Today
3h 56m
Air Date: 6/12/2026
Today we examine how America caused a loneliness epidemic by tearing down the places where people used to find each other, how big tech is offering AI as a lackluster substitute for connection, and how people are building the opposite of loneliness with block parties, labor unions, and community gardens.
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TOP TAKES
KP 1: How Capitalism Causes Loneliness Part 1 - Second Thought - Air Date 6-2-23
KP 2: Anthropic Discovers the Axis of Evil, and AIs Loneliness Economy - The AI Fix - Air Date 2-3-26
KP 4: What Do We Mean by Humane Tech Part 1 - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-4-26
KP 6: The Simple Habit for a Happier Social Life Nicholas Epley Part 1 - TEDTalks - Air Date 5-19-26
(00:49:32) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR
Why the Left Needs to Have More Fun to Build Real Power
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DEEPER DIVES
(00:59:32) SECTION A: THE LONELINESS WE LIVE IN
A1: Loneliness - Capitalism's Collateral Damage - Democracy At Work - Air Date 8-29-22
A2: How Capitalism Causes Loneliness Part 2 - Second Thought - Air Date 6-2-23
A3: Loneliness - Capitalism's Collateral Damage Part 2 - Democracy At Work - Air Date 8-29-22
(01:29:54) SECTION B: AI COMPANION MACHINE
B1: Can AI Companionship Cure Loneliness – or Deepen It Part 1 - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 2-27-26
B2: People Are Lonelier Than Ever. Enter AI. - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 5-30-25
B3: The Dark Side of AI Companions, and the 1930s LLM - The AI Fix - Air Date 5-5-26
B4: What Do We Mean by Humane Tech Part 2 - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-4-26
B5: Can AI Companionship Cure Loneliness – or Deepen It Part 2 - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 2-27-26
(02:18:26) SECTION C: REFRACTIONS AND REACH-OUTS
C1: Gladiators, Real Housewives and the Pull of Reality TV Part 1 - Throughline - Air Date 4-30-26
C3: Gladiators, Real Housewives and the Pull of Reality TV Part 2 - Throughline - Air Date 4-30-26
C5: The Simple Habit for a Happier Social Life Nicholas Epley Part 2 - TEDTalks - Air Date 5-19-26
(02:58:25) SECTION D: BUILDING IT BACK
D2: How People Are Combatting Loneliness with Community Connections - The Newsfeed - Air Date 5-22-26
D3: Solo How Do We Make the Left Fun Again - The Bardo Podcast - Air Date 3-10-26
D4: Being Human with Marshall Ganz Part 1 - Practical Wisdom for Leaders - Air Date 5-20-26
D6: Being Human with Marshall Ganz Part 2 - Practical Wisdom for Leaders - Air Date 5-20-26
Produced by Jay! Tomlinson
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