In this episode of Bytes of Experience, Bo Wandschneider and Dana Sanderson sit down with Pete Bombacci, founder of GenWell, Canada’s human connection movement. Pete shares the powerful origin story behind GenWell — the 2003 Northeast blackout — when millions lost power and rediscovered something essential: each other. As he recalls, “When all the distractions are turned off… we need to connect with each other” . The conversation explores why human connection is not just a personal need but a societal and organizational imperative. Pete outlines the evidence linking social connection to reduced risks of heart disease, dementia, diabetes, and burnout, and highlights how workplaces benefit through higher productivity, trust, collaboration, and retention. As he notes, “Increased productivity by over 20% when we have a culture of human connection” . The trio digs into the realities of hybrid work, distributed teams, and the erosion of social capital. Pete explains why proximity alone doesn’t create connection — intentionality does. Leaders must move beyond “my door is always open” and instead curate shared experiences, build rituals, and model connection themselves. “Proximity is not the solution. It’s actually building a curated plan around activations to build human interaction” . They also unpack the misunderstood nature of loneliness — a subjective, universal human experience — and why organizations must stop waiting for “warning signs” and instead build proactive cultures of connection. “Let’s stop trying to identify the people that are feeling that way. Let’s start building the proactive way of building the culture of human connection” . The episode closes with rapid‑fire insights on habits that build connection, myths leaders should abandon, and the simple practices that help teams thrive. This is a timely, energizing conversation for anyone leading people, shaping culture, or simply trying to build a more connected life.

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