Is being alone a punishment or a gift? Priyanka and Hari discuss the difference between loneliness and solitude with psychologist and researcher Dr. Robert Coplan, author of The Joy of Solitude. They explore why time alone can feel terrifying or deeply nourishing, how social media has changed our ability to truly be alone, and why solitude is essential for creativity, emotional regulation, and mental health. From “a-loneliness” to flow states to the Surgeon General’s warning about chronic loneliness, this thoughtful conversation explains why alone time is a vital human need in an overconnected world.

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