Combating the Loneliness Epidemic: with Julie Schechter

In 2017, the former US Surgeon General called loneliness a public health epidemic. It's been compared to a crisis on the scale of opioids or obesity. Some studies equate the health effects of loneliness with that of smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Julie Schechter is helping to fight the loneliness epidemic. She is the CEO and co-founder of Present and Small Packages, two companies focused on building stronger relationships and connections in a digital world. She provides insight on the modern paradox of technology: how something meant to bring us closer together has led to a lonelier population. Julie explains: How our everyday lives have lost the traditional structures that made us feel connected Why our relationships are typically dictated by proximity How the pandemic forced "hustle culture" to come to a halt and the lasting impact of pandemic loneliness Why technology has made us all feel lonely How losing your oldest friendships has the health impact equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day What kinds of technology can work to make us feel closer Why the simple act of noticing something in someone is so powerful See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.