Mm-hmm.

And so we kind of adapted them to be really quick and easy little behaviors.

And we built it into this platform.

People can enroll.

They fill out some survey questions that helps us end them.

Each day they get a little prompt that's like, hey, today your micro act is write eight things that you're grateful for.

The next day, hey, today your micro act is initiate a conversation with somebody about something that's gone really well in their life or that has made them laugh or feel inspired and motivated.

And I would argue probably happier.

12 years and more than a million students later, what have you learned from teaching these courses?

People are really hungry for this knowledge and for the practical tools for applying it in their own lives.

I speak about this topic or these topics often.

And, you know, I'm very lucky because nobody ever comes up at the end and says, That was so boring, right? Everyone's like, oh my God, I've been waiting.

I've needed this so much.

I really...

I wasn't surprised necessarily.

What are some of the key takeaways from the courses that seem to resonate most with participants?

Simon Thomas identifies other interconnected social conditions that exacerbate loneliness.

I think one of the bigger issues that underlies polarization and conflict is inequality.

As we live in a society with increasing socioeconomic and power and privilege inequality, this is a major contribution to polarization and, in many regards, As it trickles down, loneliness.

Humans, we track inequality in a way that encourages apathy.

We tend to diminish or suppress that feeling of compassion.

We feel less compassion.

And feeling less compassion kind of allows us to be just less concerned about the people around us.

Dr. Simon Thomas says we can each do our part to be an antidote to