Digital Discernment
Hobie Brabson, "The Joy of Missing Out”
Dr. Randa speaks with college student, Hobie Brabson, who gradually stepped away from social media, switched to a minimalist phone, and eventually spent long stretches without carrying a phone at all. Hobie shares how constant exposure to online content fueled comparison, perfectionism, and distraction, and how removing those influences helped him become more present and spiritually attentive. Together they discuss the surprising freedom and joy that come from missing out.
Wednesday, June 24, 2026 35 mins
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About
At the CrossRoad Institute, we have found that youth, young adults, parents, and ministry leaders alike want to curb their constant connection to smartphones & digital media, but they aren’t sure where to start. There’s a sense that the constant deluge of information and entertainment pulls us away from our walk of faith, and it’s hard to stay focused on what’s truly good for souls. Meanwhile, clergy and parish leaders feel like they are fighting for people’s attention amidst a media-saturated world.This podcast focuses on the idea of 'Digital Discernment.' It will offer thoughtful discussions with everyday people who’ve found courageous ways to manage their tech use. We will also share interviews with experts to guide us in our digital discernment. And we’ll be taking the conversation one level up to talk about how parish ministries think about digital discernment for their efforts. We hope to discover how our ancient faith can bring clarity and purpose to our modern digital life–for ourselves, our families, our parishes, and the society around us–for the life of the world.
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