ARTWORK
Andromeda Freed by Perseus (c. 1515)
Piero di Cosimo, Uffizi Gallery, Public Domain
Never trust anything that can think for itself if you can’t see where it keeps its brain.
J.K. Rowling | Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets
THE BIRTH OF DUMBPHONE PETE
Deprogramming Coach & Comedian
In 2017 at a comedy show in New York City, I made a joke about artificial intelligence taking all of our jobs with the exception of stand up comedians. I assures you: “It was a joke, and of course, that would never happen!” In 2025, I was asked to resign from my job in communications for suggesting a community social media fast while speaking up about the oppressive nature of certain digital technologies (I wasn’t talking about your grandfather’s digital alarm clock.) With this as the inciting incident, out of the ashes Dumbphone Pete was born.
I live in Austin, Texas with my wife and two kids. I hold a degree in Advertising from Michigan State University’s College of Communication Arts & Sciences and completed a two year course and further study on contemplative prayer and spirituality at the Living School and Center for Action & Contemplation in New Mexico. I enjoy telling the truth with humor (whether people want it or not) by way of Comedy, Public Speaking and Podcasting. Having undergone a significant transformation in my own relationship to digital technology (and reality) over the past five years, I am enthusiastic about empowering others to do the same.
WHERE WE ARE NOW
Over the past several decades our world has undergone an undeniable transformation in relation to digital technology.
With the rise of the ubiquitous use of smartphones, social media and rapid digitalization of school and work routines, most of us are clocking more screen time than ever, whether we want to or not. If digital technology were an utterly harmless medium, maybe these changes would not matter so much, but we are seeing an increase in mental health problems, addiction, and social consequences caused by the increase in screen time. It is becoming increasingly more important for everyone to navigate the digital landscape with discernment and caution. Though these cultural and societal changes affect us all, we still believe that the choices of each individual are what will ultimately shape our collective future, and perhaps more importantly, every person’s individual purpose and destiny.
THE MISSION
We are on a mission to empower people to heal from the wounds of digital nihilism and restore meaning to their lives, humanity, and the real world.
With the art of comedy we will share the unpopular truth and restore digital technology to its rightful place as a tool for humanity. We will empower people to skillfully and consciously navigate the ever-changing digital landscape as we work to reverse the effects of digitalization and return our attention and restore meaning to our real world by reinvesting in real experiences and reestablishing in-person communities as the original social network.