← Previous · All Episodes
The Revenge of the Real with Amber Case Episode 17

The Revenge of the Real with Amber Case

· 01:28:57

|
Amber Case reflects on where you live and how returning to a familiar place can help think clearer. Case discusses seeking authentic, small-scale community, work nights, recess-like breaks, welcoming rituals, and mutual support. She contrasts these with expensive, scalable “community” models and argues effective communities rely on kindness, simplicity, history, and durable governance patterns. She connects this to “revenge of the real,” emphasizing tactile cognition, constraints, long-term thinking, and calm technology principles.

Topics discussed:
  • (00:00) - Morning Excitement Check
  • (00:42) - Hot Wheels New York
  • (01:46) - Secret Summer Chateau
  • (03:01) - Dopamine Defragging
  • (04:09) - Why Denver Feels Right
  • (07:37) - Growth And Change
  • (10:43) - Finding Real Community
  • (12:23) - The Company Work Nights
  • (15:44) - Against Scaled Clubs
  • (19:23) - Designing Durable Groups
  • (32:10) - Why People Dont Join
  • (40:31) - History Analog Wisdom
  • (46:00) - Unmoored Digital Life
  • (48:13) - AI Effort Paradox
  • (49:11) - Tactile Work Matters
  • (50:16) - Constraints Create Meaning
  • (51:17) - Handwriting And Cognition
  • (52:42) - Farm Fantasy Reality
  • (57:27) - Arts Therapy Embodiment
  • (59:33) - Multisensory Education
  • (01:00:57) - Long Term Craft Economy
  • (01:07:06) - Local Repair Culture
  • (01:10:37) - Universals Of Design
  • (01:12:42) - Collaboration Conference Idea
  • (01:14:33) - Against Main Character Metrics
  • (01:16:48) - Buzzwords Get Commodified
  • (01:19:24) - Calm Tech Certification
  • (01:22:55) - Human Breaks And Texture
  • (01:25:09) - Wrap Up And Music Pick
  • (01:28:00) - Final Thanks And Goodbye
  • (01:28:43) - Morning Excitement Check

Links & Resources

View episode transcript


Creators and Guests

Brad Frost
Host
Brad Frost
Creator, web designer & developer, teacher, consultant, speaker, writer, musician, & artist. Author of Atomic Design. Enthusiasm enthusiast.
Amber Case
Guest
Amber Case
Amber Case is an internationally recognized design advocate and speaker, and the author of four books, including Calm Technology and A Kids Book About Technology. She spent two years as a fellow at MIT’s Center for Civic Media and Harvard’s Berkman Klein Center for Internet & Society and was a 2021 Mozilla Fellow.

Subscribe

Listen to Wake Up Excited! using one of many popular podcasting apps or directories.

Apple Podcasts Spotify Overcast Pocket Casts Amazon Music YouTube
← Previous · All Episodes