What if the real prescription isn’t medicine—it’s movement, belonging, and connection?

In this episode of Possibilities with Monique de Maio, journalist Julia Hotz joins us to explore the power of social prescribing: a revolutionary approach that’s helping people feel better by prescribing nature, service, art, movement, and community instead of pills.

You’ll learn:

→ Why chronic loneliness is as dangerous as smoking 15 cigarettes a day
→ How movement, creativity, and purpose literally rewire your brain
→ What “social prescribing” is—and how it’s changing healthcare globally
→ The neuroscience behind why belonging reduces pain and improves health
→ Small steps to reconnect when you feel burned out or disconnected

Julia’s research is compelling, inspiring, and actionable—and it’s exactly the kind of wisdom we need right now. If you’ve been feeling “off” and can’t quite explain it, this might be the connection cure you’ve been missing.

🎧 Listen now and start building your own prescription for wellness.

📍 Timestamps:
00:00 – Intro to Julia Hotz and Social Prescribing
02:41 – What Is the Connection Cure?
05:08 – Why Loneliness Is a Public Health Crisis
07:59 – Movement as a Mood Booster
10:34 – Art, Creativity & Expressive Healing
14:02 – Community & Belonging as Medicine
17:10 – Altruism, Service & Purpose
20:25 – Nature’s Role in Mental Health
24:14 – Reinventing Healthcare Around Connection
28:30 – Small Actions That Make a Big Difference
31:56 – Final Thoughts from Julia & Monique

About Julia Hotz:
Julia Hotz is a journalist, speaker, and author of The Connection Cure. She reports on global health innovation for outlets like The New York Times, Scientific American, and BBC. Her work focuses on how human connection, policy shifts, and community-based interventions can transform lives. 📘 Grab Julia’s book: The Connection Cure