What actually strengthens connection in the 2020s?

In this episode of Rediscovering Connection, I’m joined by Tristan Claridge, founder and president of the International Social Capital Association, to explore how Social Capital really works, and why understanding it can unlock more meaningful ways of connecting at work and in life.

Together, we reflect on how modern patterns of interaction shape our relationships, why social needs differ from person to person, and how connection deepens when people feel seen, heard, and understood. Rather than focusing on what’s broken, this conversation offers clarity, perspective, and several “aha” moments that help reframe how we think about Social Capital and Social Wealth today.

You’ll hear why social capital can never be transactional, how opportunities often emerge simply from knowing more about each other, and why authenticity, care, and attention are the real foundations of strong relationships.

In this episode, we explore:

✨What social capital is (and what it isn’t)
✨Why social capital only functions when social needs are met
✨How authenticity and “obs listening” strengthen connection
✨Why people often underestimate the social capital they already have
✨The difference between having access to networks and feeling socially wealthy
✨ How knowing more things about each other, creates opportunities for deepening trust, and collaboration.

This episode is especially relevant for those who want to understand connection more deeply, explore how to activate the social capital they already have, and reflect on what it takes to build socially healthy, high-trust teams in a modern, distributed world.

About Tristan Claridge
Tristan Claridge is a globally recognised expert on social capital, with over two decades of experience advancing theory, practice, and policy in the field. He is the Founding President of the International Social Capital Association (ISCA), Director of the Institute for Social Capital, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (RSA), and a Visiting Associate Professor at Heriot-Watt University.

Tristan’s work focuses on developing a deeper understanding of how social capital is formed, maintained, and activated, bridging rigorous academic research with real-world application. He works internationally with researchers, practitioners, and policymakers to build social capital as a vital resource for individuals, organisations, and communities.

Find Trista

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I hope our conversation inspires you to rediscover connection in your own life.

Subscribe now and let the magic unfold.

Love & sparkles,
✨Shelley

About Your Host

Hello you, I’m Shelley Doyle, founder of The Communiverse™, Social Wealth Strategist and host of the Rediscovering Connection podcast.

If this conversation sparked your curiosity to delve deeper, I support organisations by working with HR, L&D and People & Culture leaders to turn disconnection into measurable Social Health, using the principles of Social Wealth to build socially healthy, high-trust teams.

One way this work comes to life is through my Social Wealth Workshop. This is an interactive, strengths-based session designed for innovative leaders and teams who want to better understand how Social Wealth functions, and how it can be activated to support social health at work.

Email: shelley@communiverse.vip to request info.

Find out more at TheCommuniverse.com or find me on LinkedIn.

To hear when new episodes drop, subscribe to my weekly newsletter, or check out recent episodes.

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

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I hope our conversation inspires you to rediscover connection in your own life.

Subscribe now and let the magic unfold.

Love & sparkles,
✨Shelley

About Your Host

Hello you, I’m Shelley Doyle, founder of The Communiverse™, learning designer, facilitator, and host of the Rediscovering Connection podcast. My Master’s research focused on the relational investments of remote and hybrid leaders, published with a financial services firm and supported by Mitacs. With 20 years of international business and communications leadership, I now help remote and relocated leaders feel more socially wealthy - personally and professionally, online and offline - through programs, consulting, and training.

I have 5 spots available in my program Social Wealth Activation, starting w/c Dec 1st. Email: shelley@communiverse.vip to request info.

Find out more at TheCommuniverse.com or find me on LinkedIn.

To hear when new episodes drop, subscribe to my weekly newsletter, or check out recent episodes.

In this episode of Rediscovering Connection, I chat with Mark Saxby, a UK-based journalist-turned-social-media-reformer who’s on a mission to help us use technology intentionally—without letting it steal our time or joy. From his “Be More Colin” campaign to his work with kids through Positive Social, Mark shares how stepping back from screens can unlock richer relationships, better mental health, and a life lived on our terms.

We dive into:
✅ Why social media doesn’t always deliver the connection we crave—and what does
✅ How Mark turned Twitter into a tool for real-world friendships
✅ The “Be More Colin” movement: reclaiming focus at work and home
✅ Protecting kids from the addictive pull of smartphones
✅ Finding balance between personal expression and professional presence online

If you’ve ever felt glued to your phone—or wondered how to break free—this conversation offers practical, uplifting ideas to rethink your relationship with tech.

🎙️Tune in for a refreshing take on living well in a digital world.

Timestamps
00:00 – Intro: Meet Mark Saxby and his mission to rethink social media
03:15 – From journalism to social media: Mark’s journey and aha moment
07:00 – The power of Twitter for building real-life connections
11:30 – Why we overshare online—and how pulling back sparks better conversations
15:45 – “Be More Colin”: Cutting phone time to boost work and life satisfaction
20:00 – Social media’s impact on kids: Insights from Positive Social
25:30 – Setting boundaries: Tips for parents and personal phone audits
30:15 – Personal vs. professional online: Where to focus your energy
34:00 – Mark’s passion for speaking and winning people over
37:00 – Closing thoughts & how to connect with Mark

Links
Find Mark Saxby Online:
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/marksaxby
Email: mark@statussocial.co.uk
Positive Social: https://positivesocial.org.uk/

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I hope our conversation inspires you to rediscover connection in your own life.

Subscribe now and let the magic unfold.

Love & sparkles,
✨Shelley

About Your Host

Hello you, I’m Shelley Doyle, founder of The Communiverse™, learning designer, facilitator, and host of the Rediscovering Connection podcast. My Master’s research focused on the relational investments of remote and hybrid leaders, published with a financial services firm and supported by Mitacs. With 20 years of international business and communications leadership, I now help remote and relocated leaders feel more socially wealthy - personally and professionally, online and offline - through programs, consulting, and training.

I have 5 spots available in my program Social Wealth Activation, starting w/c Dec 1st. Email: shelley@communiverse.vip to request info.

Find out more at TheCommuniverse.com or find me on LinkedIn.

To hear when new episodes drop, subscribe to my weekly newsletter, or check out recent episodes.