Ever Forward Club’s Ashanti Branch is joined by Adam Smiley Poswolsky. Adam is a person full of empathy, and his desire to build understanding for the common good comes across in this conversation. As a millennial workplace expert, his goal is to foster a sense of belonging in the digital age. Currently he is de-stigmatizing loneliness in his newest book, “Friendship in the Age of Loneliness.”

(1:45) Ashanti’s introduction.

(5:30) Smiley introduces himself and his work as an author and millennial workplace expert. Then he and Ashanti reflect on how their work and their relationship has evolved over time.

(11:12) Ashanti and Smiley share the front of their masks. Ashanti - funny, serious, hard-working. Smiley - happy, successful, expert.

(14:02) Ashanti shares the back of his mask - fear of failure, sadness, mental health. They discuss negative self-talk, downplaying one’s own work and ability, and how comparison is the thief of joy.

(17:07) Smiley shares the back of his mask - lonely, sad, unsure. He shares how the pandemic has exacerbated his sadness and loneliness, and how he has always oscillated between feeling like an expert and feeling like he doesn’t have the answers.

(26:01) The men discuss Smiley’s book, “Friendship in the Age of Loneliness”, as it pertains to the Covid-19 pandemic, and to Ashanti’s work with youth. They also discuss how loneliness is a subjective experience, as opposed to something that can be measured objectively.

(29:37) Next, they discuss the stigma of admitting loneliness, and how an extroverted, actively social person can still be lonely.

(34:50) Smiley shares how he got the nickname “Smiley” as an adolescent. They discuss how this experience made him feel a sense of belonging, and how opportunities for a sense of belonging are more available for adolescents than they are for adults.

(39:30) As an expert on how the digital age has changed our society, Smiley shares his lesson for young people.

(42:45) Smiley shares how to get in touch with him.

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Connect with Adam Smiley Poswolsky:

Instagram: instagram.com/whatsupsmiley

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/adamsposwolsky

Website: smileyposwolsky.com

Book: amazon.com/Friendship-Age-Loneliness-Optimists-Connection/dp/0762472278

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Create your own mask anonymously at www.100kmasks.com

If you are interested in being on the Face to Face podcast, email us at [email protected]

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Connect with Ashanti Branch:

Instagram: instagram.com/branchspeaks

Facebook: facebook.com/BranchSpeaks

Twitter: twitter.com/BranchSpeaks

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/ashantibranch

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Send in a voice message:

anchor.fm/branch-speaks/message