58: Richard Chambers - A Smiling Mind With Technology

In episode 58, Dr. Richard Chambers joins us for an engaging discussion about how he encourages and teaches people to experiment with their use of technology. In particular, he prompts them to pay attention to both how they feel subjectively when they are using technology in different ways, in different situations, and also how they feel when not using it at all. Dr. Richard Chambers is a clinical psychologist and leading mindfulness expert. He feels his calling is working with and teaching mindfulness, focus, and distraction control in schools and universities. For Richard, mindfulness provides him with the experience of freedom from all the rumination and worry that clouds his mind, and he strives to share that with others, too. Resources: Richard Chamber’s Website Smiling Mind Meditation App Dr. Richard Chambers’ TEDx Talk Mindful Learning by Dr. Rich Chambers Some Questions I Ask: · How did you get into mindfulness? (4:03) · What is your philosophy about mindfulness fits into a curriculum? (9:03) · What are the most common serious issues around technology that your students? (13:16) · What challenges do you experience when working with people who never experienced life before smartphones and technology? (15:33) · How is Smiling Mind different from other meditation apps? (29:09) What You’ll Learn: · How to measure your technology use and how it affects your experience with technology. (0:50) · How technology use negatively impacts learning outcomes and mental health. (13:34) · How everyday technology and social media exacerbates cyberbullying, depression, and narcissism. (15:43) · How Richard teaches mindfulness through experiments. (18:24) · The difference between multi-tasking and attention-switching. (24:54) · Why technology is addicting. (34:34)