NPR’s Manoush Zomorodi on surviving tech overload
▼ Summary
– Manoush Zamorodi’s new book, *Body Electric*, examines technology’s impact on physical health and is a collaboration between NPR and Columbia University Medical Center.
– She uses the app Matter as a repository for research, having switched from Pocket after Mozilla shut it down.
– Zamorodi wishes she did not have to contort her body to use her phone, as it causes neck pain that only subsides when she avoids her phone for a full day.
– Her favorite gadget is her AirPods because they allow her to walk and talk on phone calls instead of using Zoom, which helps her move and pay better attention.
– When feeling stuck, she goes for a long, boring walk, finding that movement helps her come unstuck within about 15 minutes.
Manoush Zomorodi knows a thing or two about the constant pull of screens. As the host of NPR’s TED Radio Hour and author of the new book Body Electric, she has built a career exploring how technology reshapes our minds and bodies. Her latest work, a collaboration between NPR and Columbia University Medical Center, examines the physical toll of our digital lives, following her first book Bored and Brilliant, which focused on mental clarity in the age of distraction. For anyone who feels drained by their devices, her insights offer a practical roadmap.
Zomorodi’s journey began with her podcast Note To Self at WNYC, and she has since delivered a TED Talk that has amassed over seven million views. We asked her about her personal tech habits, her productivity hacks, and how she stays grounded.
What is the first app you install on a new phone or computer? I was a loyal Pocket user for more than a decade, so I was crushed when Mozilla discontinued it. Now I rely on Matter, which works just as well, maybe even better (the highlighting feature is actually functional). But I’ve noticed I use it less for casual reading and more as a research archive for things I need to revisit later.
What is one thing you wish you could change about your phone? I desperately wish I didn’t have to twist my neck to use it. I have a persistent, low-level ache that only vanishes after a full day away from my phone. That said, I’m not ready to strap anything to my face, like Meta glasses, just yet.
How many tabs do you have open right now? Thirty-seven, which is honestly embarrassing. They’re mostly Google Docs, Riverside, LinkedIn, multiple email windows, scientific papers, and Amazon book rankings. I get frustrated when I can’t find a tab quickly, so I just open a new one. That’s why Gmail is open in three places.
What is your favorite gadget you’ve ever owned? My AirPods are indispensable. They let me walk and talk without any wires or fuss. I always try to turn Zooms into phone calls so I can move around. It’s an easy way to get steps in, and I actually focus better.
Which was the most disappointing? The Oculus headset. It just sits on a shelf collecting dust.
What creation are you most proud of? I’m thrilled that the Body Electric study was accepted for publication in a peer-reviewed scientific journal. I’ve run interactive projects with tens of thousands of listeners for over a decade, but this is the first to undergo full academic scrutiny. It’s a major milestone for me as a journalist and an aspiring scientist.
What do you do when you’re feeling stuck? I take a long, boring walk, even if I don’t want to. History shows that centuries of walking have sparked incredible literature, inventions, and dinner ideas. I remind myself how movement helps the body and brain, listen to the steady rhythm of my sneakers, and within about 15 minutes, the blockage usually clears.
When was the last time you went somewhere without your phone? Never. I have teenagers and elderly parents. I need to be reachable, even when I’d rather not be.
What’s the last piece of physical media you bought? Books. I buy them constantly. Reading on paper is the only way I can truly absorb a long piece of writing.
What do you think is worth splurging on? See above. Books are always worth it.
What would the tagline for your biopic be? Manoush Zomorodi: The woman who never took an Uber if she could get there on foot.
What’s the last GIF or meme you used? I’d have to check my phone. But I’m guessing it was something about walking.
(Source: The Verge)