BrainChug: Reconnecting with Old Friends - The Science of Reaching Out

Come for the talk, stay for the conversations that follow.

Lecture Topic:

We know that meaningful social connections are important for our happiness and well-being. But what about the relationships that have quietly faded from our lives?

In this talk, we’ll explore the psychology of “old friends”: people we still care about but no longer regularly speak to. Why are we so reluctant to reach out, even when we want to? What actually happens when we finally send that message? And can reconnecting with someone from our past make us happier?

Drawing on research into social connection and well-being, we’ll look at why reaching out can feel surprisingly difficult, what predicts whether we actually do it, and the unexpected rewards that can come from reconnecting.

Details:
📍The Stores, Granville, Vancouver
📅 September 28, 2026
🕡 Doors open at 6:30 PM | Lecture starts at 7 PM

Meet the Expert:

Dr. Lara Aknin is a Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Simon Fraser University and an Editor of the World Happiness Report. An internationally recognized social psychologist, her research explores what makes people happy, with a particular focus on generosity, social connection, and how our everyday interactions shape our well-being. Dr. Aknin’s work has been published in Science, Nature Human Behaviour, and The Lancet, and featured in The New York Times, CNN, CBC, The Guardian, and The Globe and Mail.

See you there.