Late Night Live - Separate stories podcast
The State of the Self: Have we lost a sense of community in a post pandemic world?
Mar 4, 2025
Julia Baird, a writer and biographer known for her work on Queen Victoria, Geraldine Brooks, an acclaimed author exploring societal insights, and Rachel Kushner, a celebrated novelist, dive into the shifts in community dynamics post-COVID-19. They discuss the rise of individualism and alienation, contrasting American and Australian responses. The conversation touches on the importance of reviving connections through shared cultural experiences, the impact of political divides on community, and how nature can foster resilience and empathy.
54:02
Episode guests
AI Summary
AI Chapters
Episode notes
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- The COVID-19 pandemic has intensified hyper-individualism and alienation, resulting in a significant disconnection from community and collective identities.
- Cultural differences in responses to the pandemic highlight the importance of collective action, with Australian willingness to sacrifice individual freedoms fostering better public health outcomes than the U.S. individualistic approach.
Deep dives
Pandemic Aftermath and Individualism
The discussion highlights the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on societal cohesion, emphasizing a trend toward hyper-individualism and alienation. The guests articulate that the pandemic has exacerbated feelings of atomization, where individuals feel a disconnection from community and collective identities. This detachment from social structures, such as labor unions and churches, has historically been associated with an increase in solitary behaviors, leading to a decreased sense of social welfare and collective responsibility. As a result, societies with higher levels of atomization are less likely to experience political change or collective action.
Remember Everything You Learn from Podcasts
Save insights instantly, chat with episodes, and build lasting knowledge - all powered by AI.
