Falling Asleep to a Stranger's Whisper - The Nightly

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Transcript35 lines

[00:01]
A
Audio for sleep by hatch. All right, I'm Matt and welcome to the nightly from Hatch, where your late night thought go to rest. Little update from me. It's still unbearably boiling and I'm not happy about it, honestly. Sick to the back teeth of this weather. Don't understand anybody who enjoys being this warm. And do you know what? I've got a. I've got two jackets, two that I got hold of maybe two and a half months ago now. Been desperate to wear them and you just can't. They've sat in my wardrobe. They'd look great. I'm desperate to put them on and I can't. And I keep checking the weather app on my phone and sort of putting a pin in certain dates. It'd be like, right, two weeks on Monday, it's gonna cool down and it's gonna rain and then I'll check the next morning and it's dry and 28 degrees again. And I just can't deal with that any, But don't want to burden you with my problems. We have got a caller on the line. We've got Greg. What's on your mind, Greg?
[01:44]
B
Hi. Yeah, I'm calling in. I was thinking a lot about where my evenings seem to go after work. It feels like there's always something distracting me from what it is I want to do or the things that I think are really important. I always find myself getting distracted by watching TV or playing a video game. And next thing I know, it's time to go to bed and do it all over again. And it just feels like water slipping through my fingers.
[02:20]
A
So just to clarify, Greg, welcome to the show. By the way, is this. Would you say this is a bad thing or a good thing? I'm assuming you're saying this is a negative thing.
[02:33]
B
I feel like it's a bad thing. I mean, I don't feel like it in the moment, but when I look back on my time, I think about where it's all going and wonder if it is a good thing or a bad thing.
[02:45]
A
I see what you're saying. To be absolutely clear and honest with everybody, I obviously have a vested interest and a conflict of interest, I suppose is the way of putting it. As someone who literally works in the distraction business, that is what I do full time. So I don't know what's. When you say, because there's nothing wrong with having a bit of time to watch a series or play a game or do you mean you just find something at any point in the day to Distract. So you don't have any time for just boredom.
[03:24]
B
Well, that, that, that is what I'm, I wonder if it turns into. You know, I'm, I live in Los Angeles and so when I'm in the car driving to and from work, I'll have a podcast on or, or an audiobook or music or when and when I get home I'll have music going or, or things. And I wonder how much of it is enjoying, like you said, enjoying a bit of entertainment and time for myself and relaxation and how much of it is detaching from the present and being really present in the moment.
[04:00]
A
Yeah, I suppose what we need to get down to here is how, how important is it to be in the present moment? I guess because I'm the same as you. When I'm doing anything, really, whether it's washing the dishes or in the car or going for a walk, I will always have something on just to drown out the voices. But I watched something today, actually, someone that said that our Neanderthal cousins, they obviously didn't have anything like that. And so it's really important, particularly at mealtime to just have complete quiet and just to look at your partner in the eye and eat, which to be honest sounds absolutely horrendous. So. And they didn't have Netflix, of course, which has been a big game changer. So, I mean, what's. Do you think the present moment might be overrated, Greg?
[04:57]
B
Well, I think that's where I'm, I think it can be. I think the present moment can be filled with whatever we want it to be. It's the now, I think when, when I've noticed it the most, it's when I'm unhappy with the present. There's something that I want to change or something in my life that's not where I want it to be. And I think those are the moments that I gravitate towards detaching from it more than when things are going well or when I've been preoccupied with things that are really exciting. I feel like then that's when my consumption of media goes down because I'm not either too busy or just too excited by what's happening around me to check out.
[05:56]
A
So would you say, I suppose you're maybe using these different mediums of entertainment to distract you from issues rather than actually dealing with problems which I suppose then would have a knock on effect down the line?
[06:09]
B
I think so. I think it's almost like the first symptom. Even before I'm able to say something in my Life needs to change before I'm even able to articulate what that might be. I think when I get really distracted, it's a warning sign that I'm. Something needs to change and I haven't looked at it yet.
[06:35]
A
I think that's a fair point. I mean, if you don't mind me asking, Greg, how old are you?
[06:40]
B
I'll be 35 next month.
[06:43]
A
Okay. Yeah. So we're very similar age. I'm trying to think back to what we did before there was this much access to all this different entertainment and stuff. I mean, do you remember when you were, I don't know, like 14, 15? What a day would like. Did we just get through? What did we do?
[07:08]
B
What a great question. I think. I think for me, I think that's where this stuff really came. I remember being a teenager, being. Trying to finish my homework as fast as possible so I could get on to doing some of this other stuff. You know, that was. Time was so much more regimented with, you only have this much TV time or you can play a game from 7 to 8, but then you have to get ready, you know, whatever it is. Like, it was just. It always felt a little bit more structured versus now. As adults, we can do whatever, whenever. And I think that's part of it where, you know, I'll look up and I'll realize I was scrolling Instagram reels for an hour. And, you know, is that really what I wanted to spend that. If I had asked myself ahead of time, is that what I wanted to do for an hour? I probably wouldn't have said yes.
[08:00]
A
Yeah, I don't think many people. I don't think many people would because it's. I think even if your algorithm's geared towards what seems like, you know, informative or even like wellness content or whatever, when you actually sit back after you've scrolled for a bit, I mean, do you actually take anything in? Can you remember what you see? Even if there's a video, we think, oh, that's an interesting point. Do you manage to actually retain any of that?
[08:27]
B
I think only the ones that make a very, like, interesting idea. If it puts an idea in my head, I think those are the ones I remember. But otherwise it just feels like filler.
[08:41]
A
Yeah. I have to say as well, it's sort of. I mean, even you touched on video games there and you know, when we were younger, maybe only being able to play for an hour, I think as well, games have changed where it's. Cause, I mean, I don't know about you or what you play, Greg. But I love like a real sort of story mode, like a kind of a campaign thing that's got a narrative and it feels like you're kind of playing a movie. Whereas now everything's so geared towards these time sync online games where you can basically grind it indefinitely. There's no end to it. I think that could be it. Is that something that you've noticed in the games that you play?
[09:24]
B
Well, I'm very similar to you in that I do much more enjoy narrative or something with progression. I notice also that I find myself gravitating towards things that feel like progress in my games. Whether that's leveling up or, you know, accumulating whatever it is, collecting a resource or things like that. Like the games that I can point to and say, oh, I did this, I made progress. Like it gives me that false sense of accomplishment. I think where it's easier, it's more. It's more quick to do it in a video game. You can do it in an evening and make a whole bunch of progress versus progress in our lives. Tends to take real time. And I think that's part of the struggle with it as well.
[10:14]
A
Yeah, so you can just take those easy wins and kind of get the same dopamine hit that you would have gotten. Having worked your way up through a job that might have taken like seven months or whatever. I can see why that would be an issue. But I think what's an interesting point, which I've thought about before, is is there an argument to be made that every generation has had these kind of time sync activities? Because you say now, like if someone, if you said to your kid, you know, don't sit scrolling, you know, read this book, just sit and read for a bit. You'd be over the moon if they did that. But I wonder if, you know, a hundred years ago, someone with their face in a book all day, they were like, they're in that, they're in that, but can't get them off that book. You know, they won't stop reading the book. Is that the same thing? Because you still get the. The whole thing with fiction is that you get to follow a narrative and that's supposedly good for you. It's good for your brain, isn't it? Reading skills and all that sort of stuff. But you get the same thing, don't you, from film or a game?
[11:28]
B
Absolutely. Well, and I. That's an interesting point because I think about that a lot when it comes to music or things where the older generation will look back and say, oh, it was better before or you know, when they were growing up, music had a certain style and nowadays it's just noise or whatever. And I think about how every generation seems to think that the next generation's creative outlets or ways of expression were not as good as theirs. And I think that's interesting that you kind of look the other way of like maybe this is just a modern day version of reading a book or having the radio on all the time or whatever, being glued to the tv. I think that's an interesting comparison. I hadn't thought about it like that.
[12:15]
A
Yeah, I think that's. I think you're right as well. Yeah, it might be just a generational thing that changes. I did see a really interesting article a little while ago that had. I think it was like newspaper headlines and they didn't have a date on them initially, but it was. All the headlines were like, kids have got no respect anymore. The kids are out of control, they're lazy, they're useless, blah, blah. And then the reveal later on was they were all articles from, you know, 80, 90 years ago. And it's kind of the same things are said about every generation by the one before. So I mean, maybe, maybe now this, we've never had it. We'll look back and think we've never had it. So good.
[12:56]
B
That's an interesting. Yeah. What is. And terrifying also in some ways of what is. What will make this look like the ideal as we figure it out now and then we look back and we go, this was how it was when it was good. Now it's something else. That's an interesting thought.
[13:18]
A
And I for one welcome our machine overlords exactly the right side of the algorithm on that front. But have you ever tried to sort of combine the two spheres of kind of technology and also grounding yourself in the present? Because I think it's a huge market now, isn't it, for wellness products and stuff that try. And whether it's meditation apps or I think there's even like you can get VR experiences where you're sat on a beach or whatever with guided meditations. Have you ever tried to combine the two, Greg?
[13:53]
B
A bit, yeah. I listen to ASMR for relaxation, which very much is connecting with technology and using guided relaxation or things to help fall asleep. And I find that to be very relaxing and helpful, but absolutely combines the two.
[14:14]
A
Yeah, that's interesting. I find probably the best thing that I've found is listening to myself. But apart from that, I don't Think I've done anything else. When you say asmr. What kind of things? I don't know anything about it, so I don't have ever tried listening to it.
[14:39]
B
Yeah, well, I mean it's oftentimes just soft spoken or whispered voice and you know, it's predominantly on YouTube and that's where I find it at least. And it's anything from people just talking about their day to, you know, what's in their bag type videos, to full on pretending, like setting, you know, a whole scene of being a doctor or being a caretaker or being somebody's friend and listening to their day or anything where the, the vibe is very relaxing and it's meant to be something that helps get you sleepy, put you to sleep. For certain people, they can actually experience like a tingling sensation in like the back of their neck, the back of their head when they experience something like that. But yeah, it's just a very nice way of relaxing at the end of the day.
[15:43]
A
That's really interesting. It's actually got sort of physiological effects as well as just the calming effect.
[15:51]
B
Yeah. People have talked about not knowing that this was a thing. This is something that kind of was discovered during the YouTube Internet era because before that people would have these experiences maybe in a classroom or when going to a doctor or being in a place where they experienced it in real life. But nobody really was talking about it because it was fairly rare and hard to describe. And it cropped up on the Internet as a thing and people were able to find a community of people that also experienced it. And now it's something that people recognize as an actual thing, which is very cool.
[16:28]
A
That is very cool. So obviously that's, I mean, great takeaway from technology, isn't it? If that's. People have finally found that it's not just them that can experience something like that and they found a community and then more and more content has been created to help. So in that respect, I mean that's a good thing to come from phones and music phones and the Internet and laptops and whatever else. That's a good thing to be distracted from the present moment with that kind of thing. It's far more wholesome. I think I've been a sucker for like a YouTube documentary to go to sleep, to just get a good old tragedy on in the background. I'm gonna try that asmr. I think that's. Have you got any recommendations for what's been your favorite kind of caretaker or doctor?
[17:20]
B
Yeah, I mean it really depends. Everybody's got different styles. I think people gravitate towards different voices. So I know like some people only listen to women ASMR artists because that pitch I find that I gravitate towards deeper voices and male voices. So one of my favorite channels is Articulate Design asmr. He hasn't uploaded in a while, but his old stuff is very, very good. And one of the women I follow, her YouTube channel is Goodnight Moon ASMR. Those are the two that come to mind first.
[17:56]
A
Okay, well that's, I mean, that's fascinating. Thank you very much for getting in touch, Greg. I had no idea about that sort of stuff. Lovely stuff. Well, thank you very much for calling Greg and yeah, get in touch again soon. It's been a pleasure.
[18:10]
B
Oh, thank you so much. Thanks for having me.
[18:14]
A
That was Greg there talking about whether it's good to distract yourself from the present moment or not. And ultimately, yeah, bit of both. Listen to me. That's, that's a decent outcome, I reckon. Win, win for everybody. That. And if you want to come on the show to talk about anything that's on your mind, please do email us. Or you can send a voice memo to thenightlyach co. Alternatively, leave a voicemail 904-nightly. That's 904-644-4859. And with that, let's say a very good night to you, the listener. And to who do I want to say goodnight to? I say good night to Greg. It was nice chatting with Greg. Enjoyed that you've been listening to the Nightly. I'll see you next time.
[20:17]
B
Sa. Sa. Sam.
[24:13]
A
To learn more about our phone free light and audio experience, head to Hatch co. You can also follow us at HatchPodcasts.

Summary5 min read

Podcast Summary: The Nightly

Episode: Falling Asleep to a Stranger's Whisper
Date: August 5, 2026
Hosts: Matt Bragg
Featured Caller: Greg

Overview

This episode centers on the topic of "distraction versus presence" in our modern, media-saturated lives. Host Matt Bragg is joined by caller Greg for an intimate, late-night discussion about why we fill our evenings with entertainment, how technology shapes our downtime, and whether detaching from the present is necessarily a bad thing. The conversation winds through personal anecdotes, generational shifts, and even explores the world of ASMR as a positive use of digital distraction.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Nature of Distraction in Modern Life

Greg shares how his evenings seem to slip away with TV, games, or passive activities, describing time as “water slipping through my fingers.” (01:44)
He debates whether these distractions are inherently negative or just part of adult life. He notes, “I don't feel like it in the moment, but when I look back on my time ... I wonder if it is a good thing or a bad thing.” (02:32)
Matt admits his own role in the “distraction business” and questions whether moments of boredom have simply become obsolete. (02:44)

2. Escaping Presence vs. Practicing It

Greg expresses concern about never being mentally present, even in quiet moments, constantly filling silence with music, podcasts, or audiobooks.
- Quote: “I'll have a podcast on, or an audiobook, or music ... I wonder how much of it is enjoying entertainment and relaxation and how much is detaching from the present and being really present in the moment.” (03:24)
Matt references the prehistoric quiet of Neanderthals and jokes about the horror of eating in silence and looking people in the eye instead of enjoying Netflix. (04:00)

3. Distraction as a Symptom

Greg identifies media distraction as an early warning sign that something may be wrong in his life.
- Quote: “Even before I'm able to say something in my life needs to change ... when I get really distracted, it's a warning sign ... that I haven't looked at it yet.” (06:09)
The hosts reflect on how unstructured adult lives allow endless distraction, compared to the structured screen time of childhood and teenage years. (07:07)

4. Generational Perspectives on Media

Matt questions if the lament over wasted time on social media is really any different than previous generations spent reading novels or glued to the radio.
- Quote: “Is that the same thing? Because with fiction, you get to follow a narrative ... but you get the same thing, don't you, from film or a game?” (11:10)
Greg agrees, noting every generation criticizes the next's form of entertainment, but it’s a cyclical trend. (12:15)

5. Gaming, Progress, and Dopamine

Both Matt and Greg prefer games with stories or progress, but note how endless “grind” games offer quick dopamine hits, mimicking life accomplishments.
- Greg: “It gives me that false sense of accomplishment. ... Progress in our lives tends to take real time. That’s part of the struggle.” (09:23)

6. Technology + Mindfulness: The Rise of ASMR

Matt asks Greg if he's tried combining technology with mindfulness tools. Greg reveals he listens to ASMR to relax and fall asleep, describing the physiological and psychological benefits. (13:52)
- Greg: “It’s just a very nice way of relaxing at the end of the day.” (14:39)
ASMR, often soft-spoken or whispered YouTube videos, helps people unwind and even connect with a community of fellow listeners.
- Greg: “People have talked about not knowing that this was a thing ... it cropped up on the Internet as a thing and people were able to find a community.” (15:51)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

Matt on generational patterns:
“Maybe this is just a modern day version of reading a book ... Every generation seems to think the next’s creative outlets were not as good as theirs.” (11:27)
Greg on progress:
“You can do it in an evening and make a whole bunch of progress versus progress in our lives tends to take real time.” (09:23)
Matt on screen time through the decades:
“If someone, if you said to your kid, you know, don’t sit scrolling, you know, read this book ... But maybe 100 years ago, someone with their face in a book all day, they were like: ‘Can’t get them off that book!’” (10:14)
Greg on ASMR’s discovery:
“Nobody was really talking about it because it was rare and hard to describe ... it cropped up on the internet as a thing and people were able to find a community.” (15:51)

Listener Recommendations (for ASMR)

Articulate Design ASMR – Deep male voice, calming style. (17:19)
Goodnight Moon ASMR – Popular female artist, imaginative scenes. (17:19)

Important Timestamps

01:44: Greg introduces the evening’s theme: escapism and distraction.
03:24: Discussion of perpetual media consumption and its effects on presence.
06:09: “Distraction as a warning sign” for needed life changes.
09:23: Insights on video games, dopamine, and false advancement.
11:10: Comparing reading and scrolling—are they really so different?
13:52: Introduction to ASMR as a purposeful digital relaxation tool.
15:51: How the ASMR community grew online.
17:19: Greg’s top ASMR creator recommendations.

Tone & Flow

The whole conversation is relaxed, personable, and gently humorous—suiting a late-night call-in show. Matt is self-deprecating and empathetic, while Greg is introspective, sincere, and conversational. Both avoid easy judgment, instead considering distraction and presence as complex, evolving aspects of contemporary life.

Takeaway

This episode gently unpacks the blurry line between healthy escapism and avoidance. Podcasts, games, and even ASMR can be valuable, intentional tools for comfort—but they also flag moments when we might need to check in with ourselves more deeply. Ultimately, finding balance between plugging in and being present is a personal, ongoing journey, made clearer by honest late-night reflections like this.

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Transcript35 lines

[00:01]
A
Audio for sleep by hatch. All right, I'm Matt and welcome to the nightly from Hatch, where your late night thought go to rest. Little update from me. It's still unbearably boiling and I'm not happy about it, honestly. Sick to the back teeth of this weather. Don't understand anybody who enjoys being this warm. And do you know what? I've got a. I've got two jackets, two that I got hold of maybe two and a half months ago now. Been desperate to wear them and you just can't. They've sat in my wardrobe. They'd look great. I'm desperate to put them on and I can't. And I keep checking the weather app on my phone and sort of putting a pin in certain dates. It'd be like, right, two weeks on Monday, it's gonna cool down and it's gonna rain and then I'll check the next morning and it's dry and 28 degrees again. And I just can't deal with that any, But don't want to burden you with my problems. We have got a caller on the line. We've got Greg. What's on your mind, Greg?
[01:44]
B
Hi. Yeah, I'm calling in. I was thinking a lot about where my evenings seem to go after work. It feels like there's always something distracting me from what it is I want to do or the things that I think are really important. I always find myself getting distracted by watching TV or playing a video game. And next thing I know, it's time to go to bed and do it all over again. And it just feels like water slipping through my fingers.
[02:20]
A
So just to clarify, Greg, welcome to the show. By the way, is this. Would you say this is a bad thing or a good thing? I'm assuming you're saying this is a negative thing.
[02:33]
B
I feel like it's a bad thing. I mean, I don't feel like it in the moment, but when I look back on my time, I think about where it's all going and wonder if it is a good thing or a bad thing.
[02:45]
A
I see what you're saying. To be absolutely clear and honest with everybody, I obviously have a vested interest and a conflict of interest, I suppose is the way of putting it. As someone who literally works in the distraction business, that is what I do full time. So I don't know what's. When you say, because there's nothing wrong with having a bit of time to watch a series or play a game or do you mean you just find something at any point in the day to Distract. So you don't have any time for just boredom.
[03:24]
B
Well, that, that, that is what I'm, I wonder if it turns into. You know, I'm, I live in Los Angeles and so when I'm in the car driving to and from work, I'll have a podcast on or, or an audiobook or music or when and when I get home I'll have music going or, or things. And I wonder how much of it is enjoying, like you said, enjoying a bit of entertainment and time for myself and relaxation and how much of it is detaching from the present and being really present in the moment.
[04:00]
A
Yeah, I suppose what we need to get down to here is how, how important is it to be in the present moment? I guess because I'm the same as you. When I'm doing anything, really, whether it's washing the dishes or in the car or going for a walk, I will always have something on just to drown out the voices. But I watched something today, actually, someone that said that our Neanderthal cousins, they obviously didn't have anything like that. And so it's really important, particularly at mealtime to just have complete quiet and just to look at your partner in the eye and eat, which to be honest sounds absolutely horrendous. So. And they didn't have Netflix, of course, which has been a big game changer. So, I mean, what's. Do you think the present moment might be overrated, Greg?
[04:57]
B
Well, I think that's where I'm, I think it can be. I think the present moment can be filled with whatever we want it to be. It's the now, I think when, when I've noticed it the most, it's when I'm unhappy with the present. There's something that I want to change or something in my life that's not where I want it to be. And I think those are the moments that I gravitate towards detaching from it more than when things are going well or when I've been preoccupied with things that are really exciting. I feel like then that's when my consumption of media goes down because I'm not either too busy or just too excited by what's happening around me to check out.
[05:56]
A
So would you say, I suppose you're maybe using these different mediums of entertainment to distract you from issues rather than actually dealing with problems which I suppose then would have a knock on effect down the line?
[06:09]
B
I think so. I think it's almost like the first symptom. Even before I'm able to say something in my Life needs to change before I'm even able to articulate what that might be. I think when I get really distracted, it's a warning sign that I'm. Something needs to change and I haven't looked at it yet.
[06:35]
A
I think that's a fair point. I mean, if you don't mind me asking, Greg, how old are you?
[06:40]
B
I'll be 35 next month.
[06:43]
A
Okay. Yeah. So we're very similar age. I'm trying to think back to what we did before there was this much access to all this different entertainment and stuff. I mean, do you remember when you were, I don't know, like 14, 15? What a day would like. Did we just get through? What did we do?
[07:08]
B
What a great question. I think. I think for me, I think that's where this stuff really came. I remember being a teenager, being. Trying to finish my homework as fast as possible so I could get on to doing some of this other stuff. You know, that was. Time was so much more regimented with, you only have this much TV time or you can play a game from 7 to 8, but then you have to get ready, you know, whatever it is. Like, it was just. It always felt a little bit more structured versus now. As adults, we can do whatever, whenever. And I think that's part of it where, you know, I'll look up and I'll realize I was scrolling Instagram reels for an hour. And, you know, is that really what I wanted to spend that. If I had asked myself ahead of time, is that what I wanted to do for an hour? I probably wouldn't have said yes.
[08:00]
A
Yeah, I don't think many people. I don't think many people would because it's. I think even if your algorithm's geared towards what seems like, you know, informative or even like wellness content or whatever, when you actually sit back after you've scrolled for a bit, I mean, do you actually take anything in? Can you remember what you see? Even if there's a video, we think, oh, that's an interesting point. Do you manage to actually retain any of that?
[08:27]
B
I think only the ones that make a very, like, interesting idea. If it puts an idea in my head, I think those are the ones I remember. But otherwise it just feels like filler.
[08:41]
A
Yeah. I have to say as well, it's sort of. I mean, even you touched on video games there and you know, when we were younger, maybe only being able to play for an hour, I think as well, games have changed where it's. Cause, I mean, I don't know about you or what you play, Greg. But I love like a real sort of story mode, like a kind of a campaign thing that's got a narrative and it feels like you're kind of playing a movie. Whereas now everything's so geared towards these time sync online games where you can basically grind it indefinitely. There's no end to it. I think that could be it. Is that something that you've noticed in the games that you play?
[09:24]
B
Well, I'm very similar to you in that I do much more enjoy narrative or something with progression. I notice also that I find myself gravitating towards things that feel like progress in my games. Whether that's leveling up or, you know, accumulating whatever it is, collecting a resource or things like that. Like the games that I can point to and say, oh, I did this, I made progress. Like it gives me that false sense of accomplishment. I think where it's easier, it's more. It's more quick to do it in a video game. You can do it in an evening and make a whole bunch of progress versus progress in our lives. Tends to take real time. And I think that's part of the struggle with it as well.
[10:14]
A
Yeah, so you can just take those easy wins and kind of get the same dopamine hit that you would have gotten. Having worked your way up through a job that might have taken like seven months or whatever. I can see why that would be an issue. But I think what's an interesting point, which I've thought about before, is is there an argument to be made that every generation has had these kind of time sync activities? Because you say now, like if someone, if you said to your kid, you know, don't sit scrolling, you know, read this book, just sit and read for a bit. You'd be over the moon if they did that. But I wonder if, you know, a hundred years ago, someone with their face in a book all day, they were like, they're in that, they're in that, but can't get them off that book. You know, they won't stop reading the book. Is that the same thing? Because you still get the. The whole thing with fiction is that you get to follow a narrative and that's supposedly good for you. It's good for your brain, isn't it? Reading skills and all that sort of stuff. But you get the same thing, don't you, from film or a game?
[11:28]
B
Absolutely. Well, and I. That's an interesting point because I think about that a lot when it comes to music or things where the older generation will look back and say, oh, it was better before or you know, when they were growing up, music had a certain style and nowadays it's just noise or whatever. And I think about how every generation seems to think that the next generation's creative outlets or ways of expression were not as good as theirs. And I think that's interesting that you kind of look the other way of like maybe this is just a modern day version of reading a book or having the radio on all the time or whatever, being glued to the tv. I think that's an interesting comparison. I hadn't thought about it like that.
[12:15]
A
Yeah, I think that's. I think you're right as well. Yeah, it might be just a generational thing that changes. I did see a really interesting article a little while ago that had. I think it was like newspaper headlines and they didn't have a date on them initially, but it was. All the headlines were like, kids have got no respect anymore. The kids are out of control, they're lazy, they're useless, blah, blah. And then the reveal later on was they were all articles from, you know, 80, 90 years ago. And it's kind of the same things are said about every generation by the one before. So I mean, maybe, maybe now this, we've never had it. We'll look back and think we've never had it. So good.
[12:56]
B
That's an interesting. Yeah. What is. And terrifying also in some ways of what is. What will make this look like the ideal as we figure it out now and then we look back and we go, this was how it was when it was good. Now it's something else. That's an interesting thought.
[13:18]
A
And I for one welcome our machine overlords exactly the right side of the algorithm on that front. But have you ever tried to sort of combine the two spheres of kind of technology and also grounding yourself in the present? Because I think it's a huge market now, isn't it, for wellness products and stuff that try. And whether it's meditation apps or I think there's even like you can get VR experiences where you're sat on a beach or whatever with guided meditations. Have you ever tried to combine the two, Greg?
[13:53]
B
A bit, yeah. I listen to ASMR for relaxation, which very much is connecting with technology and using guided relaxation or things to help fall asleep. And I find that to be very relaxing and helpful, but absolutely combines the two.
[14:14]
A
Yeah, that's interesting. I find probably the best thing that I've found is listening to myself. But apart from that, I don't Think I've done anything else. When you say asmr. What kind of things? I don't know anything about it, so I don't have ever tried listening to it.
[14:39]
B
Yeah, well, I mean it's oftentimes just soft spoken or whispered voice and you know, it's predominantly on YouTube and that's where I find it at least. And it's anything from people just talking about their day to, you know, what's in their bag type videos, to full on pretending, like setting, you know, a whole scene of being a doctor or being a caretaker or being somebody's friend and listening to their day or anything where the, the vibe is very relaxing and it's meant to be something that helps get you sleepy, put you to sleep. For certain people, they can actually experience like a tingling sensation in like the back of their neck, the back of their head when they experience something like that. But yeah, it's just a very nice way of relaxing at the end of the day.
[15:43]
A
That's really interesting. It's actually got sort of physiological effects as well as just the calming effect.
[15:51]
B
Yeah. People have talked about not knowing that this was a thing. This is something that kind of was discovered during the YouTube Internet era because before that people would have these experiences maybe in a classroom or when going to a doctor or being in a place where they experienced it in real life. But nobody really was talking about it because it was fairly rare and hard to describe. And it cropped up on the Internet as a thing and people were able to find a community of people that also experienced it. And now it's something that people recognize as an actual thing, which is very cool.
[16:28]
A
That is very cool. So obviously that's, I mean, great takeaway from technology, isn't it? If that's. People have finally found that it's not just them that can experience something like that and they found a community and then more and more content has been created to help. So in that respect, I mean that's a good thing to come from phones and music phones and the Internet and laptops and whatever else. That's a good thing to be distracted from the present moment with that kind of thing. It's far more wholesome. I think I've been a sucker for like a YouTube documentary to go to sleep, to just get a good old tragedy on in the background. I'm gonna try that asmr. I think that's. Have you got any recommendations for what's been your favorite kind of caretaker or doctor?
[17:20]
B
Yeah, I mean it really depends. Everybody's got different styles. I think people gravitate towards different voices. So I know like some people only listen to women ASMR artists because that pitch I find that I gravitate towards deeper voices and male voices. So one of my favorite channels is Articulate Design asmr. He hasn't uploaded in a while, but his old stuff is very, very good. And one of the women I follow, her YouTube channel is Goodnight Moon ASMR. Those are the two that come to mind first.
[17:56]
A
Okay, well that's, I mean, that's fascinating. Thank you very much for getting in touch, Greg. I had no idea about that sort of stuff. Lovely stuff. Well, thank you very much for calling Greg and yeah, get in touch again soon. It's been a pleasure.
[18:10]
B
Oh, thank you so much. Thanks for having me.
[18:14]
A
That was Greg there talking about whether it's good to distract yourself from the present moment or not. And ultimately, yeah, bit of both. Listen to me. That's, that's a decent outcome, I reckon. Win, win for everybody. That. And if you want to come on the show to talk about anything that's on your mind, please do email us. Or you can send a voice memo to thenightlyach co. Alternatively, leave a voicemail 904-nightly. That's 904-644-4859. And with that, let's say a very good night to you, the listener. And to who do I want to say goodnight to? I say good night to Greg. It was nice chatting with Greg. Enjoyed that you've been listening to the Nightly. I'll see you next time.
[20:17]
B
Sa. Sa. Sam.
[24:13]
A
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