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DC Public Library PodcastAuthor: Labs at DC Public Library
Hear book talks, conversations, special presentations, stories about the happenings in the library, the Labs, and Washington, DC, and much more! This show is recorded from the Labs Recording Studio at the historic, modernized, Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library in downtown Washington, D.C. This podcast was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Language: en Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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Light in the Loneliness: Finding Community in the Holiday Season
Episode 114
Friday, 6 November, 2026
In this episode, we're finding our footing as we come into November as we brace for the holiday season. Did you know that between November 1st and December 31st there are roughly 30 different religious festivals or holidays? Nearly all of them deal with light in some way, and with coming together as a community. Yet psychologists say this time of year can be especially lonely. So this episode we're looking for the light in loneliness. On this month's segment of Stacks in the City, Donna dives into holiday self-care and the library's partnership with the Friendship Bench, a program derived from an evidence based model in Zimbabwe in which trained local grandparents meet with visitors on physical benches across DC libraries to provide free, confidential, and empathetic talk therapy to residents of all ages. Joined by Jean Badalamente, manager of Health and Human Services at the DC Library, Cindy Cox Roman, HelpAge USA President, and CEO of Friendship Bench DC, and with the help of a bench grandparent and a bench visitor, they all answer the question Can a library bench change a life? Then Christopher Stevenson, me, We'll talk with Adrian Gaston Garcia, literary and community organizer with Tintas, where we'll chew the fat over the importance of community and finding the right place where you can feel welcome and comfortable writing and speaking your mind. So go refill your cup of coffee, adjust your seat on that metro ride, make sure you come to a complete halt at that stop sign, or huddle in at your desk at work as we explore more beautiful things about Washington, DC. Music: Autumn Leaves Falling by alex-morganMidnight Latitude (V1)by Emand_EdroffLofi Jazz Hip Hop by VibeHornSmooth Chill Jazzy Music by AllWorldMusicSoft Samba Horizon by CocosMusic All songs in the public domain on through license from Pixabay Connect with us!https://www.dclibrary.org/@dcpl on X @dcpubliclibrary on Instagram@dcpubliclibrary.bsky.social on Bluesky
