Brain Rot:  Meet the people who ditched their smartphones

Brain Rot: Meet the people who ditched their smartphones

Author: ABC Australia October 11, 2025 Duration: 28:57
We've all dreamt of lobbing our smartphone into the ocean and going off grid. So what happens when you follow through with it? For the final episode of Brain Rot, we speak to the people who decided they'd had enough. From a French village, to Gen Z 'luddites' in New York City and a group of parents in regional Victoria, there are clubs, campaigns and even laws dedicated to a smartphone-free life. But in 2025, how do you pull it off? And is it actually worth it? This episode originally aired on Brain Rot, a series of the ABC podcast Science Friction. Sana will be back with all-new episodes of All in the Mind from Sunday 19 October. Guests: Stan Awtrey Sportswriter, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution Vincent Paul-Petit Mayor, Seine-Port, France Lisa Given Professor of Information Sciences, RMIT University Steph Challis Founder, The Phone Pledge Jameson Butler Co-Founder, The Luddite Club Credits: Presenter: Ange Lavoipierre Producer: Fiona Pepper Senior Producer: James Bullen Sound Engineer: Ross Richardson Thanks to Sam Goerling for the assistance with French translation. This story was made on the lands of the Gadigal and Menang Noongar peoples. More Information: The Luddite Club Parents unite to ban teens from smartphones amid social media minimum age review You can catch up on more episodes of the All in the Mind podcast with journalist and presenter Sana Qadar, exploring the psychology of topics like stress, memory, communication and relationships on the ABC Listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. If you'd like to access the transcript for this episode, head to its original webpage.

Ever wondered what's really happening inside your head? Each week, All In The Mind from ABC Australia ventures into the complex landscape of human thought and feeling. This isn't just a dry science lecture; it's a thoughtful exploration of the experiences that shape us, hosted by curious minds who know how to tell a compelling story. You'll hear conversations that bridge the gap between scientific research and the messy reality of daily life, delving into topics as diverse as the mechanisms of memory, the challenges of breaking an addiction, or the ethical puzzles posed by artificial intelligence. The discussions are grounded and accessible, making the inner workings of the brain relevant to anyone interested in health, behaviour, or simply understanding themselves a little better. By tuning into this podcast, you join a community considering how our mental universe influences everything from our personal fitness to our social connections. It’s a weekly opportunity to pause and reflect on the fascinating forces-both biological and psychological-that drive what we do and who we are. The production brings together expert insights with genuine human stories, creating a space where complex ideas about the mind and behaviour are unpacked with clarity and depth.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

All In The Mind
Podcast Episodes
'My brain snapped': Harry's sudden psychosis [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:07
Harry had been lucky. He'd never struggled with his mental health. Then, when he was 18, seemingly out of nowhere — he had his first psychotic episode. It was an abrupt change, with ripple effects across his family. Toda…
Age of rage: the psychology behind our moral outrage [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:06
Politics, war, abortion, gun control — why do some topics make us so outraged? One theory is that our preoccupation with preventing harm is to blame. So today, we examine how humans developed morality, why we differ in w…
The promise and perils of manifesting [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:06
If you could manifest anything into your life, what would it be? A perfect partner, your dream house, winning the lottery? Manifesting promises a limitless potential of dreams to achieve — through methods like vision boa…
"Scarier than killer robots": why your brain isn't ready for AI [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:06
The AI revolution is coming. Your mind isn't ready for it. Cognitive neuroscientist Joel Pearson walks us through the many ways artificial intelligence is messing — and will mess — with our psychology. From falling in lo…
What influences your inner voice? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:05
That voice inside your head - where does it come from? We bring back a topic that was one of our most popular for a long awaited part two. Today, what shapes your internal chatter. This episode was first released in Marc…
Inside a sociopath's mind: "I'm capable of almost anything" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:06
Patric Gagne is a sociopath, but she doesn’t fit the stereotype. From a violent kid, to a PhD and author - we track the unusual story of a sociopath who learned to be 'good'. Plus, there's been some controversy and quest…
The skills supercommunicators use (and how you can learn them) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:05
What do working for the CIA, navigating hot button topics and talking to teenagers all have in common? They're all situations that supercommunicators excel at. Today, we explore how you can become a supercommunicator too…
The design tricks brands use to get you to buy [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:36
What influences your shopping behaviour? Well, it's likely a mix of what you need, what's presented to you in store and probably some neuromarketing (which we've covered on our program before). But what about the role of…
When life is too loud: what are sound sensitivities? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:36
How do you feel as you move through a busy space — like an airport, a city street or a crowded shopping centre? For some of us, these spaces are energising — being among the rush of people and the noise of the crowds. Bu…
Should you do a 'dopamine detox'? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:39
Dopamine feels great, but is it always good for us? The answer is complicated, so today, we get into what dopamine actually does in the brain. How does it affect our motivation, movement and behaviour? And how does our e…