In 2012, Jerry joined the video game company Riot Games as their Chief HR Officer. During his time there, the company grew tremendously, and so did the video game industry as a whole. Jerry observed as video game companies went from creating fun products to addicting products. He saw the ways in which games evolved from being enjoyable pastimes into monetization machines.

After witnessing the effects of technology on society and mental health, Jerry decided to become a licensed therapist to make a meaningful impact on his community. Jerry warns against ignorance over the potential of AI and how to properly engage with AI. We discuss the somber reality of companies choosing profits over ethical practices and how we can counteract those negative affects through simple community gatherings - maybe even a game of Dungeons & Dragons.

Topics we cover:

• Evolution of the video game industry
• Profit vs. Ethics
• Social media and technology bans in China and Australia
• Becoming a licensed mental health counselor
• Board games and roleplaying games
• Technology free spaces
• Using AI wisely

Jerry's AI consulting services for small businesses: Strategy & The Machine

References:

• Jonathan Haidt's book The Anxious Generation (a book about technology and its affects on Gen Z's mental health)
• Tristan Harris' nonprofit: Center for Humane Technology

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Follow this podcast on Instagram: @iusedtothinkpodcast

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iusedtothinkpodcast

Memphis, Tennessee is often considered the focal point for Christian Nationalism and conservative evangelicalism. My guest, Mark Hackett, grew up in this environment and refers to it as "white American evangelicalism." In our conversation, we discuss the characteristics of this type of Christianity and how it is unique to the South.

According to Mark, the moralism, patriarchy, and strict authoritarian structures found in white American evangelicalism are not aligned with the Gospel and true Christianity. Mark shares candidly about how him and his family painfully left their church due to corruption and toxic political discourse.

Mark shares how authentic Christianity is less about the afterlife and more about following the pattern that Jesus presents for how we live our lives and interact with others.

Sign up for Mark's newsletter: https://www.markhackett.com/newsletter

Check out Mark's website: https://www.markhackett.com/about-me

Mark's Article about his story: https://www.markhackett.com/writings/escaping-white-american-evangelicalism

References:

• Jesus and John Wayne by Kristin Du Mez
• The Flag and the Cross by Philip Gorski

Things we discuss:

• Church culture in the South compared to California
• Tolkien
• What is Christian Nationalism?
• Individualism in the church
• The effects of Trumpism in Southern churches
• Church abuse and corruption
• Searching for a new church
• What is true Christianity? What is the Gospel?
• Why Mark shares his story via blogging and podcasting

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Follow on Instagram: @iusedtothinkpodcast

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iusedtothinkpodcast

Pat talks about why he started the podcast, the importance of storytelling, deconstructing Christian fundamentalist faith, and what people should know about Gen-Z.

Learn more about the Weave project: https://weavers.org/

Join the Weaving Us community: https://weaving.us/

We discuss:

• Growing up fundamentalist Christian
• Faithful storytelling
• Being quick to learn and not to judge
• What others should know about Gen-Z
• Gen-Z's cultural and economic context

Contact Pat: PATRICKTLEE7@GMAIL.COM

New Substack for the podcast! https://iusedtothink.substack.com/p/what-i-used-to-think-recovering-from?r=ljh57

Follow on Instagram: @iusedtothinkpodcast

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@iusedtothinkpodcast