echnology makes connection easier—but what happens when we stop reaching for each other? Michael Trainer reflects on belonging, attention, and the shared experiences that make us human, drawing on his childhood in Chicago, his years in Sri Lanka, and a final phone call with someone he loved.
Technology makes connection easier—but what happens when we stop reaching for each other? Michael Trainer reflects on belonging, attention, and the shared experiences that make us human, drawing on his childhood in Chicago, his years in Sri Lanka, and a final phone call with someone he loved.
Description
When was the last time you brought a personal question to a close friend before asking AI?
In this solo episode, Michael Trainer explores a tension shaping our lives: the tools that connect us can also draw us away from one another.
From skateboarding through Chicago without a phone to walking through a Sri Lankan village to call home, Michael revisits a world where connection required more effort—and considers what that effort made possible. He shares the story of a final goodbye with his godfather, memories of studying traditional healing rituals in Sri Lanka, and reflections on the imperfections that make intimacy possible.
Along the way, he asks:
• When does convenience begin to replace connection?
• What can communal rituals teach us about belonging?
• How do algorithms shape the way we see ourselves and others?
• What would progress look like if we measured it by the quality of human life?
An invitation to consider what we want technology to serve—and what we must keep practicing ourselves: attention, friendship, shared presence, and care for the world we leave behind.