Episode #55: The Art and Science of Connection and Social Health, with Kasley Killam

Kasley Killam, MPH, is the author of The Art and Science of Connection: Why Social Health is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier (HarperCollins, June 2024). She is a Harvard-trained social scientist, award-winning innovator, and is internationally recognized as a leading expert in “social health”: the dimension of well-being that stems from relationships. 

Kasley champions social health as a strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and founder of Social Health Labs, a national nonprofit that empowers community builders. Drawing from over a decade of studying, sharing, and applying the science of human connection, her expertise has been featured in major outlets including the New York Times, Scientific American, and Washington Post, and she pens the Social Health Blog for Psychology Today.

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Timestamps:

02:12 - Defining Social Health
04:02 - The Temple Analogy for Social Health
06:07 - The Importance of Connection for Longevity
00:10:01 - Assessing Social Health as a Positive Indicator
00:13:13 - Characteristics of Social Health
00:15:28 - Diverse Ties and Their Importance
00:19:12 - The Role of Casual Interactions
00:21:45 - Framework for Assessing Social Health
00:25:52 - Strategies for Strengthening Social Muscles
00:27:08 - Making Social Health a Priority
00:30:37 - Connection Preferences and Styles
00:35:02 - Blending Connection Styles
00:37:15 - Loneliness and Its Impact on Health
00:41:29 - Recognizing and Addressing Loneliness
00:44:13 - Localized Types of Loneliness
00:46:45 - Positive Psychology Approach to Social Health
00:47:48 - One Action to Improve Social Health