Loneliness and How to Rekindle Social Connection

Over the past few years, public health experts have been sounding the alarm over a growing and potentially deadly epidemic: loneliness. On this episode, we explore how and why loneliness is so detrimental to our health, who is most affected, and novel solutions, ranging from cuddle parties to robot buddies.

Loneliness can sneak up on us in all kinds of situations — eating dinner alone in front of your computer; hanging back at a party where you feel out of place; holidays spent far from home in a foreign country. Over the past few years, public health experts have been sounding the alarm over what former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called our national “epidemic of loneliness and isolation” — and that epidemic is affecting many aspects of our physical and mental well being. On this episode, we look to understand why so many people are so lonely, and find out how we can stay better connected.

We find out why science says loneliness is so detrimental to our health, who’s most vulnerable to its effects, and the novel solutions people are turning to, from cuddle parties to robot buddies. ALSO HEARD: WHYY is your source for fact-based, in-depth journalism and information. As a nonprofit organization, we rely on financial support from readers like you.

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