When was the last time you thought of your social health in your wellness routine?
Most of us think about wellness in terms of what we’re eating, which supplements we’re taking, whether we’re getting enough sleep, or if we’ve finally committed to that workout class we’ve been saying we’ll try for months.
But in his conversation with KB, chiropractor Dr. Jonathan Leary, founder of Remedy Place, challenges us to think about something entirely different: social wellness.
Because what if feeling better isn’t just about what’s on your plate or in your medicine cabinet?
What if it’s also about the people around you and your community wellness? From the growing loneliness epidemic to the surprising health benefits of community, Dr. Leary is taking us along for an eye-opening convo about how our relationships, environments, and daily connections may be some of the most overlooked factors in modern health.
So binge the post or tune in over your morning coffee, let’s talk social health!
What Is Social Wellness, Really?
When you hear the term social wellness, you might think we’re talking about having lots of friends or being constantly busy with meet-ups.
But that’s not what Dr. Leary is talking about.
In fact, one of the biggest reminders from this conversation is that you can be surrounded by people and still feel lonely.
For Dr. Leary, social health and wellness are about creating meaningful connections and building communities that support your overall well-being. It’s got nothing to do with popularity and everything to do with building multiple communities throughout their lives.
That might look like:
- The coffee shop you visit every morning
- A gym or fitness class
- Your workplace
- A close group of friends
- A hobby or interest-based community
Each serves a different purpose.
Some people inspire you. Some challenge you. Some make you laugh. Some help you through difficult seasons.According to Dr. Leary, we have to remember that one person cannot be everything. We’ve got to build diverse, meaningful connections that all fill up our social wellbeing in different ways.
Think About It: We’re More Connected Than Ever. So Why Are We So Lonely?
We can text anyone. FaceTime anyone. DM anyone. Scroll through hundreds of people’s lives before breakfast.
Yet many of us have never felt more disconnected.
But living in today’s world, we’re missing out on what the generations before had: multiple built-in communities. People knew their neighbors. They belonged to religious groups. They had clubs, leagues, and local gathering places. There were more opportunities for regular, face-to-face interaction.
Cultures are losing connection.
And according to growing research, the loneliness effects on health are silently skyrocketing into a serious social wellbeing crisis.
Dr. Leary says social isolation has been linked to everything from depression to cardiovascular disease, dementia, and overall declines in physical health. Not surprising when you think about it, but SHOCKING nonetheless.
That’s why he believes social health deserves a seat at the wellness table right alongside nutrition, exercise, and sleep. Because it’s proven that loneliness isn’t just something we feel, but regularly affects how our bodies function, too.
Why Dr. Jonathan Leary Created Remedy Place, A Social Wellness Club
Like so many other brilliant business ideas, the concept of creating a social wellness club came from Dr. Leary’s lived experience as a concierge wellness doctor helping patients improve their health.
He couldn’t help noticing something super alarming. His patients were feeling better. They were moving more. Eating better. Sleeping better. Their health was improving. But many of them kept saying the same thing:
“I feel amazing…but I don’t have a social life anymore.”
Which is something I think so many of us can relate to. Focusing on health and wellness does take a lot of time and energy each day, and it’s easy to slip into routines that don’t include a social life.
Especially because of this question:
Why do so many social activities revolve around alcohol, while most wellness activities happen alone?
Birthday celebration? Drinks. Work event? Drinks. Date night? Drinks. Bad day? Drinks. Meanwhile, most wellness experiences happen solo. The gym. The doctor’s office. The massage table. The meditation app.
That realization became the foundation for Remedy Place, the world’s first social wellness club designed to make self-care social.
How genius is that?!
Hot Takes from the Pod: Dr. Leary’s Take on Wellness Might Surprise You
Of course, this is Toxic Free with KB, so I had to ask Dr. Leary if he had any spicy opinions on living low-tox or health and wellness as a whole.
And boy did his dish some out! But his overall perspective doesn’t include long routines or health must-dos, it’s actually surprisingly simple (and a philosophy I think more of us need to adopt)!
In a world obsessed with eliminating toxins, avoiding stress, and finding the next wellness hack, build a body that can handle life.
He repeatedly comes back to the idea that health isn’t just the absence of illness. It’s resilience.
We don’t need to live in a sparkly, healthy bubble. We need to become more adaptable. That’s why he says we need to add more wellness activities that teach your body how to respond to stress and then recover from it.
- Cold plunges followed by sauna sessions
- Consistent movement paired with breathwork
And when it comes to environmental toxins, he says we should all toss any strict routines that add more fear to our lives.
Absolutely be mindful of what we’re exposed to, but let’s be honest, we can’t avoid EVERY toxin. And we often freak ourselves out if we’re trying to.
His philosophy: Focus less on perfection and more on resilience.
Strengthen your nervous system. Support your gut health. Build meaningful relationships. Move your body consistently. Create environments that help you thrive. And if you’re looking for the simplest place to start, his answer is refreshingly uncomplicated:
Walk.
Seriously. If you’re stressed, walk. If you’re frustrated, walk. If you’ve been sitting all day, walk. If you just ate, walk.
According to Dr. Leary, it’s one of the most underrated tools we have for supporting both physical and mental well-being.
If you’ve been around for a minute, you know I am walking as much as possible every day. My Instagram stories prove it hah! Because it genuinely helps pretty much everything – my body, brain, and spirit.
And I’d bet there’s someone in your community who wants to walk with you! Next time you see a neighbor out for a walk, ask if they want to join next time. Search up local walk/run clubs. Make your self-care social! If you’re in Santa Barbara — call me up!
Want the full social wellness convo? Listen, Watch, Join Us on the Pod!
If you’re someone who has been on a health journey and found it to be isolating, I truly think this conversation is a must-listen. It definitely made me rethink my own routines, and I think it’s a discussion that needs to be happening more in this space.
Plus, the convo takes some interesting tangents into:
- Functional medicine and root-cause health
- Alcohol, loneliness, and modern social culture
- Building communities that actually support you
- Wearables, health data, and the future of wellness
- The mindset shifts used by elite performers
Plus, you’ll hear the full story behind Remedy Place, how the idea for the world’s first social wellness club came to life, and why Dr. Leary believes the future of wellness is far more social than we’ve been led to believe.
🎧 Listen on Apple or Spotify
📺 Watch the full episode on YouTube
And if you’re looking for more health and wellness podcast episodes with top medical experts, scientists, and brand founders on all things clean living, longevity, and wellbeing?
New episodes every other Friday! XO, KB
