Nicholas Christakis: The Science of Human Connection

Howie and Harlan are joined by Nicholas Christakis, director of Yale's Human Nature Lab, to discuss his research on social networks, human connection, and the forces that help societies cooperate and endure. Harlan discusses promising phase 3 results for retatrutide, Eli Lilly's experimental "triple G" obesity drug; Howie provides an update on the fast-growing Ebola outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Show notes: Obesity Drugs "Lilly's triple agonist, retatrutide, delivered powerful weight loss in pivotal Phase 3 obesity trial" "Triple–Hormone-Receptor Agonist Retatrutide for Obesity—A Phase 2 Trial" Bariatric surgery Nicholas Christakis Human Nature Lab Nicholas Christakis: Blueprint: The Evolutionary Origins of a Good Society Free rider problem Phenotype Stephen Pinker The Enlightenment Nicholas Christakis on YouTube: For the Love of Science  Nicholas Christakis: "The Spread of Obesity in a Large Social Network Over 32 Years" Social contagion Altruism Wet lab vs. dry lab  Microbiome Communicable vs. non-communicable diseases Nicholas Christakis: "The Collective Dynamics of Smoking in a Large Social Network" Nicholas Christakis on YouTube : "Learning in a Time of War" Tymofiy Mylovanov The president of the Kyiv School of Economics, who invited Christakis to lecture in Ukraine. Ebola CDC: Ebola Disease 2026  CDC: Ebola Disease Basics  "The Ebola virus spreading in Congo is a rare species with no vaccines or treatments" Hypertension Watch last week's episode on YouTube. In the Yale School of Management's MBA for Executives program, you'll get a full MBA education in 22 months while applying new skills to your organization in real time. Yale's Executive Master of Public Health offers a rigorous public health education for working professionals, with the flexibility of evening online classes alongside three on-campus trainings. Email Howie and Harlan comments or questions.