#4: Sr. Nancy Usselmann — The Spirituality of Media and Turning to God Instead of AI

In this episode, Pete tries some of his comedy on Sr. Nancy Usselman. They discuss the spirituality of media, turning to God instead of AI, the importance of silence, and how Sr. Nancy may or may not have gotten him fired from his last job (in a good way.)Sr. Nancy is a Daughter of St Paul and Director of Pauline Media Studies. She is a Media Literacy educator, film/tv reviewer, speaker, writer, and author of Media Fasting: Six Weeks to Recharge in Christ and A Sacred Look: Becoming Cultural Mystics. Sr. Nancy presents ways to engage thoughtfully with popular media using faith values and spirituality. She has a Doctorate in Ministry from the Catholic University of America and is developing Media Mindfulness Catechesis, a model of faith integration with our everyday media use. You can learn more and follow Sr Nancy and the work of the Media Nuns at www.daughtersofstpaul.comTrailer:dumbphonepete.com/podcast/trailerThe project:Check out our website dumbphonepete.com for new episodes, upcoming live shows, speaking events, personal and group coaching packages, and our helpful resources page. If you’re able to support the show with your dollars, visit dumbphonepete.com/give to make a secure donation to the project.Get the Wisephone II from Techless and enjoy $25 off with code DUMBPHONEPETE at checkout. https://wisephone.com/products/wisephone-iiReference links:Media Fast ChallengeMedia Apostle: The Father James Alberione StoryWorld Communication Dayhttps://www.usccb.org/news/2025/world-communications-day-2025Inter Mirifica (Vatican II) – Decree On The Media of Social Communicationshttps://www.vatican.va/archive/hist_councils/ii_vatican_council/documents/vat-ii_decree_19631204_inter-mirifica_en.htmlTowards Full Presence – A Pastoral Reflection on Engagement with Social Mediahttps://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/dpc/documents/20230528_dpc-verso-piena-presenza_en.htmlMatthew Sanders – Longbeard: https://www.longbeard.com/Carr, Nicholas. (2025). Superbloom: How Technologies of Connection Tear Us Apart. W.W. Norton & Company Ltd.Carr, Nicholas. (2010). The Shallows: What the Internet is Doing to Our Brains. W.W. Norton & Company Ltd.The Dumbphone Pete podcast is a production of Symbol & Story.Don’t be stupid, stay dumb people!