Join Carrie Jenkins, a philosophy professor and author, along with economics expert Marina Adshade, men's health advocate John Oliffe, and writer Mandy Lee Catron, as they tackle Canada's loneliness epidemic. They discuss how social isolation threatens public health and explore the impacts of modern life on connection. Topics like the importance of community ties, the nuances of eudaimonia, and the unique challenges men face in forming relationships come to the forefront. Expect a deep dive into the pressing need for meaningful conversations and a reimagined sense of belonging.
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insights INSIGHT
Loneliness Rooted in Enlarged Social Worlds
Loneliness is a systemic issue caused by the historical growth of social worlds beyond small, supportive communities.
The increase in technological and social scale has decreased intimacy, stability, and belonging.
insights INSIGHT
Romantic Ideals Fuel Isolation
The monogamous romantic ideal funnels love needs into nuclear families, isolating individuals outside that structure.
True love requires seeing others as they are, not as curated false images we project.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Men's Social Struggles and Loneliness
Men connect often through beer and alcohol but yearn for deeper interaction.
Relationship breakdowns and self-managed depression lead many men to isolation and substance use.
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This book is a collection of essays that delve into the complexities of love and relationships. It includes Catron's viral New York Times article 'To Fall in Love with Anyone, Do This,' which describes her experience with a psychology experiment involving 36 questions to create intimacy between strangers. The book expands on this idea, examining the biological, psychological, and historical aspects of love, as well as Catron's personal experiences and those of her family. It critiques romantic myths and encourages readers to reassess their own understanding of love and relationships.
A paradise built in hell
the extraordinary communities and strange joys that arise in disasters
Emily Beresford
Rebecca Solnit
David Muñoz Mateos
In 'A Paradise Built in Hell', Rebecca Solnit examines how people respond to disasters and crises, often forming strong, resilient communities. The book delves into the human capacity for cooperation, altruism, and mutual aid during times of catastrophe, challenging the common narrative that disasters bring out the worst in people. Solnit draws on historical examples such as the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, the 1985 Mexico City earthquake, and Hurricane Katrina to illustrate these phenomena.
The Other Significant Others
Reimagining Life with Friendship at the Center
Rhaina Cohen
In 'The Other Significant Others,' Rhaina Cohen delves into the lives of individuals who have prioritized deep friendships as their primary life partnerships. Through personal narratives, historical insights, and social science research, Cohen examines how these relationships defy conventional societal norms. The book features stories of friends who are co-homeowners, co-parents, and caregivers, illustrating the various forms of profound connection that can anchor our lives. Cohen argues that by expecting too much from romantic relationships and too little from friendships, we undermine both. Her work encourages readers to broaden their understanding of meaningful relationships and to recognize the transformative power of authentic, platonic connections[2][3][5].
Some experts are calling loneliness an epidemic in Canada and throughout much of the world. Social isolation is a public health risk with consequences for individuals, communities and for our social systems. A multi-disciplinary panel, hosted at the University of British Columbia, examine loneliness from perspectives of men's and women's health, interpersonal relations, climate change and public policy.
Guests in this episode:
Dr. Kiffer Card is an assistant professor at Simon Fraser University’s Faculty of Health Sciences. He was the moderator of the panel presentation, All the Lonely People: the Search for Belonging in an Uncertain World.
Mandy Lee Catron is from the School of Creative Writing, at UBC.
Dr. John Oliffe is a professor and Canada Research Chair in Men’s Health Promotion at the School of Nursing, at UBC.
Dr. Carrie Jenkins is a professor in the Department of Philosophy at UBC.
Dr. Marina Adshade is an assistant professor of teaching at the Vancouver School of Economics, at UBC.
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