The Nature of Being Alone

Can nature help us to feel less alone?

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Psychologist on the incredible, Alone Australia series (remember our seminal episode with Gina Chick?), Mark Mathieson is in the Academy of Imperfection to help us understand how nature regulates our body, and how we can reconnect to it in this digital age.

Mark talks about how to uncover the person behind the persona, the science behind gardening, and why Hugh had the best sleep of his life in a tent, with no pillow.

According to Mark, human are immensely capable of change, and this episode provides a few things we can do to ensure nature is incorporated into our routines, without cramming the schedule more.

Mark, it was great to be alone . . . with you.

If you’d like to watch this full episode on YouTube, follow this link - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIMSSRJg2vQ

0:00 – Ice breaker: where have we gone wrong?
6:58 – The segmentation of exercise
11:46 – Evolution of Mark
18:53 – Person behind the persona
24:10 – Our virtual reality future
27:22 – Let’s learn to adapt
36:00 – Building relationships with nature
42:28 – The science of gardening and sunshine
48:53 – Eventually, reality TV gets us all
53:08 – Big city blues

🫖Imperfects episodes mentioned on this episode

• Gina Chick - Don’t Fight Life - https://bit.ly/4xj0kga
• Sean Turnell - A Prisoner’s Guide to Life - https://bit.ly/4btNKCu
• Sex for Normal People with Ita O’Brien - https://bit.ly/4btNNya
• Dr Emily - The (pesky) Hedonistic Treadmill - https://bit.ly/4yXxx2B
• Dr Paul Callaghan - How To Follow The Dreaming Path - https://bit.ly/457l9PY

📚Things to read

• Comfort Crisis, by Michael Easter - https://bit.ly/4pV10Ga
• The Dreaming Path, by Dr Paul Callaghan and Uncle Paul Gordon - https://bit.ly/4gctqrZ

📺 Things to watch

• Alone Australia (new season out now) - https://bit.ly/4yWVW8n

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All views expressed in this podcast are Mark Mathieson’s and not representative of the Department of Defence, Australia.

The Imperfects is not a licensed mental health service and is not a substitute for professional mental health advice, treatment or assessment. The advice given in this episode is general in nature, but if you’re struggling, please see a healthcare professional, or call lifeline on 13 11 14.

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