In this reflective end-of-year episode of Speak Easy Doctors, Dr. D and Dr. J explore a question many of us are quietly carrying: what happened to real human connection? Framed around sociologist Robert Putnam’s influential concept of Bowling Alone, the conversation examines the steady decline of social capital—our shared sense of community, trust, and meaningful engagement with one another.
This discussion is a thoughtful analysis of how factors such as risk and fears of opposing persepctives, media, and digital convenience have reshaped the way we relate. From the loss of “third spaces” like libraries, coffee shops, and community centers to the rise of attention and digital capital, Dr. D and Dr. J unpack how modern life has quietly trained us to connect less while scrolling more.
Ultimately, this conversation is not about nostalgia for the past, but about possibility for the future. With warmth, humor, and humility, Dr. D and Dr. J argue that human connection is a muscle—one that can be rebuilt through intention, presence, and shared spaces that honor our need to belong. As they close out the year, they leave listeners with a gentle but powerful reminder: no digital substitute can replace the healing, regulating, and deeply human experience of sitting across from another person and being seen.
