How do social media and our interaction with our phones impact our loneliness? In this special episode of We Are Lonely, our host Ali Walker talks to Dr Daniel Suraklim about the positives and negatives of social media in our search for connection.

Daniel works for the World Health Organisation's commission on social connection and discusses some burning questions we all want to know about the impact of social media like “Is social media actually making us more lonely?”

Living with physical disability can be isolating both physically and emotionally. What can we do to stay connected to other people when we’re facing physical barriers? In her early twenties Rhiannon developed a disability that had far reaching impacts on her life experience. Being bedridden and unable to connect with friends in person saw her struggle to maintain a lifestyle she’d loved as a teenager.

In this episode of We Are Lonely, Rhiannon meets up with counsellor and mentor Tessa Blenclowe. Together they work out how to have difficult, honest conversations and reach out to people when you’ve drifted apart.

Being a musician, an artist or a writer is a beautiful thing, but the hard road to creative success can also become lonely. Josie’s a singer songwriter who’s excited to be following her passion. She’s also experienced the loneliness that can come with creating something personal. When this is mixed with a chronic illness, finding the energy to constantly push yourself out there can be daunting.

In this episode of We Are Lonely, Josie meets with the creative icon Kween Kong and they explore how isolation can be a curse and a gift in pursuit of creative expression. Kween also gives Josie some insights into how to cross over the threshold between aspiring artist and a creative career.