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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 podcasts@axios.com. You can send questions, comments and story ideas as a text or voice memo to Niala at 202-918-4893.

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