TED Talks
The power of gaming together in a lonely world | Laura Miele
Can gaming with friends help combat loneliness? Laura Miele, the president of EA Entertainment & Technology, dives into how video games unite millions worldwide in a vibrant network of social hubs. With personal stories, research and a...
TED Talks
Why social health is key to happiness and longevity | Kasley Killam
You know it's important to take care of your physical and mental health. But what about your social health? Social scientist Kasley Killam shows how feeling a sense of belonging and connection has concrete benefits to your overall health...
TED-Ed
TED-Ed: How some friendships last — and others don’t | Iseult Gillespie
Friendships can change how we see and move through the world. They can boost our academic performance, help us deal with setbacks, and even improve our health. And the relationships we form in adolescence can shape our beliefs, values,...
TED Talks
TED: Why friendship can be just as meaningful as romantic love | Rhaina Cohen
We tend to consider romantic partners and family ties to be our most important relationships, but deep friendships can be just as meaningful. In a perspective-shifting talk, author Rhaina Cohen introduces us to the people unsettling...
PBS
Why a growing number of American men say they are in a ‘friendship recession’
American men are stuck in what’s been dubbed a friendship recession, with 20 percent of single men now saying they don’t have any close friends. More than half of all men report feeling unsatisfied with the size of their friend groups....
SciShow
Your Best Friend Probably Smells Like You
The microbes that crawl all over us give us our unique scents. And research shows that not only do we prefer our own, but we tend to choose friends with a similar smell.
TED Talks
TED: 3 ways to better connect with your coworkers | Mark T. Rivera
Connecting with the people you work with doesn't just make your team stronger — it's good for you too. Whether you've just joined a new organization or you're managing a remote team, these three tips from collaboration expert Mark T....
PBS
Researchers find strong relationships protect long-term health and happiness
A decades-long Harvard study has concluded that good relationships and close friendships are the key to lifelong health and happiness. Ali Rogin speaks with Dr. Robert Waldinger, a clinical professor of psychiatry at Harvard Medical...
PBS
An Essay On The Importance Of Interracial Friendships
In a year when racism has been front and center in Americans’ minds, how can we break out of our own orbits to understand the life experiences of other people -- especially those of other races? Author and journalist Christine Pride...
TED Talks
Emily Nagoski: How couples can sustain a strong sexual connection for a lifetime
As a sex educator, Emily Nagoski is often asked: How do couples sustain a strong sexual connection over the long term? In this funny, insightful talk, she shares her answer -- drawing on (somewhat surprising) research to reveal why some...
PBS
The Bronies Phenomenon
You might assume that the animated TV series "My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic" is for little girls, but Bronies - adult men who sincerely LOVE the show, and aren't afraid to admit it - would differ. Many people are baffled, even...
TED Talks
Nicholas Christakis: How social networks predict epidemics
After mapping humans' intricate social networks, Nicholas Christakis and colleague James Fowler began investigating how this information could better our lives. Now, he reveals his hot-off-the-press findings: These networks can be used...
TED Talks
How compassion could save your strained relationships | Betty Hart
When personal relationships and ideological differences collide, the result can lead to strained relations -- or even years of silence and distance. Actor Betty Hart offers an alternative to cold shoulders and haughty hellos: compassion,...
TED Talks
TED: How to connect with depressed friends | Bill Bernat
Want to connect with a depressed friend but not sure how to relate to them? Comedian and storyteller Bill Bernat has a few suggestions. Learn some dos and don'ts for talking to people living with depression -- and handle your next...
TED Talks
TED: How we can face the future without fear, together | Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks
It's a fateful moment in history. We've seen divisive elections, divided societies and the growth of extremism -- all fueled by anxiety and uncertainty. "Is there something we can do, each of us, to be able to face the future without...
TED Talks
TED: Free yourself from your filter bubbles | Joan Blades and John Gable
Joan Blades and John Gable want you to make friends with people who vote differently than you do. A pair of political opposites, the two longtime pals know the value of engaging in honest conversations with people you don't immediately...
TED Talks
Priya Parker: 3 steps to turn everyday get-togethers into transformative gatherings
Why do some gatherings take off and others don't? Author Priya Parker shares three easy steps to turn your parties, dinners, meetings and holidays into meaningful, transformative gatherings.
TED Talks
TED: How our friendship survives our opposing politics | Caitlin Quattromani and Lauran Arledge
Can you still be friends with someone who doesn't vote the same way as you? For Caitlin Quattromani and Lauran Arledge, two best friends who think very differently about politics, the outcome of the 2016 uS presidential election could...
TED Talks
TED: Why you should talk to strangers | Kio Stark
When you talk to strangers, you're making beautiful interruptions into the expected narrative of your daily life -- and theirs, says Kio Stark. In this delightful talk, Stark explores the overlooked benefits of pushing past our default...
Crash Course
Sula: Crash Course Literature
This week, John is talking about Toni Morrison's novel of friendship, betrayal, and loss, Sula. Sula tells the story of two African American girls, the town where they grew up, the tragic even that was central to their youth, and the...
TED Talks
Nicholas Christakis: The hidden influence of social networks
We're all embedded in vast social networks of friends, family, co-workers and more. Nicholas Christakis tracks how a wide variety of traits -- from happiness to obesity -- can spread from person to person, showing how your location in...
TED Talks
TED: 12 truths I learned from life and writing | Anne Lamott
A few days before she turned 61, writer Anne Lamott decided to write down everything she knew for sure. She dives into the nuances of being a human who lives in a confusing, beautiful, emotional world, offering her characteristic...
Crash Course
Family Obligations: Crash Course Philosophy
Today we are investigating our moral obligations to our parents and our families. Do we owe our parents anything as adults? Would it be a good idea to license parents? We’ll explore these questions as well as the ethics of care, and some...
TED Talks
TED: The secret to living longer may be your social life | Susan Pinker
The Italian island of Sardinia has more than six times as many centenarians as the mainland and ten times as many as North America. Why? According to psychologist Susan Pinker, it's not a sunny disposition or a low-fat, gluten-free diet...