Today

Teen sleep is getting wrecked by more than just phones

Teens aren’t getting enough sleep! And a two-decade study suggests it’s getting worse. Scientists found that the number of high schoolers getting insufficient sleep — less than seven hours a night — has increased from 69% to 77%. The throughline? There wasn’t one. Teens had bad s ... Show More

8m 17s

Mar 4

The global fallout of RFK Jr.'s vaccine policies

In his role as secretary of Health and Human Services, Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is changing how the United States approaches vaccines. But those changes aren’t limited to the United States. NPR global health correspondent Gabrielle Emanuel joins Short Wave to talk about two examples ... Show More

15m 14s

Mar 3

Will Punch the baby monkey be okay?

If you’ve been on the internet in the past few weeks, chances are you’ve seen him: a tiny gray-brown monkey dragging a big, stuffed orangutan around Japan’s Ichikawa Zoo. His name? Punch-kun, or Punch for short. His story? Early abandonment by his mother, careful treatment from l ... Show More

12m 32s

Jun 2023

Lonely? You're not alone.

Today, a conversation with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on how loneliness is posing a profound public health threat in the United States.  Read more: <span style="co ... Show More

24m 6s

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 2019

Loneliness—a social pain

Loneliness is a growing issue around the world, and a recent national survey reveals that 1 in 4 Australians are lonely. Research also shows that loneliness can have a profound impact not just on our mental health but on our physical health as well. In fact, it could be as bad fo ... Show More

28m 52s

Apr 2020

Feeling lonely?

<div>Older people can face serious health effects from being isolated — and yet, being isolated is the only thing that can keep them safe, Senior Producer Maggie Penman reports. Plus, Global Opinions writer Jason Rezaian on how he survived solitary confinement in Iran — and how y ... Show More

23m 54s

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 2021

Feelings and Thoughts of Loneliness

Rhea moved to London almost three months ago now. Living in this new city has made Rhea feel major bouts of loneliness, which often result in lots of tears. However, Rhea is not alone in her loneliness (see what we did there?). It turns out 1 in 3 millennials experience lonelines ... Show More

35m 19s

May 2024

#204: Feeling Lonely? Listen to this.

Loneliness is the #1 contributing factor to the mental health crisis we’re currently experiencing so we MUST talk about it for Mental Health Awareness Month. If or when you feel lonely, remember that it’s not a personal deficiency. It’s a systemic issue in our modern-da ... Show More

33m 29s

Apr 2020

Another Workplace Crisis: Loneliness

Vivek Murthy, former U.S. Surgeon General, says that, even before the Covid-19 pandemic, we were facing another health crisis: loneliness. Studies show that, around the world, more people have been feeling a greater sense of social isolation, which has many negative affects, incl ... Show More

27m 3s

Jul 2020

Feeling Lonely? You're Not Alone.

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.

13m 18s

Apr 2023

84. Loneliness is not your enemy!

This week we break down the psychological, biological and evolutionary underpinnings of loneliness and break down some of the stigma around feeling lonely in your 20's. This decade is full of a number of significant life transitions and changes that can lead us to feel isolated a ... Show More

39m 42s

Feeling Lonely? Your Brain May Process T...