When fear becomes the price of being “informed,” how do we tell the difference between paying attention and being emotionally hijacked?

After a trio of viral Threads posts seem to declare that terror is the only appropriate response to our moment, we dig into how social media turns unprocessed fear into a public spectacle, and why outrage and panic are increasingly treated as signs of intelligence or moral seriousness. Drawing on mental health research, media studies, and theology, we ask whether constant distress actually helps us engage the world more faithfully or quietly numbs our capacity for compassion and action.

Things we mentioned in this episode:

Books + Articles:

We Survived the Night by Julian Brave NoiseCat

Against the Machine by Paul Kingsnorth

The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson

Night by Elie Wiesel

A Testament of Devotion by Thomas Kelly

Media and compassion after digital war: Why digital media haven't transformed responses to human suffering in contemporary conflict by Andrew Hoskins

We Have Never Been Woke by Musa al-Gharbi

Shows + Movies:

Run Away on Netflix

Stranger Things on Netflix

The Prince of Egypt

Songs + Podcasts:

If You Believe by Rachael Lampa (A Walk to Remember Soundtrack)

Dare You To Move by Switchfoot (A Walk to Remember Soundtrack)

Musa al-Gharbi interview on No Small Endeavor

Munther Isaac interview on No Small Endeavor

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