Home
Creators
Search Recent Random
Posts
Search DMs Popular Hash Lookup Tags Random
Importer
Import FAQ
Register Favorites Keys Review DMs Logout
Community
Telegram ThePornDude
Home Creators Posts Import Register Favorites Logout

Discussion thread: Salugenology episode is published! (Patreon)

Published:
2025-04-24 15:36:51
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Hobbies? Really? Yep, there is an ology for why human beings need past times. And author/journalist Julia Hotz interviewed doctors and patients and dove into all sorts of research on what happens to our brains and health when we make more time for 5 factors:

Movement, Nature, Art, Service and Belonging.

So come along for a 2-parter on how/why hobbies and crafternoons and quilting circles and fishing clubs and volunteer work and a walk can save not only your life, but a little sanity in tough times.

Have you listened? What did you think? I'll report back on my own little journey.

Smelling a tree,

A. Ward

Files

Salugenology (WHY HUMANS REQUIRE HOBBIES) Part 1 with Julia Hotz - alie ward

Crafting. Motorcycle repair. Banjo lessons. Hobbies aren't a reward, but tools to save your mental and physical health. Journalist/author of "The Connection Cure," - and professional Salugenology expert - Julia Hotz explains the science behind going outside, rediscovering what makes you happy, sched

Comments

Lindsey Wallace

A. Ward, thank you for this! We love you so much. Can't wait to listen..

ScienceInTheArt

Looking forward to listening. I find that time accelerates when I'm in my studio. My best indicator of flow.

JENN 'Benthopelagic squirrel' ALVAREZ

Why didn't I know about the ukulele? I'm going to blame it on the hole in my brain. I'm like the WORST fan.😵😂 Anyway, I loved the episode and can't wait for the 2nd half! 🫶

Alie Ward

You're the best, and I know about your Subaru to prove it. And I don't know how she knew that! I don't know if I've ever mentioned it on Ologies!

Mollogies

I loved this episode so much! It was a reassuring slap in the face 🙏🥲❤️ Thank you for covering this!

Wendy Lockhart

Loved this so much! Bought the book, can’t wait to dig in deeper. Also, I had to check that I was in 1x speed because Alie talks so fast in the added bits sometimes 😂😂😂

Katy Owens

As an occupational therapist who specializes in pain and mental health, I was just like screaming the whole episode THATS EXACTLY WHAT I DO. One day I’ll be famous enough for Alie to interview me about the magical powers of OT Also I’m shocked I hadn’t heard of this book before. It’s on order, and I’ll be sending this episode to every OT I know.

Colby Evans

I only just started the episode, but hope a little ukulele jam session is the secret at the end!

Sophia A

As a psych nurse, I loved the emphasis on studying what makes us well and the understanding that so many things contribute to health. We use terms like “strengths based medicine” (focusing on what people are doing right) and “Social Determinants of Health” (all the things in someone’s environment that impact their health), and I loved hearing this complimentary perspective. Also as a nurse I struggle to find time to do the things that bring me that restorative peace and this was a good reminder that finding that time is not a luxury, it’s essential for me to continue doing what I love. Wonderful episode as always!!

Kait

LOVED THIS EP!!! Literally was working on an annotated bibliography while listening, so THANK YOU, ALI, for always citing the studies you mention. It’s not the first time I’ve read a paper you’ve mentioned and found it super helpful!! I’m studying climate comms in an interdisciplinary bio grad program. My current focus is on addressing climate anxiety in NYC adults through place-based, informal creative writing workshops in city parks. Am I now daydreaming that I’ll someday run into Julia in one of these NYC parks? YOU BET I AM.

Kait

Yes!! I loved that perspective. The analogy about the people in a room sweating? We can’t forget to check the temp! Thanks for sharing how that’s expressed in your field.

Lizzy Martinez

Alie I loved your secrets at the end!! My husband is getting back into his hobby of singing and playing the guitar and piano. I'd love to help find him a place to share his talents with others in central CA. For me right now, I love history so have been looking for more non fiction books on World War II and the space race.

Between Dumplings

Can’t wait for part two. Have already shared with others. One suggestion for accuracy: it’s not that insurance pays for Equinox vs Planet Fitness, you have a benefit amount to apply toward whichever you choose. I just found out that I can also get a benefit for tai chi! It’s not specific to tai chi, but it’s a I think they call it wellness benefit and tai chi is one of the things that qualifies for that so I’m looking for my class!

Between Dumplings

I’m sure EMDR will come up in the forest bathing discussion? This all makes so much sense from an evolutionary perspective but here’s me tapping away on a tiny keyboard with another on my lap…😵

Tim Barth

Ukulele? In the spirit of Service and Belonging (and Art), this is an artist you should check out, and there are tabs for her songs available (yes tabs for uke are a thing). https://www.youtube.com/@Mollylele/videos This was a great episode, and I'm so happy I'm here and get to listen. I'll work on giving myself permission to take time for fun more, because I don't want to die anytime soon. :)

George Sakoulas

I'm a doctor. This is one of the best podcasts I have ever listened to, from all podcasts. We truly are the only species that intentionally puts ourselves in a cage with a hamster wheel for the sake of safety and convenience. What a slap in the face reminder of the health consequences of that. Will get the book! Thank you.

Elinor Wahl

This episode is somewhat hard to listen to, because of all the essentially unprovable speculation on 'evolutionary' causes of happiness when engaging in certain activities. The hypothesis Julia Hotz was proposing about nature making us happy because it engages some kind of 'hunting' impulse to look at a bird or a plant, in particular, seemed like a very joyless, mechanistic, and self-centered way of viewing the world, and even if it isn't her speculation, it was depressing to hear it coming from her

Emily Krieger

well, I loved this very much and I'm sharing with my ppl. 💚 now excuse me while I go wander aimlessly in the woods, staring at stuff.🤗

Sophia A

Wow just listened to the last 10 minutes of the episode 🤦‍♀️ thank you for reading my mind… @Alie

Jaclyn and her cat Phil

Oh my gosh I loved this episode so much and cannot wait to listen to part two! I had absolutely no idea what social prescribing was prior to listening and I am now fascinated. I’ve been meaning to pick up my crocheting again and I think this was the boost I finally needed ☺️🤍

Levin Dotimas

I was listening to this on my way home from my weekly hula class. It’s a bit of a drive from where I live but it’s really worth it. This episode really validated that.

Lillian Rolfe

I turned my hobby into a job and it fulfilled me in ways I didn’t think possible. My therapist suggested going back to work after 20 years at home raising kids. I got on a good medication for my ADHD and depression and took a giant leap. For 2.5 years I’ve been a costume manager/designer at the ballet school I’d been taking adult classes at. Now I get paid to do work I love and made a whole new network of friends completely unrelated to being a spouse or mother. Being a stay at home parent was a privilege, but it was also hugely detrimental to my mental and physical health.

ScienceInTheArt

Ok. If you're gonna push it, reorder and make a new word: “BANSM” – pronounced like “handsome” ;) Belonging Art Nature Service Movement

Priyal

I haven't actually finished the episode, which is an illustration of how time poor I am. Doctor mum life. I'm looking forward to learning how I can prioritise these things. I've already taken some steps, but it's so hard to commit to anything with young kids when you feel like you are almost drowning constantly. Trying to hack this a bit by doing my "service" by volunteering for the P&C! And finding community is hard when you are an introvert, work from home and have kids. 😭 I'll quit whinging and listen to the rest of the episode later today.

Abby Sellers

I’m a Women’s Health NP. I’ve written prescriptions for foreplay for my patients… with their preferences to take home to their partners. To reinforce the importance of foreplay!

Malorie Albee

This is perhaps nitpicking, but shouldn't the ology be "salutogenology" rather than salugenology? In the episode, the ologist calls this process of creating health "salutogenesis," so a derived term would be salutogenology, right?

Jordan Buell

I am new here to patreon, but have been listening to your podcast for about a year and I love every episode so much! I wish more than anything that I had your job Alie... I haven't gotten to listen to this episode yet but I eagerly look forward to doing so! I should be able to make time amidst all this executive dysfunction I have going on around here! Thank you for occupying my mind with knowledge!

Keely Chavez

I'm so sad I missed the boat on this one. First the VA has a Whole Health program and offers many of the resources discussed in the show. I love that our Whole Health program starts with the conversation "what do you want your health for, what matters to you?"... and we build out the circles from there based on meeting the veteran where they're at, offering what we have, and helping them while they create their own "SMART" goals. Check it out (available to the public too) https://news.va.gov/category/health/livewholehealth/ Also, during lockdown, the hobbies that saved my life (then ER RN) were: very early am walks before my shifts to breathe and center before the chaos, listening to this show, birding -> nature photography, and gardening. I think that covers all of the prescriptions :)

AnneVan

THIS is the episode that finally made me a subscriber. A fellow science teacher introduced me to Ologies and we all end up discussing your episodes, and sometimes sharing them with students (Collective Effervescence was fantastic in my Enviro class) Everything about this episode rings with me and I can't wait for part 2!

Pink Puppy

The opening "Oh hey, it’s the guy at the falafel truck who gives you extra hummus" made me laugh because literally sitting in a hospital bed after having my first allergic reaction to sesame.

Meg is Me

Really enjoyed this double episode over a couple of long drives this week. I did kind of wonder how much we need to engage with these 5 factors? Daily, weekly, fortnightly, monthly? Or would measuring it be more subjective and individualistic e.g. an extrovert may benefit from more social engagement to gain a sense of belonging whereas introverts or those of us who are autistic and/or struggle with social anxiety might need less of that social time and maybe a group activity once a week or maybe even once a month is enough and that's protective from burnout? I have been struggling to recover from ASD burnout over the last 6 weeks and need to continue to be restful for another 6 weeks, interestingly though ive been recommended to try to engage in asd special interests which for me are creativity and to ensure I engage in some movement (even if its minor stretching) so even when in a state where research shows a significant reduction of activity is required that there is a recognition that meeting our need for these 5 wellness factors is still important. After listening to this I do want to get back to volunteering as it brings such fulfilment despite the energy drain and ive been reflecting on what's most important to include as I rebuild my routine

Katie Elmer

The current issue of Readers Digest (May/June 2025) has a timely/relevant cover story called “How Nature Heals” by Charlotte Hilton Andersen if anyone is interested or curious!

Shannon Amiot

There is SO MUCH ANTI-FAT bias and wording in this episode. Less fat does NOT mean better health. Please listen to Maintenance Phase to check yourself before you misuse the stigmatized term and capitalist baggage that comes with "overweight"

Robin Stumbo

as someone who feels a lot of guilt for existing, something that's been helpful for me is thinking of myself like an animal in the zoo. there's two roles i play: The Beast and The Keeper. The Keeper is in charge of making sure The Beast has all it needs to thrive (food, water, safe habitat, enrichment, interspecies interactions, etc), and The Beast is in charge of chillin, getting enough rest, and having a good time. so i guess i'm prescribing myself crafts and dancing and wikipedia research rabbitholes to keep The Beast from causing problems!

Amanda Lee

I love the shoutout to public libraries!!

Marisa

Katy, I was an OT for 30 years and this is exactly what I was saying through the episode too!! Would be great if Alie did an OT episode!!

CuriousNerd 🤓

Hey A Ward! Thanks for the episode. It's an under discussed topic in the US- what makes us well. There's a fair amount of data in the public health literature supporting addressing social determinants of health to improve out collective well being, but funding hasn't been commensurate so we're stuck with terrible overall health and expensive healthcare. Regarding social prescribing, in the US patients can find a Lifestyle Medicine physicians working with patients to address diet, movement, social support, stress reduction, sleep improvement, and toxin reduction instead of or along side more "standard" medical therapies for chronic illness. There aren't a lot of us but we're here and we're trying :)https://lifestylemedicine.org/. many thanks for the podcast- public health, ER, and lifestyle medicine doctor and forever nerd

Sarah with an h

No need to wait for your insurance company to start birdwatching classes when you live in South Minneapolis. There's definitely one at a park near you. I got home from my dog walk while listening to this episode to find a flyer for a neighborhood art house with concerts, classes, and salons for the whole neighborhood. The best part? I knew to look for it because another neighbor (our dogs are bffs) was so excited. Fun fact: no house built in Minneapolis is more than 8 blocks from a city park. (And the parks board is actively working to restore programs and facilities at previously under- funded parks because they recognized their part in systemic inequity.) Can we get a Minneapology episode?

Katy Owens

Was picking up my hold on The Connection Cure at the library and then found “the joy of connections” which is a whole separate books about meaningful living. My OT heart is soaring.

Celia Sanislow

I winced hard with the use of "overweight" too (fellow Maintenance Phase listener). I'm glad you brought this up. I would love to hear asides regarding the use of this term and other fatphobic terms! I enjoyed a lot of things about this episode but the anti-fat bias wasn't one of them.

Abby Grieb

Loved this episode! I did social prescribing without knowing it. In the throngs of the mid-PhD program depression slump I joined a community choir, something I loved doing when I was young but hadn’t had time for since my first year of college. I just finished my third year in the choir and it has been so great for my mental health! It gets me out of the house on a strict weekly schedule, I interact with my choir friends, I get to create musical art as part of a group. I love being a part of it!

Ranger France

THIS EPISODE!!! I am the park ranger who left the review <3 :') This also aired right as I decided to start seeing a counselor as a bouncing board if anything, and put forth my understanding of a "work life balance" - whatever that is. My first full time job is also my dream job I have been working towards for yearsssss now. The review was left in 2020 originally I believe, took me 4.5 years to achieve it! But with full time hours comes full time stress- but also full time money and an 8-5 schedule somehow. I made a list of all the activities I could see myself enjoying or actually do enjoy, and when I find myself doomscrolling, I pick an activity out of a cup. Or I just decide lol. My therapist LOVED this episode too when I showed it to them. Very life changing to say the least dramatically.