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Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy

#1199 Criticizing a society that breeds depression

Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy

Jay Tomlinson

Politics, News, News Commentary

4.53.4K Ratings

🗓️ 31 July 2018

⏱️ 62 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Air Date: 7/31/2018

Today we take a look at some causes of depression that our society tends to look away from. Instead of focusing only on chemical imbalances, it seems wise to look outside ourselves at the circumstances we find ourselves in and ask how much our surrounding effect what goes on inside

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SHOW NOTES

Ch. 1: Johann Hari, author of Lost Connections, on how modern society is making us depressed - The Ezra Klein Show - Air Date 4-16-18

Johann Hari, author of Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions, advances an argument both radical and obvious: Depression and anxiety are more than just chemical imbalances in the brain. They are the result of our social environments, our relationships, our political contexts, etc.

Ch. 2: Anton Chekhov and the complicated struggles of life - Ideas - Air Date 1-3-18

Anton Chekhov and the complicated struggles of life.

Ch. 3: Johann Hari explains why disconnection is at the center of depression and anxiety today - @ThisisHell - Air Date 1-31-18

Johann Hari, author of “Lost Connections: Uncovering the Real Causes of Depression – and the Unexpected Solutions”, explains why disconnection is at the center of depression and anxiety today.

Ch. 4: Viktor Frankl on searching for meaning - Ideas - Air Date 1-3-18

Viktor Frankl on finding meaning in life, even in the face of meaningless suffering.

Ch. 5: Escape from suffering - Progressive Faith Sermons w @RevDrRay - Air Date 7-9-18

Dr Roger Ray explores some of the ailments of our society that keep so many of us from happiness.

Ch. 6: Final comments on understanding the true nature of Aloha and its power to fight the forces of fear

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MUSIC:

  • Opening Theme: Loving Acoustic Instrumental by John Douglas Orr
  • The Cast and Favor - Bayou Birds (Blue Dot Sessions)
  • Lead Shroud - Wax Museum (Blue Dot Sessions)
  • Around Plastic Card Tables - Desert Orchard (Blue Dot Sessions)
  • Waltz and Fury - Macrame (Blue Dot Sessions)
  • Voicemail Music: Low Key Lost Feeling Electro by Alex Stinnent
  • Closing Music: Upbeat Laid Back Indie Rock by Alex Stinnent

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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Transcript

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0:00.0

This program is made possible by the members and donors to the show to support the work

0:06.6

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0:10.4

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0:16.3

best of left or visit the contribute tab at bestofleft.com.

0:20.9

Now welcome to this episode of the award-winning best of left podcast in which we shall explore

0:25.2

some of the aspects of modern society that are exacerbating the epidemic of depression

0:30.9

as well as look at some of people's long-standing searches for meaning.

0:35.1

Clips today come from the Ezra Klein show, Ideas from the CBC, This is Hell and a portion

0:41.4

of a progressive 8th sermon from Dr. Roger Ray.

0:44.2

So I've read the book and I realized something about it.

0:54.3

This isn't actually a book about depression, is it?

0:57.1

What do you mean?

0:58.1

That's not what it's about.

0:59.1

Tell me more.

1:00.1

This is a book about our society is screwed up.

1:02.7

Is it not?

1:03.7

I think the fact that our society is screwed up is what's made us depressed and anxious

1:06.9

to a really significant degree.

1:08.9

So I think they're interconnected, but I think that's a fair point actually.

1:12.2

It's a diagnosis of what's going on with our culture that's made so many of us feel so

1:16.0

bad.

1:17.0

I mean, it felt to me reading this that you had snuck in a genuinely thorough growing

...

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