Kasley Killam, MPH, is the author of The Art and Science of Connection: Why Social Health is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier (HarperCollins, June 2024). She is a Harvard-trained social scientist, award-winning innovator, and is internationally recognized as a leading expert in “social health”: the dimension of well-being that stems from relationships.

Kasley champions social health as a strategic advisor, keynote speaker, and founder of Social Health Labs, a national nonprofit that empowers community builders. Drawing from over a decade of studying, sharing, and applying the science of human connection, her expertise has been featured in major outlets including the New York Times, Scientific American, and Washington Post, and she pens the Social Health Blog for Psychology Today.

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Timestamps:

02:12 - Defining Social Health 04:02 - The Temple Analogy for Social Health 06:07 - The Importance of Connection for Longevity 00:10:01 - Assessing Social Health as a Positive Indicator 00:13:13 - Characteristics of Social Health 00:15:28 - Diverse Ties and Their Importance 00:19:12 - The Role of Casual Interactions 00:21:45 - Framework for Assessing Social Health 00:25:52 - Strategies for Strengthening Social Muscles 00:27:08 - Making Social Health a Priority 00:30:37 - Connection Preferences and Styles 00:35:02 - Blending Connection Styles 00:37:15 - Loneliness and Its Impact on Health 00:41:29 - Recognizing and Addressing Loneliness 00:44:13 - Localized Types of Loneliness 00:46:45 - Positive Psychology Approach to Social Health 00:47:48 - One Action to Improve Social Health