This week’s “Bean Voyage Brew Review” focuses on a discussion between friends about the impact of smartphones on their lives. The conversation is driven by Cléa, in South Korea, who is writing an article about how smartphones can sometimes prevent us from fully experiencing life, and she seeks the perspectives of her friends to inform her writing. Monica in Australia, shares a story about a concert where everyone was preoccupied with recording the performance on their phones, neglecting to enjoy the live experience, while Rosie in Brazil discusses the physical and mental exhaustion she experienced from prolonged screen time. Babette in Germany details her frustration with her children’s excessive screen time, describing the need to implement digital detox periods. The conversation then delves into the wider implications of screen time, exploring concerns about potential links to short-sightedness and the impact on education, with Frank, the host, suggesting that today’s education system may be more focused on “training” rather than “educating.” The discussion concludes by highlighting the importance of rediscovering the joy of being present in the moment, rather than being constantly preoccupied with capturing experiences through our phones.

Transcript

Sam

Hey everyone and welcome back to the Bean Voyage Brewed Review. I’m Sam

Claire

and I’m Claire

Sam

And we are so excited to be bringing you another um fascinating conversation from the Bean Voyage Group this week.

Claire

Absolutely.

Sam

Um as always, we have an amazing international group.

Claire

Oh yeah, they’re all over the place.

Sam

Yeah, we’ve got Rosie in Brazil.

Claire

Monica’s checking in from Australia.

Sam

Cléa is all the way in South Korea.

Claire

Babette’s in Germany.

Sam

And of course,

Claire

Frank is holding it down in France.

Sam

Always got to have Frank in France

Claire

Leading the conversation as always. 

Sam

So, this week they discussed a bunch of different things um, but what really got them going was a topic that we can all relate to. Our phones.

Claire

Our phones. Yeah.

Sam

Specifically, how much they might be running our lives. So, to kind of give you a little bit of background, Cléa, who is in South Korea, is actually working on writing an article about how phones can sometimes prevent us from fully experiencing life. And she’s looking for some fresh perspectives for this article because as we all know, we’ve all heard the phone addiction warnings before. But this conversation digs a little bit deeper. Um sort of exploring some personal anecdotes and and just posing some really interesting questions.

Claire

Yeah. Just to kind of spice it up a bit.

Sam

Yeah. So, she starts off by just straight up asking Monica and Rosie like point blank.

Claire

Yeah. Just out of the blue.

Sam

Do you feel addicted to your phones? Could you even imagine going a day a week without them?

Claire

Ooh, that is a tough one.

Sam

Like Whoa. So, Monica jumps in and being the storyteller she is. She starts off with a story about an ABBA cover band concert that she went to. But get this. Everybody there was so busy filming the show on their phones that they weren’t even really enjoying the performance.

Claire

Oh my gosh, I hate when people do that. It’s like just enjoy it.

Sam

You’re watching ABBA through a tiny screen instead of just experiencing the live music and the energy in the room.

Claire

It’s like are you really in there if you’re watching it through your phone?

Sam

Right. And Monica even goes on to talk about how we’ve become so obsessed with documenting everything instead of just living in the moment. You know, it’s like we’re so focused on capturing that perfect photo or video that we miss out on what’s actually happening right in front of us.

Claire

I know. And it’s not even like you’re really looking at the pictures later anyway,

Sam
Right. Like are you really going back and looking at all those photos and videos? And she gives this really interesting example, too. You know how there are all these new AI photo restoration apps coming out.

Apparently, some people are using them to like edit photos with deceased loved ones.

Claire

Oh, wow.

Sam

To make it look like they’re hugging or posing together.

Claire

That’s a bit

Sam

Yeah, it’s a little bit

Claire

I don’t know.

Sam

It’s interesting, right? It’s like, are we trying to rewrite memories to create some like idealized version of the past?

Claire

I guess so.

Sam

What does that say about our relationship with technology?

Claire

I don’t know. It’s a lot to think about. Really is. 

Sam

And Monica goes on to talk about how she didn’t even get her first mobile phone till she was 30, which is crazy to think about because her younger cousin has literally grown up with them like they’ve always been there.

Claire

That’s wild. I mean, that is a huge difference.

Sam

It’s a completely different world. People who have never known life without that instant connectivity.

Claire

It’s like a whole different reality.

Sam

Right. But ultimately, her point is that we need to cherish those real-life moments and experiences without feeling the need to capture them on our phones. Like just be present and soak it all in.

Claire

Right. Sometimes the best memories are the ones we just live through. You don’t need to post them.

Sam

Exactly. And so Cléa is obviously taking notes, and she shares that she’s actually trying to cut back on her TikTok vlogging.

Claire

Good for her.

Sam

Spend less time on screens.

Claire

It’s hard to do.

Sam

Yeah. It’s definitely a challenge. So then she turns to Rosie, and she’s like, “Have you ever experienced, you know, headaches? Stiff neck, mental exhaustion and screen fatigue.

Claire

Yeah, screen fatigue. That’s the word for it.

Sam

It’s a real thing. And, and Rosie’s like, “Oh, yeah. I’ve definitely felt it, especially after, you know, going from a job where she wasn’t on screens all the time to one where she has to be on a computer all day.

And she’s describing like, you know, physical discomfort, stiff neck, sore back from sitting in the same position for hours.

Claire

Oh, I hate that.

Sam

And mental fatigue.

Claire

That’s the worst.

Sam

Yeah. Just feeling drained, and she’s like, I’ve been doing Pilates to help relax and stretch.

Claire

That’s a good idea.

Sam

But, you know, not everybody is as disciplined about taking breaks or anything.

Claire

Yeah. You really have to make a conscious effort to take care of yourself.

Sam

And so, Cléa’s like, “Okay, so I’m writing this article about phone addiction. What advice do you guys have for breaking free?”

Claire

Yeah. Because that’s the big question, isn’t it?

Sam

Right. Like, how do we actually do this? And Babette, who’s in Germany, chimes in. She’s like, “Oh my gosh, you know, my kids are constantly on their phones, tablets, gaming consoles. It’s like a never-ending battle.

Cléa

Oh, yeah. I feel for her. I mean, it’s hard enough for us adults to manage our screen time, but kids,

Sam

It’s a whole other thing.

Claire

It’s a whole different ballgame,

Sam

Right, and she describes, you know, walking into her living room one day and finding her son watching TV while simultaneously playing on his tablet.

Claire

Oh, no.

Sam

Like, it’s just constant stimulation.

Claire

Wow.

Sam

And she’s frustrated because he’s choosing this over like, you know, playing outside or building with Lego.

Claire

It’s like what happened to just using your imagination?

Sam

Right. And it’s gotten so bad that she actually had to implement like a two week ban on all multimedia.

Claire

Whoa. A complete digital detox.

Sam

Yeah. Tough love. But sometimes you got to do what you got to do,

Claire

I guess so.

Sam

And then Monica jumps back in and she’s like, Oh, you guys have to hear about this. This is crazy. So, apparently in Australia, some of the government schools have implemented a complete ban on mobile phones.

Claire

Wow. A total ban.

Sam

Yeah. They were trying to address all the problems that are coming from excessive phone use among students like bullying, distractions in class, all that stuff.

Claire

It makes sense. I mean, it’s a pretty drastic measure. But I can see why they’re doing it.

Sam

And then she brings up another really important point, which is the link between all this screen time and the increase in short-sightedness, especially in kids.

Claire

Oh, yeah. That’s a big one.

Sam

She even talks about how there are studies showing way higher rates of myopia in Asian populations compared to American populations.

Claire

Interesting. 

Sam

Probably because of cultural differences in screen time habits.

Claire

That makes sense.

Sam

And she’s like, “We really need to be encouraging kids to take breaks from screens and spend time outdoors.”

Claire

Absolutely.

Sam

You know, get those eye muscles relaxed.

Claire

Yeah. Fresh air does wonders.

Sam

And so Rosie, who’s been listening this whole time, is like, “Oh, okay. I have to share this story.”

Claire

Oh, boy.

Sam

So, she describes walking into a classroom one day and being like completely shocked because most of the students were totally engrossed in their phones.

Claire

Oh no.

Sam

Like completely ignoring the teacher’s lesson.

Claire
They were just in their own little worlds.

Sam

It’s like they were in these little digital bubbles, totally tuned out from what was happening around them.

Claire

It’s sad really that they’re missing out on so much.

Sam

And Rosie’s like, you know, I try to minimize distractions in my classroom. I have this beautiful box where I collect everyone’s phones at the beginning of class.

Claire

Oh, that’s a nice idea.

Sam

But it’s a constant battle.

Claire

It is a battle. For sure.

Sam

It’s sad to see that lack of engagement. And so then Frank jumps in.

Claire

Of course. Frank always has something to say,

Sam

Right, and he’s like, you know, I think there are two possible explanations for why these students are so disengaged.

Claire

Okay, let’s hear it.

Sam

Either the teachers not making the lessons interesting enough to compete with the phones. Or there’s a lack of discipline at home. With parents maybe modeling excessive phone use themselves.

Claire

Yeah, that’s a good point. You know,

Sam

It starts at home. And then he turns to Rosie and he’s like, “So, do you think teachers need to find new ways to engage students in this phone-obsessed world?

Claire

I mean, that’s the million-dollar question, isn’t it? Like, how do you compete with that?

Sam

And then he throws out this really thought provoking idea. He says he was talking to this American acquaintance who basically argued that children today are being trained rather than educated in schools.

Claire

Trained.

Sam

Yeah. What does that even mean?

Claire

He’s drawing a distinction between, you know, acquiring knowledge through critical thinking and independent exploration, versus just learning to follow instructions and use tools.

Sam

So it’s like the why versus the how.

Claire

Exactly. And Cléa, who you know loves a good debate, jumps in and she’s like, “Well, you know, in France, the high school system is very different.” They choose specialized courses. That essentially lay the foundation for their future university studies and career paths.

Sam

So, they’re specializing early on.

Claire

Yeah. And she’s contrasting this with the American education system, which she sees as more of an emphasis on training and less on critical thinking.

Sam

Interesting.

Claire

Yeah. And Frank is like, “Yeah, you know, there’s this real distinction between education, which is about listening, thinking, responding thoughtfully,

Sam
And training, which is about, you know, acquiring practical skills, learning to use apps and tools.

Claire

So, it’s about more than just memorizing facts,

Sam

Right. And it’s like, you know, in a world where technology is advancing so rapidly, are we just equipping students with the skills to navigate this digital landscape or are we also nurturing their ability to think critically and engage with the world in a meaningful way?

Claire

That is the question, isn’t it?

Sam

It is. It’s a big one.

Claire
Yeah, it is. Yeah. It really makes you think, huh?

Sam

It does.

Claire

About the future. Like, where are we headed with all of this?

Sam

Yeah. Are we going to be able to keep up?

Claire

Right. Can our brains even handle it?

Sam

But before we get too deep into all that,

Claire

Yeah. Let’s bring it back to the Bean Voyage group,

Sam

Right. What else were they talking about?

Claire

Well, Frank mentioned seeing Babette walking in the forest.

Sam

In the forest. Yeah. And he was like, “What is she doing there looking for trees in a forest?”

Claire

But it turns out her son had the science project, where he had to collect different kinds of branches.

Sam

So, she was on a mission.

Claire

She was gathering up all the conifers and pine branches she could find.

Sam

Oh, that’s cute. It’s nice to see kids getting out into nature, you know. Definitely beats being stuck on a screen all day.

Claire

Totally. And of course, Frank couldn’t resist teasing Babette a little.

Sam

What’d he say?

Claire

Oh, he was joking that her son’s going to come home. with half the zoo by the end of the week, you know, collecting foxes and deer along with those branches.

Sam

Uhhuh. Oh, Frank,

Claire

You always got to keep things light-hearted.

Sam

Yeah. But, um, speaking of accomplishments, we also learned that Cléa has a big exam coming up.

Claire

Oh, yeah. The IELTS, right?

Sam
Mhm. The English language proficiency test.

Claire

Ah, that’s a tough one.

Sam

Yeah. But she said she took a mock test and scored a 7.5.

Claire

Wow, that’s amazing.

Sam

Yeah, sounds like she’s in good shape.

Claire

All that vlogging in English is paying off. Right.

Sam

Clearly. And then they got to talking about Korean food.

Claire

Oh, yeah. What’d they say about that?

Sam

Well, Cléa was explaining how it’s mostly based on pork, and it has these like influences from both Chinese and Japanese cuisine. Yeah. I love how they can just like seamlessly go from talking about phone addiction to Korean food.

Claire

I know. It’s like you’re just hanging out with them listening to their conversation. It’s so natural.

Sam

And speaking of food, remember Babettes’s chocolate stash in her office fridge?

Claire

Oh, yeah. The secret chocolate stash.

Sam

So, Frank reminded everyone It’s her birthday next week.

Claire

Ah, that’s why.

Sam

That makes sense, right?

Claire

Birthdays and chocolate always go together.

Sam

Always. And of course, Frank being Frank.

Claire

Oh, what did he do?

Sam

He couldn’t resist teasing Rosie about her upcoming birthday, too.

Claire

What’d he say?

Sam

He was like, “Oh, yeah, Rosie, your birthday’s on Tuesday, but we’re just going to pretend it’s not happening. We’re going to skip right over Tuesday and go straight to Wednesday.”

Claire

Uh-huh. Oh, Frank.

Sam

But then he dropped a hint about a topic he wanted to discuss the following Thursday.

Claire

Ooh, what is it?

Sam

The secrets to eternal youth. 

Claire

Ooh, that’s a good one. 

Sam

Right.

Claire

I’m all ears.

Sam

He was saying he’s inspired by Rosie’s youthful glow, and Cléa’s like flawless makeup routine that she always shows off in her vlogs.

ClaIre

Hm. I wonder if he’s going to try out any of those makeup tips himself.

Sam

Well, he did mention asking someone if men should wear makeup. And the response was, “Why not?”

Claire

Uhhuh. I love that. Break down those gender norms.

Sam

So, naturally, he immediately went to his wife and was like, “What do you think about me like highlighting the attributes of my face, with makeup?

Claire

Oh wow, I can just imagine this.

Sam

And apparently she suggested a haircut might be a better starting point.

Claire

Uh oh, that’s great.

Sam

So yeah, they’re going to delve into all those beauty secrets next week.

Claire

Sounds like fun.

Sam

Yeah, ignoring Rosie’s birthday for now and focusing on the quest for eternal youth.

Claire

I can’t wait to hear what they come up with.

Sam

So, as we’re wrapping up this week’s Bean Voyage Brewed Review, I keep thinking back to Monica’s story about that ABBA cover band concert,

Claire

The one where everyone was too busy filming on their phones to actually enjoy the show?

Sam

Yeah, exactly. It really got me thinking, you know, how often are we in these amazing situations, like concerts or plays or even just like a beautiful sunset and instead of being present in the moment, we’re trying to capture it through our phone screen.

Claire

It’s like we’re more focused on documenting the experience than actually experiencing it.

Sam

It’s like we think we’re preserving the memory. But are we really?

Claire

I don’t know. It’s like when you look back on your life, what are you going to remember more vividly? Those blurry photos on your phone or the actual feelings and sensations of that moment,

Sam

The connections you made.

Claire

Yeah, exactly. Like, which memories are really going to bring a smile to your face?

Sam

It’s a good point.

Claire

I think so.

Sam

So maybe the key to breaking free from this phone addiction is to just rediscover the joy of being present,

Claire

just being there,

Sam

You know, appreciating the little things, the everyday moments, the connections with the people around us.

Claire

Absolutely.

Sam

So, to our listeners, we leave you with this question. What would you miss most if you couldn’t use your phone for a day? A week, a month?

Claire

That’s a tough one.

Sam

It is.

Claire

It is. But I think it’s worth thinking about.

Sam

Yeah. It might lead to some surprising discovery.

Claire

You never know.

Sam

So, thank you for sharing. Until next time, this is Claire and Sam signing off.

Claire

Toodeloo.