Join us as we explore how games (board, card, mobile) have helped us to connect to others through cooperation and competition. Historically, games were used as a leisure activity that was secular and an opportunity to bond with others in a low-stress environment and as an escape from reality. Today, the purpose of games have widely maintained their low-stress opportunity for connection.

This episode discusses how our mental health can be impacted by our levels of connection, the types of connection, and our capabilities of being connected. Join us as we explore different ways mental health is a factor in our connectivity to others around us.

Calling all animal lovers! This episode is all about humans and their furry or scaly friends! Your hosts, Courtney, Amanda, and Olivia, talk about how animals form connections to humans and vice versa. Additionally, animals are discussed as being tools that humans use to connect them to other humans.

This episode focuses on how children and late adolescents in foster care experience unique challenges when it comes to connection and human relationships.

This episode explores the complex relationship between social media, connection, and mindfulness. The hosts share personal experiences, discuss the impact of social media features, and offer practical tips for fostering genuine relationships in a digital age.

In this episode of "The Human Reconnect," your hosts delve into the complexities of social connections and mindfulness. The conversation emphasizes mindfulness, defining it as being present in the moment without judgment. The hosts discuss the difficulty of staying mindful amidst constant distractions from technology and the importance of connecting with one's body and senses while forming connections with yourself and other humans. They conclude with a challenge for listeners to practice mindfulness daily, encouraging them to engage their senses and be present in their routines.

This episode explores the dynamics of social groups, how they influence our beliefs, values, and connections, and the importance of unity and diversity within these groups. It offers insights into overcoming division, embracing vulnerability, and fostering meaningful relationships. Key topics in this episode include the Impact of culture on connection and community, the role of shared values and beliefs in social groups, the phenomenon of groupthink and its effects, and the importance of vulnerability and authenticity in social connections.

Sources Mentioned in this episode:

Lefevor, G. T., Sorrell, S. A., Skidmore, S. J., Huynh, K. D., Golightly, R. M., Standifird, E., Searle, K., & Call, M. (2024). When connecting with LGBTQ+ communities helps and why it does: A meta-analysis of the relationship between connectedness and health-related outcomes. Psychological bulletin, 150(11), 1261–1286. https://doi.org/10.1037/bul0000447 

In this episode, we unravel the fascinating ways culture shapes the way we connect, feel, and thrive within our environments. From the grittiness of Philly to the deep-rooted family ties of Appalachia, discover how diverse roots influence everything from manners and communication to resilience and collective pride—and how those cultural traits foster community bonding in unexpected ways. Join us as we explore real stories about creating soft spaces in homes and neighborhoods, building community through sports, fishing, and dance, and understanding the values that underpin our social fabric. You'll uncover surprising insights about how identity, history, and shared customs influence everything from driving behaviors to the way we support our families—highlighting the importance of intentional connection in a fragmented world. We explore how culture evolves and adapts in diverse American landscapes, and why understanding these differences can unlock new levels of empathy and inclusion. Whether you're looking to strengthen your bonds in your neighborhood, understand your own cultural roots, or appreciate the beauty in our differences, you'll leave inspired to explore, embrace, and build authentic connections rooted in shared values. Perfect for community builders, cultural explorers, and anyone eager to foster a more connected life—because when we understand each other's stories, we create spaces where everyone can belong.

In the third episode of The Human Reconnect Podcast, your host and co-hosts tackle the subject of community. This intersectional topic is broken down across several episodes, with episode three diving into the physical environment that communities are built around and consist of. Discussion includes the histories of communities, the importance of soft edges and spaces, and how the environment can either foster or discourage connection between humans. The host and co-hosts reflect on their weekly challenge and introduce a new challenge to the listeners to create soft edges that increase potential for connection and to use their community “shared spaces” where they have the opportunity to connect with others in those spaces. They close with a 988 reminder and a disclaimer that the podcast is not mental health treatment or diagnostic advice. Below are the research articles and resources mentioned or referenced during this episode.

Wiking, M. (2017). The little book of lykke: Secrets of the world's happiest people. William Morrow.

S1E2: The Human Reconnect Podcast: Loneliness and Connection

In this second episode of The Human Reconnect Podcast, they share research about loneliness, social isolation, and a multitude of factors that impact those concepts. Loneliness is identified as an emotion and social isolation is the lack of access to resources and social opportunities. Discussion includes discourse about how loneliness and social isolation interact to impact the lives of individuals. The host and co-host reflect on their challenge for the week and introduce a new challenge to the listeners to be open to a viewpoint that is different from their own. They close with a 988 crisis reminder and a disclaimer that the podcast is not mental health treatment or diagnostic advice. Below are the research articles mentioned or referenced during this episode.

Social connection linked to improved health and reduced risk of early deathhttps://www.who.int/news/item/30-06-2025-social-connection-linked-to-improved-heath-and-reduced-risk-of-early-death 

Short term loneliness associated with physical health problemshttps://www.psu.edu/news/health-and-human-development/story/short-term-loneliness-associated-physical-health-problems 

The Evolution of Social Connection as a Basic Human Needhttps://www.thesocialcreatures.org/thecreaturetimes/evolution-of-social-connection