Why is a comedian the best person to discuss loneliness with? On this episode of Call Me Hopeful, Vir Das joins us to talk about his relationship with solitude, loneliness, and why it’s so difficult to reach out sometimes.

00:00 - 0:42-Intro

0:42 - 2:53 - Why loneliness?

2:53 - 6:33 - What does loneliness look like for Vir?

6:33 - 8:25 - Feeling disconnected while on stage

8:25 - 10:31 - Connecting via music

10:31 - 13:21 - Growing up as the outsider

13:21 - 14:40 - Accepting loneliness

14:40 - 17:55 - Chronic loneliness/pushing people away while feeling lonely

17:55 - 20:05 - Wanting to fit in

20:05 - 28:13 - Reaction to the Two Indias controversy

28:13 - 33:17 - The loneliness epidemic

33:17 - 35:43 - Reaching out

35:43 -37: 11 - Pledge

If you are struggling with your mental health, remember there is help out there.

Sangath (9:30am to 5:30pm | Monday to Friday)

07887872345

https://sangath.in/well-being-centre/

Self-help resources

https://sangath.in/self-help-resource/

Agatsu's clinic (11am to 7pm | Tuesday to Sunday)

9167792077

https://www.agatsufoundation.org/therapy

Mental Health Directory

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/...

Tele-MANAS (24x7) - 14416

Relevant links:

-'How to Practice Emotional First Aid' by Guy Winch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2hc2FLOdhI

- Social Isolation in America: Changes in Core Discussion Networks over Two Decades -https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/000312240607100301

Credits:

Host: Ira Khan

Associate Producers: Bavana Gone, Neha Shetty

Editor: Bavana Gone

Art Director: Neha Shekhawat

Camera Attendant: Shivam Kumar Singh

Recording Studio: Island City Studios

Social Media Strategist: Anubhooti Chouhan

Creative Producers: Mohini Chaudhuri, Abhishek Saha

Supervising Producer: Shrishti Malhotra

Executive Producer: Karla Bookman

#callmehopeful #tspodcasts #tsstudios