SPOS #966 – Christine Rosen On The Extinction Of Experience
Six Pixels of Separation Podcast
Release Date: 01/12/2025
Six Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #986 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. lives between worlds - geographically, culturally, and spiritually - and that makes him one of the most attuned chroniclers of what it means to be alive right now. Best known for travel writing that often transcends borders and genres (, , ), Pico is also a deeply reflective thinker about silence, stillness, and solitude. In his latest book, , he returns to a Benedictine monastery in Big Sur - a place he has visited over 100 times - to explore what it means to pause in a world that won’t stop moving. This isn’t...
info_outlineSix Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #985 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is one of the most important voices rethinking the purpose, structure, and future of higher education. As founder of the and board chair of , she’s spent the last decade helping over 1,200 colleges, organizations, and regional economies reimagine learning pathways for next-generation students - particularly the new majority learners often left behind by traditional institutions. Her new book, is a provocative and optimistic look at how postsecondary education must evolve, drawing on over a decade of field...
info_outlineSix Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #984 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. knows how to earn attention - and not in the algorithm-chasing, trend-hopping way most marketers talk about it. As the co-founder of (the first agency dedicated to branded podcasts), Steve helped pioneer a model for long-form brand storytelling that respected the audience as much as it served the client. Before podcasting was a thing brands took seriously, Steve was guiding companies like , , , , , and into a new kind of media - one built on trust, consistency, and real creative value. That experience forms the...
info_outlineSix Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #983 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is not just thinking about the future of the economy - he’s thinking about the economy of the final frontier. As a professor at and a Research Associate at the , Matt brings the analytical rigor of economic policy to a space sector that’s shifting from sci-fi to IPO. In our conversation, we unpack the big thesis behind his new book (co-authored with ), which reframes space as something more than spectacle or science - it’s a place where real economic value is being created right now. This isn’t about day...
info_outlineSix Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode . is one of the sharpest minds on the planet when it comes to understanding how our emotions shape our thoughts, decisions, and relationships. As a professor of psychology and business at the and the author of the bestselling books and , Ethan brings together rigorous research and practical insight in ways that are deeply human and immediately useful. In our conversation, we explore what it takes to manage emotions in a world that feels like it’s dialed up to 11 - from doomscrolling and overstimulation to the growing cultural obsession with emotional transparency. Ethan...
info_outlineSix Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #981 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is one of the most influential voices in modern marketing - a bestselling author, business strategist, and the creative force behind (a framework that has reshaped how leaders and organizations communicate). In our conversation, Donald breaks down the timeless power of story and why clarity - not cleverness - is the most underrated competitive advantage in business today. His new book, , expands on his original seven-part storytelling framework with sharper tools and practical applications for the modern marketer....
info_outlineSix Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #980 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is one of the world’s leading experts on meaningful work, with a career that bridges research, leadership consulting, and positive psychology. She’s the author of , a sought-after speaker and advisor to companies like and , and one of the first 600 people in the world to earn a master’s in from the . In her new book, (co-authored with ), Tamara brings both scientific rigor and real-world empathy to one of the most pressing challenges of our time: how to make work feel like it matters. In this conversation,...
info_outlineSix Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #979 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is a social psychologist whose work couldn’t be more relevant to our times. As a professor at , director of the and the , and the author of the new book , he’s helping reshape how we understand conflict in a divided world. In this conversation, Kurt unpacked why it’s not that we’re wired differently across political lines - it’s that we perceive harm differently. He introduces ideas like the “exhausted majority,” the dangers of elite-driven outrage, and the evolutionary roots of our hypersensitivity...
info_outlineSix Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #978 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is a philosopher, educator, author, and ethicist whose work lives at the intersection of human values, science, and emerging technology. Over the years, Christopher has built a reputation as a Socratic nonconformist, equally at home lecturing at during his postdoctoral years as he is teaching critical thinking in correctional institutions or corporate boardrooms. He’s the author of several important books on logic and rational discourse, including and , as well as the host of the podcast, . In this...
info_outlineSix Pixels of Separation Podcast
Welcome to episode #977 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast. is a frequent and always welcome guest on this show, and with good reason - few people have done more to translate complex human behavior and organizational dynamics into smart, actionable insights. You probably know Dan as the co-author (with his brother ) of some of the most beloved and bestselling business books of the past two decades, including , , , and . His work has reshaped the way leaders think about communication, decision-making, change, and the emotional beats that define experience. With his latest...
info_outlineWelcome to episode #966 of Six Pixels of Separation - The ThinkersOne Podcast.
Christine Rosen is a thinker whose work boldly interrogates the intersections of history, technology, and culture, and she’s someone I’ve long admired for her incisive intellect. Christine’s new book, The Extinction of Experience - Being Human In A Disembodied World, invites us to reflect on what we lose when technology mediates so much of our lives. In this conversation, we unpacked the book’s provocative thesis: that the human experiences most fundamental to our identity - face-to-face connection, serendipity, patience, and risk - are at risk of atrophy in an increasingly virtual world. Christine, whose earlier works include Preaching Eugenics, My Fundamentalist Education, The Feminist Dilemma, and Acculturated, takes a nuanced, critical stance on technology. She acknowledges its benefits but urges caution about its unintended consequences. Together, we explore the blurred boundaries between virtual and real, the societal implications of a two-tier care system, and the surprising resurgence of physical community spaces like libraries and malls post-pandemic. Christine’s historical perspective, informed by her background as a fellow at the American Enterprise Institute and her experience as a columnist for Commentary, lends depth to her argument that we must actively choose to reclaim experiences that ground us in the physical world. She shared insights on how tools like AI might aid healthcare but warned of the risks when they replace human judgment in areas like justice or personal relationships. Her reflections on community, loneliness, and the enduring importance of “third spaces” remind us that connection is essential to our humanity. If you’ve ever wondered how to balance the convenience of technology with the richness of lived experience, this conversation is a must-listen. Enjoy the conversation...
- Running time: 1:06:40.
- Hello from beautiful Montreal.
- Listen and subscribe over at Apple Podcasts.
- Listen and subscribe over at Spotify.
- Please visit and leave comments on the blog - Six Pixels of Separation.
- Feel free to connect to me directly on Facebook here: Mitch Joel on Facebook.
- Check out ThinkersOne.
- or you can connect on LinkedIn.
- ...or on Twitter.
- Here is my conversation with Christine Rosen.
- The Extinction of Experience - Being Human In A Disembodied World.
- Preaching Eugenics.
- My Fundamentalist Education.
- The Feminist Dilemma.
- Acculturated.
- American Enterprise Institute.
- Commentary.
- This week's music: David Usher 'St. Lawrence River'.
Chapters:
(00:00) - Introduction to Christine Rosen and Her Work.
(02:57) - Defining Humanity in a Technological Age.
(06:06) - The Ambivalence of Technology: Optimism vs. Skepticism.
(09:09) - The Role of Critical Questions in Technology Development.
(11:58) - Balancing Innovation and Regulation in AI.
(15:00) - AI in Healthcare vs. AI in Defense.
(18:07) - The Impact of Technology on Human Connection.
(20:56) - The Deterioration of Local Communities.
(24:05) - The Consequences of Living in Public.
(26:53) - Navigating Online Dating in a Digital World.
(30:02) - The Importance of In-Person Connections.
(39:00) - The Role of Technology in Human Connection.
(42:29) - Navigating Confirmation Bias.
(45:50) - Collective Action and Community Solutions.
(49:12) - The Challenge of Parenting in a Digital Age.
(51:06) - The Evolution of Writing and Communication.
(55:02) - Reading Trends Among Youth.
(01:00:59) - Physical Challenges and Personal Growth.