What is the level of connection between our health and the way we relate to a community or the individuals around us? This area of inquiry is gaining more momentum, and here on the show today we have the wonderful Julianne Holt-Lunstad, whose primary area of research is concerned with these links. We have a conversation under the broader banner of the power of creative listening as a means for unpacking and dealing with modern traumas, and Julianne expertly shares some of her ideas on loneliness, isolation, and depression, especially in light of the era of the pandemic. We also talk a bit about vulnerable conversations within the scientific community and the increasing normalization of these topics in recent years. Listeners can expect to come away with great insight into the varied atmosphere of the world of science, as well as some of the ways in which the words we use affect our experience of social issues. So to catch it all with this great guest, make sure you join us today!

Key Points From This Episode:

• Introducing a few ideas about how creative listening can contribute to more meaningful communication. 
• A little about Julianne's background and the areas of investigation in her research.
• The story of how Julianne and Fred met and connected! 
• Julianne's observations about conversations about loneliness and depression in the last two years.
• The standards around having vulnerable conversations within the scientific community.  
• How Julianne's research connects our health with the relationships present in our life.  
• Unpacking the dangerous effects of loneliness and isolation.    
• The lingual impacts of using a term like 'epidemic' in our approach to dealing with isolation. 
• Fred's story about his farm, WiFi, creative listening, and consensus. 
• Julianne's findings on the relationship between isolation and issues such as gun violence and opioid abuse. 
• Experiences as a woman in science; Julianne shares a few reflections. 
• Feelings about credit, quotes, and the importance of bringing the right kind of attention to issues. 

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Designing Science Conversation

Julianne Holt-Lunstad

Julianne Holt-Lunstad Twitter

'Is Social Disconnection Comparable to Smoking?' TEDx Talk

Carl Rogers

SpacetimeLabs

Dust & Company

Nic DiPalma Creative

Making Conversation: Seven Essential Elements of Meaningful Communication

Fred Dust on Twitter

Nic DiPalma on Twitter