logo
episode-header-image
Apr 2020
23m 54s

Feeling lonely?

THE WASHINGTON POST
About this episode
Older people can face serious health effects from being isolated — but it’s also what’s keeping them safe amid the pandemic. Advice on surviving isolation from a reporter who was held in isolation in Iran. And the scientifically proven power of love. 
Up next
Feb 2026
Goodbye from "Post Reports"
Just over seven years ago, we launched this daily news podcast from The Washington Post.Our goal was to bring you inside our newsroom, sharing our reporting with listeners to help make sense of what was happening in the world. We’ve published hundreds of episodes. We’ve covered e ... Show More
8m 6s
Feb 2026
A surprise Kennedy Center makeover
In his second term, President Donald Trump has gone on a mission to reinvent the Kennedy Center, the beloved performing arts venue in Washington, D.C.Trump promised to overhaul the center’s programming. He installed loyalists on the board who made him chairman. In December, Trump ... Show More
18m 40s
Feb 2026
A teddy bear, an ice skate: What remains from last year's deadly D.C. plane crash
In late January of last year, an American Eagle flight and a U.S. Army helicopter collided above the Potomac River, killing everyone aboard both aircraft. It was the deadliest flight disaster in the U.S. in decades.A year later, families and first responders are reflecting on the ... Show More
15m 19s
Recommended Episodes
Sep 2020
Isolation and the Brain
Social isolation during the pandemic can have surprising effects on the brain. Research suggests our social skills may be suffering. CNN’s Chief Medical Correspondent Dr. Sanjay Gupta talks to Assistant Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Neuroscience Stephanie Cacioppo about ... Show More
15m 42s
Dec 2023
Feeling Lonely? Your Brain May Process The World Differently
The U.S. is in the midst of a loneliness epidemic. And for a lot of people, the feeling is even more pronounced during the holidays. In addition to its emotional impact, chronic loneliness and social isolation have some dramatic health consequences: increased risk of heart diseas ... Show More
15m 24s
May 2025
Is there a cure for the loneliness epidemic?
Feeling lonely? You’re not the only one, and it’s not just in your head. The World Health Organization has called loneliness a global health threat, linked to serious physical and mental harm. But researchers say connection is a skill we can relearn, and rebuilding it might just ... Show More
20m 49s
May 2020
Alone In A Pandemic
<p>Living alone can be liberating, maddening, joyful ... lonely.  It also might feel very different today than it did several months ago.<br /> This episode features stories from people who live alone, telling us how they are doing right now.</p> <p><p>Subscribe today at <a href= ... Show More
21m 3s
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
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
Jul 2022
Q: "Can You Be Happy Alone?"
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 Stanfor ... Show More
39m 30s
Dec 2023
How to combat loneliness
1 in 4 adults says they're lonely. The consequences of long-term social disconnection can be dire — everything from an increased risk of heart attacks to dementia and premature death. Primary care physician and author of the new book Project UnLonely Dr. Jeremy Nobel offers tips ... Show More
17m 10s
Jan 2021
An Update on Isolation and the Brain
With the release of two COVID-19 vaccines we’re one step closer to pre-pandemic life. However, after months inside, our social skills may be a bit rusty. Social isolation during the pandemic can have surprising effects on the brain. Research suggests our social skills may be suff ... Show More
15m 46s