We now have solid evidence that social connection is vital to our wellbeing and as crucial to our health as our diet and exercise. So is our modern divided world making us sick?  In this week’s episode Niall is joined by David Robson, science journalist and author of ‘The Laws of Connection’. We are living in times of great tension that is only exacerbated by our reliance on social media. Unfortunately, this is pushing us further and further away from each other, creating a deficit in our most basic needs as social beings. In his new book, David Robson explains the psychological barriers that are preventing us from forming strong and meaningful connections, along with strategies to overcome our social awkwardness. Niall and David discuss how connection feels really lost in the world right now, along with how algorithms are driving us apart. They also discuss how powerful connection can be in changing the course of our lives and the ways we can push ourselves outside of our comfort zone to begin building a more connected existence.  If you would like to donate to The Rising challenge:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/x6dc29-we-need-your-help  For more mindfulness content check out Niall’s Patreon. https://www.patreon.com/niallbreslin Follow Niall on IG @bressie, TikTok @niallbreslin, FB @whereismymindpodcast and Twitter @nbrez and visit his website: www.niallbreslin.com. Click this link for a list of current sponsors and discount codes for this show and all Lemonada shows lemonadamedia.com/sponsors. Stay up to date with Lemonada Media on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram at @LemonadaMedia. If you or someone you know is struggling emotionally or feeling hopeless, it’s important to talk to someone about it now. You can contact one of the resources below for free.  In Ireland/U.K.: https://www.samaritans.org/ In the U.S.: https://988lifeline.org/  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.