Why Brains Need Friends w/ Dr. Ben Rein

About this episode

Scott interviews Dr. Ben Rein about the neuroscience of social connection and the importance of relationships for mental well-being.

This week, Scott sits down with Dr. Ben Rein, a Stanford neuroscientist and one of today’s most engaging science communicators. Dr. Rein has spent over a decade studying the neuroscience of social interaction, and his new book, Why Brains Need Friends: The Neuroscience of Social Connection , explores how our relationships shape our minds and well-being. Together, they dive into the science of why humans are wired for connection, the growing epidemic of loneliness, and how social interactions influence the brain. They also unpack the neurobiology of empathy—what it is, how it works, and whether we can actually train ourselves to become more empathetic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info .

People in this episode

Host: Scott

Guest: Dr. Ben Rein

Topics covered

• neuroscience
• social connection
• loneliness
• empathy
• relationships

Keywords

• neuroscience
• social interaction
• loneliness
• empathy
• relationships

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Stanford

Books & works: Why Brains Need Friends: The Neuroscience of Social Connection

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