Watching videos or listening to books or podcasts at 1.5x or 2x speed has become a productivity hack for many, letting viewers and listeners plow through content in half the time. But critics argue it trades comprehension for efficiency—dulling nuance, emotional impact, and retention. Can our brains really keep up, or are we just training ourselves to tolerate a constant fast-forward culture? / Ghosts and rats: the new aesthetic (17:45)? On the show: Steve Hatherly, Niu Honglin & Yushun