Has Technology Set Us Free—or Tied Us Up Tighter Than Ever?
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact Info:
Maggie Wilson
412-596-1059
maggie.wilson@out-of-place.com
412-596-1059
maggie.wilson@out-of-place.com
Image 1: Frank Schiffman is the producer and host of Out-Of-Place, a short-story podcast featuring personal reflections, fictional narratives, and cultural commentary. Image 2: Has technology that took us from rotary dialing to smart phones provided more mobility? (AI-generated photo: ChatGPT)
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HAS TECHNOLOGY SET US FREE—OR TIED US UP TIGHTER THAN EVER?
PITTSBURGH, PA, January 7, 2026 (PittsburghNewsWire.com) — In his newest podcast episode, “Cut the Cord,” Pittsburgh podcaster Frank Schiffman explores the evolution of telephone technology from the 1950s to today, blending personal memories with cultural change. The episode revisits a time of busy signals, operator assistance, home answering machines, and other sounds that once defined everyday communication.
Schiffman, who recently turned 70, launched his Out-Of-Place podcast four years ago. While many episodes are drawn from his own life experiences, the series also ventures into fiction and commentary, including podcasts such as “Missing Walter Cronkite” and “Watches Tell More Than Time.” Together, these short stories examine how changing times, habits, and technologies shape the way we connect with one another.
“Many of my conversations with friends and family start with the phrase, ‘Remember when?’” Schiffman says. “We compare how things work today to how we grew up. I use my own recollections as a platform for creating relatable stories, and you don’t need to be older to enjoy the ride. ‘Cut the Cord’ is a good example of that.”
“Cut the Cord” is a light, educational, and entertaining 16-minute listen that reflects on how far telephone technology—and society—has come. The episode is now available at www.outofplacepodcasts.com.
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