Ped & Tom review the new book “Digital Minimalism” by Cal Newport and discuss the benefits of reducing your daily interactions with technology and social media. Support the podcast on Patreon or by purchasing a T-shirt. Discuss the podcast on Reddit. Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Digital Minimalism: Choosing a Focused Life in a Noisy World by Cal Newport Ped’s review of Deep Work in Episode 38 Attention economy Freedom Music by Lee Rosevere (CC by 4.0)

Two Bit Geeks

Episode 47: Our Fraught Relationship with Technology

A cherished franchise returns for one final chapter. But was it worth the wait? Discuss the podcast on Reddit. Tom’s scribblings Fainting Betelgeuse (Sky & Telescope) Star Trek: Picard Episode 1 The Good Place Moral desert Live a good life (Marcus Aurelius) The Mandalorian Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker Knives Out r/prequelmemes Music by Lee Rosevere (CC by 4.0)

Episode 56: The End of a Saga

It’s election season, and Ped has invested in maroon duct tape, Tom is withholding any endorsements, and they both discuss whether chess is a sport. Support the podcast on Patreon or by purchasing a T-shirt. Discuss the podcast on Reddit. Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Hatha yoga Rāja yoga The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance Downton Abbey Duct tape Ranked-choice voting The grandmaster diet The Brattle Theatre Citizen Kane Color grading Orange and Teal Music by Lee Rosevere (CC by 4.0)

Episode 55: Maroon Duct Tape

Ped & Tom continue their appreciation of nature with a discussion on the ethics of animal welfare and eating fish, observing wildlife through drawing, painting, and nature journaling, and a surprising foray onto Instagram. Support the podcast on Patreon or by purchasing a T-shirt. Discuss the podcast on Reddit. Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. The egg-laying turtle Hummingbird moths “Bee of the Bird of the Moth” (They Might Be Giants) Sandpipers American woodcock Library Extension What a Fish Knows by Jonathan Balcombe Do fish feel pain? One answer. Little Free Library Tom’s Instagram (Face spoilers) You Can Draw in 30 Days by Mark Kistler John Muir The Laws Guide to Nature Drawing and Journaling by John Muir Laws “Rocky Mountain High” (John Denver) Music by Lee Rosevere (CC by 4.0)

Episode 54: The Timberdoodle

Ped & Tom take the meandering path through such subjects as dealing with hydrophobia, the automated safety features of modern cars, and a review of some favorite video and board games. Support the podcast on Patreon or by purchasing a T-shirt. Discuss the podcast on Reddit. Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. The Door in the Wall by H. G. Wells How To: Adjust Your Mirrors to Avoid Blind Spots (Car and Driver) Harry Tuttle, Heating Engineer (Brazil) Ask Ped & Tom Minesweeper Doom Slither.io Minecraft Portal Myst Pole Position Dragon’s Lair Ms. Pac-Man The Addams Family pinball KLASK Forbidden Island Settlers of Catan Power Grid Twilight Struggle Through the Ages Container Indonesia BoardGameGeek boardgame rankings Music by Lee Rosevere (CC by 4.0)

Episode 53: The Meandering Path

Ped got a new cat toy, Tom has some animal stories. Also, pondering cultured meat, inoculation with a fake news vaccine, and more listener questions. Support the podcast on Patreon or by purchasing a T-shirt. Discuss the podcast on Reddit. Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. PEBKAC Lap of Love Erethizon dorsatum Manticore Lynx rufus Ursus americanus Chrysemys picta Laying an egg Library Extension Octal Hexadecimal Sexagesimal Moxie Jägermeister Barry’s Tea Guinness Alignment Cultured meat Monty Hall problem Episode 05: The Conveyor Belt of Slop GetBadNews.com Usenet Music by Lee Rosevere (CC by 4.0)

Episode 52: Animal Story Time

Ped & Tom careen through a cavalcade of conversational categories, including competitions, carbon dioxide, Chernobyl, conservation, committee life, coaxial cable, communication constellations, and countless collections of warblers. Geek out! This episode of the podcast is brought to you by Patreon supporter Alexander Nielsen. Thank you! Support the podcast on Patreon or by purchasing a T-shirt. Discuss the podcast on Reddit. Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. James Holzhauer 92nd Scripps National Spelling Bee Joe Biden Eating a Sandwich Who’s the Highest-Paid Public Employee in Every State? Atmospheric CO2 exceeds 415 ppm Keeling Curve Chernobyl TrashTag Game of Thrones season 8 Newhart Ask Ped & Tom Starlink After SpaceX Starlink Launch, a Fear of Satellites That Outnumber All Visible Stars (New York Times) The Audubon Guide to Binoculars eBird Blackburnian Warbler Bald Eagle Music by Lee Rosevere (CC by 4.0)

Episode 51: Joe Biden Eating a Sandwich

In this special episode, Ped & Tom are joined by the elusive Brother X, a triathlete and professional translator, who calls in from Yokohama, Japan. He shares some of the differences he sees in Japanese and American language and culture after having spent over two decades living in Japan. Support the podcast on Patreon or by purchasing a T-shirt. Discuss the podcast on Reddit. Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. International Triathlon Union ね Perry Expedition Asymptote Chutzpah Music by Lee Rosevere (CC by 4.0)

Episode 50: (やる気 + 環境) x 時間

In this episode, Tom has unwelcome visitors in the middle of the night, Ped has a new Star Wars theory, and they both geek out to the first image of a Black Hole before musing on the Ultimate Fate of the Universe. Support the podcast on Patreon or by purchasing a T-shirt. Discuss the podcast on Reddit. Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Notre-Dame de Paris Our Nocturnal Visitors First trailer for Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker The Mandalorian Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge Event Horizon Telescope Event horizon Accretion disk “How to take a picture of a black hole” (Katie Bouman Ted Talk) Very-long-baseline interferometry “How to Understand the Image of a Black Hole” (Veritasium) The M87 Black Hole as seen by the Chandra X-ray Observatory Ultimate fate of the universe Heat death of the universe Music by Lee Rosevere (CC by 4.0)

Episode 49: Ultimate Fate of the Universe

The interminable New England Winter is almost over and it’s time for a Spring Clean for Ped & Tom as they start their Digital Declutter. With more time away from digital distractions, Tom finds a new hobby. Support the podcast on Patreon or by purchasing a T-shirt. Discuss the podcast on Reddit. Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Sugar shack Tapping Maple Trees Episode 47: Our Fraught Relationship with Technology PBS The Deep Dish reviews of Digital Minimalism and Marie Kondo eBird Merlin Bird ID Black-capped Chickadee Tufted Titmouse Pileated Woodpecker Barred Owl Black-capped Chickadee recorded by Jay McGowan/Macaulay Library at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology (ML94959121) Music by Lee Rosevere (CC by 4.0)

Episode 48: Sugar Shacks and Barred Owls

Ped & Tom continue to stare into the existential void and search for the meaning of life, with the help of centenarian Okinawans and the Japanese concept of Ikigai, as well as the organizational methods of tidying expert Marie Kondo. This episode is brought to you by our amazing Patreon supporter, Ekin Köker. Thank you, Ekin! You spark joy! Support the podcast on Patreon or by purchasing a T-shirt. Discuss the podcast on Reddit. Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Episode 38: Blazar McBlazeface Ikigai: The Japanese Secret to a Long and Happy Life by Héctor García and Francesc Miralles The Venn diagram of Ikigai Ikigai or Raison d’être Episode 33: Staring into the Void Okinawa Prefecture Victor Frankl and Logotherapy Marcus Aurelius and Stoicism Søren Kierkegaard and Existentialism Friedrich Nietzsche and Will to power Homer and the chili pepper Mindfulness Pomodoro Technique Interval training Two Bit Geeks in Bulgaria (Thanks Ivo!) The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo Music by Lee Rosevere (CC by 4.0)

Episode 46: Maximize Joy

A long-lost concert video sparks a stroll down memory lane for two old-school Phish-heads, sharing a “thank you” card full of gratitude for all the joy created by their favorite band, Phish. Tapers welcome! Discuss the podcast on Reddit. Phish Amy’s Farm Multi-Cam Footage from 1991 Surfaces (JamBase) Gallery of photographs taken at Amy’s Farm by Tom yeP! How Phish sounds to people who don’t like Phish Phish vs the Audience Chess Match Junta (1989) Trey Anastasio shares his Drug Court experience Relisten (iOS) RoboPhish (Android) Shows referenced: May 14, 1989 - University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts (Tom’s first show) Feb 15, 1990 - The Living Room, Providence, Rhode Island (Ped’s first show) Jun 16, 1990 - Townshend Family Park, Townshend, Vermont Nov 16, 1990 - Campus Club, Providence, Rhode Island Feb 15, 1991 - The Colonial Theatre, Keene, New Hampshire May 3, 1991 - Somerville Theatre, Somerville, Massachusetts (Tom’s favorite show) Jul 14, 1991 - Townshend Family Park, Townshend, Vermont Jul 19, 1991 - Somerville Theatre, Somerville, Massachusetts Aug 3, 1991 - Amy’s Farm, Auburn, Maine Dec 30, 1992 - Symphony Hall, Springfield, Massachusetts (Ped’s favorite show) Dec 2, 2003 - Fleetcenter, Boston, Massachusetts (20th Anniversary Show) Audience recordings excerpted: Foam - Nov 3, 1990 - Boulder Theater, Boulder, Colorado (Mastered by Mike Grace) Harry Hood - Nov 4, 1990 - Fort Ram, Fort Collins, Colorado (Transferred by Caleb Epstein) Runaway Yim - Jul 19, 1991 - Somerville Theatre, Somerville, Massachusetts (Mastered by Marmar) I Didn’t Know - Aug 3, 1991 - Amy’s Farm, Auburn, Maine (Taper unknown) Timber (Jerry the Mule) - Dec 30, 1992 - Symphony Hall, Springfield, Massachusetts (Mastered by Marmar) Harpua - May 3, 1991 - Somerville Theatre, Somerville, Massachusetts (Taper unknown) Tweezer Reprise - May 3, 1991 - Somerville Theatre, Somerville, Massachusetts (Taper unknown) You Enjoy Myself - May 3, 1991 - Somerville Theatre, Somerville, Massachusetts (Taper unknown) Golgi Apparatus - Nov 16, 1990 - Campus Club, Providence, Rhode Island (Taped by John Redmond) Special thanks to Matt Laurence and all the Phish tapers who shared their recordings with the fan community!

Episode 45: An Evening with Phish

Ped & Tom welcome a new sunrise and a new year, they run through some followup on Github, Stax lids, and ladybird beetles, Tom welcomes some new arrivals to his household, and Ped attempts to experience history in Washington DC. Support the podcast on Patreon or by purchasing a T-shirt. Discuss the podcast on Reddit. Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. David Hume, An Enquiry Concerning Human Understanding (1748), IV:21. Subtly improved “Janky Tic-Tac-Toe” (thanks to Noé) Octahedron Guess How Many Stax Lids Cause and Effect Saturnalia Roomba Robot or Not? Anything Goes National Portrait Gallery Ford’s Theatre Old North Bridge Vietnam Veterans Memorial Music by Lee Rosevere (CC by 4.0)

Episode 44: Lincoln’s Hoodie

Ped has a doughnut-related crisis, Tom is visited by ladybird beetles, and they discuss the forthcoming Insect Apocalypse. This episode is brought to you by Patreon supporter Ossama Al-Alali from Germany. We thank you for your support! You are awesome sauce! Support the podcast on Patreon or by purchasing a T-shirt. Discuss the podcast on Reddit. Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. The Insect Apocalypse is Here by Brooke Jarvis (The New York Times Magazine) The German Amateurs Who Discovered ‘Insect Armageddon’ (The New York Times) Trophic cascade Anthropocene Coccinellidae aka ladybird beetles, or ladybugs Tom’s winter visitors Hemiptera or true bugs How many Stax lids are there? Music by Lee Rosevere (CC by 4.0)

Episode 43: Ladybirds’ Picnic

Don’t Panic! Tom is surrounded by hippies. Ped is on the lookout for interstellar visitors. And they both continue their search for the Ultimate Question of Life, the Universe, and Everything. Plus, Ped has a curious collection. Support the podcast on Patreon or by purchasing a T-shirt. Discuss the podcast on Reddit. Review the podcast on Apple Podcasts. Lighting the beacons “Happy Valley” John “Grizzly” Adams Whole Foods Market Rationalism vs Magical thinking 12 Natural and Organic Brands Owned By Big Food (Mental Floss) False equivalence Light pollution Messier 31 - The Andromeda Galaxy The International Dark-Sky Association Outdoor Lighting Basics (darksky.org) Bobcat The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy Zaphod Beeblebrox Galaxy Quest Infocom Play the Hitchhiker’s text adventure online Could Solar Radiation Pressure Explain ʻOumuamua’s Peculiar Acceleration (Shmuel Bialy and Abraham Loeb) ʻOumuamua The Unexpected Trajectory of Interstellar Asteroid ʻOumuamua (APOD) Radiation pressure Is ʻOumuamua an Interstellar Spaceship? I’m Still Going With ‘No’ (Phil Plait) Light sail Tabby’s Star The Planetary Society Breakthrough Starshot LightSail 2 Rosa (Doctor Who S11E3) Lay’s Stax Ped’s collection How to Make a Tayto Sandwich Music by Lee Rosevere (CC by 4.0)

Episode 42: Girding for Frivolity

A two-nerds-talking podcast exploring science, philosophy, education, art, literature, geek culture, technology, and other human endeavors. New episodes roughly twice monthly.