90: Rebuilding Belonging: The Power of Strengthening Our Social Muscles

Our latest LiveWell podcast episode features an inspiring and deeply insightful conversation with Kasley Killam, a leading expert in social health and author of The Art and Science of Connection: Why Social Health is the Missing Key to Living Longer, Healthier, and Happier Lives. Kasley shares her personal journey from being a curious psychology student to becoming a nationally recognized voice on the power of human connection. Drawing from her work with Social Health Labs, global field research, and her own experiences as an empath and introvert, Kasley explores why social health is emerging as a critical pillar of well-being alongside physical and mental health.Her insights are grounded in both research and lived experience—from her transformative “108 Days of Kindness” project to her work with cities like Barcelona and Paris to strengthen community connection. Throughout the episode, Kasley highlights the urgent need to rebuild social ties in a time of widespread loneliness, and she offers practical, hopeful pathways forward.In this episode, we discuss:How Kasley discovered “social health” and why it is becoming a global movementHer four strategies for strengthening our “social muscles” The 5-3-1 guideline for building meaningful and sustainable relationshipsThe influence of built environments—from LA to Bhutan—on our ability to connectHow students and communities can create a culture of belonging The role of AI in modern connection, and why diversity of social ties mattersThe power of intentionality, kindness, and community-led initiatives in creating a thriving societyWhether you’re a student, educator, policymaker, or anyone searching for ways to strengthen your connections and improve well-being, this episode offers actionable tools, uplifting stories, and a powerful vision for a more connected world.Resources:Book: https://www.kasleykillam.com/social-health-bookWebsite: https://www.kasleykillam.com/Listen now and subscribe for more stories that challenge conventional thinking and inspire holistic well-being.Today’s podcast was brought to you by UCLA’s Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center. It really means a lot to our team when you rate and review LiveWell on your preferred listening platform. Thank you so much for supporting our storytelling. We also have links in the show notes on our website at healthy.ucla.edu/livewellpodcast. If you have any questions or want to suggest a guest to be interviewed, please reach out at: [email protected]. To stay up to date with our latest podcasts, make sure to follow us on Instagram @LiveWell_UCLA!

“It is possible to believe that all the past is but the beginning of a beginning… the twilight of the dawn.” – H.G. WellsBut how do we shape what comes next—and prepare for futures we can’t yet see?Join us for a compelling episode of the UCLA LiveWell podcast featuring Dr. Andy Hines — futurist, professor at the University of Houston, and expert in strategic foresight.Andy guides us through:🔭 How to scan for signals and build stories about the future.🧠 Why vision is the antidote to chaos and uncertainty.🐸 The role of “frogs”—those who bridge foresight and organizational reality.🧩 How stealth strategies can embed future thinking in resistant cultures.Whether you're navigating change or dreaming big, this episode will help you think ahead with clarity and purpose.🎧 Tune in and explore how strategic foresight can help you live—and lead—with intentionDr. Andy Hines' WebsiteImagining After Capitalism University of Houston Foresight ProgramToday’s podcast was brought to you by UCLA’s Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center. It really means a lot to our team when you rate and review LiveWell on your preferred listening platform. Thank you so much for supporting our storytelling. We also have links in the show notes on our website at healthy.ucla.edu/livewellpodcast. If you have any questions or want to suggest a guest to be interviewed, please reach out at: [email protected]. To stay up to date with our latest podcasts, make sure to follow us on Instagram @LiveWell_UCLA!

Our latest LiveWell podcast episode features an enlightening conversation with Dr. Dan Wildcat, a professor at Haskell Indian Nations University and a profound thinker on Indigenous perspectives of ecology, technology, and community. Dr. Wildcat shares his transformative journey from Sociology to Environmental studies, deeply influenced by his mentor, Vine Deloria Jr. In his book co-authored with Vine Deloria Jr., Power and Place (2001), covers the challenges that Native American students experience throughout educational systems and professions. Additionally, in his most recent book, Red Alert! Saving the Planet with Indigenous Knowledge (2009), Dr. Wildcat uses Native American wisdom and a perspective that is centered in nature for modern solutions to global warming.  In this episode, we discuss:·       His unique approach to understanding the relationship between nature and culture through an Indigenous lens·       The concept of eco-kinship and moving beyond anthropocentric thinking·       His experience writing "Red Alert" and finding hope in the face of climate change challenges·       The power of storytelling, gratitude, and generosity in creating resilient communities·       The importance of reframing technology to enhance life for all living beings, not just human convenienceWhether you're an environmentalist, educator, or anyone interested in Indigenous wisdom and sustainable living, this episode offers profound insights into reimagining our relationship with the natural world. Listen now and subscribe for more stories that challenge conventional thinking and inspire holistic well-being.Today’s podcast was brought to you by UCLA’s Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center. It really means a lot to our team when you rate and review LiveWell on your preferred listening platform. Thank you so much for supporting our storytelling. We also have links in the show notes on our website at healthy.ucla.edu/livewellpodcast. If you have any questions or want to suggest a guest to be interviewed, please reach out at: [email protected]. To stay up to date with our latest podcasts, make sure to follow us on Instagram @LiveWell_UCLA!

Original air date: March 1st, 2023Why is controversy a good thing? What does it mean to have five eyes? Why is there no such thing as spectatorship? This is what we set out to uncover in Part 2 of our Special Series with Peter Sellars, world-renowned theater and opera director. Join us as we discuss imagining new and revolutionary solutions to issues and injustices by centering art and community care. Visit our website to explore other episodes, suggest guests, provide feedback, or invite Wendy to be a guest on your podcast! Today’s podcast was brought to you by UCLA’s Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center. It really means a lot to our team when you rate and review LiveWell on your preferred listening platform. Thank you so much for supporting our storytelling. We also have links in the show notes on our website at healthy.ucla.edu/livewellpodcast. If you have any questions or want to suggest a guest to be interviewed, please reach out at: [email protected]. To stay up to date with our latest podcasts, make sure to follow us on Instagram @LiveWell_UCLA!

Original release date: February 16, 2023. Why were snakes at the original Olympics? How are the arts and sports intimately connected? How did the Greek tragedy come to be? We cover all of these questions in Part 1 of our Special 2 Part Interview  with Peter Sellars. Peter, with his gift of storytelling, takes us on a journey to the Olympics in ancient Greece, where health, theater, and the arts were of equal importance in this celebration of togetherness. Fast forward to today, we look at how arts and sports are both lifelong commitments to navigating struggle in thrilling, liberating, and uniting ways.Visit our website to explore other episodes, suggest guests, provide feedback, or invite Wendy to be a guest on your podcast! Today’s podcast was brought to you by UCLA’s Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center. It really means a lot to our team when you rate and review LiveWell on your preferred listening platform. Thank you so much for supporting our storytelling. We also have links in the show notes on our website at healthy.ucla.edu/livewellpodcast. If you have any questions or want to suggest a guest to be interviewed, please reach out at: [email protected]. To stay up to date with our latest podcasts, make sure to follow us on Instagram @LiveWell_UCLA!

Our latest episode of LiveWell features a powerful conversation with Dr. Eraka Bath, a professor of psychiatry at UCLA and a triple board-certified expert in child, adolescent, adult, and forensic psychiatry. Dr. Bath’s work profoundly impacts youth in the foster care and juvenile legal system, addressing critical issues of racial justice, structural vulnerability, and the path to system transformation.We discuss:Her early exposure to social conditions and structural marginalization through her travels with her mother as a childWhy she was drawn to psychiatry and how this field can be used to address root causes of socioeconomic injusticesIdentifying problems in clinical spaces and finding solutions that extend beyond the doctor-patient relationship to impact structures and policiesHer vision for the future of psychiatry, including the integration of Neuroaesthetics and the Arts into health to enhance well-beingWhether you’re a healthcare professional, an advocate for youth, or anyone interested in the intersection of health, justice, and community, this episode offers profound insights into building a legacy of system transformation.Listen now and subscribe for more stories that elevate purpose-driven leadership.Visit our website to explore other episodes, suggest guests, offer feedback, or invite Wendy to be a guest on your podcast!Today’s podcast was brought to you by UCLA’s Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center. It really means a lot to our team when you rate and review LiveWell on your preferred listening platform. Thank you so much for supporting our storytelling. We also have links in the show notes on our website at healthy.ucla.edu/livewellpodcast. If you have any questions or want to suggest a guest to be interviewed, please reach out at: [email protected]. To stay up to date with our latest podcasts, make sure to follow us on Instagram @LiveWell_UCLA!

Our latest episode of LiveWell is a conversation with Dr. Angela Fentiman. An educator and executive communications leader at UCLA, where we explore how an early introduction to communication in service and civic duties, then roles in energy and education shaped her approach to communication and leadership. From writing speeches for her father, a small-town mayor in Oregon, to managing narratives during utility and infrastructure outages, Dr. Fentiman shares the moments that defined her voice, and the lessons she shares with students and colleagues.We discuss:Her early exposure to public service and speechwritingWhat it means to lead with curiosity, empathy and clarityApproaches to crisis management and what’s at the core of every situationHer dissertation on women in executive political rolesWhy foundational skills like emotional intelligence and interpersonal communication are essential for today's leadersThe connection between living well and leading wellWhether you're a professional communicator, an aspiring leader or simply someone who values thoughtful conversation, this episode will leave you inspired to speak—and live—with intention.Listen now and subscribe for more stories that elevate purpose-driven leadership.Visit our website to explore other episodes, suggest guests, offer feedback, or invite Wendy to be a guest on your podcast! Today’s podcast was brought to you by UCLA’s Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center. It really means a lot to our team when you rate and review LiveWell on your preferred listening platform. Thank you so much for supporting our storytelling. We also have links in the show notes on our website at healthy.ucla.edu/livewellpodcast. If you have any questions or want to suggest a guest to be interviewed, please reach out at: [email protected]. To stay up to date with our latest podcasts, make sure to follow us on Instagram @LiveWell_UCLA!

What if healing didn’t start in a clinic—but in the soil?On the newest episode of LiveWell, we explore how nature, community, and purpose are transforming Veteran care with Dr. Kaitlyn Fruin, UCLA preventive medicine fellow, and Air Force Veteran Cyntrea Cotton, founder of the Veterans Garden Initiative.This inspiring episode reveals: • How therapeutic gardening is easing PTSD, anxiety, and depression for veterans. • Why growing organic food can support whole-person healing—from the inside out. • The challenges and triumphs of reviving a 15-acre clinical garden on VA grounds.Cyntrea shares her personal journey of struggling with panic attacks, isolation, and chronic stress—and how reconnecting with the earth sparked her recovery and purpose. Katie walks us through the science and systems behind food as medicine, highlighting how gardens can be powerful entry points for mental and physical health.If you’ve ever wondered how nature can heal trauma, build community, and restore well-being, this episode will plant a seed.Visit our website to explore other episodes, suggest guests, offer feedback, or invite Wendy to be a guest on your podcast! Episode Resources + Mentions: -       Transcript -       GrowGood-       Restoring The Veterans GardenToday’s podcast was brought to you by UCLA’s Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center. It really means a lot to our team when you rate and review LiveWell on your preferred listening platform. Thank you so much for supporting our storytelling. We also have links in the show notes on our website at healthy.ucla.edu/livewellpodcast. If you have any questions or want to suggest a guest to be interviewed, please reach out at: [email protected]. To stay up to date with our latest podcasts, make sure to follow us on Instagram @LiveWell_UCLA!

Welcome back for Part 2 and a sneak peek into Emily Falk's upcoming book, What We Value? Curious about why we make the choices we do? Want to explore how to make more intentional and fulfilling decisions? In our latest LiveWell episode, Emily Falk unpacks her groundbreaking research in neuroscience, psychology, and communication. Through personal stories and compelling research, she shares:- What makes an effective message and how ideas spread- How to be a more effective communicator- The key ingredients for happiness and well-beingTune in and discover how to approach everyday life with insights from a neuroscientist and a storyteller’s lens. There’s much to reflect on and put into action!More information on her book and to pre-order: https://wwnorton.com/books/9781324037101Catch Part 1 here - https://healthy.ucla.edu/media/livewellpodcast/ep-83/ - where we discussed her research and collaborations exploring key brain systems that influence what we choose and why we choose, our behaviors and forming a value system, and the power of storytelling.Today’s podcast was brought to you by UCLA’s Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center. It really means a lot to our team when you rate and review LiveWell on your preferred listening platform. Thank you so much for supporting our storytelling. We also have links in the show notes on our website at healthy.ucla.edu/livewellpodcast. If you have any questions or want to suggest a guest to be interviewed, please reach out at: [email protected]. To stay up to date with our latest podcasts, make sure to follow us on Instagram @LiveWell_UCLA!

Our latest episode of LiveWell is a two-parter with guest Emily Falk and a preview to her upcoming book, "What We Value". An expert in the science of behavior change, Emily is a Professor of Communication, Psychology, Marketing, and Operations, Information, and Decisions at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Vice Dean of the Annenberg School for Communication. In episode 1, we discuss her research and collaborations exploring key brain systems that influence what we choose and why we choose, our behaviors and forming a value system, and the power of storytelling. In episode 2, we get a preview of her upcoming book, “What We Value”, and go deeper into her research in neuroscience, psychology and communication. Through personal stories and research studies, she examines what makes certain messages influential, how and why ideas spread, what makes an effective communicator and what are key ingredients for happiness and well-being. For those curious about why we choose the things we do, how to explore ways to make more intentional and rewarding choices, and methods of changing behavior and opening perspectives – approaching daily decisions with a neuroscientist and storytelling lens – there’s much to ponder and put into practice. Enjoy this 1st episode - part 2 releasing next week! - and many thanks to Emily for being part of our LiveWell community!Today’s podcast was brought to you by UCLA’s Semel Healthy Campus Initiative Center. It really means a lot to our team when you rate and review LiveWell on your preferred listening platform. Thank you so much for supporting our storytelling. We also have links in the show notes on our website at healthy.ucla.edu/livewellpodcast. If you have any questions or want to suggest a guest to be interviewed, please reach out at: [email protected]. To stay up to date with our latest podcasts, make sure to follow us on Instagram @LiveWell_UCLA!