Air Date: 6–12-2026

Today we examine how America caused a loneliness epidemic by tearing down the places where people used to find each other, how big tech is offering AI as a lackluster substitute for connection, and how people are building the opposite of loneliness with block parties, labor unions, and community gardens.

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TOP TAKES

KP 1: How Capitalism Causes Loneliness Part 1 - Second Thought - Air Date 6-2-23

KP 2: Anthropic Discovers the Axis of Evil, and AIs Loneliness Economy - The AI Fix - Air Date 2-3-26

KP 3: The Political Economy of Love Attention, Affection, & What Capitalism Can't Buy Part 1 - Rev Left Radio - Air Date 1-19-26

KP 4: What Do We Mean by Humane Tech Part 1 - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-4-26

KP 5: Stone Soup A Recipe for Community Organizing Marina Barnett Part 1 - TEDxWidenerUniversity - Air Date 10-24-22

KP 6: The Simple Habit for a Happier Social Life Nicholas Epley Part 1 - TEDTalks - Air Date 5-19-26

(00:49:32) NOTE FROM THE EDITOR

Why the Left Needs to Have More Fun to Build Real Power

My commentaries on YouTube - Share them!

DEEPER DIVES

(00:59:32) SECTION A: THE LONELINESS WE LIVE IN

A1: Loneliness - Capitalism's Collateral Damage - Democracy At Work - Air Date 8-29-22

A2: How Capitalism Causes Loneliness Part 2 - Second Thought - Air Date 6-2-23

A3: Loneliness - Capitalism's Collateral Damage Part 2 - Democracy At Work - Air Date 8-29-22

A4: The Political Economy of Love Attention, Affection, & What Capitalism Can't Buy Part 2 - Rev Left Radio - Air Date 1-19-26

(01:29:54) SECTION B: AI COMPANION MACHINE

B1: Can AI Companionship Cure Loneliness – or Deepen It Part 1 - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 2-27-26

B2: People Are Lonelier Than Ever. Enter AI. - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 5-30-25

B3: The Dark Side of AI Companions, and the 1930s LLM - The AI Fix - Air Date 5-5-26

B4: What Do We Mean by Humane Tech Part 2 - Your Undivided Attention - Air Date 6-4-26

B5: Can AI Companionship Cure Loneliness – or Deepen It Part 2 - PBS NewsHour - Air Date 2-27-26

(02:18:26) SECTION C: REFRACTIONS AND REACH-OUTS

C1: Gladiators, Real Housewives and the Pull of Reality TV Part 1 - Throughline - Air Date 4-30-26

C2: If Hope Is a Muscle, Then How Do I Build It Part 1 - How to Survive the End of the World - Air Date 4-10-26

C3: Gladiators, Real Housewives and the Pull of Reality TV Part 2 - Throughline - Air Date 4-30-26

C4: If Hope Is a Muscle, Then How Do I Build It Part 2 - How to Survive the End of the World - Air Date 4-10-26

C5: The Simple Habit for a Happier Social Life Nicholas Epley Part 2 - TEDTalks - Air Date 5-19-26

(02:58:25) SECTION D: BUILDING IT BACK

D1: Stone Soup A Recipe for Community Organizing Marina Barnett Part 2 - TEDxWidenerUniversity - Air Date 10-24-22

D2: How People Are Combatting Loneliness with Community Connections - The Newsfeed - Air Date 5-22-26

D3: Solo How Do We Make the Left Fun Again - The Bardo Podcast - Air Date 3-10-26

D4: Being Human with Marshall Ganz Part 1 - Practical Wisdom for Leaders - Air Date 5-20-26

D5: Biko Koenig, Worker Centered Allyship & Action in the Contemporary Labor Movement (Oxford UP, 2024) Part 1 - In Conversation An OUP Podcast - Air Date 3-11-26

D6: Being Human with Marshall Ganz Part 2 - Practical Wisdom for Leaders - Air Date 5-20-26

D7: Biko Koenig, Worker Centered Allyship & Action in the Contemporary Labor Movement (Oxford UP, 2024) Part 2 - In Conversation An OUP Podcast - Air Date 3-11-26

Produced by Jay! Tomlinson

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