“What Have Smartphones Done to Us?” Yondr Founder on Prof G’s First Time Founders
Yondr founder and CEO Graham Dugoni recently joined Ed Elson for an insightful conversation about reclaiming attention, reshaping our relationship with technology, and building a mission-driven company while maintaining its core values.
What happens when a founder builds a global movement by going against the grain—and the screen?
Graham recently joined Ed Elson on Prof G Media’s First Time Founders podcast for a wide-ranging conversation about technology, presence, and the growing need for intentional phone-free spaces in schools, live events, and everyday life.
About the Podcast:
Scott Galloway, a bestselling author, NYU professor, and entrepreneur, hosts the Prof G Pod. The show combines business insights, cultural commentary, and practical life advice. The First Time Founders series is a monthly feature within The Prof G Pod, hosted by Ed Elson, who conducts candid interviews with entrepreneurs about the realities of building a business from scratch—beyond the headlines and highlight reels.
The conversation is candid, timely, and deeply relevant—as school leaders, legendary artists, and parents grapple with how smartphones are reshaping student behavior, mental well-being, and social connection.
"Critical thinking is not necessarily a native faculty. You have to develop it."
In one of the podcast’s most resonant moments, Graham shares why Yondr has intentionally opted out of tools like AI-generated emails—believing that when you outsource core skills like communication or decision-making, you risk losing the very faculties that shape good judgment.
Highlights from the Episode:
Yondr's journey is more than just a startup story; it challenges conventional views on presence, privacy, and attention. In this episode, Graham provides candid insights and unexpected moments that reveal what it truly takes to create a values-first company:
Why the concept of a phone-free school was nonexistent in 2014—and how Yondr helped ignite that change
The uncomfortable realities of classroom behavior, bullying, and academic outcomes when phones are present
How the fear of being recorded is affecting teenage behavior—leading to avoidance of lunch and skipping school dances
The experience of growing a global company without a smartphone (yes, really)
Why Yondr's mission focuses more on creating spaces than on screens—and why monetizing attention has never been the goal
The origin story: from a borrowed camper van to establishing partnerships with school districts, touring stadiums, and creating a movement in 35+ countries
What People Are Saying
The YouTube comments say it best—this conversation is sparking deeper reflection on tech, presence, and what really matters.
Whether you're a school administrator, tech skeptic, parent, or curious entrepreneur, this episode is well worth the listen.
First Time Founders with Ed Elson – This Founder is Disrupting Our Addiction to Our Phones
Ed speaks with Graham Dugoni, founder and CEO of Yondr, a company that creates lockable pouches to promote phone-free spaces. They discuss how smart phones have negatively impacted society, why schools have struggled to go phone-free, and how he runs his company without a smart phone.
Published July 6, 2025 · 1 hr · The Prof G Pod with Scott Galloway · Vox Media Podcast Network
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