adam neumann’s new startup lets you subscribe to disassociation and it’s honestly so valid
in a world that literally asks too much, like, just by existing, the guy who made open-plan offices a vibe is now creating spaces where you can gently unplug from the toxic demands of consciousness. and i'm so here for it.
it’s literally so exhausting. just, like, being. the constant emotional labor of having thoughts, the trauma of being perceived by others, the non-consensual task of processing sensory information… it’s a lot. the economy is in its villain era and my nervous system is fully deregulated. sending an email feels like actual violence. so when i heard adam neumann, the visionary who tried to elevate global consciousness through aesthetically pleasing co-working spaces, was launching a new venture called flow, i felt a flicker of something. not hope, that’s way too much pressure, but like… a gentle somatic release.
and omg, it’s even better than i could have manifested. flow isn’t about community housing; it's about providing trauma-informed 'vibe sanctuaries' where you can subscribe to disassociation. for a monthly fee, you get access to a network of beautifully designed, minimalist pods where you can go to just… not be. it’s like a headspace subscription but for your entire being. it’s the logical conclusion to quiet quitting: quiet existing.
trigger warning: i'm about to describe the spaces, which might be activating if you’re currently overwhelmed. each flow location is a haven of intentional nothingness. there are 'stillness pods' with weighted blankets and noise-canceling headphones that play a continuous low-frequency hum. i found the best headphones for peak vibrational alignment on my amazon storefront, btw. there are also 'sensory gardens' which are just beige rooms with a single, perfectly smooth rock in the middle. the highest subscription tier, 'ego dissolution,' gives you 24/7 access to a personal pod where you can lie in ergonomic comfort while consuming a nutrient-neutral paste, freeing you from the tyranny of choice.
neuman said in a statement that flow is 'an answer to the fundamental dissonance of modern being.' and like, yes. this is it. he’s finally holding space for us to not hold any space at all. he understands that productivity is toxic, that expectations are a form of psychic damage, and that sometimes the most radical act of self-care is to gently log off from your own consciousness for a few hours. to prep for my sessions, i’ve been using this amazing adaptogenic mushroom blend to help ease the transition back into consensus reality, you can find the link in my bio.
this isn't about laziness. it’s a valid response to a late-stage capitalist hellscape that has commodified our attention, our joy, and even our rest. flow is just reclaiming our right to peacefully vibe in the void. it's the first startup that doesn't want you to hustle, connect, or disrupt. it just wants you to gently float away. and honestly? that’s the most healing business model i’ve ever heard of.
Reader Discussion (8)
a16z really gave this clown $350M for minimalist beige nap pods? We've reached peak grift. It's WeWork all over again but instead of 'community' he's selling 'absence of community'. Dude is a genius at selling rich people nothing.
Article says 'low-frequency hum.' What frequency? Is it a pure sine wave or brown noise? Sub-20Hz infrasound can cause anxiety, not relaxation. They better have done their research on the psychoacoustic effects.
My grandfather worked 60 hours a week in a steel mill and raised 5 kids. Now people are paying to 'subscribe to disassociation' because sending an email is 'violence'? The softness of this generation is staggering.
This isn't a 'solution' to late-stage capitalism, it's the most distilled expression of it. Capital creates the alienation and then sells you a subscription to endure it. Pure ideology.
Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice... can I get a free trial to the 'Ego Dissolution' tier? I need to forget what happened to my WeWork stock.
So they put you in a pod, pump in 'low-frequency hums', and feed you nutrient paste. Sounds like a great way to condition people. Who's collecting the data on your brainwaves while you're 'disassociated'?
You can achieve the same thing by turning off your phone and sitting in a quiet park. For free. This is just another way to sell rich millennials an expensive solution to a problem they could solve with a bit of discipline.
We're literally building the pods from The Matrix and calling it 'wellness'. They feed you nutrient paste and you live in a simulated state of non-existence. This is not the future we were supposed to want.