According to the Surgeon General, about one in two American adults report experiencing loneliness. As self-help voices continue cropping up in every corner of the internet on staving off loneliness and finding happiness, Laurie Santos of Yale--host of The Happiness Lab podcast--brings a scientific perspective. She says research tell us we're bad at knowing what makes us feel good, but that getting better at it could have far-reaching consequences for society as a whole: "Ultimately, social connection really needs to be our bottom line in terms of public health." Finding connection in lonely times: Why it may matter more than we ever realized. Plus, a push for loneliness legislation. And, intergenerational friendship as a meaningful--but less common--type of social connection. Guests: Laurie Santos, professor of psychology at Yale University and host of The Happiness Lab podcast; Erica Pandey, author of the Axios Finish Line newsletter Credits: 1 big thing is produced by Niala Boodhoo, Alexandra Botti, Alex Sugiura, and Fonda Mwangi. Music is composed by Alex Sugiura. You can reach us at [email protected]. You can send questions, comments and story ideas as a text or voice memo to Niala at 202-918-4893. Axios House Dubai COP28 Events Schedule Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices