No Opt-Out
Conrad Schwellnus & Verena Bryan
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About This Podcast
Two fast friends explore living in harmony with tech, one transatlantic phone call at a time. With a touch of nostalgia, Conrad and Verena blend the old and new, using analogue forms of communication to highlight how technology can enhance relationships and encourage connection.
The pair also regularly writes handwritten notes to each other, a nod to the pen pal culture of their youth. Join them as they search for harmony with tech in a no opt-out world, providing listeners with a soft place to land as technology weaves its way into more and more facets of modern life.
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Verena is an educator from Las Vegas, USA. She is techno-curious and deeply mindful of the impact of emerging tech on education, creativity, and the power of fun.
Conrad is a content marketing manager and creative entrepreneur from George, South Africa. He has long experimented with balancing tech use to enhance creativity and sustain good mental health.
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Contact: [email protected] and/or [email protected]
Cover illustration by Brazilian artist Régis Monteiro
Music by Dvir Silver courtesy of Pixabay
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Recent Episodes
S4E8 S04E08: This Bot “Cares” About You
Season finale time! For the first time, Verena gets Conrad’s answering machine, and her response sets the tone for an episode full of banter and laughter. A Pinterest email claiming to “care” about…
S4E7 S04E07: A Concierge for Peace of Mind
Conrad and Verena reconnect as Verena surprises him with news that his Berlin postcard has finally reached Las Vegas, well ahead of Christmas this year. They talk about Verena’s whirlwind New York…
S4E6 S04E06: We All Have Creative Bones
Creatives, pay attention. Conrad and Verena open this one in German before detouring into whether Verena is Conrad’s “favourite American” (spoiler alert: Gaga is). The chat turns to creativity and…
S4E5 S04E05: Where Do Archived Emails Go?
In this episode, the digital besties zone in on tech that actually connects, exploring specific apps and features that could support a new type of online community. Email, calendar and messaging apps…
S4E4 S04E04: ASAP Does Not Mean Right Now
On their fourth call of the season, Conrad and Verena open with a laugh before drifting into late-night Google searches and the calm of silent films. The conversation turns to how easily tone gets…
S4E3 S04E03: Good Practice for the Bigger Things
Verena opens the call with a theory that companies have stopped designing products to please customers. The pair returns to a discussion on why users shouldn’t bear the burden of protecting their own…
S4E2 S04E02: Are We a Community?
Conrad calls Verena in a frustrated state, but what starts as a venting session turns into a fast-paced chat about digital miscommunication and how it affects relationships. Verena revives the…
S4E1 S04E01: Creativity is Available to Everyone
The digital besties are back! Season 4 begins with a catch-up that covers a Berlin birthday and a family reunion in Jamaica. Conrad admits to five hours of doomscrolling the night before (eek!),…
S3E8 S03E08: Open Mic Night for AI
Season finale energy kicks in as Conrad shares he’s (hopefully) becoming a dog dad to a rescue called Enzo. Verena offers survival tips from her years of pet parenting and explains why she’ll never…
S3E7 S03E07: Where Do You Waste Time?
They did what? Verena and Conrad get reflective in the penultimate episode of the season, break the fourth wall by talking about the pod for the first time (!!), and revisit how the show and their…
S3E6 S03E06: This Does Not Have to Be Perfect
Verena and Conrad question what future tools should *actually* do for us. It’s clear they’re less drawn to sleek features and more interested in how technology might offer real support, particularly…
S3E5 S03E05: The More We Automate, The Less We Think
Conrad and Verena catch up after a week of contrasts: a job change with some spontaneous travel on one side, and tech frustrations and airport security checks on the other. The conversation shifts…
S3E4 S03E04: Sink or Swim Digital Literacy
Conrad and Verena dive into the modern concert experience after the former admits he spent more time watching the screen than the actual performer at a show he attended recently. They also discuss…
S3E3 S03E03: Back to Ethics in the Wild West
Phew! Talk about a rollercoaster of an episode. Verena and Conrad get philosophical to the point that he brings up “Tech-crates” and “AI-ristotle”. The conversation covers the state of ethical tech…
S3E2 S03E02: More Human Stuff Please
If you are intrigued by the phrase, "It doesn't sound that bad to be a ghost shark," this episode is for you. Conrad and Verena show just how much their friendship has grown over the last two years…
S3E1 S03E01: The Boring Factor
Conrad and Verena are back for a new series of calls in a world that feels even more chaotic than when they spoke last time. Verena kicks things off with a lovely surprise, digital literacy is a hot…
S2E8 S02E08: See You in the Treehouse
In the final episode of the season, Conrad and Verena do a deep dive into building their dream digital hangout, which they’re calling The Treehouse. It’s not just about setting up another online…
S2E7 S02E07: Reimagining Digital Community
In this episode, Verena gives Conrad a surprise update: she’s accidentally become a dog mum somehow! A mystery pup showed up in her neighbourhood, so now she’s navigating social media like a pro…
S2E6 S02E06: Novelty That AI Can’t Give You
In this episode, Verena kicks things off with a family reunion update before claiming victory in the "Postcard Olympics." Spoiler alert: her Christmas postcard to Conrad showed up three months early.…
S2E5 S02E05: Sit and Be
Conrad and Verena explore the evolving dynamics of relationships, connection, and digital communities in this episode. The conversation kicks off with reflections on their time-zone-driven chats and…
Frequently Asked Questions
No Opt-Out has published 32 episodes since May 2024, covering topics in Education, Society & Culture.
No Opt-Out is currently dormant with new episodes hourly. Average episode length is 56m.
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