This is a very special Best Of podcast episode, taking the best pieces from Season 2 and stich them together into one episode!

We talk with architects, psychologist, designers, activists, writers, urban planners – a host of amazing community changemakers on season two and we weave all of those together for you all. We start with a basic understanding of what is loneliness, social health, and social capital and why is it so important?

Then we dive into office spaces, public places, housing, and more – exploring examples from across the globe as to what types of design strategies and approaches foster social connection and combat loneliness.

I speak with Mario Luis Small, PhD. Dr. Small is Grafstein Family Professor in the Department of Sociology at Harvard University. He is the son of an architect and has published award-winning articles and books on topics such as social connection, urban poverty, personal networks, and more. His books include Villa Victoria, Unanticipated Gains, and Someone To Talk To.

We discuss… A Place of Connection for Him Growing Up [02:56] What are Social Capital and Social Ties, and Why They are Important [05:47] Bridging versus Bonding Ties [07:57] How Social Ties Impact Our Health and Overall Well-being [09:25] Self-Care versus Caring for Others [14:43] How Nature of our Social Connections Changed During the Pandemic [18:08] Do Fewer Connections Mean Deeper Connections? [24:27] Places where He Feels the Environment Has Impacted the Connections of Communities [26:45] Networking of Mothers at Childcare Centers [31:20] How Things are Different for Communities of Lower Socioeconomic Status [32:54] What He Wishes Designers Would Consider When Designing for Social Connection [35:48] Closing Remarks [38:33]

How can a one-day event spark lasting change? How can community design be open sourced? What should we be measuring if we want to gauge positive change?

I talk with transportation and placemaking expert, Andrew Howard about his experiences doing just this with Team Better Block. Andrew is the director of placemaking at WGI, a national design and professional services firm leading in technology-based solutions for the construction of public infrastructure and real estate development. Andrew co-founded Better Block in 2010 as a transportation and placemaking focused public outreach firm that temporarily re-engineers auto-dominated, blighted, and underused urban areas into vibrant centers.

What is the most talked about neighborhood in Austin, TX? The Community First! Village, a 51-acre master planned village that fosters independence, friendship and community in service with the homeless. This innovate residential program, developed by Mobile Loaves & Fishes is rethinking housing and showing amazing results.

Shelby Blessing, AIA is a design architect, impassioned activist and Austin-based design for equity leader, with Page/. She shares stories from years of working with and serving the Community First! Village through design and research.

Katie and I explore how love can be a power to transform the world. Katie shares how she has learned to think about and practice designing with love, and how designers can use love to help dismantle systemic injustices.

“Talking about Love gives us clarity. Love and abuse, or love and racism, or love and discrimination, fundamentally cannot coexist.” - Katie Swenson

This holiday season is unlike any other for most of us. In this episode, I try something a little different, share a little more of myself, and share strategies for navigating loneliness through these holidays. I share stories from listeners who are trying something new this holiday season to stay connected and I share a advice from experts across the landscape of psychology, philosophy and wellbeing.

Have you ever walked into an office and seen a sea of cubicles and wondered - how is anyone supposed to get work done here? How can I have private conversation with colleagues, or collaborative brainstorming session? Or maybe walked into a café and thought, 'where in the world can I tuck out of the way with my toddler so I can still connect with others' (hint: I can relate to that one)? All of that is related to this concept of Choice and why it is so important in shaping opportunities for social connection. In this episode of Shared Space, Erin Peavey dives into this concept and shares real world architectural and interior design examples.

In Episode 11 of Shared Space, Kati Peditto, an award winning, environmental psychologist and professor. We discuss how social needs change throughout the life span, how to design for impromptu connections, what young adults really want and how to engage them, and what spatial justice has to do with the way we design and how to better listen and advocate for the people using the space

In Episode 10 of Shared Space, I talk with Julianne Holt-Lundstad, who studies social relationships, stress and our health. She is a renowned professor of psychology and neuroscience. Her seminal research identified social isolation and loneliness as risk factors for early death. We discuss how she came to see how the built environment can impact social connection in our everyday lives, and so much more.

In Episode 9 of the Shared Space podcast, Patricia Gruits of MASS design and I explore synergies between designing for COVID-19 and designing for social connection with a special focus on senior living. Understanding the toxic impacts of loneliness and social isolation, designers are looking to help people safety connect. We explore how to design for joy, hope, and connection rather than fear. Not ignoring the dangers, but rather finding the synergies in these.

Digging into one of six attributes to create environments of connection - Human Scale - I interview Thom Grieving of HKS about his team's work that exemplifies what design with human scale can look like at University of California at San Diego. They thoughtfully embedded considerations around social health and social connection, considering community health and wellness as key aims.

In this episode, Maya and I explore how the built environment can foster justice, equity, diversity and inclusion – how often it’s purposefully designed to exclude and how we can change that. Maya’s journey to create Chicago Mobile Makers started off with two questions - 1. How can we diversity the design profession? 2. How can we improve disinvested communities? And, can those two things happen simultaneously? As her and her colleagues at Chicago Mobile Makers look to this next school semester in the face of COVID-19, the mobile maker has some very special things in store that are uniquely positioned to benefit Chicago area youth. If you want to learn more about here or her work please check out the links below to her website, Chicago Mobile Maker’s Website and their recent feature in Dwell Magazine.

We discuss the importance of designing accessible and inclusive places of connection. When we use universal design principles that honor the human experience, we are creating more inclusive, equitable and welcoming places for all people. I share an example from my own practice working with clients to create spaces that are accessible for the people they serve, like the new clinic at Parkland Hospital.

I speak with acclaimed author, researcher, TEDx speaker, and professor of environmental psychology, Dr. Colin Ellard.

Part 2: On the second half of our two-part episode, Colin and I explore research around what small tweaks can shape how we evaluate and want to connect with others, difference between what people think will make them happy and what they want, vs. what actually makes us happy in our home environments, and lastly he leaves us with what he hopes we consider in design and beyond.

This excerpt explores the concept of "third places," those informal public spaces distinct from home and work where people gather, socialize, and build connections. Sociologist Ray Oldenburg identified these spaces as crucial for fostering social capital, well-being, and a sense of community.

From ancient sites like Stonehenge to modern coffee shops, third places provide opportunities for relaxation, play, and casual interaction. Research suggests they offer emotional support, combat loneliness, and even bolster recovery from mental illness.

Unfortunately, the very fabric of these community spaces is threatened by closures. The report argues for the importance of advocating for and designing these spaces, both physically and virtually, to strengthen social connection and combat modern-day isolation.

A 2020 Cigna survey showed that more than three in five working American adults are lonely, and rising numbers report feeling left out, is understood or as though they lack companionship. These findings contribute to the sense that we are facing a “loneliness epidemic,” as described by former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Loneliness and social isolation have been linked to sleep loss, ill health, dementia, premature death, and even heartbreak—literally.

A 2020 Cigna survey showed that more than three in five working American adults are lonely, and rising numbers report feeling left out, is understood or as though they lack companionship. These findings contribute to the sense that we are facing a “loneliness epidemic,” as described by former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy. Loneliness and social isolation have been linked to sleep loss, ill health, dementia, premature death, and even heartbreak—literally.

We understand the deleterious effects of loneliness and social isolation, and this podcast will lean into those, while also exploring how physical spaces can make us feel more connected and less lonely. We share research-informed guidelines on how to use space to foster connection, social health and well-being. And we will be sharing examples of spaces and strategies that work!