Why is a comedian the best person to discuss loneliness with? On this episode of Call Me Hopeful, Vir Das joins us to talk about his relationship with solitude, loneliness, and why it’s so difficult to reach out sometimes. 00:00 - 0:42-Intro 0:42 - 2:53 - Why loneliness? 2:53 - 6:33 - What does loneliness look like for Vir? 6:33 - 8:25 - Feeling disconnected while on stage 8:25 - 10:31 - Connecting via music 10:31 - 13:21 - Growing up as the outsider 13:21 - 14:40 - Accepting loneliness 14:40 - 17:55 - Chronic loneliness/pushing people away while feeling lonely 17:55 - 20:05 - Wanting to fit in 20:05 - 28:13 - Reaction to the Two Indias controversy 28:13 - 33:17 - The loneliness epidemic 33:17 - 35:43 - Reaching out 35:43 -37: 11 - Pledge If you are struggling with your mental health, remember there is help out there. Sangath (9:30am to 5:30pm | Monday to Friday) 07887872345 https://sangath.in/well-being-centre/ Self-help resources https://sangath.in/self-help-resource/ Agatsu's clinic (11am to 7pm | Tuesday to Sunday) 9167792077 https://www.agatsufoundation.org/therapy Mental Health Directory https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/... Tele-MANAS (24x7) - 14416 Relevant links: -'How to Practice Emotional First Aid' by Guy Winch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2hc2FLOdhI - Social Isolation in America: Changes in Core Discussion Networks over Two Decades -https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/000312240607100301 Credits: Host: Ira Khan Associate Producers: Bavana Gone, Neha Shetty Editor: Bavana Gone Art Director: Neha Shekhawat Camera Attendant: Shivam Kumar Singh Recording Studio: Island City Studios Social Media Strategist: Anubhooti Chouhan Creative Producers: Mohini Chaudhuri, Abhishek Saha Supervising Producer: Shrishti Malhotra Executive Producer: Karla Bookman #callmehopeful #tspodcasts #tsstudios