In this episode of Rediscovering Connection, I sit down with Professor Corey Keyes - renowned sociologist, pioneering mental health researcher, and author of “Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down.” Corey shares the real story behind his work on languishing and flourishing, the power of social fitness, and why connection is far more than counting friends or likes. We explore: ✅ Why social wellbeing is always the hardest to achieve - and the most overlooked key to happiness ✅ Flourishing vs. mental health: why “feeling fine” is not enough ✅ The science of meaningful relationships: quality over quantity, every single time ✅ Social fitness - what it is, and why it matters as much as physical or spiritual fitness ✅ Friendship, loneliness, and the complex path back to real connection ✅ Corey’s own story - healing trauma, building community, and the messy beauty of connection in everyday life. If you’ve ever felt disconnected - even with a full social feed - or wondered how to nurture deep, lasting relationships, this conversation with Corey Keyes may transform the way you understand social health. 🎙️ Tune in for honest stories, science-backed wisdom, and practical advice on flourishing in our complex, fast-paced world. Timestamps [00:00] – Intro: Meet Professor Corey Keyes and the truth about social wellbeing [04:15] – Why quality beats quantity in relationships—social media myths and real-life loneliness [08:30] – Connection, trauma, and healing: Corey’s personal journey [13:20] – Flourishing demystified: how mental health is much more than the absence of illness [18:45] – Social fitness, group fear, and building community after setbacks [25:10] – Why it’s so hard to reconnect—and how grief opens the door to new connections [31:30] – Practical ways to curate your life with meaningful reminders and moments [37:00] – Teaching happiness: embracing both sadness and joy [41:20] – Spiritual fitness, vulnerability, and finding friendship in unexpected places [47:55] – What makes connection worth rediscovering—messy, real, and lifegiving [54:00] – Closing inspiration: connection isn’t perfect, but it’s always worth the work Links Find Corey Keyes: Book: “Languishing: How to Feel Alive Again in a World That Wears Us Down” (Audible, Bookshop, Amazon) Academic research: Google Scholar (Corey Keyes) Connect with Host Shelley Doyle Website: The Communiverse https://www.thecommuniverse.com/ LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/shelleydoyle I hope this conversation inspires you to rediscover connection in your life, and to design for it on purpose. About Your Host Hello, I'm Shelley Doyle, host of the Rediscovering Connection podcast, Researcher and Social Wealth Strategist. My research explores how our social connections shape our social health, leadership and everyday life, grounded in five years of applied research with more than 1,200 remote and hybrid leaders. Social Wealth Activation is my signature programme to help leaders navigating new teams or new towns go from feeling unseen or unsupported to socially wealthy, by activating the relationships that matter most. Find where you sit on the Social Wealth Continuum with a short quiz. The Social Health in Professional Leadership Certification is for HR and communications leaders ready to embed social health into company culture. Discover what loneliness could be costing your organisation with the Cost Calculator. Find me on LinkedIn To hear when new episodes drop, you can subscribe to my newsletter, or explore recent episodes.
