Skin Hunger

Are you craving touch? Has the pandemic left you touch-deprived? Is touch not your thing? However you answered, there's something in this episode for you. Jordan talks with Sushma Subramanian, author of the new book, How To Feel: The Science and Meaning of Touch, about the incredible power of welcomed touch of all types to make us calmer, happier, less lonely and better illness fighters. Get the skinny on how and why to pay attention to and feed this important, complex sense--even if human touch makes you tense. After Sushma leaves the Factory, Jordan teaches a surprisingly pleasing technique from the amazing Stressbusters backrub program.

Episode Highlights

• The chemical carnival that occurs when we experience touch--even light touch for just a few seconds
• How and why Sushma Subramanian when from being touch-averse to a massage school student and touch author
• The reasons we're touching less and craving it more
• Different ways to experience touch by yourself and with others
• Learn "Buster Duster," a popular, simple and surprisingly pleasant backrub technique

 

Guest Sushma Subramanian Bio and Resources

Sushma Subramanian is the author of "How to Feel: The Science and Meaning of Touch.” She is a science and health journalist whose writing has appeared in Slate, The Atlantic, Elle, Scientific American, Discover and many other publications. Her radio work has aired on WBEZ and CBC. Subramanian teaches journalism as an associate professor at the University of Mary Washington and advises the student newspaper.

How to Feel: The Science and Meaning of Touch (book) 


Website: sushmasubramanian.com

Email: [e-mail]

 

Episode Goodies and More Resources

The Chill Factory Podcast Website

The Chill Factory App

Chill between episodes with The Chill Factory app, your calming companion to The Chill Factory podcast. It’s like a ‘spa in your pocket’ with hundreds of relaxing audio tracks, sleep enhancers, mindfulness guides, wellness reminders and much more updated daily. Download The Chill Factory from the App Store or Google Play and enter this episode's special password touch when prompted to unlock access to all the app's features (offer good for the first 100 takers for one year from the original post date of this episode).

Quick Calm Video Workshop

Sometimes, you need a few simple, fast-acting ways to get focused, boost your mood, feel less overwhelmed and fall asleep easier. The Chill Factory host Jordan Friedman's Quick Calm self-paced video workshop does exactly this by teaching you 10 data-driven stress and anxiety reduction techniques that he's been teaching his stressed audiences for years. Learn more at quickcalm.net.

About Jordan Friedman, Host of The Chill Factory Podcast

Jordan is known as The Stress Coach, a career path that likely started when one of the world’s largest brain tumors was discovered in his head at age 10. The resulting, nonstop stress continued through college until he reluctantly enrolled in a stress management class that led to much less stress, a degree in public health, a job as Columbia University’s health education director and n