When the Phone Becomes the Distraction
Theresa Hubbard and Walker Bird
“It’s become my little buddy — so I’m not ever alone.”
In this conversation, Theresa and Walker explore what happened when they chose to take their phones out of the bedroom — a small shift that opened a much deeper look at rest, presence, intimacy, and the ways technology quietly becomes a stand-in for connection.
They share the early discomfort of letting go, the anxiety that surfaced, and the habits they hadn’t fully noticed until the phone wasn’t beside them anymore. What began as a short experiment became an invitation to slow down, feel their bodies again, and notice how quickly distraction fills the space where vulnerability, curiosity, and closeness want to live.
They talk about sleep, nervous system patterns, nighttime rituals, and the moments of tenderness that reappeared when their phones were no longer the last thing they reached for. This episode offers a warm, grounded reflection on how everyday choices shape our inner world, our relationships, and the way we show up for ourselves.
What you’ll learn
→ Why reducing phone use before bed shifted their sleep and sense of calm
→ How distraction becomes a substitute for connection and comfort
→ Why awareness matters more than willpower when changing habits
→ How small experiments create space for rest, presence, and intimacy
→ What this shift revealed about their nervous systems, patterns, and needs
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Episode Chapters
00:00 Welcome + revisiting the phone experiment
01:10 What prompted the change
02:30 Early resistance + noticing attachment
04:00 Sleep, rest, and the nervous system
06:00 Intimacy, presence, and nighttime rituals
09:00 Distraction vs. connection
12:00 Awareness, choice, and new habits
15:30 Curiosity, honesty, and what shifted
18:00 Holiday stress + setting boundaries with family
24:00 Closing reflections + what they’re choosing now
Topics we explore in this episode include:
phone habits and nervous system awareness, intimacy and presence, self-awareness, slowing down, emotional patterns, grounding practices, connection vs. distraction, curiosity in relationships, personal growth, everyday rituals