The Lonely Era — Why We Struggle to Connect and How to Change That

In this episode of The Quest for Self, we dive into what I call The Lonely Era — a time when we’re more “connected” than ever through social media, yet so many of us quietly struggle with loneliness and isolation. We reflect on how everyday moments of human connection — a smile from a barista, a quick chat with a neighbor, or even a random conversation with a stranger — can completely shift how we feel. We’ll talk about why life in places like Spain feels naturally more connected compared to California, and how the U.S. Surgeon General has even declared loneliness a public health epidemic, with risks as serious as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. More importantly, we share simple, practical ways to feel more ...