Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership with Ruth Haley Barton

S27 Ep 2 | Paying Attention to What’s Getting our Attention

12 snips
Sep 24, 2025
Ruth and Jay discuss how digital technology affects our attention spans and mental health. They reflect on the mental toll of constant news exposure and the need for intentionality to protect our inner peace. The conversation highlights attention as a valuable gift that needs stewardship against distractions. They explore the risks of multitasking and the psychological impacts of tech, while offering practical practices to reclaim focus. Listeners are encouraged to reflect on their relationship with technology and assess its influence on their lives.
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INSIGHT

Technology Alters Our Mental Landscape

  • Ruth Haley Barton and Jay Kim assert digital tech is reshaping our brains and mental health.
  • They say constant news and feeds increase anxiety, depression, and disrupt peace.
INSIGHT

Attention Is The Currency

  • Jay Kim explains we live in an "attention economy" where attention is the primary commodity.
  • He links free apps to users being the product bought and sold by advertisers.
INSIGHT

Design Tricks Amplify Addiction

  • Mobile apps borrow addictive design from slot machines to prolong engagement.
  • Small UI choices like pull-to-refresh intentionally increase attention retention.
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