What if your brain’s health in retirement depended as much on who you see as on what you eat or how you move? Neuroscientist Dr. Ben Rein, author of the new book Why Brains Need Friends: The Neuroscience of Social Connection, joins us to reveal how social connection shapes your brain. He explains why isolation is as toxic as chronic stress, how friendship fuels brain resilience, and why your dog might be one of your best wellness allies. In this e, ye-opening conversation, you’ll learn how staying socially engaged literally protects your brain from decline, the science behind “nature’s medicine” — oxytocin — and practical ways to rewire your social habits for longevity, joy, and emotional well-being. If you’ve ever wondered why friendships matter more than ever in retirement, this episode will change the way you think about your brain — and your calendar.
You’ll learn:
- Why social interaction is a fundamental pillar of brain health, as critical as sleep and nutrition – and what happens when we don’t get enough of it
- The invisible pattern of retirement isolation: how time spent alone steadily increases while connections with coworkers, friends, and family decline simultaneously
- Why text-based communication doesn’t satisfy your brain’s need for connection (and what to do instead to restore the social cues your brain craves)
- The surprising neuroscience behind why dogs are so good for us—and how they activate the same brain reward systems as human connection
- Two scientifically-proven exercises you can start today to train your empathy and strengthen the brain regions associated with compassion and social connection
Ben Rein joins us from Buffalo, New York.
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Bio
Ben Rein, PhD, is an award-winning neuroscientist, chief science officer of the Mind Science Foundation, adjunct lecturer at Stanford University, clinical assistant professor at SUNY Buffalo, and a renowned science educator. Dr. Rein’s research focuses on the neuroscience of social interactions, and outside of the lab he teaches neuroscience to an audience of more than one million social media followers. Dr. Rein and his research have been featured on major media outlets including Entertainment Tonight and Good Morning America, and he has received awards from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine; the Society for Neuroscience; and elsewhere.
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For More on Ben Rein
Why Brains Need Friends: The Neuroscience of Social Connection
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Mentioned in this Podcast
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Podcast Conversations You May Like
Our New Social Life – Natalie Kerr & Jaime Kurtz
The Laws of Connection – David Robson
The Self-Healing Mind – Gregory Scott Brown, M.D
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About The Retirement Wisdom Podcast
There are many podcasts on retirement, often hosted by financial advisors with their own financial motives, that cover the money side of the street. This podcast is different. You’ll get smarter about the investment decisions you’ll make about the most important asset you’ll have in retirement: your time.
About Retirement Wisdom
I help people who are retiring, but aren’t quite done yet,
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