E97: The Intellectual Domain of Friendships

Friendship does not just enrich our emotions—it shapes how we think. Studies show that intellectually engaging conversations with friends can improve cognitive flexibility, creativity, and even long-term brain health. Yet in an age of constant scrolling and algorithm-driven feeds, genuine intellectual exchange is becoming increasingly rare.

In the intellectual domain of friendships, Kirtly Jones, MD, and Katie Ward, PhD, explore how true friends challenge our ideas, expand our perspectives, and make us think in new ways. From bonds formed through shared learning to the role of disagreement in deepening connection, they talk about the transformative power of intellectual curiosity between friends—and what we lose when technology replaces real dialogue.