Join us as we tackle the growing issue of loneliness, and our deeply human need to belong alongside huge topics like mental health, autism and discrimination. W...
Season 3 Episode 10 - Loneliness in the TikTok generation
How do social media and our interaction with our phones impact our loneliness? In this special episode of We Are Lonely, our host Ali Walker talks to Dr Daniel Suraklim about the positives and negatives of social media in our search for connection. Daniel works for the World Health Organisation's commission on social connection and discusses some burning questions we all want to know about the impact of social media like “Is social media actually making us more lonely?”
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27:10
Season 3 Episode 9 - Loneliness and Disability
Living with physical disability can be isolating both physically and emotionally. What can we do to stay connected to other people when we’re facing physical barriers? In her early twenties Rhiannon developed a disability that had far reaching impacts on her life experience. Being bedridden and unable to connect with friends in person saw her struggle to maintain a lifestyle she’d loved as a teenager. In this episode of We Are Lonely, Rhiannon meets up with counsellor and mentor Tessa Blenclowe. Together they work out how to have difficult, honest conversations and reach out to people when you’ve drifted apart.
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32:06
Season 3 Episode 8 - Loneliness and Creativity
Being a musician, an artist or a writer is a beautiful thing, but the hard road to creative success can also become lonely. Josie’s a singer songwriter who’s excited to be following her passion. She’s also experienced the loneliness that can come with creating something personal. When this is mixed with a chronic illness, finding the energy to constantly push yourself out there can be daunting. In this episode of We Are Lonely, Josie meets with the creative icon Kween Kong and they explore how isolation can be a curse and a gift in pursuit of creative expression. Kween also gives Josie some insights into how to cross over the threshold between aspiring artist and a creative career.
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32:50
Season 3 Episode 7 - Loneliness and Autism
Being neurodivergent isn’t the same for everyone. For Orin, the experience of Autism (ASD) has meant that social connection has always been challenging. As a non-binary and polyamorous person, Orin always felt the need to mask and ‘play the game’ in order to fit in. Their struggle with trusting people has also created more barriers to connection. In this episode of We Are Lonely, Orin talks to psychologist Dr James Van Cuylenburg and explores how finding authentic expression has changed the way they interact with the world and with themselves.
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32:53
Season 3 Episode 6 - Loneliness and Finding Our Tribe
If your friends have different values to you, you may love them, but still feel a sense of loneliness. Gurnoor spent most of her teenage years seeking out people who were like her culturally, even if they didn’t connect on a deeper personal level. Now in her early twenties, Gurnoor is studying psychology and she’s ready to find her people. In this episode of We Are Lonely, Gurnoor meets with Dr Quah Ee Ling, an academic and activist who helps broaden ideas around community and connection.
Join us as we tackle the growing issue of loneliness, and our deeply human need to belong alongside huge topics like mental health, autism and discrimination. We’re seeing the issue of loneliness grow all around the world, and while we may think of loneliness as something that mainly impacts older generations, research shows that 18-34 year olds are most likely to be affected. And yes it’s sometimes to do with phones and social media, but there’s more to it than that. It’s about how we interact with the world around us.
So we’ve found nine very different young adults who are searching for connection in their lives. We’ve paired them each with a mentor who’ll give them insights and strategies to combat loneliness and navigate their way beyond. From ADHD and times of transition; to migration and childhood grief; each participant will explore an area of their lives that is causing them to feel lonely.
Our mentors include Ru Paul superstar, Kween Kong; Counsellor and Artist Tessa Blenclowe; Academic and Fire Dragon Feminist Dr Quah Ee Ling; and Psychologist and Podcaster James Van Cuylenburg. Our host is Human Connection Scientist, Dr Ali Walker and we also speak with World Health Organisation and University of Sydney Researcher Dr Daniel Surkalim.
We Are Lonely is funded as part of Medibank’s ten year initiative to combat loneliness.
Australia