practicing detachment that helps us stay present and act
with clarity? That distinction matters. So why does indifference matter? It matters
because it shapes how we show up or don't show up in the world. Indifference fuels injustice.

(04:41):
When we look away from police brutality, ignore the struggles of working families,
scroll past the news of the various humanitarian crises, we create silence where solidarity should
be. Oppressive systems rely on that silence. Change stalls not only because of active resistance,

(05:02):
but because of widespread apathy. There's another side. Detachment, or non-attachment,
is often confused with indifference, but it can help us sustain the long work of justice.
If we cling to every headline, every loss, or every failure, we inevitably burn out. Social

(05:23):
movements need people who care deeply while also setting boundaries. Detachment allows us
to keep going without being crushed by the immense weight of all that needs to change.
Indifference isn't trivial. It can numb us into complicity,
while true detachment can steady us for courageous, sustained action.

(05:45):
So let's get practical. What can you do if you notice indifference creeping in,
whether in your personal life, or in the broader sense of the world for social justice
and making the world a better place? First, determine if it is indeed indifference.
Ask yourself, am I tuning out because I'm burned out, or am I avoiding discomfort that

(06:09):
might call me to action? There's a big difference between self-protection and complicity.
Two, start small to re-engage. If you feel disconnected, don't expect yourself to solve
every single problem. Begin with one action. Make a phone call, fill up for a local meeting,

(06:30):
donate to a grassroots group, check out a banned book at the library, and then turn it right back
in. Peck in on a neighbor. Small steps like these break through apathy and remind us that
engagement is possible. Three, practice mindful detachment.
Activism can feel very overwhelming. Detachment here means letting go of the need to control

(06:53):
outcomes. You are not going to end poverty or transphobia or racism overnight, but you can
contribute. Detachment allows you to keep caring without collapsing under the immense weight
of results. Four, reconnect with empathy. Man, that's a word that is being tossed around lately,

(07:18):
isn't it? Stories cut through numbness. Listen to lived experiences, read memoirs,
or talk with those most affected by injustice. Empathy grows through contact, not distance,
and that includes social media as well. Get offline and talk with people, read stories,

(07:39):
listen to stories. It is one of the best antidotes to indifference.
Five, create reflective space. Whether through journaling, quiet walks, community dialogue,
ask yourself, where am I withdrawing? Am I protecting my energy in a healthy way,
or am I avoiding responsibility? Reflection helps us notice where we're slipping into apathy

(08:05):
and where we're practicing balance. All right, so here's the bottom line. Indifference is never,
ever neutral. It reinforces injustice by keeping us silent, whereas detachment can free us to act
with clarity and courage. The key is to discern which form we are practicing.

(08:28):
If you find yourself slipping into apathy, re-engage, even in small ways. If you're
practicing detachment, let it give you the strength to keep showing up without being consumed.
Indifference, in the end, is a teacher. It asks, what do you care about, and how will you show
that care, not just for yourself, but for the world around you? Thank you again for joining

(08:54):
me today. If this episode resonates, share it with someone who might need a reminder that
indifference is a choice, and so is engagement. Subscribe to the None But Curious podcast,
drop me a line at candy at nonebutcurious.org, and until next time, stay curious and stay connected.
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