Thoughts on Record: Podcast of the Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy cover image

Thoughts on Record: Podcast of the Ottawa Institute of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy

Dr. Kevin Gary - Coping With Existential Boredom

Jan 22, 2024
59:14

Comments or feedback? Send us a text!

Existential boredom is a challenge for many that can lead to a pathological engagement with shallow amusements (which may only deepen the despair and lead to more boredom).  Dr. Kevin Gary joins us for a discussion of some of the core themes covered in his book Why Boredom Matters: Education, Leisure, and the Quest for a Meaningful Life.  In this discussion we cover: 

  • why Dr. Gary wanted to write this book 
  • situational vs. existential boredom 
  • comparing and contrasting existential boredom and depression 
  • the benefits of making our boredom explicit rather than pushing it away 
  • the relationship between boredom and despair 
  • the despair of possibility vs. despair of necessity and the impact on mood 
  • the unique challenges that aging might pose with respect to boredom 
  • identifying constructive & nonconstructive ways of coping crafting an effective leisure practice 
  • how to "fall back in love" with an activity or passion that used to drive us but we have become disenchanted with  
  • healthy boredom vs. unhealthy boredom (like something that might arise with ADHD) 

Comments or feedback?  Email the podcast: oicbtpodcast@gmail.com

Bio: Kevin Gary is a professor at Valparaiso University, where he teaches theology, education, and in the Christ College Honors Program. Kevin's work addresses questions about meaning and purpose, focusing especially on human flourishing. His book Why Boredom Matters: Education, Leisure, and the Quest for a Meaningful Life was published by Cambridge University Press in 2022. Kevin examines the problem of boredom and related problems associated with boredom avoidance. Rather than avoid or resign ourselves to boredom, he charts a middle way that guides us to how to productively and wisely contend with this troubling mood state.

Get the Snipd
podcast app

Unlock the knowledge in podcasts with the podcast player of the future.
App store bannerPlay store banner

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode

Save any
moment

Hear something you like? Tap your headphones to save it with AI-generated key takeaways

Share
& Export

Send highlights to Twitter, WhatsApp or export them to Notion, Readwise & more

AI-powered
podcast player

Listen to all your favourite podcasts with AI-powered features

Discover
highlights

Listen to the best highlights from the podcasts you love and dive into the full episode