Americans are spending an historic amount of time alone, a phenomenon that is often referred to as an "epidemic of loneliness."
But are we actually lonely? Or do we prefer being by ourselves? And if we do, what does that mean for us and our society?
Today’s guest is journalist Derek Thompson, who, in a recent essay for the Atlantic, challenges the convention ... Show More
Apr 27
The case for thinking like a child
Sean talks with psychologist Alison Gopnik about how children think, learn, experience the world, and why their minds may be more powerful than ours in some crucial ways. They explore the idea that kids are the “research and development” wing of the human species, built for explo ... Show More
44m 34s
Apr 24
The one thing the Supreme Court won’t touch
The Supreme Court is aggressive on almost everything. Except the internet. Sean talks with Vox’s Ian Millhiser about a surprising pattern at the Court. While the Court has been eager to reshape schools, healthcare, and civil rights law, it has consistently taken a cautious, almos ... Show More
40m 17s
Jan 2025
‘The Anti-Social Century’: America’s Epidemic of Solitude—and How to Fix It
My new feature for The Atlantic magazine is called "The Anti-Social Century." It's a long article that revolves around a simple point: Americans are now spending more time alone than ever. This surging solitude is changing our personalities, our politics, our culture, and our rel ... Show More
1h 10m
Mar 2025
No, There Isn’t a Loneliness Epidemic (And That May Be an Even Bigger Problem)
<p>Face-to-face socializing in America has declined by more than 20% nationwide. Among some groups, like young adults and unmarried men, the drop is closer to 40%.</p><p>But strangely, this hasn’t led to the loneliness epidemic that you hear so much about. Instead, we’re seeing a ... Show More
53m 6s
May 2025
How To Disagree With People and Still Love Them: Embracing Nuance in Polarized Times with Brit Barron
<p>When family members or friends hold views that we oppose, we can feel stuck. These days, polarization is everywhere, both in our culture at large and within familial and intimate relationships. So often, conversations online feel like a zero-sum game. At the same time, most of ... Show More
43m 51s
Aug 2025
Is The Racial Reckoning Over? John McWhorter on language, art, and defunding the grammar police
<p>This is the full version of the Aug 4 episode, now available to all subscribers. </p> <div><br /> <div>Author, New York Times columnist, and superstar linguist John McWhorter returns to the pod to catch us up on what's been on his mind now that the Woke Emergency is over . . . ... Show More
1h 11m