⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊+𖦹 episode 20 ⁺₊⋆ ☀︎ ⋆⁺₊+𖦹

Welcome back :)

This week I chat about the connection between reading fiction, particularly lit fic, and strengthening empathy.

I discuss the difference between mens and womens preferences when it comes to reading, how much we read and what types of books we choose.

I also discuss the importance of empathy in nature, which humans forget we are part of, how survival of the fittest actually means survival of whoever works best together, which requires empathy & care.*

ೃ༄ 𖦹 Bit of a mish mash swirly video! 𖦹 𓂃

ོ☼𓂃Hope you enjoy :)

https://www.science.org/doi/abs/10.1126/science.1239918https://www.arts.gov/stories/blog/2025/men-women-split-reading-real-and-persists-amid-historical-rate-declineshttps://humanrewritten.com/p/the-empathy-recession-why-empathyhttps://news.umich.edu/empathy-college-students-don-t-have-as-much-as-they-used-to/https://communications.yale.edu/sites/default/files/08.09.2016_the_best_reason_for_reading_book_lovers_live_longer_scientists_say._the_washington_post.pdf

00:00 - intro

01:38 - the fiction gender gap

09:51 - the space between stories

14:16 - empathy is a thread

20:27 - reading as medicine