#1130 Sam Carr: How People Deal With Loneliness

Jul 31, 2025

Dr. Sam Carr, Reader in Education at the University of Bath and author of *All the Lonely People*, dives into the complex nature of loneliness. He highlights how personal narratives shape individual experiences of disconnect and explores the loneliness epidemic exacerbated by the pandemic. The conversation delves into loneliness in older adults, how grief after losing a partner intensifies feelings of isolation, and the emotional challenges surrounding aging. Carr advocates for empathy and open discussions about this universal yet deeply personal experience.

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INSIGHT

Loneliness: Unique and Complex

Loneliness is a complex experience with many meanings unique to each person.
It fundamentally involves a sense of disconnection and longing, but understanding requires hearing personal stories.

INSIGHT

Loneliness Is Subjective

Loneliness is better understood as a subjective feeling, not just objective social isolation.
Someone may be alone but not lonely, or surrounded by people yet feel profoundly lonely.

ANECDOTE

Old Age Loneliness and Growth

An older woman found growth in old age loneliness by embracing a 'hermit' aspect of herself.
She saw loss as a desert she had to cross to access new parts of herself.

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Dr. Sam Carr is Reader in the Department of Education at the University of Bath. He has a particular interest in exploring human relationships and their role in shaping our psychological experiences through the lifespan. He is equally intrigued by (a) the impacts of our close attachments on our existence and (b) the impacts of broader social and political structures upon our attachment bond formation and psychological experiences. He is the author of All the Lonely People: Conversations on Loneliness.

In this episode, we focus on All the Lonely People. We first discuss what loneliness is, the Loneliness Project, and why loneliness matters. We talk about the loneliness epidemic, loneliness in a pandemic, loneliness after a breakup, loneliness after losing a loved one, and loneliness in old age. We also discuss the circumstances where people seek isolation, how and when people deal well with loneliness, whether it is possible to avoid loneliness, and how can people deal with it.

A HUGE THANK YOU TO MY PATRONS/SUPPORTERS: PER HELGE LARSEN, JERRY MULLER, BERNARDO SEIXAS, ADAM KESSEL, MATTHEW WHITINGBIRD, ARNAUD WOLFF, TIM HOLLOSY, HENRIK AHLENIUS, FILIP FORS CONNOLLY, ROBERT WINDHAGER, RUI INACIO, ZOOP, MARCO NEVES, COLIN HOLBROOK, PHIL KAVANAGH, SAMUEL ANDREEFF, FRANCIS FORDE, TIAGO NUNES, FERGAL CUSSEN, HAL HERZOG, NUNO MACHADO, JONATHAN LEIBRANT, JOÃO LINHARES, STANTON T, SAMUEL CORREA, ERIK HAINES, MARK SMITH, JOÃO EIRA, TOM HUMMEL, SARDUS FRANCE, DAVID SLOAN WILSON, YACILA DEZA-ARAUJO, ROMAIN ROCH, DIEGO LONDOÑO CORREA, YANICK PUNTER, CHARLOTTE BLEASE, NICOLE BARBARO, ADAM HUNT, PAWEL OSTASZEWSKI, NELLEKE BAK, GUY MADISON, GARY G HELLMANN, SAIMA AFZAL, ADRIAN JAEGGI, PAULO TOLENTINO, JOÃO BARBOSA, JULIAN PRICE, HEDIN BRØNNER, DOUGLAS FRY, FRANCA BORTOLOTTI, GABRIEL PONS CORTÈS, URSULA LITZCKE, SCOTT, ZACHARY FISH, TIM DUFFY, SUNNY SMITH, JON WISMAN, WILLIAM BUCKNER, PAUL-GEORGE ARNAUD, LUKE GLOWACKI, GEORGIOS THEOPHANOUS, CHRIS WILLIAMSON, PETER WOLOSZYN, DAVID WILLIAMS, DIOGO COSTA, ALEX CHAU, AMAURI MARTÍNEZ, CORALIE CHEVALLIER, BANGALORE ATHEISTS, LARRY D. LEE JR., OLD HERRINGBONE, MICHAEL BAILEY, DAN SPERBER, ROBERT GRESSIS, JEFF MCMAHAN, JAKE ZUEHL, BARNABAS RADICS, MARK CAMPBELL, TOMAS DAUBNER, LUKE NISSEN, KIMBERLY JOHNSON, JESSICA NOWICKI, LINDA BRANDIN, VALENTIN STEINMANN, ALEXANDER HUBBARD, BR, JONAS HERTNER, URSULA GOODENOUGH, DAVID PINSOF, SEAN NELSON, MIKE LAVIGNE, JOS KNECHT, LUCY, MANVIR SINGH, PETRA WEIMANN, CAROLA FEEST, MAURO JÚNIOR, 航豊川, TONY BARRETT, NIKOLAI VISHNEVSKY, STEVEN GANGESTAD, TED FARRIS, ROBINROSWELL, KEITH RICHARDSON, HUGO B., JAMES, AND JORDAN MANSFIELD!

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