Strands of Genius: America Has A Loneliness Epidemic, Why Talking To Strangers Is Good For You, Them And All Of Us, Those That Have Lived Before Us Have Guidance - Let's Listen
Guest curated by Matt Haze, Comedian, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Haze Creative
Each year we aim to highlight 50 creative thinkers that have inspired us by giving them the opportunity to guest curate this newsletter, Strands of Genius. This edition is guest curated by Matt Haze, Comedian, Founder and Chief Creative Officer of Haze Creative.
:: A BIT MORE ABOUT GUEST CURATOR, MATT HAZE ::
LOCATION: Old San Juan, Puerto Rico
Hello, stranger!
Do you ever stop and watch the crowds waiting for their drinks at that big international coffee chain with the green lady on the cups?
In suburban America, you’ll probably see 10+ cars lined up in the drive thru with people sitting in their little bubble hoping that their $10 frappa-whatever-it-is will make their day better. Recently on the north side of Chicago, I observed a huge crowd waiting for their mobile order just staring at their phones, completely ignoring their fellow humans. More than likely they were probably reading a story about America’s loneliness epidemic!
The U.S. Surgeon General sounded the alarm on something we’ve all been feeling for awhile now - how lonely and disconnected we are as a society. According to the report “Our Epidemic of Loneliness and Isolation,” even before the COVID-19 pandemic, about half of U.S. adults reported experiencing measurable levels of loneliness. Poor connection can increase the risk for premature death to levels comparable to smoking 15 cigarettes a day!
It sparked a much needed conversation. Why did this happen? How do we solve it?
I couldn’t help but laugh when I saw the tech startup community speak up, trying to use all their favorite current solutions to everything: The metaverse! AI! Create a Discord! How about a community for people that want community within a community?
Yet each and every single one of us have the tools and ability to take a step forward in solving this problem right now. It’s a solution that has been around for generations! Our ancestors used it for thousands of years before any of us were ever here.
They talked to strangers. They had conversations with real human beings around them every day.
Striking up a conversation with a stranger is one of my favorite things in the world to do. In a society where we listen to “experts” on podcasts on how to live life, there is knowledge and insight all around us, especially from those that have lived a different life than us. Whether it’s a quick random conversation at a coffee shop down the street or one of my favorite experiences, when Rosie and Faris invited me to one of their family BBQs in London where I spent the afternoon with Faris’s family from Iraq. The conversations were fun, extremely enlightening and so memorable that I often think back to them to this day.
While technology can connect us with like minded interests from all around the world, we can learn so much from just saying hello to the person next to us. Next time you go out for coffee, be part of the solution and strike up a conversation with the person next to you. You never know - it might just make their day.
Onward!
Matt
P.S. I’ve been introducing my listeners to the strangers I meet around the world on my 5(ish) minute podcast, Meet a Stranger! If you’d like to meet someone who teaches laughter yoga to prisoners in Mexico or a lawyer turned dog rescuer and so many other amazing strangers, go check it out!
Editor’s Note (Rosie & Faris): We met Matt in NYC in the heyday of social media, and we’ve kept in touch ever since! He’s probably most well-known for being the 30 Rock (Christmas) Tree on social media, but we’re a fan of his quick wit and smarts in other avenues as well. We’ve gotten to meet up in Mexico City and London, where Matt was brave enough to attend a big Yakob family dinner. He’s great for phone dates and travel tips, and always good for a laugh as well! Thanks for being here, Matt!!
:: THE LINKS ::
AMERICA HAS A LONELINESS EPIDEMIC
While a quick conversation is a small step, I think it’s important that we take the time to read the report and learn the facts behind it and what bigger solutions can help society in the long run. The health stats are quite scary! (NPR)
WHY TALKING TO STRANGERS IS GOOD FOR YOU, THEM AND ALL OF US
The Journal of Experimental Social Psychology recently did a study that followed a group of people who would strike up a conversation with strangers. While we think people around us might not want to talk (and some don’t want to!) often, people ARE craving a connection. You might be surprised how a quick chat with someone can make their day! (Ideas.Ted)
THOSE THAT HAVE LIVED BEFORE US HAVE GUIDANCE - LET’S LISTEN!
Senior Living Stories is one of my favorite instagram accounts and has been a major inspiration for my podcast and what I’m doing with my own media company today. It’s amazing how hearing a story from someone else’s life can really leave an impact on you. (Instagram)
Looking for more from Matt Haze? Coming Friday, look for an interview from him in your inbox!
:: AND NOW… SOME FAST FAVORITES ::
:: Game :: Yahtzee
:: City :: Mexico City - if you haven't been, you must go. It's magical!
:: Book :: The Creative Act: A Way of Being by Rick Rubin. A must read for anyone in creative endeavors from one of the godfathers of music.
:: Podcast :: Nocturne - a great podcast about stories that happen in the night. Great to fall asleep to!
:: Album :: Dave Matthews Band - Before These Crowded Streets. It's a summertime roadtrip staple!
:: I ONCE ACCIDENTALLY BOUGHT A HORSE ::
Whenever I need a laugh, this classic from the BBC's ‘Would I Lie to You’ still makes me howl, even if I've seen it a thousand times.
I hope we run into each other and have a chat one day!
- Matt Haze
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It's called Genius Steals because we believe ideas are new combinations and that nothing can come from nothing. But copying is lazy. We believe the best way to innovate is to look at the best of that which came before and combine those elements into new solutions.
Co-Founders Faris & Rosie are award-winning strategists and creative directors, writers, consultants and public speakers who have been living on the road/runway since March 2013, working with companies all over the world. Our Director of Operations is nomadic like us, our accounting team is based out of Washington, our company is registered in Tennessee, and our collaborators are all over the world. Being nomadic allows us to go wherever clients need us to be, and to be inspired by the world in between.
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