445. “Science Can’t Measure Love” | Pure Unlimited Love with Dr. Stephen G. Post, Part 1

In a time marked by social tension and cultural fragmentation, we welcomed Dr. Stephen G. Post—founding president of the Institute for Research on Pure Unlimited Love and director of the Center for Medical Humanities, Compassionate Care, and Bioethics at Stony Brook University’s Renaissance School of Medicine. With more than forty years of work exploring compassion at the intersection of science and spirituality, Dr. Post helps us move beyond reductionist ideas of altruism and into a richer understanding of what it means to truly care for others. This episode is Part 1 of a two-part conversation.

We explore why empathy alone isn’t sufficient without moral direction, how different forms of helping shape our inner lives, and what research reveals about the emotional and psychological benefits of volunteering—especially during seasons of grief and loss. Dr. Post also invites us to reflect on what’s lost as human connection becomes increasingly mediated by screens, and why presence and intentional love matter now more than ever.

The Biggest Helping: Today’s Most Important Takeaway

“The security and well-being of others [is] as real or meaningful to us as our own, and sometimes more so”

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Thank you for joining us on The Daily Helping with Dr. Shuster. Subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube to download more food for the brain, knowledge from the experts, and tools to win at life.

Resources:

• Pure Unlimited Love (Book)
• The Institute for Research on Pure Unlimited Love
• Dr. Stephen G. Post – Stony Brook Bio
• Dr. Stephen G. Post – Official Website
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