The Terrifying Truth About The Device In Your Pocket

In our 100th (!) Kosher Money episode, we sit down with Richard Simon, a man who decided to go offline for an entire year. What he found out might change the way you look at your phone forever. Our devices promised to make life easier and more connected, but for many of us, they’ve done the opposite. They’ve made us anxious, distracted, and always “on.” Richard, author of the book Unplug, explains how our phones are quietly rewiring our brains, stealing our focus, and shaping our lives in ways we don’t even notice. (It's sickening.) He breaks down what constant scrolling does to our minds, why it’s so hard to stop, and how it affects the way we work, learn, and even pray. You’ll also hear real stories of people who found more success and peace once they started living with fewer distractions. One baseball player ditched his smartphone and ended up performing better than ever, proving that less screen time can actually lead to more wins (and more success). If you’ve ever felt like your phone controls you, this conversation will hit close to home. It’s honest, eye-opening, and maybe the push we all need to take back our time and our attention. Watch it, think about it, and maybe even try to unplug for a bit. Get the book: https://amzn.to/4naAcPc Contact: author@richard-simon.com ✬ SPONSORS OF EPISODE 100 ✬ ► BITBEAN – Got big ideas but clunky systems holding you back? BitBean is the go-to team for custom software that actually works for your business. Whether you're in healthcare, finance, or retail, they’ve built powerful platforms that scale smart. Dive into real case studies and connect with their expert team here: https://bitbean.link/4edg53 ► TWILLORY – Premium men's wear that works hard and looks even better. Use promo code CHAI20 at https://Twillory.com/KosherMoney for 20% off your first order. Enjoy! ► MONEY HALACHA – Real people have real money questions and Money Halacha has real Torah answers. Whether it’s a deal at work, an Amazon+Shabbos question, or just figuring out what’s “okay” in day-to-day business, you don’t have to guess. Get short, practical 1–4 minute halacha clips via WhatsApp: https://MoneyHalacha.com/Join ► COLEL CHABAD – Our brothers and sisters in Israel need us more than ever. Every dollar makes a difference at https://colelchabad.org/koshermoney so please give what you can. Thank You! CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 01:29 The Moment Richard Realized He Was in Control 03:23 People’s Outrageous Screen Time 03:50 Forgetting What Life Was Like Before Phones 04:49 What Happens to Our Brains When We Use Our Phones 06:00 How Richard’s Smartphone Affected His Career 07:09 Attention Residue 11:09 You CAN Be More Focused 12:33 This MLB Player’s Big Decision 16:50 Why Get Rid of Your Phone Completely? 20:30 BitBean – Bringing Your Big Ideas to Life 21:23 Twillory – Look Good and Feel Good 22:48 Letting Go of Technology Frees Your Mind 28:00 How to Break Up With Your Phone 33:35 The Awareness of Phone Addiction 35:27 The Challenge of Giving Up His Smartphone 37:15 What Richard Used Instead of His Apps 39:05 How His Wife Was Influenced 39:53 Should We Give Our Children Smartphones? 47:02 Girls vs. Boys – Conversations and Smartphones 47:46 Money Halacha – Weekly Halacha Clips 49:06 Colel Chabad – Feeding Thousands of Families 50:21 How the Corporate World Is Unplugging 52:10 The Different Smartphone Breakup Styles 53:40 Addiction vs. Self-Control 54:19 Saving Money by Going Phone-Less 55:05 What Richard Did With His New Free Time 57:20 Quietness Leads to the Best Results 59:42 Why People Struggle to Let Go of Their Phones 1:00:01 The First Step to a Healthier Relationship With Your Phone 1:04:55 The Pros and Cons of ChatGPT 1:07:40 What Richard Would Tell His Younger Self 1:08:22 How He Helps People Work on Their Phone Addiction 1:10:31 Ways to Make Using Your Phone Less Tempting 1:12:38 Richard’s Must-Have Book 1:13:27 How to Contact Richard 1:13:38 Why Richard Doesn’t Have Social Media 1:15:02 Richard’s Next Book? + Recs 1:16:39 Outro: Contest & New Winner ✬ Support the show! Help us create more episodes like this: https://www.livinglchaim.com/donate 💬 Need financial clarity? Visit LivingSmarterJewish.org for free resources. 📲 Follow Kosher Money for bonus clips: TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@koshermoneypod Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/koshermoneypod 📞 Call-In-To-Listen Hotline: USA: 605-477-2100 | UK: 0333-366-0154 | Israel: 079-579-5088 📤 WhatsApp feedback: 1-914-222-5513 ⚠️ Reminder: This episode or description is not financial advice. Always do your own research. #DigitalDetox #PhoneAddiction #FocusAndSuccess #ProductivityTips #AttentionEconomy #MindfulLiving #DeepWork #SelfImprovement #KosherMoney #LivingLchaim #JewishPodcast #JewishFinance #MoneyMatters #FinancialFreedom #PersonalGrowth #SuccessHabits #TimeManagement #MentalClarity #WorkLifeBalance #KM #DiaryOfACEO #UnpluggedLife #DigitalMinimalism #RichardSimon #SmartphoneAddiction