logo
episode-header-image
Jul 2022
39m 30s

Q: "Can You Be Happy Alone?"

Pushkin Industries
About this episode

Since Covid hit, many of us have seen fewer people and experienced more loneliness. Listener Ivana Cole wants to know what we can do to reconnect and asks, if we can't reconnect: "Can we be happy alone?" 

Dr Laurie Santos looks at social connections and how make them with Stanford's Jamil Zaki (author of the War for Kindness). 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Up next
Oct 12
What Gets Lost When We Text Instead of Talk with Dr. Nick Epley
For most of human history, we only had one way to talk to one another: our voices. Today, we have more ways to communicate than ever before. We can text, call, send a video message, reach out over social media, et cetera. And we often choose whichever option seems easiest or leas ... Show More
44m 59s
Oct 5
Finding the Magic in Everyday Life with Thoreau and Eric Weiner
As we move through our busy lives, it’s easy to stop noticing the tiny, beautiful things all around us. But rediscovering the sense of wonder we had as children might not only bring us more joy — it could also help us better navigate life’s hardest moments. Dr. Laurie explores th ... Show More
33m 49s
Sep 28
Want More Joy? Try Taking Yourself Less Seriously with Comedian Chris Duffy
When we’re exhausted, overworked, or just going through a difficult time, our instinct is often to put our heads down and simply focus on getting through it. But those serious moments may actually be when we benefit from a little silliness and absurdity the most. Laurie explores ... Show More
45m 58s
Recommended Episodes
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
Sep 2023
271 - Cultivating Connection: Stoic Insights on Loneliness
Do struggle with loneliness? Have the last few years of lockdowns and isolation been hard on you? Today I want to talk about loneliness, why it’s something that shouldn’t be ignored, and why it’s important for us to reach out and connect to others.“We are waves of the same sea, l ... Show More
16m 48s
Apr 2022
29. Loneliness
Why you’ve been feeling lonely recently because I have been too! We talk about how to embrace loneliness, why your best relationships are just around the corner and the power of gratitude.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. 
26m 51s
Feb 2022
You're Not Alone
Public health experts have been warning for years about a looming “loneliness epidemic” in the United States, with serious potential impacts on our mental and physical health. But what’s the cure? Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks to loneliness expert Professor Julianne Holt-Lunstad about h ... Show More
22 m
Jul 2020
Feeling Lonely? You're Not Alone.
<p>Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy shares with us the startling effects of chronic loneliness and how we can combat this public health crisis -- even in a socially distant world.</p> 
13m 18s
Oct 2021
How to Build a Happy Life: Know You're Lonely
The irony in loneliness is that we all share in the experience of it. In this episode of How to Build a Happy Life, we sit down to discuss isolated living and Americans’ collective struggle to create a relationship-centric life. As we continue along our journey to happiness we as ... Show More
40m 46s
Jul 2020
Dear Sugars Presents: Loneliness In A Socially Distant World
<p>Former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy talks with the Kind World team about the startling effects of chronic loneliness and how we can combat this public health concern -- even in a socially distant world.</p> 
13m 37s
Apr 2020
Dr. Vivek Murthy and Brené on loneliness and connection
Have you ever struggled with feeling lonely — even when you’re surrounded by people you love? I have. It’s painful and confusing. In this episode, I talk to Dr. Vivek Murthy, a physician and the 19th surgeon general of the United States, about loneliness and the physical and emot ... Show More
56m 43s
Nov 2022
Relationships 2.0: An Antidote to Loneliness
<p>When you go to a medical appointment, your doctor may ask you several questions. Do you smoke? Have you been getting exercise? Are you sleeping? But rarely do they ask: are you lonely? U.S. Surgeon General <a href="https://www.hhs.gov/about/leadership/vivek-murthy.html">Vivek ... Show More
49m 54s