<p>Men today are spending less time with friends, and many have no close friendships at all. Research shows that this lack of social connection can lead to serious long-term consequences for men's mental and physical health. The answer isn’t just more social interaction. Guys need something deeper: bromance.</p> <p>Dr. Laurie speaks with actor, director, and author <a href="https://andrewmccarthy.com/" data-airgap-id="15">Andrew McCarthy</a> about his book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1538768941?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback" data-airgap-id="16"><em>Who Needs Friends: An Unscientific Examination of Male Friendship Across America</em></a>, and what he learned after reconnecting with the men who shaped his life. She also talks with Harvard behavioral scientist <a href="https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/todd-rogers" data-airgap-id="17">Todd Rogers</a> about why sports fandom can be a surprisingly powerful way for men to build deeper relationships.</p> <p><strong>Experts Mentioned:</strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://andrewmccarthy.com/" data-airgap-id="18">Andrew McCarthy</a>, actor, director, and author</li> <li><a href="https://www.hks.harvard.edu/faculty/todd-rogers" data-airgap-id="19">Todd Rogers</a>, Professor of Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School</li> <li><a href="https://www.julianneholtlunstad.com/" data-airgap-id="20">Julianne Holt-Lunstad</a>, Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience and Director of the Social Connection & Health Lab at Brigham Young University</li> <li><a href="https://www.hbs.edu/faculty/Pages/profile.aspx?facId=326229" data-airgap-id="21">Michael Norton</a>, Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School</li> <li><a href="https://www.saraalgoe.com/" data-airgap-id="22">Sara Algoe</a>, Professor of Psychology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill</li> </ul> <p><strong>Resources Mentioned: </strong></p> <ul> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/1538768941?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback" data-airgap-id="23"><em>Who Needs Friends: An Unscientific Examination of Male Friendship Across America</em></a>, by Andrew McCarthy (2026)</li> <li><a href="https://shorensteincenter.org/research-initiative/fandom-social-connection/" data-airgap-id="24">The Fandom and Social Connection Initiative</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.adultdevelopmentstudy.org/" data-airgap-id="25">Harvard Study of Adult Development</a></li> <li><a href="https://www.amazon.com/dp/0241465435?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallback" data-airgap-id="26"><em>The Ritual Effect: The Transformative Power of Our Everyday Actions</em></a>, by Michael Norton (2024)</li> <li>“<a href="https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/0963721419827272" data-airgap-id="27">Positive Interpersonal Processes</a>,” by Sara Algoe (<em>Current Directions in Psychological Science</em>, 2019)</li> </ul><p>See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.</p>
