Finding Social Connection in a Disconnected World

Ben Greenfield is a human performance consultant, speaker, and New York Times bestselling author of 13 books, including the popular titles “Beyond Training”, “Boundless” and “Fit Soul”. Former collegiate tennis, water polo, and volleyball player, bodybuilder, 13-time Ironman triathlete, and professional obstacle course racer, Ben has been voted by the NSCA as America’s top Personal Trainer and by Greatist as one of the top 100 Most Influential People In Health And Fitness. In 2014, my NBT co-founder and medical doctor Jamie Kendall-Weed and I appeared on the Ben Greenfield podcast, and to this day people tell me that’s how they learned about Nourish Balance Thrive. 

​For this podcast, Ben and I met up on the UCLA campus during the Ancestral Health Symposium in August to walk and talk about the harmful effects of loneliness and the importance of social connection. Ben shares some of the innovative ways he’s increased connection with others, despite being a self-proclaimed introvert. We talk about some of the downsides of social isolation and the best reasons for opening yourself up to the “messiness” of others. 

Here’s the outline of this interview with Ben Greenfield:

[00:01:48] Previous podcasts with Ben Greenfield featuring Christopher Kelly: Why Is My Cortisol High Even Though I’m Doing Everything Right? Hidden Causes Of High Cortisol, The DUTCH Test & More!, The Little-Known Test That Tells You Everything You Need To Know About Your Metabolism, and 7 Signs Your Cortisol And Adrenals Are Broken.

[00:03:21] James Nestor; Podcast: How to Fix Your Breathing to Improve Your Health.

[00:03:27] Diana Rodgers; Podcast: Kale vs Cow: The Case for Better Meat.

[00:03:50] All the 2021 AHS videos are on YouTube.

[00:06:52] Book: Loneliness: Human Nature and the Need for Social Connection, by John T. Cacioppo.

[00:07:01] Book: Why Zebras Don't Get Ulcers: The Acclaimed Guide to Stress, Stress-Related Diseases, and Coping (Third Edition), by Robert M. Sapolsky.

[00:09:56] Book: The Martian, by Andy Weir.

[00:11:47] Introversion.

[00:12:00] Book: The WEIRDest People in the World: How the West Became Psychologically Peculiar and Particularly Prosperous, by Joseph Henrich.

[00:12:25] Recent podcast with Lucy Mailing, PhD: Rewilding the Gut: Restoring Ancestral Diversity to the Microbiome.

[00:13:53] Book: Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking, by Susan Cain

[00:18:21] Loneliness is as bad for you as smoking; Study: ​​Dyal, Stephanie R., and Thomas W. Valente. "A systematic review of loneliness and smoking: small effects, big implications." Substance use & misuse 50.13 (2015): 1697-1716.

[00:18:49] Loneliness vs. social isolation.

[00:25:20] Book: Never Eat Alone, Expanded and Updated: And Other Secrets to Success, One Relationship at a Time, by Keith Ferrazzi.

[00:26:39] Mastermind Talks, created by Jayson Gaignard.

[00:27:34] Ben's dinner parties.

[00:33:04] Julian Abel, MD; Book: The Compassion Project: A case for hope and humankindness from the town that beat loneliness; Julian's Podcast: Survival of the Kindest.  Listen to Julian's most recent interview on the NBT Podcast.

[00:35:40] Opening yourself up to the messiness of other people.

[00:38:38] Ben’s article on the dopaminergic response while experiencing pain or pleasure with others.

[00:39:40] Book: Friendship in the age of loneliness: An Optimist's Guide to Connection, by Adam Smiley Poswolsky.

[00:40:40] Contacts+.

[00:42:26] Community events; Realm Church Management Software.

[00:48:23] Ben's expanded spiritual practice.

[00:52:34] Books by Jamie Wheal: Stealing Fire and Recapture the Rapture.

[00:53:13] Book: The Immortality Key: The Secret History of the Religion with No Name, by Brian C. Muraresku.

[01:01:59] Church and the monogamous nuclear family.

[01:11:05] Eye gazing.

[01:14:44] See Ben’s show notes for this recording.

[01:15:52] Join the NBT Elite Performance Club Forum by supporting NBT on Patreon.