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Key takeaways

Living without a smartphone offers a simpler, more intentional way of connecting, but is tough to sustain long-term.
Many people, including younger generations, feel nostalgic for pre-digital, landline-era simplicity and social interactions.
In modern life, total disconnection from digital devices is challenging due to work, social, and dating needs.
Jeremy's experience suggests that setting boundaries and being deliberate about technology use can improve well-being and relationships.

Summary

Jeremy's Landline Experiment: Living Without a Smartphone

The episode starts with Jeremy Rellosa, who reminisces about the pre-smartphone era and decides to challenge himself to live for at least two weeks without a smartphone. His experiment involves not using any mobile apps, texts, or social media, and instead relying solely on a landline for communication. Jeremy's motivation stems from a desire to reduce digital overload, experience serendipity, and reconnect with a simpler way of life in the digital age. His experience involves navigating daily life, social interactions, and dating while disconnected, highlighting both the nostalgia and the challenges of such a lifestyle.

Impact of Smartphones and Nostalgia for Simpler Times

The discussion explores the profound impact of smartphones introduced in 2007, which doubled ownership rapidly by 2016 and now nearly universal by 2025. This connectivity has blurred the lines between real-world and digital interactions, leading to fatigue and nostalgia for earlier, simpler times. The podcast reflects on the desire some people, especially from younger generations like Gen Z and Millennials, feel to return to a less connected existence. Jeremy's story exemplifies this yearning as he shares his love for '90s TV, movies, and landlines, emphasizing the emotional and social effects of constant connectivity.

The Challenges and Realities of Living Offline in the Modern World

Jeremy's experiment reveals the practical difficulties and social implications of living without a smartphone today. While initially liberating, Jeremy finds it hard to keep up with spontaneous plans, work communications, and dating. He notes that real-time, vulnerable conversations become more challenging when not on digital platforms, and the convenience of instant connectivity is deeply ingrained in everyday life. Despite his efforts, Jeremy ultimately returns to using his phone after 51 days, realizing that full disconnection is difficult in a densely populated, modern world with responsibilities and social expectations.

Reflections and Lessons from Jeremy’s Experience

Jeremy reflects on the importance of intentional phone use, advocating for more meaningful and deliberate communication, such as calling friends instead of texting. He suggests dividing phone functionalities into categories—using the device mainly for calls and essential directions—and emphasizes that reaching out directly fosters genuine connections. His experiment illustrates that while full digital disconnection is impractical for most, adopting mindful usage can help mitigate digital fatigue and rekindle the joy of real conversations.

Show notes

Jeremy Rellosa used to watch TV shows and movies from the '90s and revel in how the characters walked around untethered to a smartphone, with no expectations of constant connectivity. So he decided to run an experiment on himself: he'd live for at least two weeks without a smartphone. No Slack. No text messages. No Instagram or WhatsApp. If his friends, family, or boss wanted to reach him, they'd have to call him on his landline.

Sure, landlines were the norm just a couple of decades ago. But in our always-online world, how feasible is the landline life, really? Ben and Amory call Jeremy up to find out.

Show notes:

"I Turned Off My Phone for a Month and Used a Landline" (New York Magazine)

This episode was written and produced by Grace Tatter and edited by Meg Cramer and Dave Shaw. It was co-hosted by Ben Brock Johnson and Amory Sivertson. Mix and sound design by Paul Vaitkus.