There’s tons of evidence that loneliness can have negative impacts on our mental and even physical health. But when it comes to interventions that reduce loneliness, there is far less research. Today on the podcast, we check out what one neighborhood in Brooklyn is doing to bring people safely together during the pandemic, and we check in with an expert on l ... Show More
Jan 23
What Matters to You? A New Way to Heal
Doctors have long prescribed pills and procedures. But for some people, that isn’t enough. Sanjay sits down with Julia Hotz, author of The Connection Cure, to explore the rise of social prescribing—linking patients to things like volunteering, art, or nature—and how a simple ques ... Show More
30m 10s
Apr 2020
How can we feel less alone during — and after — COVID-19?
Long before the coronavirus upended our lives and distanced ourselves from our jobs, routines, and loved ones, loneliness was already considered a widespread issue. But now, whether you're living alone or surrounded by people, that feeling of loneliness is probably more profound ... Show More
1h 4m
May 2022
Are we in a ‘loneliness pandemic’? With Louise Hawkley, PhD
Even before the COVID-19 pandemic scrambled our social connections, Americans were worried about an epidemic of loneliness. Louise Hawkley, PhD, principal research scientist at NORC at the University of Chicago, talks about the difference between being alone and being lonely, how ... Show More
37m 36s
Apr 2023
Candid Confessions: I'm Lonely In My Head But Home In My Heart
<p>As I research about loneliness, blame and depression, so much of our human need for connection goes wonky when we put our singular focus on getting that connection from others, without balancing that out with inner connection. Some of the research I found I completely agreed ... Show More
43m 13s
Nov 2023
How Loneliness Can Impact Your Health – and What You Can Do About It with Dr. Vivek Murthy
It is widely known that smoking and obesity can lead to chronic disease and death, but do you know that loneliness can be equally detrimental to your health? Dr. Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General of the United States, is here to talk about the epidemic he is most concerned about righ ... Show More
50m 4s