What is real? Jill writes a short essay.
An audio podcast. Robert sings. Sorry.
Canadian Jukebox: The Tragically Hip
Ram Dass reminds us to Be Here Now
Hockey Night x 5
Love one another
From Jill - The Rise of Authentic Experiences and Tangible Media in the Digital Age
In an era dominated by AI and social media, there’s a growing trend towards authentic experiences and tangible media. As digital interactions become more sophisticated and curated, many seek genuine, real-world engagements to counterbalance the virtual.
With much of our interaction mediated by screens, activities like hiking, live music, and community gatherings offer a way to reconnect with the physical world and foster real human connections. This trend is evident in the booming “experience economy,” where immersive activities like escape rooms and workshops thrive, catering to the desire for genuine engagement.
Amid digital omnipresence, tangible media like vinyl records, printed books, and film photography are enjoying a resurgence. These formats provide a tactile and sensory richness that digital media often lacks. Vinyl records, for instance, offer a listening experience many find warmer and more nuanced than digital music, while printed books create a physical connection to the content.
Ironically, social media and AI, while often fostering superficial connections, also promote the resurgence of authenticity. Influencers who emphasize genuine experiences and artisanal products contribute to this cultural shift. As AI-generated content becomes more common, people are drawn to what is undeniably real and unmanufactured, such as farmers’ markets and handmade crafts.
The growing interest in authentic experiences and tangible media is a natural response to the increasingly virtual realities presented by AI and social media. This trend reflects a fundamental human need for real, meaningful engagement with the world and each other, highlighting a desire for balance in our tech-driven lives.
An AI-bot wrote the five paragraphs above. Even if the text feels stiff, I agree with my AI overlord! Many of us are lost in our devices, forgetting to fully engage in the world in authentic ways. I’m actually excited about embracing AI in ways that make my work life easier. The true challenge is to reconsider how we organize society to support people who will work less in the future. The transition will be bumpy, so buckle your seat belts. We are amid a huge leap forward. The secret to making it work will be to rebuild our connections with each other and the natural world. Drop your devices. Go out and engage!
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We first release our Into The Planet podcasts here to our subscribers on Substack before posting to Apple, Spotify, iHeart, Google, and other platforms.
What is real? What is authentic? In this short audio podcast, Robert continues his one-man Boomer crusade against singers who use excessive processing and autotune on their vocal tracks. (Ugh…he sings!) Also - Jill's comments about Photoshop and AI post-processing applied to underwater photography. They share their love for authentic experiences and encourage young people to interact with their peers in real life. Jill spent the weekend with remarkable young people presenting at the Our World Underwater Scholarship Society - which gave her great hope and optimism for the future.
Robert’s Canadian Jukebox - The Tragically Hip
When Jill first brought me to Canada I would often hear The Tragically Hip’s songs playing at campsites, on car stereos, at parties, in restaurants and pubs - their music seemed to be the soundtrack of Canadian life. Why had I not heard of them down in the States? (Maybe I did hear their music, but mistakenly thought it was REM?) It wasn’t because they weren’t popular. They released 13 studio albums, one live album, one EP, and over 50 singles across a 33-year career. They have 9 albums that have reached No. 1 on the Canadian charts. Commonly known to fans as “The Hip” they achieved remarkable popularity in their home country. They tried to break into the lucrative U.S. market - notably as the musical guests on the Saturday Night Live episode hosted by fellow Kingston, Ontario native Dan Akroyd, and a scorching performance at Woodstock ‘99. They toured the U.S. regularly, playing mid-sized music venues and festivals, however, it seemed that their sold-out shows were packed with mostly Canadians living down in the U.S. This is a band that uniquely echos the Canadian ethos - with diverse songs about missing hockey players to working life in the wheat fields of the vast prairie provinces. Canada decided to keep them for themselves. They have become my favourite rock band - bar none. They are that good. The Tragically Hip are:
Gord Downie – lead vocals, occasional guitar
Rob Baker – lead guitar
Gord Sinclair – bass, backing vocals
Johnny Fay – drums, percussion
Paul Langlois – rhythm guitar, backing vocals
But, there is a sad side to The Tragically Hip. A sadness collectively experienced by an entire nation. In December 2015, singer and lyricist Gord Downie was diagnosed with terminal brain cancer. His diagnosis was announced on May 24, 2016. The band also announced that, despite his condition, they would tour that summer. The final concert of the tour was held in the band's hometown of Kingston on August 20, 2016. The concert was aired live across Canada on the CBC. Canadians gathered at public venues throughout the country to sing along…and say goodbye.
Gord Downie died on November 17, 2017. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau eulogized Downie: "Our buddy Gord, who loved this country with everything he had—and not just loved it in a nebulous, 'Oh, I love Canada' way. He loved every hidden corner, every story, every aspect of this country that he celebrated his whole life.”
Book - Be Here Now
I learned great lessons about authenticity through this book by Baba Ram Dass, AKA Harvard psychology professor Richard Alpert. My older peers may have a dusty copy on a high shelf. To my younger friends, I highly recommend you pick up a copy here. - Robert
Thanks again for spending some time with us. We know your time and attention are valuable and we appreciate you being here.
Hockey Night in Canada -
Just to confirm we now live in Canada, there are FIVE networks broadcasting the Stanley Cup Finals. #GoOilers
“Love One Another.”
Hi Luca, You never cease to bring a bright light into my day. Thanks so much for all your positive comments and engagement. I think we are kindred spirits. I certainly find solace in the water and the wilds. I come home from projects envigorated and looking at life in new ways. Many good wishes to you! - Jill
It took me a while to get to this episode but I marked it because I really wanted to listen to it! Wow, I didn’t know you guys are so rich🤣🤣🤣🤣! I saw a meme few days ago that said “you know how a diver can become millionaire by working in the diving industry? By starting out as a billionaire!”
On a serious note, OMG I so hear you guys, it’s really hard to find anything real! We have impossible standards for the people that don’t recognize how unreal a lot of stuff is online, from yes, music and what is an authentic beautiful voice, a talent that actually someone possesses, to underwater and land photography that had nothing to do with reality and real stuff looks boring compared to the AI enhanced photography! Or behaviors of animals that depicts actually cruelty under the disguise of “look how this animal loves …” when it’s exhibiting neurological signs of stress! We are not even going to talk about standards of beauty…
I love your podcasts and you guys seem so real! For me, I try to find authenticity away from people, in nature where stuff is real! Specially underwater! Thank you for creating content that is real and thought provoking! Funny too! I also love your positivity! I try to remember daily to just stay positive and find the gems!
Diving into the darkness was quite a gem! AMAZING!