This week on Dear Nina: Conversations About Friendship, I reached a milestone of 150 episodes! The newest episode is: “Join or Die: Pickleball, Potlucks, Democracy, and Your Health.”
I had the pleasure of interviewing siblings Rebecca Davis and Pete Davis, the producers and directors of the Netflix documentary Join or Die: A film about why you should join a club and why the fate of America depends on it. Inspired by the groundbreaking work of political scientist Robert Putnam (Bowling Alone), Join or Die explores the powerful link between social connection, the health of our democracy, and our mental and physical health. Putnam himself gets plenty of screen time, and he’s a delight to watch. I was surprised by how much his work was rejected in the last 90s, but it’s hard to imagine anyone would argue with him today.
All of the stats Putnam reported in the late 90s/early 2000s about the declining levels of participation in civic life, clubs, religious institutions, and even casual gatherings like picnics, potlucks, and yes, bowling leagues, have only dipped further today. On the promising side, the positive reaction to this film and the ever-increasing number of people who want to live more of their lives off a screen gives me hope. If you’ve been feeling stuck, isolated, or unsure where to begin when it comes to finding your people and more meaning in your life, this episode is a place to start. And I HIGHLY recommend watching the film. Pete and Rebecca said that since Join or Die came out, one of the most satisfying results has been hearing from people who have joined clubs in their hometowns. From Pete in the episode:
If you don’t have a Netflix account, you can rent the film, or even better, host a screening for your friends and community. FIND EPISODE #150 on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, and anywhere you listen to podcasts! REMINDER: The 2025 friendship challenge is for everyone!You can start the 2025 challenge any time. Each month is meant to stand alone and you don’t need an entire month to accomplish any of them. Find all the challenges listed here. Come back and let me know how it went or join us in the Dear Nina Facebook group to discuss the challenges (and more). CHICAGO READERS/LISTENERS—SAVE THE DATE!I’m doing a LIVE Dear Nina episode in Highland Park, IL with my assistant producer, Rebekah Jacobs, on July 31st from 5-7pm at ENAZ and on their second floor, called Upside Events. I will have the ticket link soon, but put it on your calendar if you’re in that area or traveling there this summer. I’d love to meet you! Two Recent Guest Appearances
Books, Shows, Recipes I’m Into These Days
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