Are we all just… not okay?
In this episode, Jenny and Greg Swan unpack the emotional and digital overwhelm of the past few weeks — from political violence and algorithmic trauma to school shootings and the unbearable pressure to post through it all.
They dig into the cultural churn, social media's emotional toll, and the growing desire to simply log off. This isn’t a hot take. It’s a human one.
Along the way, they talk about:
🌀 When the algorithm trains you, not the other way around
📱 Why muting, unfollowing, or pausing your feed is not failure — it’s survival
🧒 How to talk to your kids about scary things without transferring your own panic
🧠 The mental load of being extremely online right now
🤖 Why “everyone’s yelling” energy is contagious — and how to break the cycle
🛑 What not to post, even when you’re mad
🧍♀️ The power of asking real people real questions — instead of subtweeting them
⚠️ Gentle reminder: You don’t have to become the dumpster fire you see online
This episode is for anyone feeling off, overwhelmed, or overexposed. The internet is a tool . Not a place you have to live. Take care of your brain. Then come back when you're ready.
Are we being mean to robots? Is it just internet snark or the start of something deeper and more dangerous?
In this episode, Jenny and Greg Swan explore the sudden rise of “clanker” as an anti-robot slur. They dig into whether discrimination toward AI is harmless fun, a new moral frontier, or just a mirror reflecting how we treat anything with less power than us (including each other).
Along the way they unpack science fiction, Star Wars lore, power dynamics, Ray Kurzweil’s predictions, and why your Roomba probably deserves a little more respect.
🤖 What “clanker” actually means and where it came from (thanks, Clone Wars)
🧠 Why people are projecting emotions onto robots — and then getting mad at them
🪞 The ethics of punching down and what it says about us as humans
🧼 How to be nice to your robot vacuum and why it matters more than you think
🧩 The Singularity, sentience, and whether AI slurs could become digital abuse
🔧 “NPCs,” “meat puppets,” and the language we use to dehumanize each other
🏆 WWOPD: What Would Optimus Prime Do?
This convo will have you rethinking how you talk to Alexa, your self-checkout kiosk, and maybe even your toaster. Because in the future, kindness might be the most human thing we’ve got.
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The future isn’t neutral. Let’s figure it out together. 🚀
Did an MIT paper really prove that ChatGPT is scrambling our brains? Or did 54 Boston adults + a flashy press push just scramble the headlines?
In this episode, Jenny and Greg Swan tear into the now-viral “Your Brain on ChatGPT” study. Along the way they tackle moral panics, blue-book nostalgia, and why blaming tech is easier than changing how we teach, parent, and work.
We unpack:
This convo will leave you side-eyeing every “AI is ruining humanity” tweet—and maybe crafting a healthier relationship with the robots and your own brain.
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What happens when Barbie gets a large-language-model brain? Jenny and Greg Swan crack open Mattel’s new deal with OpenAI and take you on a 50-year joyride through “smart” toys—from the Speak & Spell to Teddy Ruxpin to the Furby that the NSA literally banned.
Then they unbox Gabo, a $99 GPT-powered plushie, and see if its kid-safe guardrails can survive three teenagers and Greg’s hacker heart.
Spoiler: dying batteries used to be the creepy part—now it’s data, subscriptions, and whether your toddler’s teddy is secretly on 5 G.
In this episode:
🧸 Speak & Spell → Teddy Ruxpin → Furby → Hello Barbie: how each wave of tech freaked parents out in its own way🤖 Live demo: Gabo the plush robot tells tiger tales, speaks Spanish (¡mono!), and politely refuses to gossip about Jenny🔒 COPPA, content filters, and why “guardrails are the new batteries”💸 $99 vs. monthly doll-brain fees—will parents revolt?🚀 What Mattel’s AI toys could look like under the 2025 tree (and why offline models might be the real MVP)
It’s not about making toys talk—it’s about helping kids stay human while they play.
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The future isn’t neutral. Let’s figure it out together. 🚀
What if joy, whimsy, and surprise weren’t distractions—but design principles?
In this episode, Jenny and Greg Swan sit down with educator, engineer, and deep sea explorer Dr. AnnMarie Thomas to talk about the power of play—and why we all need more of it.
AnnMarie has helped LEGO invent new tools for learning, collaborated with the band OK Go to create STEM curriculum, and taught college students how to build circuses to teach physics. She's also a recovering professor who walked away from tenure to rethink how we learn, create, and live.
In this episode, we unpack:🎈 What real play looks like (hint: it’s not pizza parties and ping pong tables)
🧠 Why Minecraft might be the best teamwork training Gen Alpha ever gets
🎭 How surprise rewires our brains—and why we need more of it in tech
📚 What even counts as “technology,” and why our definition is way too narrow
🤖 Whether innovation is actually being crushed by productivity culture
This conversation had us rethinking everything from AI to ice cream. If you’ve ever wondered how to stay creative in a hyper-optimized world, or why whimsy still matters, this one's for you.
🪄 It’s not about being silly for the sake of it. It’s about being human.
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Jenny and Greg Swan have been married five times—to each other. In this raw and funny episode, they unpack how tech, therapy, and shared calendars helped them redesign their relationship instead of ending it.
It’s not about making it work. It’s about making it work better.
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The future isn’t neutral. Let’s figure it out together. 🚀
Everyone says they’re busy. But what does that even mean anymore? In this episode, Jenny and Greg Swan dig into the cultural chaos of “The Busy Trap”—from calendar overload and contaminated time to why canceled plans are basically a love language. Inspired by Tim Kreider’s now 13-year-old viral essay, they ask: what if being busy isn’t a problem to solve, but a reality to navigate—with intention? If you’ve ever answered “How are you?” with a sigh and a rundown of your to-do list, this one’s for you.
South by Southwest 2025 just wrapped, and this year wasn’t just about what’s next in tech—it was about how much of it we’re actually okay with. AI chatbots are getting really personal. Deepfake fraud is up 2137%. Social media is broken (again). And even the people building the future are freaking out.
In this episode, Jenny and Greg Swan unpack:
🤖 AI’s existential crisis—Is it a tool for human flourishing or the beginning of the end?
📱 Social media’s identity crisis—BlueSky, the Fediverse, and why no one trusts anything anymore.
🎭 Deepfake scams are here—Why you need a family password, like, yesterday.
😰 Tech anxiety is real—Even the nerds at SXSW are feeling it.
The big question: If we expect the future to be a disaster, do we make it one? Or can we actually shape what’s next?
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The future isn’t neutral. Let’s figure it out together. 🚀
This week, Jenny and Greg Swan put their living room (and their personal data) on the line in the name of science. Meet Telly—a free 55-inch TV that comes with a mandatory second screen running ads 24/7. The catch? If you unplug it, move it, or refuse to connect it to WiFi, you get charged $1,000. Welcome to the future, where even your TV is tracking you.
🤝 Free Isn’t Free
Social media already monetizes our every move, but what happens when your television starts doing the same? Jenny and Greg break down the trade-offs of a free device that doubles as a consumer behavior experiment.
📢 The Ads Are… Not Great
From gas station job postings to medical scooters, the Telly’s ad targeting is chaotic at best. If you’re going to force ads into our home, at least make them relevant, right?
👀 The Bigger Question: Is This Our Future?
What happens when this model expands? A free fridge that won’t open until you watch an oat milk ad? A free Tesla that plays insurance commercials at red lights? Where’s the line between an acceptable value exchange and full-on surveillance capitalism?
Jenny’s biggest complaint? The TV is too small for football. Greg’s biggest takeaway? This is just the beginning. Would you take a free TV in exchange for your data?
Hit play to hear the full breakdown, and if you’re going to SXSW next month, let’s meet up! We’ve got stickers (which, we promise, do not serve you ads).
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This episode, we’re tackling three big themes—tech, gifts, and the state of our brains in 2024. Buckle up (or turn on adaptive cruise control)!
🚙 Buy a Car via Text in 2020 vs. Buying a Car with AI in 2025
Remember when buying a car via text felt revolutionary? Fast forward to now: AI tools like ChatGPT are helping us decode trim levels, compare window stickers, and even predict insurance costs. The process might be smarter, but somehow we’re still waiting hours at the dealership. Progress? Kind of.
🎁 Holiday Gift Guides: More Joy, Less Junk
From robot chargers to smart hair tools, our holiday gift guide is packed with fun, tech-forward ideas for everyone on your list. Whether you’re spoiling someone or treating yourself, we’ve got recs to make your holidays feel a little more Jetsons, a little less Flintstones. LINK IS HERE.
🧠 Brain Rot: The Word of the Year That Hits Close to Home
Naming “brain rot” as the Word of the Year is a perfect mix of self-awareness and cultural critique. Whether it’s doomscrolling or meme overload, we’re all guilty of it—but maybe that’s okay? Jenny and Greg unpack why some “brain rot” might actually be necessary for mental health.
Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com.
In this episode of The Cave Project, Jenny and Greg Swan dig into the AI dilemma in education: is it a powerful learning tool or just an easy way to cheat? As schools struggle with this digital shake-up, they explore how generative AI is rewriting the rules—from boosting homework help to sparking plagiarism concerns that could impact college dreams. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com.
From TikTok bans to school cell phone policies, Jenny and Greg Swan break down the chaos and contradictions of raising kids in a tech-driven world—minus the overwrought reactions. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com.
In this episode of The Cave Project, we sit down with stand-up comedian and creative director Matt Keck to chat about the human side behind viral social media phenomena. Known for his witty contributions to the Wendy's Twitter persona and his viral "I'm a Snake" video, Keck shares insights on leveraging humor and social media for global engagement from his home base in Kansas City. Join Jenny and Greg Swan as they explore how Keck's early adoption of platforms like Myspace shaped his career, the psychological impacts of social media fame, and the transition from viral moments to sustainable creative work. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com.
Social media can both connect us and also push us apart. In this live recording of The Cave Project podcast, hosts Jenny and Greg Swan discuss the social media dilemma, its impact on our daily lives, and how we can reclaim our digital spaces with a human-centric approach. Special thanks to Social Media Breakfast for hosting and Skelly Video Productions for capturing audio and photos. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com
We're sorry for your loss. This episode of The Cave Project explores the management of digital legacies, the role of AI in recreating memories of the deceased, and how these advances affect our mourning practices. Join Jenny and Greg Swan for a thought-provoking discussion on the ethical dilemmas and emotional impacts of living and dying in a digital age. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com.
As the first generation to be fully born into the 21st century, Generation Alpha is the most technologically integrated group of humans ever — growing up in a world of advanced digital technology, social media, and artificial intelligence. And they are already getting a bad rap about their digital and social media habits. Join Jenny and Greg Swan for a conversation about who Gen A is, what makes them unique, and some ways we can all make room for them in our crowded digital lifestyle. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com
If 85% of the population uses the internet (and are online an average of 7 hours per day), how is it that we’re still having conversations about whether being online is good for us or not? Instead, let’s talk about how to be extremely online in a healthy way. Join Jenny and Greg Swan for a conversation about 6 filters to consider for your online lifestyle: safety, heart, the space between them and us, reality versus smoke and mirrors, time IRL and (gasp) time spent in the outdoors. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes, follow us on Instagram (@the.cave.project), and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com
Social media marketers can be a paradox. Evangelizing the marketing power of social media during the day and then decrying its negative effects at night. Or even further, restricting their own kids from social media when it’s paying the bills at home. Join Jenny and Greg Swan for a conversation about the social dilemma, how Greg changed his mind about social for kids after having kids, and the need for social media marketers to “walk the talk” when it comes to changing the future of social for the better. Be sure to subscribe for future episodes and sign up for updates at thecaveproject.substack.com
Our dumb homes can be smart homes with a few tech purchases, but which are the right ones? Join Jenny and Greg Swan for a conversation about the technology that fuels their home, how Greg “bricked” their smart fridge, how Jenny’s robot vacuum army led to a dog poop fiasco, and how to reconcile surveillance culture with safety when it comes to cameras and microphones in your home. Show notes can be found at gregswan.substack.com, and be sure to subscribe for future episodes!
The holidays are a catalyst for increased screen time. And like It or not, the competition for your family's attention are those screens. But what if you flip the script and look for ways to incorporate screens into your together time instead of vilifying them? Join Jenny and Greg Swan for a discussion about the tensions around screens and holidays, ideas for digital connectedness, and why Greg calls the TV a "screamy box." Be sure to subscribe for future episodes!