The chemistry of connection

The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Vox Media Podcast Network

Society & Culture, News, Politics, News Commentary, Philosophy

4.6 • 10.8K Ratings

🗓️ 27 April 2023

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Could our brains make us less lonely? Sean Illing talks with psychiatrist and author Julie Holland, whose new book Good Chemistry takes on the crisis of disconnectedness we face today. They discuss the brain chemistry of attachment and human connection, how psychedelics can be used both in therapeutic contexts and to help us feel more connected to others, and the toll that this crisis of isolation can take on us — emotionally, physically, and spiritually. Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area Guest: Julie Holland, MD (@BellevueDoc), psychiatrist; medical advisor to MAPS; author References: Good Chemistry: The Science of Connection from Soul to Psychedelics by Julie Holland (Harper; 2022) "Work and the Loneliness Epidemic" by Vivek Murthy (Harvard Business Review; Sept. 26, 2017) "Loneliness in U.S. Subsides From Pandemic High" by Dan Witters (Gallup; Apr. 4) The Red Book by Carl Jung (written from 1914–1930; pub. Norton; 2009) "People would rather be electrically shocked than left alone with their thoughts" by Nadia Whitehead (Science; July 3, 2014) "Mammalian central nervous system trace amines" by Mark D. Berry (Journal of Neurochemistry; vol. 90 (2), July 2004) "The connection between oxytocin and autism, explained" by Peter Hess (Spectrum; Jan. 6, 2022) Moody Bitches by Julie Holland (Penguin; 2016) "Youth Suicide Risk Increased Over Past Decade" by Farzana Akkas (Pew; Mar. 3) "MAPS predicts FDA approval for MDMA-assisted therapy in 2024" by Brian Buntz (Drug Discovery & Development ; Jan. 27) "Psychedelics May Be Part of U.S. Medicine Sooner Than You Think" by Jamie Ducharme (TIME; Feb. 8) Alex & Allyson Grey "Can magic mushrooms unlock depression?" by Dr. Rosalind Watts (Medium; Feb. 28, 2022) How Psychedelics Can Help Save the World by Stephen Gray; foreword by Julie Holland (Park Street Books; 2022) Enjoyed this episode? Rate The Gray Area ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of The Gray Area. Subscribe in your favorite podcast app. Support The Gray Area by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts This episode was made by: Producer: Erikk Geannikis Engineer: Patrick Boyd Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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1:06.4	at crackin.com forward slash support proof, not investment advice. Crypto trading involves
1:12.1	risk of loss. There's a paradox at the heart of modern life. On the one hand, we're more connected
1:20.4	to each other than ever through digital technology. And on the other hand, we're more lonely.
1:28.5	The pandemic was a high watermark for this, no doubt. But years before the pandemic,
1:34.5	people were talking about an epidemic of loneliness in America. In 2010, 40% of Americans
1:41.8	reported feeling lonely, which was about double what it was in the 1980s. And in a gallop survey
1:48.2	from February of this year, it's still estimated that 44 million Americans are dealing with significant
1:54.5	loneliness. So, why is that? Technology is a big part of it, but it's not the whole story.
2:06.8	The opportunities for real-life connection are still there. And yet so many of us feel as alone
2:13.0	as ever. You can see it in our private lives and in our politics. Whatever's going on,
2:19.9	we've got to figure out how we got here. And more importantly, how we can move forward.
2:29.4	I'm Sean Elling, and this is The Grey Area.
2:36.3	My guest today is Dr. Julie Holland. She's a psychiatrist and author whose new book is called
	...

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