That’s what some health officials are saying, but the data aren’t so clear. We look into what’s known (and not known) about the prevalence and effects of loneliness — including the possible upsides.
Yesterday
694. Does Democracy Really Need Elections?
Stephen Dubner recently served on a criminal jury. Twelve strangers — selected randomly and barely paid — took the job seriously. Afterward, he wondered: why can’t our politics work that way? A growing movement, inspired by Athenian democracy, says it can. SOURCES:Terry Bouricius ... Show More
1h 4m
Oct 30
693. What’s Our Job as Humans Anymore?
It may just be being human. Stephen Dubner interviews A.I. performer Tilly Norwood to find out if we are as replaceable as we fear. (Part two of a two-part series.) SOURCES:Sean Astin, actor, president of SAG-AFTRA.Kevin Kelly, co-founder of Wired.Ethan Mollick, associate profess ... Show More
57m 32s
Feb 2019
Living in a Lonely World (SOP74)
Half of Americans say they are lonely and the average person reports having only one close friend. Loneliness can also make us sick, contributing to heart disease, depression, suicide and cognitive decline. Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, professor of psychology and neuroscience at Br ... Show More
46m 18s
Sep 2025
329. The psychology of the male loneliness epidemic
In this episode we break down the growing conversation around the “male loneliness epidemic”: what’s true, what’s misleading, and what the research actually says. This is a complex and controversial topic, but one that deserves a clear, evidence-based perspective. Why has lonelin ... Show More
51m 22s
<p><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); background-color: transparent;">Today, a conversation with Surgeon General Vivek Murthy on how loneliness is posing a profound public health threat in the United States. </span></p><p><br></p><p>Read more:</p><p><br></p><p><span style="co ... Show More