In this episode, Eric talks with Axel Burlin, author of Beyond Brain Rot, about internet addiction, algorithmic feeds, and why so many well-intentioned attempts to “use your phone less” quietly fail.

Axel shares his own experience growing up online, from video games and forums to endless scrolling, and how a breaking point during college led him to rethink not just his habits but the assumptions behind them. Rather than relying on willpower, blockers, or dopamine detoxes, Axel outlines a mindset-level shift that reframes algorithmic feeds as something fundamentally misaligned with how we want to live.

The conversation explores how modern platforms quietly replace boredom, reflection, and community with hyper-stimulating content that feels productive in the moment and hollow afterward. Eric and Axel also discuss responsibility versus system-level blame, how brain rot differs from ordinary distraction, and what it looks like to keep the useful parts of the internet while removing the rest.

They cover:

• What “brain rot” actually refers to, both the content and the outcome
• Why algorithmic feeds are different from intentional internet use
• How gaming, social media, and short-form video hook attention differently
• Why most screen-time fixes fail after a few days
• The hidden opportunity cost of scrolling
• How feeds contribute to loneliness and the erosion of community
• Practical ways to remove algorithmic entertainment without going offline
• What a healthier relationship with technology looks like day to day

This episode is a grounded conversation for anyone who senses they’re spending too much time online but hasn’t found an approach that actually sticks.

Episode Links

• Axel Burlin: https://www.beyondbrainrot.com
• Follow Axel on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/axel.burlin/
• Beyond Brain Rot (Axel’s book): https://www.beyondbrainrot.com
• The Anxious Generation (Jonathan Haidt): https://www.amazon.com/Anxious-Generation-Rewiring-Childhood-Epidemic/dp/B0C9N2L56X
• Bowling Alone (Robert D. Putnam): https://www.amazon.com/Bowling-Alone-Robert-D-Putnam-audiobook/dp/B01N94FW0P
• Alienated America (Timothy P. Carney): https://www.amazon.com/Alienated-America-audiobook/dp/B07MDLH6WB

For more episodes: https://unfoldingthought.com

Questions or guest ideas: [email protected]