Uploaded August 2026 | Updated September 2026, 15 hours ago
What if productivity is making happiness harder? Ian Bogost explains why gratification — a refreshing spin on mindfulness that’s about delighting in the sensory world — slow living, and simple pleasures unlock contentment.
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction
(03:26) The Feeling We Mistake for Happiness
(11:43) The Price We Pay for Convenience
(16:32) Stop Optimizing Your Life
(26:51) The Case for Less Automatic Life
(35:38) The Sensory Upgrade Your Life Needs
(45:48) The Missing Ingredient in a Good Workday
(50:23) How to Feel More Alive at Work
(57:51) The False Promise of Workplace Efficiency
(01:00:59) Stop Turning Your Hobbies Into Side Hustles
(01:06:48) The Art of Lingering a Little Longer
Ian Bogost is the author of The Small Stuff: How to Lead a More Gratifying Life. A contributing writer at The Atlantic and a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, Ian writes about technology, culture, games, design, and everyday life. In The Small Stuff, he explores how modern convenience has disconnected us from the physical world and why ordinary sensory moments can help us live more gratifying lives.
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Granola — The AI notepad with notes, actions, and memory, and no annoying meeting bots. Try it totally free for three months at granola.ai/idea
Northwest Registered Agent — Launch and grow your business with nearly 30 years of expertise behind you at northwestregisteredagent.com/nbifree
Upwork — Find freelancers for any project. Visitupwork.com right now and post your job for free
Wealthfront — Earn up to 4.30% APY with Wealthfront’s high-yield cash account for a limited time: wealthfront.com/nbi This experience may not be representative of other Wealthfront clients, and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Experiences will vary. The host of The Next Big Idea, Caleb Bissinger (“Media Partner”), is a client of Wealthfront. The Media Partner receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage for this paid endorsement placed in their podcast, creating a conflict of interest. More details available via the referral link. The Direct Deposit Plus Investing Program from Wealthfront Advisers LLC and Wealthfront Brokerage LLC provides eligible clients a 0.25% APY increase above the base APY on eligible Cash Account balances (up to an overall boosted rate of 4.30% for a limited time when including the three month 0.75% APY boost for new clients) when you direct deposit $1,000 a month, plus open, fund, and maintain an investing account. Wealthfront may change or end the program at any time and determine eligibility at its discretion. Terms apply. Full details at wealthfront.com/promo-terms.
The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of January 30, 2026, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. References to the APY for the Wealthfront Cash Account, including any APY increase, are to the APY paid by insured depository institutions that participate in our cash sweep program (the "Program Banks”). Wealthfront Brokerage does not pay interest. Funds in the Cash Account are swept to Program Banks where they earn a variable APY and are eligible for FDIC insurance. Conditions apply. For a list of Program Banks, see: wealthfront.com/programbanks. FDIC pass-through insurance, which protects against the failure of Program Banks, not Wealthfront, is not provided until the funds arrive at the Program Banks. While funds are at Wealthfront Brokerage, and while they are transitioning to and/or from Wealthfront Brokerage to the Program Banks, the funds are eligible for SIPC protection up to the $250,000 limit for cash.
FDIC insurance is limited to $250,000 per customer, per bank, regardless of whether those deposits are placed through Wealthfront Brokerage. You are responsible for monitoring your total deposits at each Program Bank to stay within FDIC limits. Wealthfront works with multiple Program Banks to make available up to $8 million ($16 million for joint accounts) of pass-through FDIC coverage for your cash deposits. For more info on FDIC insurance coverage, visit www.FDIC.gov.
Same-day withdrawal or instant payment transfers may be limited by destination institutions, daily transaction caps, and by participating entities such as Wells Fargo, the RTP® Network, and FedNow® Service. New Cash Account deposits are subject to a 2-4 day holding period before becoming available for transfer. Fees & Eligibility requirements may apply to certain checking features. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Securities investments are not bank deposits, bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value. Product images are for illustrative purposes and do not reflect individual experiences, account balances, or performance.
What if productivity is making happiness harder? Ian Bogost explains why gratification — a refreshing spin on mindfulness that’s about delighting in the sensory world — slow living, and simple pleasures unlock contentment.
Chapters:
(00:00) Introduction
(03:26) The Feeling We Mistake for Happiness
(11:43) The Price We Pay for Convenience
(16:32) Stop Optimizing Your Life
(26:51) The Case for Less Automatic Life
(35:38) The Sensory Upgrade Your Life Needs
(45:48) The Missing Ingredient in a Good Workday
(50:23) How to Feel More Alive at Work
(57:51) The False Promise of Workplace Efficiency
(01:00:59) Stop Turning Your Hobbies Into Side Hustles
(01:06:48) The Art of Lingering a Little Longer
Ian Bogost is the author of The Small Stuff: How to Lead a More Gratifying Life. A contributing writer at The Atlantic and a professor at Washington University in St. Louis, Ian writes about technology, culture, games, design, and everyday life. In The Small Stuff, he explores how modern convenience has disconnected us from the physical world and why ordinary sensory moments can help us live more gratifying lives.
🔗 SPONSORED BY:
Granola — The AI notepad with notes, actions, and memory, and no annoying meeting bots. Try it totally free for three months at granola.ai/idea
Northwest Registered Agent — Launch and grow your business with nearly 30 years of expertise behind you at northwestregisteredagent.com/nbifree
Upwork — Find freelancers for any project. Visitupwork.com right now and post your job for free
Wealthfront — Earn up to 4.30% APY with Wealthfront’s high-yield cash account for a limited time: wealthfront.com/nbi This experience may not be representative of other Wealthfront clients, and there is no guarantee of future performance or success. Experiences will vary. The host of The Next Big Idea, Caleb Bissinger (“Media Partner”), is a client of Wealthfront. The Media Partner receives cash compensation from Wealthfront Brokerage for this paid endorsement placed in their podcast, creating a conflict of interest. More details available via the referral link. The Direct Deposit Plus Investing Program from Wealthfront Advisers LLC and Wealthfront Brokerage LLC provides eligible clients a 0.25% APY increase above the base APY on eligible Cash Account balances (up to an overall boosted rate of 4.30% for a limited time when including the three month 0.75% APY boost for new clients) when you direct deposit $1,000 a month, plus open, fund, and maintain an investing account. Wealthfront may change or end the program at any time and determine eligibility at its discretion. Terms apply. Full details at wealthfront.com/promo-terms.
The Cash Account, which is not a deposit account, is offered by Wealthfront Brokerage LLC ("Wealthfront Brokerage"), Member FINRA/SIPC. Wealthfront Brokerage is not a bank. The Annual Percentage Yield ("APY") on cash deposits as of January 30, 2026, is representative, requires no minimum, and may change at any time. References to the APY for the Wealthfront Cash Account, including any APY increase, are to the APY paid by insured depository institutions that participate in our cash sweep program (the "Program Banks”). Wealthfront Brokerage does not pay interest. Funds in the Cash Account are swept to Program Banks where they earn a variable APY and are eligible for FDIC insurance. Conditions apply. For a list of Program Banks, see: wealthfront.com/programbanks. FDIC pass-through insurance, which protects against the failure of Program Banks, not Wealthfront, is not provided until the funds arrive at the Program Banks. While funds are at Wealthfront Brokerage, and while they are transitioning to and/or from Wealthfront Brokerage to the Program Banks, the funds are eligible for SIPC protection up to the $250,000 limit for cash.
FDIC insurance is limited to $250,000 per customer, per bank, regardless of whether those deposits are placed through Wealthfront Brokerage. You are responsible for monitoring your total deposits at each Program Bank to stay within FDIC limits. Wealthfront works with multiple Program Banks to make available up to $8 million ($16 million for joint accounts) of pass-through FDIC coverage for your cash deposits. For more info on FDIC insurance coverage, visit www.FDIC.gov.
Same-day withdrawal or instant payment transfers may be limited by destination institutions, daily transaction caps, and by participating entities such as Wells Fargo, the RTP® Network, and FedNow® Service. New Cash Account deposits are subject to a 2-4 day holding period before becoming available for transfer. Fees & Eligibility requirements may apply to certain checking features. Investing involves risk, including the possible loss of principal. Securities investments are not bank deposits, bank-guaranteed or FDIC-insured, and may lose value. Product images are for illustrative purposes and do not reflect individual experiences, account balances, or performance.
