THE BIRTH OF DUMBPHONE PETE

Deprogramming Coach & Comedian

In 2017 at a comedy show in New York City, Pete made a joke about artificial intelligence taking all of our jobs with the exception of stand up comedians. Pete assures us: “It was a joke, and of course, that would never happen!” In 2025, Pete was asked to resign from his job in communications for suggesting a community social media fast while speaking up about the oppressive nature of certain digital technologies (we’re not talking about your grandfather’s digital alarm clock.) With this as the inciting incident, out of the ashes Dumbphone Pete was born.

Pete lives in Austin, Texas with his wife and two kids. He holds 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. Pete enjoys telling the truth with humor (whether people want it or not) by way of Comedy, Public Speaking and Podcasting. Having undergone a significant transformation of his own relationship to digital technology (and reality) over the past five years, Pete is enthusiastic about empowering others to do the same.