Reclaiming Power and Agency When Everyone's Depressed (with David Storey)

Another engaging riff with David Storey, Boston College philosophy professor and Spartan Race athlete. This time I take center stage. We explore why Americans are collectively depressed, why Democrats ignore power politics, why turning off phones and turning toward each other feels great, and how all of this is related.

I make a case for phone-free schools. Dave helps me see even bigger benefits.

We get political. We get personal. We refuse to give advice or answer the question, "What should the average person do?"

**Key takeaways**

• 11:00 Feeling bottled up? Recapture the oomph and lock arms with others
• 15:00 The Tit-for-Tat strategy from the Prisoner's Dilemma
• 21:00 Reclaiming power. "Don't step on me."
• 23:00 Two reasons Democrats get complacent about power politics
• 28:00 Want advice on what to do? Instead, ask yourself these four questions
• 32:00 Conscious phone use through PSAs and intentional points of friction
• 35:00 It's time to make public spaces public again
• 38:00 Stricter phone policies in schools free teachers to teach, not police
• 41:00 Adults exerting their agency. "Trust your moral compass."
• 45:00 Moving beyond the hyper-individualistic story of America
• 47:00 Laughter is something we create together

**Resources**

• David's web site, including his podcast, Wisdom@Work

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