52: It’s Not You, It’s the Algorithm: Reclaim Your Attention Now | MaryLou Kayser

What happens when our attention, choices, and sense of self are shaped—not by conscious intention—but by invisible digital forces? In this eye-opening episode of The Learnit Lounge, host Dr. Mickey Fitch-Collins sits down with MaryLou Kayser, author of It’s Not You, It’s the Algorithm, to explore how algorithms are subtly scripting our lives and what it really takes to reclaim our humanity (and sanity) in a world run by screens. From digital burnout to regained presence, MaryLou shares personal stories and provocative insights that challenge leaders to rethink not just their own tech habits, but also how they cultivate attention and meaning at work.

Packed with both caution and hope, this episode offers a roadmap for anyone—leaders, parents, or everyday professionals—seeking to slow their scroll, sharpen their thinking, and choose intentionally in the age of AI.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• Why our “algorithm-shaped” world quietly hijacks your attention (and what to do about it)
• How to strike a disciplined, human-centered balance with tech, without tossing your phone in the river
• The surprising story behind MaryLou’s new book, and why these problems are so universal
• Practical habits for reclaiming focus, creativity, and presence in a distracted landscape
• Why real leadership means admitting you don’t always have the answers, and what you gain when you do
• How to future-proof your thinking, connect with colleagues across generations, and redesign both your inner and outer world for more meaning and less mindless scrolling

Timestamps:

00:01 – Welcome to The Learnit Lounge and episode overview

01:14 – Introducing MaryLou Kayser, and her book

04:05 – The “algorithmic world”: how digital forces shape us

07:29 – Everyday impact: when doom-scrolling takes over

08:42 – The meaning behind “It’s Not You, It’s the Algorithm”

10:42 – Personal accountability vs. blaming the system

13:15 – Real-life moments: phones, attention, and muscle memory

15:07 – Why do we lose attention in the digital world?

18:17 – Tech across generations: the workplace challenge

20:10 – Should we quit tech? Building guardrails instead

23:01 – The AI debate: fear, adaptation, and self-worth

26:22 – MaryLou’s top strategies for regaining focus

32:05 – Biggest leadership lessons MaryLou has learned

34:29 – An uncomfortable truth about leadership development

37:54 – Where to find MaryLou and what’s next

About MaryLou Kayser:

MaryLou Kayser is a writer, producer, podcaster, and educator whose work explores what it means to remain deeply human in an algorithm-shaped world. Her mission: help people recognize when their attention and sense of self are quietly molded by unseen digital forces, so they can reclaim the authorship of their own lives. Drawing on her decades of experience as an educator, entrepreneur, and parent, MaryLou’s signature blend of storytelling and insight delivers both warning and wisdom for anyone trying to navigate (and not get lost in) the future of work and life.

Resources & Mentions:

• It’s Not You, It’s the Algorithm by MaryLou Kayser
• MaryLou Kayser’s website
• MaryLou Kayser on LinkedIn
• MaryLou on Instagram
• Referenced book: The Anxious Generation by Jonathan Haidt
• “Van down by the river” SNL sketch (Chris Farley) YouTube Clip

Podcast Contact Information:

Website: www.learnit.com

Email: podcast@learnit.com

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