Modern culture often prioritizes individualism and material gain, yet our biological survival has always depended on being hyper-collective. This shift has resulted in a decline in life expectancy and a surge in "deaths by despair" caused by a lack of communal meaning.

Dr. Dacher Keltner joins the show to discuss the physical reality of our emotions. He shares how the "self" vanishes during ecstatic experiences, providing a sense of liberation that actually lowers stress. From the evolutionary necessity of touch to the way music creates a porous boundary between people, we explore the science of feeling united.

• The evolutionary basis for human cooperation and why we are wired to share resources with strangers.
• Understanding the vagus nerve as the body's internal system for calming the heart and improving digestion.
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