How does our hardwiring for human connection impact how we experience the world? What can you do to combat loneliness and create social wellbeing in your life? Does where you live impact how connected you feel? 

 Today on Shared Space, I am talking with Julianne Holt-Lundstad, who studies social relationships, stress and our health. She is a renowned professor of psychology and social neuroscience at Brigham Young University - where her seminal research identified social isolation and loneliness as risk factors for early mortality. Her work has been highlighted in the BBC 100 Breakthrough Health Discoveries in 2015, and covered in the New York Times, The Washington Post, Time Magazine, The Today Show, Brené Brown, Former US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy, and well just about everyone else.  It is not an over exaggeration to say that my guest has changed the conversation on loneliness across the globe – and yet somehow she stays humble, kind, mission driven, and persistently dedicated to truth. 

In this episode, Julianne and I discuss: 

- Her own life experiences and what drove her to explore the important topics of loneliness and social isolation.

-  More drastic examples of loneliness across history (e.g., solitary confinement, infants in custodial care) and what they can teach us about the biological need for human contact. 

- Why loneliness and social isolation are such a big health crisis that it has earned the name of "epidemic" and how the loneliness and social isolation manifest differently.

-  How she came to see the role of the built environment in fostering (or hindering) social connection in our everyday lives. She shares examples from living in Amsterdam, and Blue Zone cities across Greece and Italy, and her stories are filled with so much joy. 

-  A potential silver-lining of this pandemic. 

- Her advice for policy makers and community leaders to foster social health as we respond to COVID-19 and beyond. 

And we share a rapid-fire round of questions that includes everything from her favorite quote to what is keeping her excited today!

There is seriously too much to enjoy in this episode and we really hope you find it interesting and helpful. I would love to hear your thoughts, what resonated and what you would like to hear more about on my website - https://www.erinpeavey.com/sharedspace.