What the Internet Is Doing to Your Soul

What is the internet actually doing to the human person? Ave Maria University professor Justin Bonanno joins Andrew to trace how every major communications technology has reshaped what it means to be human. The "tech idiot paradigm" — why saying "it's just a tool" keeps us blind to what technology actually costs us Walker Percy and Susan Sontag saw the photograph problem coming long before Instagram existed Why curiosity itself can become a vice, and how Aquinas's virtue of temperance applies to how much content we consume The concept of discarnation — how media pulls us out of our bodies — and why the internet does it more intensely than anything before it One word that can reorient your relationship to your phone, your community, and your faith: participation ⏱️ Timestamps: 00:00 What is the internet doing to human beings? 03:13 Walker Percy, Susan Sontag, and the displacement of the real 07:05 The history of media: spoken word, writing, print, internet 32:09 What Justin sees in students today 42:54 The slot machine metaphor for digital tech 48:59 Prayer, boredom, and the spiritual cost of constant consumption 53:09 Curiosity as a vice — Aquinas on knowing when to stop 58:03 Participation as the antidote 1:06:22 Foraging, and living the mystery 🔗 Justin Bonanno: 👉 Blog / Substack: teachdelightmove.com 👉 Media Ecology Association: [add link] 🔗 Andrew's work: 👉 https://www.illuminedwellness.com/ | https://www.humanality.org/ | https://www.smart-families.org/ 🔔 Subscribe for weekly conversations on the art of living human. #MediaEcology #DigitalWellness #ArtOfLivingHuman --- Medical Disclaimer The content shared on the Illumined Wellness podcast — including all episodes, show notes, and related materials — is provided for general educational and informational purposes only. It is not intended as, and should not be treated as, a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Andrew Laubacher is a National Board Certified Health & Wellness Coach (NBC-HWC). He is not a licensed physician, dietitian, psychologist, or other medical provider, and the information presented does not constitute medical, psychological, or nutritional care. Health coaching is distinct from medical treatment and is not a replacement for the care of a qualified healthcare professional. Listening to this podcast does not create a coach-client or provider-patient relationship of any kind. Always seek the advice of your physician or another qualified provider before beginning any new diet, supplement, exercise, light-exposure, or wellness practice, and never disregard or delay professional medical advice because of something you heard here. Guests' views are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the host or Illumined Wellness LLC. If you think you may have a medical emergency, call your doctor or 911 (or your local emergency number) immediately. You assume full responsibility for any actions taken based on this content.