Today’s episode marks a special moment as we welcome back Alex Kauffmann to the Listeners Chair for one final time before he returns to university. Before signing off, he expressed his gratitude for being part of the podcast and acknowledged that it may be a few months before he returns.
This episode also highlights an important aspect of podcasting: listener interaction. Each episode features two questions submitted by our audience. These questions vary in frequency—some listeners become regular contributors, while others send in a single question and are never heard from again. This dynamic creates a rich tapestry of engagement, showcasing the diverse interests and curiosity of our audience.
Sally, from Mildura, Australia sets the first question for us today - “I feel where social media has gone wrong, is we use it as a backdrop to our lives, giving others the perception that our lives have meaning. For example, people are incessantly posting about their holidays, and their food. The posts don’t add value to the observer, they just seem designed to impress others how well travelled and cultured we are, and giving others an insight into our digestive process. I’m not sure where it went wrong, but the value is in living and not living to prove the value of our life through social media.”
Social media often promotes curated highlights over authentic experiences. William advocates purposeful posting to inspire or inform, while Alex critiques its superficiality, viewing it as attention-seeking and disconnected from real life.
Stuart uses social media strategically to communicate impact, urging reflection over validation. Both Alex and Stuart call for mindful engagement—living in the moment and posting with clear intent, especially in environmental contexts.
Aine, Dublin, Republic of Ireland - “Man is having as big an impact if not a bigger one as the meteor that killed the non-avian dinosaurs. Can we fathom the size of that problem?”
Stuart highlights Aine’s insight that only non-avian dinosaurs went extinct. Alex views humanity’s resilience as part of ongoing evolution, suggesting extinction is less probable than other natural threats.
The group explores the limits of human perception, noting difficulty in grasping large-scale issues like climate change or asteroid impacts. William questions whether full comprehension is necessary, proposing local awareness as a practical alternative.
Stuart further challenges temporal understanding, suggesting time may be a human construct without fixed boundaries.
What do you make of this discussion? Do you have a question that you'd like us to discuss? Let us know by sending an email to thepeoplescountryside@gmail.com
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This podcast's overall themes are nature, philosophy, climate, the human condition, sustainability, and social justice.
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