In this darkly hilarious short story from the collection "Influenced," we follow Augustine Hall, a digital wellness guru who charges wealthy clients £8,500 for "Radical Disconnection Therapy" while secretly maintaining six backup phones to feed his own social media addiction. When his devices mysteriously stop working during a retreat, Augustine's carefully constructed facade begins to crumble in spectacular fashion.

Listen as we explore the ultimate irony of our digital age: the influencer who built an empire teaching digital detox while being utterly unable to disconnect himself.

Key Themes Explored

Digital addiction and hypocrisy - The gap between what we preach and what we practice online

Wellness industry fraud - How authentic healing gets commodified and performed

Social media dependency - The psychological withdrawal of digital validation

Authentic vs. performed spirituality - The difference between genuine growth and Instagram aesthetics

Class and privilege in wellness culture - Who can afford to "disconnect" and what that really means

Story Highlights

Augustine's six hidden backup phones strategically placed around his manor

The £295 meditation cushion with discount code AUTHENTIC20

His complete meltdown when forced to experience actual digital detox

The brilliant reveal of who sabotaged his devices and why

His journey from fake guru to genuine recovery

Perfect For Listeners Who Enjoy

Black Mirror-style tech satire

Wellness industry exposés

Dark comedy about modern life

Stories about digital addiction

Ironic character studies

Discussion Questions

How do we distinguish between authentic and performed wellness?

What drives our need for constant digital validation?

Can someone truly help others with problems they haven't solved themselves?

How has social media changed the nature of spirituality and self-help?

Related Content

This story is part of "Influenced," a collection examining humanity's complex relationship with digital technology and social media. Other stories explore online dating algorithms, content moderation trauma, and digital conspiracy theories.

Keywords

digital detox, wellness fraud, social media addiction, influencer culture, digital wellness, tech satire, modern spirituality, authentic healing, digital dependency, wellness industry, mindfulness comedy, social media withdrawal

Content Warnings

Mild language, depictions of anxiety and digital addiction, satirical treatment of wellness culture

Subscribe for more literary fiction exploring our digital age. Available on all major podcast platforms.

#DigitalDetox #WellnessFraud #TechSatire #InfluencerCulture #DigitalAddiction #ModernFiction #LiteraryPodcast #SocialMediaSatire

A Shared Moment

In this thought-provoking episode of Speculative Fiction Tales, Jon Cronshaw paints a chilling portrait of a society where privacy has become extinct and constant digital performance has replaced authentic human connection.

"A Shared Moment" follows Amelia, a woman whose "InstaLife rating" of 7.2 marks her as unremarkable in a world where every emotion, interaction, and experience is expected to be publicly shared and rated. When Amelia makes the radical decision to activate "Privacy Mode"—permanently removing herself from the digital ecosystem—she discovers both the profound isolation and unexpected freedom that comes with becoming invisible to a society that can only see what's being recorded.

Through Amelia's journey, Cronshaw masterfully explores the consequences of a culture obsessed with performative vulnerability and the quiet revolution of those who choose to exist beyond the algorithm's reach.

Themes & Topics

• The commodification of human emotion and experience

• Social media metrics as the new social hierarchy

• The performance of authenticity versus genuine connection

• Digital visibility as a prerequisite for societal participation

• The profound isolation of opting out of surveillance capitalism

• Finding real connection in an increasingly artificial world

About the Author

Jon Cronshaw crafts speculative fiction that examines our increasingly complex relationship with technology. His stories often explore the unintended consequences of digital innovations that promise connection but may ultimately transform what it means to be human.

Support the Show

If you enjoyed this story, please consider supporting Jon Cronshaw by becoming a patron. Your support helps bring these stories to life and gives you early access to audio stories plus exclusive text versions of every episode.

Visit patreon.com/joncronshawauthor to learn more.

Keywords

Social media dystopia, digital privacy, authenticity, surveillance capitalism, constant performance, rating economy, digital invisibility, speculative fiction, Jon Cronshaw, near-future technology, social metrics, human connection

In this episode of Speculative Fiction Tales, Jon Cronshaw delivers a modern morality tale about digital justice, hypocrisy, and the dangerous game of public moral arbitration.

"Cancel Culture Club" introduces us to Brandon Kane, the charismatic host of "Call-Out Club," a wildly successful livestream dedicated to exposing the hypocrisy and misdeeds of public figures. As Brandon systematically dismantles the career of an environmental activist with a secret carbon footprint, he's at the peak of his influence—feared, respected, and completely unaware that his own digital past is about to catch up with him.

Themes & Topics

• Digital accountability and its double-edged nature

• The performance of moral outrage as entertainment

• The permanence of our digital footprints

• Public punishment versus genuine accountability

• The business model of cancellation

• The thin line between justice and revenge

Listener Discretion

This episode contains references to offensive online behaviour and explores complex ethical questions about public shaming that some listeners may find uncomfortable.

About the Author

Jon Cronshaw crafts speculative fiction that examines contemporary digital culture with unflinching clarity. His stories often probe the moral complexities of online life and the psychological impact of social media on both individuals and society at large.

Support the Show

If you enjoyed this story, please consider supporting Jon Cronshaw by becoming a patron. Your support helps bring these stories to life and gives you early access to audio stories plus exclusive text versions of every episode. Visit patreon.com/joncronshawauthor to learn more.

Keywords

Cancel culture, social media, digital accountability, online influence, call-out culture, internet justice, digital footprint, Jon Cronshaw, contemporary fiction, moral hypocrisy, internet fame, digital consequences