Catherine Price, a journalist and author known for her insights on technology's impact on our minds, dives into the pervasive influence of smartphones. She discusses alarming statistics on phone usage, revealing many spend up to six hours daily on devices. The conversation explores how this affects attention spans, the dopamine trap of social media, and the importance of mindfulness. Price provides practical strategies for restoring focus and enhancing memory, urging listeners to seek real-life fulfillment over digital distractions.

Join Catherine Price, a science journalist and author specializing in the science of fun, as she explores the three essential elements of true fun: playfulness, connection, and flow. She reveals the difference between genuine joy and 'fake fun,' emphasizing how important real fun is for mental and physical well-being. Discover her SPARK method to prioritize enjoyment in a digitally distracted world, and learn how to conduct a 'fun audit' to navigate joy and cultivate meaningful leisure experiences.

Resolutions are easy to make, even easier to break. But what if a story or idea can motivate us in a whole new way? This hour, TED speakers offer different perspectives on our most common resolutions. Guests include neuroscientists Wendy Suzuki and Sandra Aamodt, science journalist Catherine Price, behavioral scientist Wendy De La Rosa, and authors Pico Iyer and A.J. Jacobs.Learn more about sponsor message choices: podcastchoices.com/adchoicesNPR Privacy Policy

Have you had your daily dose of fun? It's not just enjoyable, it's also essential for your health and happiness, says science journalist Catherine Price. She proposes a new definition of fun -- what she calls "true fun" -- and shares easy, evidence-backed ways to weave playfulness, flow and connection into your everyday life. After the talk, Shoshana dives into what happens to your body when you play. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Catherine Price, co-writer of Reclaim your brain newsletter, investigates the science behind excessive phone use. Prof Barbara Sahakian explains why we are drawn to bad news on our phones. Topics include app addiction, the impact of smartphones on attention and memory, negative effects of doomscrolling on mental health and brain function, and strategies to stop doomscrolling and redirect attention.

Fun expert and author, Catherine Price, delves into how fun increases productivity, challenges the notion of women having fun being offensive, and provides tools to incorporate more fun in life. She emphasizes reclaiming enjoyment amidst societal pressures, physiological benefits of fun, and the importance of embracing joy for well-being. The podcast explores the balance of passion and commercial demands, promoting self-expression, and discovering one's authentic self through engaging in enjoyable activities.

Author Catherine Price discusses the toxicity of social media addiction and the impact of phones on memory, productivity, and relationships. She provides practical steps for setting healthy boundaries with technology and re-engaging with the real world.

Catherine Price, a science journalist and author of How To Break Up With Your Phone, provides insights into finding a balance with our screen time, especially highlighted during the pandemic. She discusses categorizing screen interactions as 'nutritious' or 'junk food' to improve mental health. Price introduces the 'three C's'—consumption, creation, and connection—as a framework for mindful media usage. She also offers practical tips for reducing screen time, enhancing sleep quality, and fostering real-life connections.

Are we all so busy doom-scrolling and binge-watching that we’ve forgotten how to have fun? Real fun. Tingly-all-over, natural-high, I-hope-this-never-ends fun. Catherine Price thinks so. But don’t despair. Her latest book, “The Power of Fun,” is jam-packed with research-backed hacks for finding meaning, forging connections, improving your health, and living life to the fullest. All while having a darn good time.(This episode first aired in May 2022.)

Catherine Price, author of "The Power of Fun" and "How to Break Up With Your Phone," joins to explore the essence of true joy. She reveals the three components of genuine fun that can transform our everyday lives. Catherine emphasizes the importance of laughter and connection during tough times. She also shares how to differentiate between authentic experiences and superficial distractions, encouraging us to conduct a 'fun audit.' Finally, she introduces the SPARK model, highlighting how embracing fun can significantly lift our well-being.