#10 devlin jones

Episode 10: Devlin Jones aka Russ Sabin

The conversation covers various topics including the fears of the younger generation, the impact of technology on children, the importance of social media, the early career of Russ in game development, his DIY projects, and the influence of the internet on our lives. In this part of the conversation, LV and Russ "Devlin Jones" Sabin discuss their experiences with social media and their personal quirks. They also delve into their early experiences with music and their favorite instruments to play. They talk about the supportive music scene in San Diego and the allure of van life. Russ shares his journey of building and living in a converted bus, highlighting the challenges and rewards of the process. The conversation in this part covers topics such as waste management, plastic usage, favorite places to live, and the challenges of traveling and meeting new people. The hosts discuss the differences in trash collection between San Diego and Thailand, as well as the efforts to reduce plastic usage in both countries. They also talk about their favorite places to live, including San Diego, Sandpoint, New York City, New Orleans, and Paris. The conversation touches on the challenges of leaving one's comfort zone and the benefits of traveling and meeting people from different cultures. The hosts also share their experiences at a medical tourism hospital in Thailand and discuss the importance of being open-minded and avoiding judgment when encountering different cultures and traditions. In this final part of the conversation, LV and Russ discuss various topics, including bidets, van life, solar power, and irrational fears. They also express their love and appreciation for each other's friendship. (AI-generated synopsis)

Be sure to check out the Bonus Playlist in Spotify for each episode which includes all songs mentioned on that episode and more!

THE RUSS BUS

DIVE DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE

The Dunbar Number: Your Social Circle Decoded

Remember that time you tried to keep up with all your "friends" on social media and realized you couldn't? No, it's not because you're anti-social or too busy with cat videos. You're just human. Welcome to the Dunbar Number—your brain's way of telling you, "Hey, you've got limits!"

So, What's This Dunbar Number Anyway?

The Dunbar Number is the magical (or not-so-magical) figure that represents the number of stable relationships your brain can handle at once. It’s around 150. Yup, 150. That’s the maximum number of people you can truly know—like, really know. Picture this: a Christmas card list that doesn’t give you an existential crisis or a party where you actually know everyone’s name.

The Brains Behind the Number: Robin Dunbar

This mind-blowing concept was cooked up by British anthropologist Robin Dunbar back in the '90s. Dunbar was knee-deep in studying primates and their social behaviors when he noticed something peculiar. The size of a primate’s social group was linked to the size of its brain. Bigger brain, bigger group. Naturally, he wondered, “What about humans?”

Through some serious number crunching and a deep dive into primate brains (not literally, thankfully), Dunbar concluded that humans, with our relatively large brains, could maintain about 150 meaningful relationships.

The Principles: It’s All in Your Head

Dunbar’s theory is rooted in the neocortex—the part of your brain responsible for conscious thought, language, and social interaction. The idea is simple: your brain’s capacity to handle complex social networks is limited. You might have 1,000 followers, but only about 150 of them are in your real “tribe.” Beyond this number, relationships start to get watered down, and your interactions with people become more superficial.

Think of it like trying to carry too many grocery bags in one trip. After a certain point, something’s going to slip through the cracks.

Evidence: It's Not Just a Theory

Dunbar's number isn't just some wild guess. There's evidence to back it up. Studies have found that hunter-gatherer societies, military units, and even company sizes tend to hover around this 150-mark. From ancient tribes to modern-day Facebook groups, the magic number seems to stick.

For example, in the corporate world, organizations often find that once they grow beyond 150 employees, they start to need more structured management systems. Why? Because it’s around that point that people stop being able to keep track of who’s who.

Even in online spaces, Dunbar’s Number holds. Research on social media usage shows that people usually have about 150 meaningful connections, even if they have thousands of "friends" or "followers." This is why your Facebook feed feels overwhelming; your brain simply isn't designed to handle it all.

Pop Culture and Popularity: How the Dunbar Number Took Off

The Dunbar Number hit the big leagues thanks to its simplicity and relevance. It's been referenced in everything from TED Talks to pop psychology books. Malcolm Gladwell even gave it a nod in his book The Tipping Point, helping to launch it into mainstream consciousness.

In the age of social media overload, the Dunbar Number feels more relevant than ever. It’s like a sanity check for our hyper-connected world—a reminder that, no matter how many networking events you attend or how many people you add on LinkedIn, your brain is still operating with the same basic wiring it had 10,000 years ago.

Conclusion: Embrace Your Limits

So, next time you feel overwhelmed by your social calendar or wonder why you can’t keep up with every single one of your high school classmates, remember the Dunbar Number. It’s not you, it’s biology. In a world that’s always pushing for more—more connections, more likes, more everything—Dunbar's Number is a refreshing reminder that sometimes, less is more.

(Above is a result of an AI query by LV to summerize the whole Dunbar Number thing officially on this site)

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