R&D WITH D&D
In this episode of R&D with D&D, Denise Howell and Dave Levine welcome law blog pioneer Ernie Svenson for a wide-ranging conversation about technology, trust, and the habits that help us think more clearly in an increasingly distracted world. From legal technology and online communication to political spam, social media bots, Stoic philosophy, and Elon Musk’s evolving influence over digital platforms, Svenson argues that the greatest challenge isn’t technology itself—it’s learning to respond thoughtfully rather than react impulsively. The discussion explores how better thinking, reflection, and intentional communication can help individuals navigate a world shaped by algorithms, automation, and information overload. Although recorded in 2022, the conversation is arguably more current now, as generative AI, social media, and digital communication create new challenges to our ability to build trust, think independently, and separate signal from noise.
“I have a morning practice where I’ve learned — and I’m fortunate to live a life where I can do this — instead of rushing to something, wake up, meditate. Take some time, reflect, journal, get out of your head, whatever thoughts come in, just so you can see them. … Gee, that unconscious place must hold a lot of stuff!” — Ernie Svenson
““If you just sit and observe, you will see how restless your mind is. If you try to calm it, it only makes it worse, but over time it does calm, and when it does, there’s room to hear more subtle things – that’s when your intuition starts to blossom and you start to see things more clearly and be in the present more. Your mind just slows down, and you see a tremendous expanse in the moment. You see so much more than you could see before. It’s a discipline; you have to practice it.” — Walter Isaacson and Steve Jobs
Photo by Steve A Johnson on Unsplash
