Search Engine

This week we ask a slightly absurd question – is there technology to stop you from using addictive technology – and get some surprising answers from The Verge's David Pierce. New developments in the anti-technology field, and a partial history of how our phones got so oppressive. Comment on this episode! [https://pjvogt.substack.com/p/how-to-stop-being-so-phone-addicted] Support the show, and get ad-free episodes! [https://searchengine.supercast.com/] Listeners' favorite Search Engine episodes [https://open.spotify.com/playlist/5S9VpzSJa8HVGG9H0EmkmJ?si=eeb6813f57ea4218&nd=1&dlsi=2dcc1e31170a48f4] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

A small group of Americans becomes convinced they’ve discovered something strange about their iPhones: a forbidden phrase the phone will refuse to transmit. A crack podcasting team searches for answers, wherever they may lead. Support the show (and get the ad-free version) [searchengine.show] Comment on this episode! [https://pjvogt.substack.com/] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

In a moment of deep economic uncertainty created by our tariff-loving president, suddenly, our national debt has become much more important. Important enough that, this week, we have decided to teach ourselves everything about it – how America first created its national debt, and how it got out of control. Support the show (and remove the ads)! [http://www.searchengine.show] Comment on this episode [https://pjvogt.substack.com/p/why-the-national-debt-might-finally] Explore a colonial merchant ledger [https://amhistory.si.edu/american-enterprise/merchant-ledger/] Brendan Greeley [https://history.princeton.edu/people/brendan-greeley] Noahpinion [https://www.noahpinion.blog/] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

A re-air from August 2023: Our quest for the answer to this one sends us over a hundred years into the past. We learn about the invisible rules and fights that determine what our neighborhoods look like. We also learn about houses with backyard roller coasters, tiny apartments inside of shopping malls, and then we think a little bit about death. Happy Friday! Check out our merch [https://searchengine.bigcartel.com/] PJ's newsletter about the state of the show [https://pjvogt.substack.com/p/search-engine-in-2025] Comment on this episode [https://pjvogt.substack.com/p/why-cant-we-turn-all-the-empty-offices] Support the show [https://www.searchengine.show/] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]

A group of teenagers agrees to allow a filmmaker to record the things they do on their phones for a year-long experiment. To see the world they see through their phones, to encounter their algorithms. The results are honest, at times pretty upsetting, and tell us a lot about the internet that Gen-Z finds itself on. In the middle of our big, confusing, national argument about teenagers and their phones, a few answers. Lauren Greenfield's documentary series, Social Studies [https://www.fxnetworks.com/shows/social-studies] Search Engine merch [https://searchengine.bigcartel.com/] Support the show at searchengine.show [https://www.searchengine.show/] To learn more about listener data and our privacy practices visit: https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy [https://www.audacyinc.com/privacy-policy] Learn more about your ad choices. Visit https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices [https://podcastchoices.com/adchoices]