July 19, 2022 — By Adam Brownstein
Here in the epically gorgeous Wasatch Mountains (my high and dry hideaway from the sultry dog days of Tokyo Summer), I have a very bad habit.
Most afternoons between Zoom marathons, I like to take 20 minutes to hike, clear my mind and breath in the last vestige of fresh air on our planet. This ritual probably sounds “good”, maybe even noble. And it would be if I did not taint my walk in the woods with the introduction of podcasts. I listen to them incessantly. Podcasts from vegan scientists and meat-loving “sports guys”. Podcasts from blue states and red states. Podcasts about food . . . about running . . . about parenting. Rather than keeping my ears preened for the soulful screech of a bald eagle, I shut all that out so I can understand Freakonomics.
One of my favorite bowls of digital candy to feast upon is a pod called “The Best One Yet” aka TBOY. It’s a cheeky, switched-on espresso shot that’s half tech trends/half pop culture. In about 15 minutes, the mile-a-minute hosts, Nick and Jack, hit three stories. Nothing too serious, but somehow I end feeling a wee bit smarter . . . or at least more clever.
Today I learned that I kind of got TikTok wrong. I had always judged it from afar as a “huge time suck” that will rot the brains of my children and all of America. It might be that, but only to a degree. 40% of Generation Z (those 10-25 years old) prefer TikTok and Instagram for 40% of their search queries. Old Gen X’ers like me “Google it” nearly 100% of the time when we’re looking for a great taco truck or studying the latest Fed print on core inflation or to chill out with cute cat videos. Gen Z’ers “TikTok” that kind of stuff.
Proof that our “search” for meaning is not always the same . . . at least depending on your age.
Shout outs to No Stupid Questions Pod with Dr. Angela Duckworth & Steven Dubner and TBOY Pod with Nick & Jack.
The Tokyo Yenta 