Super Connected

We are only just beginning to understand the impact social media and smart devices are having on the mental and emotional well-being of teenagers around the world. In this episode of Super Connected Conversations, multi-disciplinary artist Tim Arnold talks to Rose Pepper: a secondary school student in the United Kingdom with a rare talent for curiosity and a natural gift for analysis.   Rose shares her personal experience of trialling the Light Phone — a minimalist phone designed to encourage intentional technology use — and how living without a smartphone for a month changed her perspective on digital life. Tim and Rose also explore what it's like to grow up Gen Z in a world dominated by screens, and how new generations might reclaim real-world connection. Their conversation ties into the themes explored in Super Connected™: a groundbreaking album, film and live multimedia show about the impact of technology on family, childhood and community. If you're listening on Spotify or Apple, add the Super Connected™ album to your library now to hear how this project began with music and lyrics:   Super Connected on Spotify Super Connected on Apple Music   For more information about Super Connected™, including upcoming live performances, screenings, and how to experience the album and film, please visit: Super Connected Official If you'd like to explore the Light Phone, you can find out more here: Light Phone   Created entirely without sponsorship, this podcast is independently produced by Tim Arnold. If you'd like to support his work, you can do so via Patreon.   © The Tim Arnold Company 2025

Multi-disciplinary artist Tim Arnold in conversation with Sandy Chappell, a Paediatric Speech and Language Therapist with over 30 years of experience. Sandy specialises in working with pre-school and primary school children who have speech and language disorders. She is the founder of Chatterbox Speech and Language Therapy in North Yorkshire and a passionate advocate for screen-free activities that promote early speech and language development. Sandy is also a member of the Health Professionals for Safer Screens campaign group.   For more information on Sandy Chappell, please visit: http://www.chatterbox-slt.co.uk/   Health For more information on Health Professionals for Safer Screens, please visit: https://healthprofessionalsforsaferscreens.org/   Arts If you support a more mindful approach to screen use, join our community and learn more about the film, album, and theatre show of Super Connected: http://superconnected.technology/   This podcast is independently produced and not sponsored. If you appreciate the content created by The Tim Arnold Company, consider supporting on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/timarnoldmusic

Multi-disciplinary artist Tim Arnold in conversation with Dr. Becky Foljambe, an NHS GP, passionate campaigner for safer screens and founder of Health Professionals for Safer Screens. In this episode, they discuss Becky's work in advocating for the removal of smartphones from schools and her growing concerns about the increasing intrusion of technology in childhood, particularly in vulnerable communities. She highlights the deepening inequality that tech is driving in society and shares insights from her extensive experience in general practice and education.   Health For more information on Health Professionals for Safer Screens, please visit: https://healthprofessionalsforsaferscreens.org/   Arts If you support a more mindful approach to screen use, join our community and learn more about the film, album, and theatre show of Super Connected: http://superconnected.technology/   This podcast is independently produced and not sponsored. If you appreciate the content created by The Tim Arnold Company, consider supporting on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/timarnoldmusic   ©The Tim Arnold Company/Super Connected 2024

Multi-disciplinary artist Tim Arnold in conversation with Dr. Sanjiv Nichani OBE, a Senior Consultant Paediatrician at Leicester Children's Hospital and founder of Healing Little Hearts.  In this episode, they discuss Dr. Nichani's work in paediatric care and his campaign to raise awareness about the ‘Screen Demic', which he coined to describe the epidemic of mental health illnesses and developmental difficulties in children due to excessive screen time and social media usage.   Health For more information on Health Professionals for Safer Screens, please visit: https://healthprofessionalsforsaferscreens.org/   Arts If you support a more mindful approach to screen use, join our community and learn more about the film, album, and theatre show of Super Connected: http://superconnected.technology/   This podcast is independently produced and not sponsored. If you appreciate the content created by The Tim Arnold Company, consider supporting on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/timarnoldmusic   ©The Tim Arnold Company/Super Connected 2024

Multi-disciplinary artist Tim Arnold in conversation with Kaiwei Tang, co-founder of minimalist phone company The Light Phone. Together, they discuss how Light Phone help users disconnect from digital distractions, encouraging a return to more intentional and fulfilling daily experiences. Recorded live on August 2nd, 2024. Kaiwei Tang is a visionary entrepreneur and co-founder of The Light Phone, along with Joe Hollier. Their company is dedicated to creating minimalist phones designed to promote a healthier relationship with technology. Kaiwei's product design and development background with a focus on human centered design, paired with Joe's background in art, design and film making, drives their mission to encourage users to disconnect from the digital world and reconnect with the physical one. Read Tim's 'Light Phone Step by Step Guide' Go Light here For more information on The Light Phone, please visit The Light Phone This podcast is independently produced and not sponsored. If you appreciate the content created by Tim and Super Connected Conversations, consider supporting on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/timarnoldmusic Join our community and learn more about the world of Super Connected through the album, film, and theatre show at http://superconnected.technology/ ©TA Music/Super Connected 2024

Multimedia artist Tim Arnold in conversation with Kate Alderton - actress, theatre maker, dream practitioner and communications skills facilitator. Together, they talk about learning to be 'phone free' and making performance venues into sacred spaces again with their Screenless Socials. Recorded live on April 15th, 2024. Kate Alderton is a multifaceted artist, dream practitioner, theatre maker and advanced communications skills facilitator. With a background in the arts, training at LAMDA, her passion extends beyond stage and screen, as she actively seeks to reignite the ancient tradition of communal dreaming. Kate is founder of The Dreamfishing Society. For social and community dreaming events and to explore the potential of collective dreaming, please visit: https://dreamfishingsociety.com/ This video is independently produced and not sponsored. If you appreciate the content created by Tim and Super Connected Conversations, consider supporting on Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/timarnoldmusic Join our community and learn more about the world of Super Connected through the album, film, and theatre show at http://superconnected.technology/   ©TA Music/Super Connected 2024

Multimedia artist Tim Arnold in conversation with Hannah Oertel, the founder of Delay Smartphones UK. Together, they delve into the the impact of smartphones and social media on today's youth. Recorded live on April 2nd, 2024. With a background as a therapist and NLP practitioner, Hannah recognised the need to address the growing concerns surrounding smartphone usage, particularly among children and teenagers. Delay Smartphones UK are campaigning to protect all children from the dangers of smartphones, and helping parents make informed decisions on when to give kids their first smartphones. For more information about Delay Smartphones UK, visit their official website: https://delaysmartphones.org.uk/ This podcast is independently produced and not sponsored. If you appreciate the content created by Tim and Super Connected Conversations, consider supporting on Patreon to ensure the continuation of Super Connected Conversations: Join our community and learn more about the world of Super Connected through the album, film, and theatre show at https://superconnected.technology/   ©TA Music/Super Connected 2024

Catch Super Connected on tour in the UK: https://bit.ly/4bIkHcL Sociologist and media scholar, Nick Couldry, engages in a compelling dialogue with multimedia artist Tim Arnold about the intricate interplay between media, society and human experience, with a special focus on the use of smartphones by children and teenagers. Nick Couldry is a distinguished professor at the London School of Economics, specialising in media, communication, and social theory. His books with Ulises A Mejias 'The Costs of Connection' and 'Data Grab' explain the concept of 'data colonialism' as explored on Tim Arnold's album Super Connected. For more information on Nick Couldry, please visit https://www.nickcouldry.org/ Support Super Connected Conversations on Patreon to access exclusive content, engage with the community, and explore the transformative power of media and art.  For music, film and theatre on this topic, visit the Super Connected website. ©TA Music/Super Connected 2024

Author, teacher, documentarian and 'Team Human' pioneer, Douglas Rushkoff joins multimedia artist Tim Arnold in a discussion on the impact of technology on humanity, with a special focus on the effects of smartphones and social media on children and teenagers. Recorded live for Super Connected Conversations on 20th March, 2024. About Douglas Rushkoff Douglas Rushkoff is a media theorist, writer, and documentarian who focuses on human autonomy in a digital age. Though created by humans, our technologies, markets and institutions often contain an antihuman agenda. With his book and podcast 'Team Human', Douglas Rushkoff reveals the dynamics of this antihuman machinery and invites us to remake these aspects of society in ways that foster our humanity. Team Human was an inspiration and influence on Tim Arnold's album and feature film drama Super Connected. For more information on Douglas Rushkoff and his work, visit his official website at rushkoff.com.  Join Team Human. Support Super Connected Conversations on Patreon to access exclusive screenings, concerts, free tickets and more. Join our community and dive into the Super Connected album, film and theatre show at superconnected.technology  

Musician Tim Arnold and science writer Eric Wargo discuss the themes of Wargo's forthcoming book about 'Creativity, Inspiration and Precognition'. This discussion is in context of one of the artworks from Arnold's new album and film 'Super Connected'. The artwork foresaw Apple's Vision Pro, 5 years before Apple announced it. In 2018, Arnold conceived a fictional wearable headset named "iHead" for the story of his album 'Super Connected'. A model of the "iHead" was made between the Winter of 2018 and Spring 2019 by artist and and model maker Valerie Charlton, with principle photography on the movie of 'Super Connected' completed by the end of 2019. The album and movie were slated for a 2020 release. With the pandemic hitting, Arnold paused all plans on releasing the album and the film. He tried to release the project in 2021, and then again in 2022, but the industry was still only just getting back on it's feet, so Arnold paused the project, along with the "iHead". In 2022 Arnold was diagnosed with autism after two years of assessments. With a fresh perspective on his life and his work, he decided to release the 'Super Connected' project in 2023. On submitting his album for release in January 2023, Arnold was told by his digital distributor 'Ditto Music' that Apple would not accept the album unless the track that mentioned the "iHead" was removed from the album. Protecting his vision, Arnold refused to remove the track for artistic reasons, so the album was submitted to all platforms by Ditto Music, excluding Apple. In April 2023, Arnold released the first single from the album with a scene from the movie that featured the "iHead". The full album launched on all platforms in May, 2023 except for Apple.  With overwhelming praise in the press, including 4-star reviews in Mojo and The Times, Arnold launched a public campaign with an open letter to Apple requesting they include his album on Apple Music. The public letter was supported with signatories from celebrities in the entertainment world. It drew attention in the media and, within six days, the album 'Super Connected' was made available on Apple Music. Here's the history of the 'iHead' - "iHead" in action  "iHead" parody commercial featuring Stephen Fry   Hear the critically acclaimed album, now available on Apple Music Learn more about Eric Wargo here

Learn more about Super Connected here. Oliver Senton is an actor and theatremaker. He played Robert Anton Wilson in Daisy Campbell's adaptation of Cosmic Trigger in 2014 & 17, and the central role of Phil Masters in the legendary 24-hour play cycle The Warp in 1998-9. He is an artistic associate of Slung Low, a founder member of both Showstopper! The Improvised Musical and The School of Night, a group of esoteric literary extemporisers. Connect with Oliver here.

Learn more about Super Connected Claire Callender-Phillips is a co-founder of The Green Funeral Company, You can connect with her on Twitter.

Nick Couldry is Professor of Media, Communications and Social Theory at the London School of Economics and Political Science.  Ulises A. Mejias is a Professor of Communication Studies and Director of the Institute for Global Engagement at the State University of New York, College at Oswego. Just about any social need is now met with an opportunity to "connect" through digital means. But this convenience is not free—it is purchased with vast amounts of personal data transferred through shadowy backchannels to corporations using it to generate profit. Nick and Ulises' book The Costs of Connection uncovers this process, this "data colonialism," and it's designs for controlling our lives—our ways of knowing; our means of production; our political participation.  Get the book: The Costs of Connection Follow our Super Connected channels: Facebook Private Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/500557187806956/ Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/superconnected23 Official Website: https://superconnected.technology/ Tim Arnold's channels: https://linktr.ee/timarnold      

Learn more about Super Connected Phra Peter Suparo, (aka Peter Radcliffe) is a musician turned full time Buddhist monk.  He resides in the famous Thamkrabok Monastery in Thailand in an eco-spiritual community of Buddhist monks, nuns and lay people.  Connect with Peter here.  

Learn more about Super Connected Vicky Unwin has had a long career in both book and newspaper publishing, centred round her African roots, and is currently the chair of Wasafiri Magazine and a Caine Prize Council member. She has always been fascinated by family secrets and began researching the story behind The Boy from Boskovice shortly before her father's death in 2012.  She is a Trustee ofTransform Drug Policy Foundation campaigning for the decriminalisation of drugs after losing her daughter to a ketamine overdose in 2011.  Connect with Vicky here.

Learn more about Super Connected Jamie Catto facilitates professional, personal and creative breakthroughs, drawing from his own processes in ground-breaking film production, philosophy voyages and music.  Connect with Jamie here.

Learn more about Super Connected Abhijit Naskar is a  neuroscientist, author and public speaker, specialising in mental health, self-reliance, and neuro-leadership.  Connect with Abhijit here.

Learn more about Super Connected Michelle is an integrative psychotherapeutic counsellor in private practice, based in London.  She has been a member of Imperial college's psychedelic research team since 2015.  Connect with Michelle here.

Learn more about Super Connected   Bek began the study of naturopathy and alternative medicine to support her son on his healing journey over a decade ago. That path led to the practices of energy work as they allowed for a powerful collaboration of techniques to help lead her clients into the deepest transformations available to them. Connect with Bek here.

Learn more about Super Connected   Nadine Page is a holistic health practitioner and music industry specialist in mental health/addictions.  Connect with Nadine here. 

Learn more about Super Connected Peter Tatchell s a British human rights campaigner, best known for his work with LGBT social movements.  Connect with Peter at PeterTatchell.net

Learn more about Super Connected Gabriel Dean Roberts is a fine art photographer in NYC with works shown in MoMa Ps1, Superchief Gallery and Noon Gallery in Brussels, Belgium. A veteran at VICE & Vogue with an MA from UW. Connect with Gabriel here.

Learn more about Super Connected Jo Berry is a peace activist, founder of a Charity, Building Bridges for Peace, dedicated to understanding the roots of conflict and developing conflict prevention and transformation. Connect with Jo at Building Bridges for Peace.

Learn more about Super Connected   Eric Wargo has a Ph.D. in anthropology from Emory University and works as a professional science writer and editor in Washington, D.C. He is the author of the acclaimed book Time Loops. In his spare time, Wargo writes about science fiction, consciousness, and parapsychology at his popular blog, The Nightshirt. Connect with Eric here.

Learn more about Super Connected Gerd Leonhard is a European futurist, speaker and author who specialises in the debate between humanity and technology. Connect with Gerd at futuristgerd

Phra Peter Suparo, (aka Peter Radcliffe) is a musician turned full time Buddhist monk.  He resides in the famous Thamkrabok Monastery in Thailand in an eco-spiritual community of Buddhist monks, nuns and lay people.Peter on Facebook 

Sandy Powell OBE is a British costume designer. She has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Costume Design fifteen times, winning three awards for the films Shakespeare in Love, The Aviator, and The Young Victoria.Sandy's Instagram

Willie Dowling is a multi instrumentalist, composer/producer/performer. Over the years Willie has fronted, composed, produced and toured his own bands, including influential rockers Honeycrack,  Jackdaw4 and The Dowling Poole. Follow Willie: @WillieDowlingJ4

Sam Vaknin has a PhD in philosophy and Physics and is a Professor of Psychology in Southern Federal University in Rostov-on-Don in Russia and a Professor of Finance and Psychology in CIAPS. He served as economic advisor to governments and multinationals and founded the Healthcare Committee of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Macedonia. Collaborated with IMF, WB, and WHO.Sam's work in psychologyBiography and ResumeSam's YouTube Channel.

Anna Smith is a film critic and broadcaster.  She is Chair of the Film Section of the UK Critics’ Circle and a regular film critic for BBC News, Sky News, BBC Radio, Time Out, Metro, The Guardian, Sight & Sound, Empire and more. A writer, pundit and Q&A host, she regularly interviews actors on stage, on screen and in print.Follow Anna: @annasmithjourno

David Smallwood is a Counsellor and Therapist, with over 20 years experience helping with addiction, eating disorders, co-dependence and Gay and Lesbian issues.David's website.

Kevin Godley is an English singer, songwriter, musician and music video director. He is known as the singer and drummer of the art rock band 10cc and later as part of collaboration duo Godley & Creme with Lol Creme.Follow Kevin: @KevinGodley9

Terry Johnson is an award winning playwright and theatre director.  Jeremy Stockwell is an actor, theatre director and acting coach.Follow Terry: @TerryGoesGlobal | Follow Jeremy: @jeremystockwell

Mark Davyd and Bev Whitrick run the award winning UK Music Venue Trust and are responsible for saving many grass roots music venues in the UK.  Follow Music Venue Trust: @MusicVenueTrust

Bryanne Mackintosh-Melville and Simon Reeves run a clothing design company in West London. They are a much loved and well known couple in London's nighttime culture.

Jennifer Dumpert is a San Francisco-based writer and lecturer, and the founder of the Oneironauticum, an international organisation that explores the phenomenological experience of dreams.  Kate Alderton is an independent dream researcher and runs the UK based Dreamfishing Society. Follow Jennifer: @Oneirofer | Follow Kate: @AldertonKate

Tim Arnold in conversation with Douglas Rushkoff, author and documentarian who studies human autonomy in a digital age. Rushkoff’s work explores how different technological environments change our relationship to narrative, money, power, and one another. He coined such concepts as “viral media,” “screenagers,” and “social currency,” and has been a leading voice for applying digital media toward social and economic justice. Follow Douglas on Twitter @Rushkoff