Embracing Boredom: A Journey of Self-Discovery

YouTube is the second biggest website in the world, containing more than 14.8 billion videos. It's been a huge success, but its public image as a haven for influencers and digital monetisers belies its true character and role. Ryan McGrady from the University of Massachusetts takes us inside the online behemoth. Also, perspectives on boredom, its purpose and prevalence; its relationship to time, and why the measures we undertake to fight boredom so often backfire.

Guests

Isabella Lee — Production assistant, Guardian Australia

Dr Michael Inzlicht — Professor of Philosophy, University of Toronto

Dr Maria Balaska — Philosopher and Research Fellow at the University of Hertfordshire and Åbo Akademi University (Finland)

Dr Ryan McGrady — Senior Research Fellow, Initiative for Digital Public Infrastructure, University of Massachusetts at Amherst

Future Tense — The vicious cycle of fear and anger — and how it traps society