With a fierce belief in the power of public spaces to connect people, Krista champions an approach to urban design that emphasizes love over fear, encouraging communities to build environments that are open, welcoming, and reflective of their unique character.

In an age defined by digital interactions and increasing isolation, Dr. Richard Kyte's work offers a vital reminder: true human connection thrives in shared spaces. More than just physical locations, these "third places"—the coffee shops, parks, and community centers outside of our homes and workplaces—are the lifeblood of our social fabric.

Dr. Kyte, a thought leader and educator, illuminates the transformative power of these often-overlooked spaces in his book, "Finding Your Third Place: The Art of Making Room for Friends." He argues that these informal settings are crucial for our mental and emotional well-being, serving as metaphorical hubs for building meaningful relationships. "True connection isn’t about the space you occupy, it’s about how you engage with the people around you," he emphasizes.

His insights challenge us to reevaluate how we design our environments, from our cities to our personal lives. By focusing on hospitality, interdependence, and the cultivation of genuine interactions, Dr. Kyte encourages us to create spaces where we can meet, support, and grow together. He reminds us that "the deepest friendships arise when people go through real struggles together," and it is through these shared experiences that we truly connect and thrive.

Join us as we delve into Dr. Kyte's wisdom and explore how we can redesign our social fabric, one "third place" at a time.

Risa Wilkerson is a pioneer in the field of community health and design, dedicated to creating spaces that foster connection, inclusivity, and well-being.

Through her work with Healthy Places by Design, Risa has become a leading voice in advocating for spaces that nurture relationships, embrace diversity, and promote joy. 

Her dedication to building communities where people feel seen, heard, and valued is not just professional - it’s personal.

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.

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.

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.