#193 Why you can’t focus with Johann Hari
04/19/23 • 82 min
Warning: Today’s episode contains strong language
I’m chatting with Johann Hari today, the international bestselling author of ‘Chasing the Scream’, ‘Lost Connections’ and the latest book ‘Stolen Focus’.
Today’s conversation is fascinating. I often find myself opening tabs and not remembering why I opened it, or walking out of my house and having to remind myself why I’m leaving. I naturally assumed it was just me. Overworking and undersleeping is bound to have this effect, but there appears to be something more insidious going on as Johann explains in todays episode. And if you’re like me, you’re definitely not alone.
There are 5 core ideas that we explore today:
One: Your attention didn’t collapse - it was stolen.
Two: If your Screentime shows that you spend more than three hours a day on your phone, then you are losing far more than just time. Your brain can only produce one or two thoughts in your conscious mind at once. We’re very, very single-minded.
Three: The covid crisis has flipped many of us into a state called hypervigilance, which is ruining our focus.
Four: The way we eat in the Western world is severely damaging our attention and focus.
Five: We can only get out of this crisis if we respond as individuals, by making changes in our own lives and our children’s lives, to protect ourselves from forces invading our attention. But we also need to campaign for more humane technology, forcing them to adopt a different business model that isn’t reliant on interrupting, distracting and monetising our attention.
We talk about:
Our ‘attentional pathogenic culture’
Switch cost effects
Tapping into flow states
Reading as a gym for empathy
Universal basic income
And of course, technology
🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here
📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app for free
You can download The Doctor’s Kitchen app for free to get access to all of our recipes, with specific suggestions tailored to your health needs and new recipes added every month. We’ve had some amazing feedback so far and we have new features being added all the time - check it out with a 14 day free trial too.
Do check out this week’s “Eat, Listen, Read” newsletter, that you can subscribe to on our website - where I send you a recipe to cook as well as some mindfully curated media to help you have a healthier, happier week.
🥗 Join the newsletter and 7 day meal plan
🐦 Tweet me
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Warning: Today’s episode contains strong language
I’m chatting with Johann Hari today, the international bestselling author of ‘Chasing the Scream’, ‘Lost Connections’ and the latest book ‘Stolen Focus’.
Today’s conversation is fascinating. I often find myself opening tabs and not remembering why I opened it, or walking out of my house and having to remind myself why I’m leaving. I naturally assumed it was just me. Overworking and undersleeping is bound to have this effect, but there appears to be something more insidious going on as Johann explains in todays episode. And if you’re like me, you’re definitely not alone.
There are 5 core ideas that we explore today:
One: Your attention didn’t collapse - it was stolen.
Two: If your Screentime shows that you spend more than three hours a day on your phone, then you are losing far more than just time. Your brain can only produce one or two thoughts in your conscious mind at once. We’re very, very single-minded.
Three: The covid crisis has flipped many of us into a state called hypervigilance, which is ruining our focus.
Four: The way we eat in the Western world is severely damaging our attention and focus.
Five: We can only get out of this crisis if we respond as individuals, by making changes in our own lives and our children’s lives, to protect ourselves from forces invading our attention. But we also need to campaign for more humane technology, forcing them to adopt a different business model that isn’t reliant on interrupting, distracting and monetising our attention.
We talk about:
Our ‘attentional pathogenic culture’
Switch cost effects
Tapping into flow states
Reading as a gym for empathy
Universal basic income
And of course, technology
🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here
📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app for free
You can download The Doctor’s Kitchen app for free to get access to all of our recipes, with specific suggestions tailored to your health needs and new recipes added every month. We’ve had some amazing feedback so far and we have new features being added all the time - check it out with a 14 day free trial too.
Do check out this week’s “Eat, Listen, Read” newsletter, that you can subscribe to on our website - where I send you a recipe to cook as well as some mindfully curated media to help you have a healthier, happier week.
🥗 Join the newsletter and 7 day meal plan
🐦 Tweet me
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Previous Episode
#192 Prescribing Fruit and Veg on the NHS with Dr Chi-Chi Ekhator
Dr Chi-Chi Ekhator is a GP in London and probably one of the most motivating people I’ve ever met. You’re in for an absolute treat today, especially if you’re a passionate medic with a penchant for nutritional medicine like me, because this doctor is making some huge waves.
Chi-Chi is also a GP Appraiser for NHS England and Vice Chair of Ascension Trust, an organisation known for initiatives that seek to help the vulnerable in society. And leads the AT Beacon Project, a health initiative of Ascension Trust working on the ground in the heart of neighbourhoods to address health inequalities.
We met up at one of their health and wellbeing hubs in the inner city estate of Brixton, but they also operate out of social supermarkets, barber shops, churches and wherever you find vulnerable people that they can help to live healthier, flourishing lives.
As we were in the middle of an outreach clinic you’ll hear some activity during todays recording and if you want to see it in action, check it out on YouTube!
🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here
📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app for free
You can download The Doctor’s Kitchen app for free to get access to all of our recipes, with specific suggestions tailored to your health needs and new recipes added every month. We’ve had some amazing feedback so far and we have new features being added all the time - check it out with a 14 day free trial too.
Do check out this week’s “Eat, Listen, Read” newsletter, that you can subscribe to on our website - where I send you a recipe to cook as well as some mindfully curated media to help you have a healthier, happier week.
🥗 Join the newsletter and 7 day meal plan
🐦 Tweet me
We would love to get your feedback on the subject matter of these episodes - please do let me know on our social media pages (Instagram, Facebook & Twitter) what you think,and give us a 5* rating on your podcast player if you enjoyed today’s episode.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Next Episode
#194 The COOKS Live Podcast with Dr Rupy and Hanna Geller
Today’s episode is a live recording from my first supperclub of my book tour to promote the latest cookbook “Dr Rupy COOKS” and it was recorded in front of a live audience in London where we got to enjoy some beautiful food from the book prepared by Hanna Geller and her team who hosted the event at her home and interviewed me!
We talk about the mission for Doctor’s Kitchen, where I started, why I wrote this new book and also what I’m up to with the app, the non-profit work and future aspirations to change the way we look at food as medicine.
After two decades working as an interior designer, creating comfortable and inviting
spaces, Hanna turned her attention to food. Combining these two great passions, she
started the Building Feasts blog to share not only recipes and stories about the dishes
she developed, but her philosophy on designing ways to bring people together around a
Table. And it’s this passion for food that brings out a little debate element of this interview which I personally really enjoyed.
Hanna also teaches regular cooking classes, hosts Supper Clubs, pop ups and other events including collaborations with Pump Street Chocolate & Bakery, Honey & Co to name a few. You can find out more about it at www.buildingfeasts.com.
🎬 Watch the podcast on YouTube here
📱 Download The Doctor’s Kitchen app for free
You can download The Doctor’s Kitchen app for free to get access to all of our recipes, with specific suggestions tailored to your health needs and new recipes added every month. We’ve had some amazing feedback so far and we have new features being added all the time - check it out with a 14 day free trial too.
Do check out this week’s “Eat, Listen, Read” newsletter, that you can subscribe to on our website - where I send you a recipe to cook as well as some mindfully curated media to help you have a healthier, happier week.
🥗 Join the newsletter and 7 day meal plan
🐦 Tweet me
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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