Are you neglecting your social health without realising it? We know connection is the often-forgotten pillar of wellbeing and longevity – but how much of a difference does it truly make to your physical and mental health? More than you might think. Join me in Episode #317 as I sit down with Kasley Killam, a leading expert in social health, to discover the science behind why relationships are so critical to our wellbeing.
“We absolutely need to be intentional and thoughtful about connection and about our social lives in the same way that we might be intentional and thoughtful about the foods that we eat… it’s essential, it’s not just a nice to have.”
Kasley Killam, MPH, is a leading expert in social health and author of The Art and Science of Connection: Why Social Health is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier. As a graduate of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, sought-after advisor and keynote speaker, and founder of Social Health Labs, Killam has been improving global well-being through connection for over a decade. Her collaborations with organisations like Google, the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the World Economic Forum contribute to building more socially healthy products, workplaces, and communities.
“Just like physical health is multidimensional, our social health is as well.”
In this episode, Kasley Killam paints a comprehensive picture of the importance of social health and how you can foster it. You’ll learn how connection affects physical and mental health, what good social health is, and how to achieve it. We also discuss what to do about difficult relationships, how to build a strong relationship with yourself, how to be a good friend, and much more.
If social health feels like another chore on a long to-do list, you’ll also benefit from Kasley Killam’s guidance on how to fit intentional connection into a busy schedule.
Specifically, we cover:
- Introduction to Kasley Killam and Her New Book (00:00)
- What is Social Health? (03:11)
- The Importance of Social Health (06:17)
- Mechanisms Linking Social Health and Physical Health (11:04)
- Practical Tips to Boost Your Social Health (16:48)
- Overcoming Challenges & Misconceptions About Social Health (20:44)
- Personal Practices and Experiments (22:29)
- Building and Assessing Social Health (34:32)
- The Decline of Friendships and Social Health (44:32)
- Impact of Technology on Social Connections (47:10)
- Work Trends and Social Health (49:11)
- Public Health and Social Health Innovations (50:12)
- Fostering Social Health in the Corporate World (54:11)
- Decode Your Social Health Style (01:00:37)
- Self-Compassion and Building a Relationship with Yourself (01:15:04)
- Envisioning a Socially Healthy Future (01:22:08)
- Conclusion and Final Thoughts (01:23:37)
Connection can be one of the most enriching and rewarding pillars of health. I hope this episode inspires you to check in with yourself, engage in your relationships with intention, and reflect on how you can better meet your social health needs. Thank you to Kasley Killam for sharing her expertise in today’s conversation.
Head to https://www.kasleykillam.com/ to learn more about Kasley Killam’s work and purchase her new book, The Art and Science of Connection. Connect with her on Instagram, Twitter/X, and LinkedIn, and subscribe to her newsletter here.
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More about Kasley Killam, MPH
Kasley Killam, MPH, is a leading expert in social health and author of The Art and Science of Connection: Why Social Health is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier. As a graduate of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, sought-after advisor and keynote speaker, and founder of Social Health Labs, Killam has been improving global well-being through connection for over a decade. Her collaborations with organisations like Google, the US Department of Health and Human Services, and the World Economic Forum contribute to building more socially healthy products, workplaces, and communities. Killam’s insights can be found in outlets such as the New York Times, Scientific American, Psychology Today, and Washington Post. Connect at www.kasleykillam.com.
