The Problem With Dopamine: TJ Power
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Neuroscientist TJ Power joins James Smith to expose what social media, smartphones, and endless screen time are doing to our brains. From dopamine burnout to digital addiction, he explains how technology hijacks motivation, focus, and happiness - and what we can actually do to fix it.
TJ, who left academia after seeing the mental health crisis up close, breaks down how constant stimulation from phones, porn and social media rewires the brain’s reward system. He reveals the science behind low mood, lost confidence, and why so many people feel “flat” despite having more comfort and convenience than ever before.
He explains:
◼️ How dopamine addiction quietly kills motivation
◼️ Why boredom is the key to rebuilding focus
◼️ The neuroscience of porn, pleasure, and productivity
◼️ Why young people are more anxious, distracted, and disconnected
◼️ Practical steps to reset your brain and regain control
Timestamps:
00:00 – The Problem With Spending Time on Screens
01:28 – What is Dopamine and Why Do We Crave It?
03:48 – The Four Brain Chemicals: Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin, Endorphins
07:09 – Gaming vs Scrolling: Active vs Passive Dopamine
10:08 – Video Games as Life Training
12:23 – Hunter Brain vs Farmer Brain
13:24 – The Trap of Productive Addiction
15:12 – The Man at the Train Station Doing Nothing
18:10 – Four Weeks Without TV or Content
21:23 – Evening Scrolling: Sacred Time or Mental Drain?
24:21 – The UK Safety Act and Porn Age Verification
28:09 – The Million Dollar Scrolling Hypothetical
32:56 – Dating Apps, Height Requirements & Modern Standards
36:33 – Seven Days Without Porn Challenge
40:18 – The Utility of Not Wanking Before a Date
43:46 – Should There Be Hard Blocks on Porn Access?
48:52 – Porn's Impact on First-Time Sexual Expectations
53:05 – Alcohol, Socialising & Why Young People Aren't Drinking
58:43 – The Two-Day Phone Detox in Melbourne
1:02:44 – Small Daily Detoxes vs Big Detoxes
1:06:34 – Why Jiu-Jitsu Hits All Four Brain Chemicals
1:10:12 – Four Plants That Need Watering: Practical Advice
1:15:46 – Escaping Reality Through Screens
1:19:28 – Relationships: When Your Partner Won't Change
1:24:30 – Falling in Love With AI
1:28:03 – Producer vs Consumer Dopamine Addiction
1:34:00 – The Purpose of Having Kids
1:35:31 – The Creator's Confession: Dopamine Hypocrisy
1:39:04 – Mental Health Crash After Bad Post Performance
1:43:48 – Living Without Knowing Your Bank Balance
1:48:50 – Closing Challenge: One Screen-Free Evening
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