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Experience.Computer

Experience.Computer

By: Jay Springett
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Summary

 Experience.Computer is slow radio about high tech. A podcast about aphantasia, creativity, and the imagination.

experience.computerJay Springett Art Philosophy Social Sciences
Episodes
  • Marco Giancotti

    Marco Giancotti
    Mar 17 2026
    IN THIS INTERVIEWHost Jay Springett and guest Marco Giancotti explore aphantasia, SDAM, and spatial memory. They discuss writing as thinking, cognitive frameworks, and why looking at a picture of a sour plum (Umeboshi) doesn't make everyone's mouth water.Then they discuss:Aphantasia: Navigating spatial presence without a "mind's eye." • SDAM: Living without the ability to "re-live" past personal memories. • The "Swoosh": Using mental maps to trigger sudden cascades of information. • Digital Reality: Why browser windows feel as "real" as physical books. • Thinking Tools: Using "Framing" and "Virtual Physics" as cognitive rule sets. • Culture & Code: How Japan's cultural framings change the "feel" of apps like Line.A huge thank you to Marco for responding to my Bluesky DM after I spent an afternoon and evening binge-reading his fantastic blog Aether Mug. Which is definitely not about science, philosophy, philosophers, languages, Japan, or picture frames, or boxes, (though you'd be forgiven for thinking otherwise).QUOTES“ I tried but no image no picture appeared in my mind.”“My perception of what I feel that is happening, is that there’s a separation between this the actual sensory information, and how you accept it and how you internalise it ”*During COVID, I was flying and I went to Italy and then flew back to Japan. We had to take a test to see if we were infected, and basically, we had to spit in a little vial. There was this little cabin or space where you could spend a few minutes producing your saliva. In each of these little cubicles, they put a picture of Umeboshi. Which is a kind of dried peach—extremely sour. For most people, just looking at it is enough for them to produce a lot of saliva, so it makes it easy for them to spit into the vial. For me, it didn’t do anything at all.”“I have this definition of framings as the things that you take to exist in a certain thought. Because you cannot think about the whole world and everything that you know about the world at any given moment, you have to focus on a few things depending on what you're trying to do.”ABOUT THE GUESTMarco Giancotti is a thinking-tool artisan, writer, and engineer.He is the author of Plankton Valhalla, a collection of deep essays about the Universe, and Aether Mug, his blog about cognition, science, culture, philosophy, and other mysterious things like that. He lives in Japan and has aphantasia, just like Jay.IN YOUR MINDHas this interview sparked any thoughts or questions about your own mind’s eye, creative process, or inner experience? I’d love to hear your insights! Share your reflections in the comments below or on social media!If you have ideas for guests you would like to hear from in the next season, add your suggestions in the comments; or share this episode and tag them in Substack Notes.Your recommendations will help guide the conversations that follow.LINKS* Aether Mug* Plankton Valhalla* Follow Marco on BskySubscribe to Experience.Computer* Apple Podcasts* Spotify* PocketcastsPermanently Moved - Episode #302 - Monsters In The MirrorWhat are large language models really? On AI, Language, and the new entities that wear language as their skin.* Monsters In The MirrorABOUT THE SHOWIn 2022 writer and host Jay Springett discovered he had aphantasia - the inability to voluntarily create mental images in one’s mind. For 36 years he thought ‘picture this’ was a metaphor.Experience.Computer is slow radio about high tech. An interview show exploring perception, experience and expression. The show examines how people perceive the world, and how they work with the creative tools they use to make their work with.ABOUT THE HOSTJay Springett is a strategist, producer, and cultural theorist. His professional work focuses on how worlds of all kinds are run; shaped, steered, and kept coherent over time. He has hosted the personal essay podcast Permanently Moved since 2018, and Experience.Computer since 2023.Jay is currently working on his first book ‘Slop Machines of Loving Grace‘ and writes online at thejaymo.net This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit experience.computer
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    1 hr and 15 mins
  • Katherine Dee

    Katherine Dee
    Sep 15 2025

    Experience.Computer is a slow-radio programme exploring aphantasia, creativity, and the imagination.

    IN THIS INTERVIEW

    Jay Springett leads internet culture reporter and ethnographer Katherine Dee through a series of imaginative exercises.

    Then they discuss:

    * Early Internet experiences

    * The weight of words in software programs

    * The feeling of being inside/outside online communities

    *  The need for experiencing silence and boredom

    Big thanks to Katherine for coming on the show! She actually came down with something right after we finished recording.

    QUOTES

    “I’ve given so much of myself to the internet. I tasted the fairy food, and I am returning to a mortal world that is different than the one I left.”

    “When I hit publish, it feels separate from me. It feels like it’s not mine anymore.”

    *“I’ve always been a big proponent of the internet as a place. Especially in the early days, there was a sense that you were going somewhere.”

    “Silence is so valuable. Just a few moments a day where you’re not scrolling TikTok or looking at your phone changes how you think.”

    ABOUT THE GUEST

    KATHERINE DEE (also known by her pen name; Default Friend) is a internet culture reporter and ethnographer. You can find her work on Substack at Default.Blog.

    IN YOUR MIND

    Has this interview sparked any thoughts or questions about your own mind's eye, creative process, or inner experience? I'd love to hear your insights! Share your reflections in the comments below or on social media!

    If you have ideas for guests you would like to hear from in the next season, add your suggestions in the comments; or share this episode and tag them in Substack Notes.

    Your recommendations will help guide the conversations that follow.

    LINKS

    * Default.Blog

    * Follow Kathrine on X

    * Follow Kathrine on Bsky

    Subscribe to Experience.Computer

    * Apple Podcasts

    * Spotify

    * Pocketcasts

    ABOUT THE SHOW

    In 2022 writer and host Jay Springett discovered he had aphantasia - the inability to voluntarily create mental images in one's mind. For 36 years he thought 'picture this' was a metaphor.

    Experience.Computer is slow radio about high tech. An interview show exploring perception, experience and expression. The show examines how people perceive the world, and how they work with the creative tools they use to make their work with.

    ABOUT THE HOST

    Jay Springett is a strategist and writer. His work focuses on the design, administration and flourishing of worlds of all kinds He has hosted the personal essay podcast Permanently Moved since 2018, and Experience.Computer since 2023.

    Jay is currently working on his first book ‘The Web Was a Side Quest‘ and writes online at thejaymo.net



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit experience.computer
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Jenn de la Vega

    Jenn de la Vega
    Jul 1 2025

    Experience.Computer is a slow-radio programme exploring aphantasia, creativity, and the imagination.

    After an unplanned pause, Experience.Computer will back in production for Season 3! If you have ideas for guests you would like to hear from in the next season, add your suggestions in the comments; or share this episode and tag them in Substack Notes.

    Your recommendations will help guide the conversations that follow.

    IN THIS INTERVIEW

    Jay Springett leads cookbook writer and community-oriented caterer Jenn de la Vega through a series of imaginative exercises.

    Then they discuss:

    * Imagining the audience of a cookbook cooking

    * Scaling recipes for large events

    * Impact of organisation of the space of kitchen on the process of cooking

    * Traditional versus intuitive cooking methods

    * Social media's influence on food media and marketing

    QUOTES

    "I think creating food is like a song. Songs also need balance. They have melody, rhythm, tempo, and timbre."

    "I'm interested in how you approach scaling up dishes. The math doesn't always add up."

    "I have a rolling chopping block cart... I can wheel it anywhere!"

    "I think we need a break. I think we all need a vacation from our devices."

    ABOUT THE GUEST

    JENN DE LA VEGA is a community-oriented caterer and cookbook writer based in Brooklyn, NY. Jenn has built a unique culinary practice mashing up experiential with visual art and food through residencies at TASTE Cooking, Babycastles Gallery, and Kickstarter. Her kaleidoscopic recipes appear on Food52, The Kitchn, Yummly, and Wine Enthusiast. You'll find a mash-up of her Filipinx heritage, tapas, artisanal cheese, and 90's inspired fast-food cuisine on her menus. She is most known for her Randwiches or "random sandwiches" and founding the gourmet hot dog program at Wonderville, an indie game art-cade bar in Bushwick.

    IN YOUR MIND

    Has this interview sparked any thoughts or questions about your own mind's eye, creative process, or inner experience? I'd love to hear your insights! Share your reflections in the comments below or on social media!

    LINKS

    * Jenn’s Website

    * Follow Jenn on Instagram

    * Jenn’s Cookbooks

    Subscribe to Experience.Computer

    * Apple Podcasts

    * Spotify

    * Pocketcasts

    ABOUT THE SHOW

    In 2022 writer and host Jay Springett discovered he had aphantasia - the inability to voluntarily create mental images in one's mind. For 36 years he thought 'picture this' was a metaphor.

    Experience.Computer is slow radio about high tech. An interview show exploring perception, experience and expression. The show examines how people perceive the world, and how they work with the creative tools they use to make their work with.

    ABOUT THE HOST

    Jay Springett is a strategist and writer. His work focuses on the design, administration and flourishing of worlds of all kinds He has hosted the personal essay podcast Permanently Moved since 2018, and Experience.Computer since 2023.

    Jay is currently working on his first book ‘The Web Was a Side Quest‘ and writes online at thejaymo.net



    This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit experience.computer
    Show More Show Less
    1 hr and 35 mins
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