Humans have changed a lot from our cave dwelling days, but one thing that has stayed the same is our need for connections with others.

Maybe it’s not so much the need for protection from animal predators anymore, or cooperating to take down a mammoth. Still, our evolution has instilled in us the need to connect with others. And we don’t do so well when that connection gets tenuous.   

Vivek Murthy, the former U.S. Surgeon General, called loneliness an epidemic in this country. Chronic social isolation has been linked to depression, anxiety, heart disease, dementia, and even premature death. 

A Gallup poll last year found that one in five people reported feeling lonely every day, making social isolation a public health issue. But there is a cure: making meaningful connections. One program at a Seattle bookshop is stepping in to help. 

Guests:
Andrey Sklyar, the creator and host of Decent Social Skills: Steering Personal Conversation

Related Links: 
30 Charts That Show How Covid Changed Everything — NYT
Decent Social Skills: Steering Personal Conversations — Ada’s Technical Books
US surgeon general Vivek Murthy: ‘Loneliness is like hunger, a signal we’re lacking something for survival’ — The Guardian

Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes.

Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network. 

Humans have changed a lot from our cave dwelling days, but one thing that has stayed the same is our need for connections with others.
Maybe it&rsquo;s not so much the need for protection from animal predators anymore, or cooperating to take down a mammoth. Still, our evolution has instilled in us the need to connect with others. And we don&rsquo;t do so well when that connection gets tenuous.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
Vivek Murthy, the former U.S. Surgeon General, called loneliness an epidemic in this country. Chronic social isolation has been linked to depression, anxiety, heart disease, dementia, and even premature death.&nbsp;
A Gallup poll last year found that one in five people reported feeling lonely every day, making social isolation a public health issue. But there is a cure: making meaningful connections. One program at a Seattle bookshop is stepping in to help.&nbsp;
Guests:
<ul>
<li>Andrey Sklyar, the creator and host of Decent Social Skills: Steering Personal Conversation</li>
</ul>
Related Links:&nbsp;
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2025/03/09/upshot/covid-lockdown-five-year-charts.html">30 Charts That Show How Covid Changed Everything</a> &mdash; NYT</li>
<li><a href="https://adasbooks.com/event/2025-03-27/decent-social-skills-steering-personal-conversations">Decent Social Skills: Steering Personal Conversations</a> &mdash; Ada&rsquo;s Technical Books</li>
<li><a href="https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/jan/29/us-surgeon-general-vivek-murthy-loneliness-mental-health-epidemic-social-media">US surgeon general Vivek Murthy: &lsquo;Loneliness is like hunger, a signal we&rsquo;re lacking something for survival&rsquo;</a> &mdash; The Guardian</li>
</ul>
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW. You help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to <a href="http://kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes">kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes</a>.
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.&nbsp;

Soundside

A Gallup poll last year found that one in five people reported feeling lonely daily—it’s a public health issue best solved by the opportunity to form meaningful connections. One program at a Seattle bookshop is stepping in to help.

Advertisement