Forming emotional bonds with fellow human beings is one of the most basic instincts we have. There’s a primal urge to attach yourself to others, for safety, for mating purposes, or hell just to have lunch. But just because that desire is present doesn’t mean that it’s easy or even inevitable to actually form those connections. 

At the same time, we’re all going to spend some time alone. Maybe in brief moments, maybe for very long stretches. 

Comedian, actor, and writer Lane Moore thinks about these things a lot. She is perhaps best known for Tinder Live, a touring series of live shows where she checks out profiles of men looking for connections and provides live commentary and live swiping before an audience. She finds that most people are pretty nice, honest people but that some of them do some pretty weird stuff. Stuff like posing for their profile pictures while covered in blood, naked, next to a deer they killed. Or being naked except for a strategically placed top hat. 

She tours with the show a lot but has also given quite a bit of thought to the other side of the coin and has written a book titled “How To Be Alone.”

Lane shares her thoughts on all this plus living with complex post-traumatic stress disorder in a deeply personal conversation that’s valuable if you’ve ever been alone or with someone else. Which covers everyone, I’m pretty sure.

Also, stick around after the main interview for a meditation minute with our pal Laura House.

Visit Lane's website at lanemoore.org or her Linktree at linktr.ee/hellolanemoore for tour dates, her book, and more. Follow Lane on Twitter @hellolanemoore and on Instagram @hellolanemoore. 

Understanding Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: https://www.healthline.com/health/cptsd

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Help is available right away.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255, 1-800-273-TALK

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741.

International suicide hotline numbers available here: https://www.opencounseling.com/suicide-hotlines

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John's acclaimed memoir, The Hilarious World of Depression, is available here.

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