Clockwise Ep. 651: “I Live From Home” (April 8, 2026)
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This episode of Clockwise, hosted as always by Dan Moren and Mikah Sargent, welcomes guests Jeff Carlson (writer, photographer, late-nighter) and Kathy Campbell (community manager and podcast host) for a rapid-fire, roundtable discussion of four fresh tech topics in under 30 minutes. The episode’s conversations orbit around personal strategies for handling email overload, navigating the complexities (and pricing) of mobile phone plans, the love/hate realities of noise-canceling headphones, and favorite analog holdouts in a digital world.
1. Taming the Email Monster
Segment: 01:37 – 07:46
- Dan Moren opens with a question about personal email management: archiving, deleting, folderizing, or other tech tricks?
- Jeff Carlson admits defeat to the flood:
“I just couldn't keep up with the flood. So basically anything that I’m done with just goes into a big archive and anything else either hangs out in my inbox or stays unread until I… do an occasional scan and purge.” (01:52)
- He trusts that crucial emails will circle back if truly important, and is ok with a little chaos.
- Mikah Sargent echoes Jeff, trusting heavily in search features:
“I have a lot of email that just sort of sits there. I've given up is basically the truth of the situation. And I just use search and I'm very happy with that method for myself.” (02:52)
- Kathy Campbell breaks the trend:
- She manages 22 mailboxes for herself and clients.
- Processes emails as they arrive—quick reply or archive—and maintains zero unread messages, except for long-term reminders:
“Everything gets handled somehow.” (04:47)
- Amused horror at someone sharing a screenshot with over 164,000 unread emails:
"There should not be a comma in your unread emails." (05:05)
- Dan Moren confesses to inbox bloat (148,000 emails, all read):
- Struggles with sluggish performance and contemplates mass-archiving.
- Likes to flag and color-code specific emails.
“I never really spent a lot of time doing the archive thing before. I think I just, you know, try to delete stuff that I don't need. But I am also a pack rat.” (06:35)
- Key Point: Across the board, the drive is toward minimal friction and “thinking less” about email—automation, leniency, and reliance on search tools win out.
- Memorable Moment: Laughter and gentle horror over astronomical unread counts, and the shared relief at not being alone in imperfect systems.
2. Picking a Mobile Phone Plan: Value, Perks, or Both?
Segment: 07:59 – 15:07
- Jeff Carlson prompts discussion after switching from legacy AT&T plans to save money amid new surcharges.
“Do you tend to go with the top tier plan that has more data and perks, or do you look for the most afford option or maybe something in between?” (07:59)
- Mikah Sargent would ditch premium plans as he “lives from home” and relies heavily on Wi-Fi:
“The cellular aspect of my phone plan... is not necessary.” (08:22)
- Kathy Campbell sticks with an unlimited family plan (Verizon, military discount), but selectively bumps tiers for data/hotspot or travel needs:
“I just bumped it up and it was $8 a month as opposed to $10 a day... then I just bumped down when the month is over.” (09:21)
- Dan Moren uses a multi-tiered family AT&T plan for both hotspot access and to fit data needs.
- Jokes about marital drama when suggesting a downgrade:
“I once suggested this to my wife and she’s like, you want to throttle me? ... That didn’t go over.” (11:58)
- Finds modern billing and payment easier to split.
- Jokes about marital drama when suggesting a downgrade:
- Jeff Carlson outlines the decision-making tangle:
- Only on AT&T because of iPhone legacy exclusivity.
- “Retired plans” surcharges forced him to act.
- Perk loss (bundled HBO Max) adds calculus to switching.
“Now it’s also factoring in… am I going to get the version with ads? No, no, I’m never going to get the version with ads.” (13:42)
- Conclusions:
- Phone plans are “a big confusing mess.” Convenience (hotspots, travel, streaming bundles) often trumps minimal saving.
- Segment closes with humor about corporate plan nomenclature and the recurring need for a spreadsheet.
3. Noise Canceling Headphones: Love or Loathe?
Segment: 16:28 – 22:31
- Mikah Sargent asks:
“Do you use noise canceling headphones or earbuds? What's your experience ... does it make you feel dizzy?” (16:28)
- Kathy Campbell loves AirPods Max on planes, but noise canceling makes her “feel nauseous” unless buffered with background ocean/rain sounds:
“If I have like ocean or rain or something playing consistently... it doesn’t wipe out and give me nausea.” (16:56)
- Earbuds, however, never work for her.
- Dan Moren is a longtime, happy user (Bose, AirPods Pro 2):
- Noise canceling sometimes amplifies “thumpy” walking sounds.
- Can be weird at night due to loss of a good ear seal—generally, though, it’s a “nice benefit.”
- Jeff Carlson, once skeptical, now depends on it, especially for working at home with a chatty spouse:
“Once I had a taste of real good noise canceling, now I'm like, yes, bring it on almost every time.” (19:35)
- Notices withdrawal when working in noisy places (like loud Seattle coffee shops).
- Mikah Sargent: Most of the time it’s essential—even finds calm in silence:
“Sometimes I just pop them in. There's nothing playing. It's just quieter. And I can hear all of my body sounds. And for some people that's frightening and it reminds them of their mortality. But sometimes the thing that makes me feel most calm is being reminded of my mortality.” (21:17)
- Theme: Range from “make it or break it” requirement to physical discomfort; users adapt with inventive hacks.
4. Analog Holdouts in a Digital World
Segment: 22:35 – 27:32
- Kathy Campbell asks:
“What is something you do the analog way, even though a perfectly good tech version exists?” (22:35)
- Dan Moren: Defaults to analog activities with his young child even though there are app equivalents:
“We’ve found ways to hopefully entertain him that don’t require as much technology.” (23:50)
- Jeff Carlson: Coffee is his diehard analog ritual (manual pour-over, bean grinding).
“For a few minutes every morning I’m not doing anything on devices at all. And it’s actually kind of nice for me.” (24:11)
- Mikah Sargent:
- Recipes get printed out for reference in the kitchen, despite originating in apps.
- Crocheting and paint-by-numbers: digital patterns are edited and then printed for physical use.
“There's something about having it on the screen that it just makes me feel like I'm forgetting things. Whereas when it's on a piece of paper, I feel like I can follow along.” (25:09)
- Kathy Campbell:
- Journaling, planning, and brain dumps all handwritten.
- Cross-stitch patterns are printed so they can be marked as completed.
“I don't want to. I want just… just this little container that has everything that I need.” (26:47)
- Consensus: Whether for ritual, memory, or tactile satisfaction, analog persists even in the most tech-forward lives.
Bonus Topic: Favorite Architectural Style
Segment: 27:39 – 28:47
- Jeff Carlson: Drawn to modern, angular styles (not reflected in his own home).
- Mikah Sargent: Agrees—loves modern and angular, eye-catching on any block.
- Kathy Campbell: Art Nouveau, for intriguing, intricate, and soft details.
- Dan Moren: Sucker for Art Deco—"the angular shapes and flourishes."
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
- “I have 22 active email boxes... and I do what every productivity guru says not to do.” – Kathy Campbell (03:47)
- "I once suggested this to my wife and she’s like, you want to throttle me? ... That didn’t go over." – Dan Moren (11:58)
- “Sometimes the thing that makes me feel most calm is being reminded of my mortality.” – Mikah Sargent (21:17)
- Strong laughter at seeing a screenshot of an inbox with a comma in the unread email count (05:05–05:36)
- “For a few minutes every morning I’m not doing anything on devices at all. And it’s actually kind of nice for me.” – Jeff Carlson (24:11)
- “I want just… just this little container that has everything that I need.” – Kathy Campbell (26:47)
Timestamps for Key Segments
| Segment | Start Time | End Time | |------------------------------|------------|----------| | Email Management | 01:37 | 07:46 | | Cell Phone Plans | 07:59 | 15:07 | | Noise Canceling Headphones | 16:28 | 22:31 | | Analog vs. Tech | 22:35 | 27:32 | | Bonus: Architecture | 27:39 | 28:47 |
Clockwise’s Signature Takeaway
Whatever the device, price point, or productivity hack, Clockwise’s panel celebrates flexibility, forgiveness, and a sense of humor—whether in managing digital chaos, balancing value vs. perks, savoring silence, or just enjoying a pen and paper moment in an online world.