I had a wide-ranging conversation with Dan Riley on the Keep Talking Podcast, Episode 158, Together, Yet Apart, launched today.
We start with my childhood and early influences, how I found photography, and my move to Chicago. From there we get into the coffee shop encounter that inspired Removed, how I make the pictures, and how the people in them react when they see themselves without their phones.
We also talk about the growing backlash against smartphone dependence, rethinking technology in schools and childhood, and the mental health costs of growing up online. Sherry Turkle's work on the erosion of human connection comes up, along with using AI without becoming dependent on it, digital sabbaths, and why boredom is essential to creativity.
Near the end we talk about what adults can do: model healthier habits, build phone-free spaces like libraries, and reclaim our attention through small daily choices. We also touch on the upcoming exhibitions.
You can watch the full episode on YouTube or follow the show on Substack. Thank you, Dan, for such a thoughtful conversation.