In this episode of Epsilon Theory Unplugged, Matt Zeigler talks with Brent Donnelly about his essay I Want It, But I Don’t Like It and the hidden costs of smartphones, Twitter, social media addiction, and attention capture. They discuss why phones can create a “dark zone” similar to gambling addiction, how boredom can be useful, and how Brent structures his writing process without letting AI take over his voice.

Brent Donnelly knows he can't get rid of his phone. That's the problem. The same design logic that keeps a gambler seated at a slot machine past the point of pleasure is running quietly in the background of every app on your screen. Here's his honest reckoning with the adversarial relationship - and a practical strategy for fighting back.

Matt Zeigler and Jack Forehand look at what recent Intentional Investor conversations can teach us about creativity, investing, YouTube, AI, mentorship and building a media business. Using clips from Michael Perry, Marc Rubinstein and Mat Cashman, they explore why knowing your limits, understanding your strengths, learning from mentors and building real relationships still matter in a world of algorithms and LLMs.

When Naomi Win talks about how language both connects and divides us, Nancy Burger sees a deeper truth. The real work isn't understanding what words mean to someone else, so much as understanding what stories you've written about the person you're talking to and whether those stories are even true in the first place. From there, everything changes, including how we and our relationships grow.