Category Archives: Human Interest

09Apr/26

How helping others saves your life

April 9, 2026Human InterestAltruism, Benito-Ballesteros, centerstone, dopamine, Emotions, Eudaimonia, Happiness, Interpersonal relationships, Joe Jefferies, Moral psychology, oxytocin, Prosocial behavior, Six-factor model of psychological well-being, Social impact, Volunteering, Well-beingadmin

From Isolation to Inclusion: How Volunteering Helps Us Feel Connected Again

April 9, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The “Helper’s High” and Physical Health Volunteering produces a documented physiological response known as the “helper’s high”. When individuals engage in acts of altruism, the brain releases a cascade of neurochemicals, including endorphins (natural painkillers that elevate mood), dopamine (which creates a sense of pleasure and reward), and oxytocin (the “bonding hormone” that fosters trust and empathy). Because of this biological response, volunteering actively reduces stress and anxiety, combats depression, lowers mortality rates, and can even lessen symptoms of chronic pain and heart disease. Continue reading →

09Apr/26

Between Invisible Loneliness and Suffocating Control

April 9, 2026Human InterestAbuse, Adverse childhood experiences, Anxiety disorders, Complex post-traumatic stress disorder, Counseling, Domestic violence, Karl Chads, Loneliness, Post-traumatic stress disorder, Psychological trauma, Religious trauma syndrome, Social isolation, Stalking, United Kingdom, Wales, Wickradmin

Invisible Prisons: Escaping High-Control Groups, Stalking, and Mental Abuse

April 9, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Distinguishing loneliness from objective social isolation. This analysis highlights that you can experience profound loneliness even when surrounded by people. This often happens in environments like busy cities due to “stimulus overload,” where a constant barrage of noise and interactions causes people to emotionally withdraw to protect themselves. To combat this hollow feeling, humans rely on “shared reality”—the perception of having common feelings, beliefs, or attitudes with others about the world. Establishing a shared reality with even just one person helps reduce uncertainty and fosters a genuine sense of connection and meaning, which acts as a powerful buffer against the pain of loneliness.
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03Apr/26

Never Wrestle with a Pig

April 3, 2026Human InterestCommunication studies, George Lakoff, Human communication, Interpersonal communication, Interpersonal relationship, Karl Popper, Sabrina Joy Stevens, United States, Yonatan Zungeradmin

April 1, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — Let us explore the dynamics of conflict, toxicity, and reputation management across both interpersonal relationships and macro-level societal structures.
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26Mar/26

Why Socrates Says Regret Is Inevitable

March 26, 2026Human InterestAncient Greek philosophy, Apology, Athens, Classical theism, Columbo, Daimonion, Dialogues of Plato, George Furth, Kierkegaard, Myrto, Oracle, Philosophers of education, Plato, Socrates, Socratic dialogues, Socratic method, Socratic problem, The unexamined life is not worth living, Xanthippe, Xenophonadmin

The Inevitability of Regret: Socratic Wisdom in a World of Binary Choices

March 26, 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — According to the teachings of the ancient Greek philosopher Socrates, the relationship between human choice and inevitable regret is rooted in the fact that no life path is perfect, and every decision involves compromises. Using the choice between marriage and celibacy as an example, Socrates noted that “let a man take whichever course, he will be sure to regret it” because human desires and circumstances inevitably change over time.

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01Mar/26

The Return of the Warriors: Inside Zambia’s Historic N’cwala Festival

March 1, 2026Human InterestAfrica, Bemba people, British South Africa Company, Chipata, Chitimukulu, Continents, Ethnic groups in Zambia, Hakainde Hichilema, Kenneth Kaunda, Madzimawe, Malawi, Mozambique, Mpezeni, Mpezeni III, Mwata Kazembe, Ngoni, Ngoni people, Nsingo, Paramount Chief Mpezeni, Shaka Zulu, South Africa, Zambia, Zwangendabaadmin

28 Feb. 2026 /Mpelembe Media/ — The N’cwala (or Nc’wala) ceremony is a major annual cultural festival celebrated by the Ngoni people of Zambia’s Eastern Province. Held every year on the last Saturday of February at Mtenguleni village near Chipata, it primarily serves as a thanksgiving festival for the first fruits of the harvest and an occasion to pay homage to God, ancestral spirits, and the Paramount Chief Mpezeni. Continue reading →

24Nov/25

Is racism becoming more acceptable in the UK?

November 24, 2025Human InterestAustralia, Brexit, Creative Commons, Cultural racism, Frank Reeves, Ireland, Keir Starmer, Kevin Durrheim, Michael Billig, Netherlands, Nigel Farage, Political positions of Nigel Farage, Prejudice, Racism, Rahul Sambaraju, Reform UK, Right-wing politics in the United Kingdom, Right-wing populism in the United Kingdom, Sarah Pochin, Simon Goodman, UK Independence Party, United Kingdom, Wes Streeting, Xenophobiaadmin

Simon Goodman, De Montfort University and Rahul Sambaraju, University of Edinburgh

Keir Starmer has called on Nigel Farage to address allegations of racism in Reform UK, and antisemitic and xenophobic comments and bullying allegedly made by Farage while he was at school. Farage has denied the accusations.

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03Nov/25

The Declining Wildflowers and the Meadow Solution

November 3, 2025Human InterestBee, Beekeeping, Biodiversity, Daniel Gibbs, Insect ecology, Martha Kearney, Meadow, Pollination, Pollinator, Simon Potts, Symbiosis, UK, United Kingdom, Wildflower stripadmin

Nov. 3, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ — An article by Martha Kearney, Presenter of BBC Radio 4’s This Natural Life, detailing her personal concern over the severe decline in British wildflowers since her childhood and her efforts to create her own wildflower meadow. Experts, including Professor Simon Potts and Professor Daniel Gibbs, highlight the detrimental consequences of this decline, predicting lower crop yields, higher food prices for consumers, and a loss of essential biodiversity, particularly pollinators like bees and butterflies. Continue reading →

05Sep/25

What I’ve learned from photographing (almost) every British wildflower

September 5, 2025Human InterestBen Lawers, Brownfield land, Creative Commons, Edinburgh, Estonia, Norway, Orchid, Plant, Richard Milne, Scotland, SHUTTERSTOCK, United Kingdom, Vlad Krivtsov, Wales, Yorkadmin

The author’s project took him all over Britain.
Montage images: Pajor Pawel/Shutterstock (background); Richard Milne (flowers)

Richard Milne, University of Edinburgh

The wildflowers of Britain include all manner of treasures – yet many people are only aware of a few, such as bluebells and foxgloves. A lot of its other flora are rare because of Britain’s location at the northern, western or even southern edges of their natural geographic – and hence climatic – ranges.

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27Apr/25

Freedom Seder LA Brings Together Black, Jewish, and Black-Jewish Leaders for an Evening of Unity and Liberation

April 27, 2025Human InterestAmanda, Amanda Berman, Berman, Bo, Deborah Marcus, Hallel, Michael Fisher, Moses, Passover, Stephen Wise Temple, The Exodus, Van Jones, Yoshi Zweibackadmin

Hosted by CNN commentator Van Jones, Bishop-Designate Michael Fisher of Greater Zion Church Family, CAA’s Deborah Marcus, Rabbi Yoshi Zweiback of Stephen Wise Temple, and Amanda Berman, founder of Zioness, the event, rooted in the traditions of Passover and the story of the Exodus, celebrated Black, Jewish, and Black-Jewish liberation and solidarity. Continue reading

10Jan/25

One Man Exposed Freemason Secrets: His Disappearance & Their Downfall

January 10, 2025Human Interest, UncategorizedAnti-Masonic Party, Anti-Masonry, David C. Miller, Freemasonry, Martin Stezano, Masonic organizations, Masonic ritual and symbolism, Morgan, William, William Morganadmin

Jan. 10, 2025 /Mpelembe Media/ — The mysterious 1826 disappearance of William Morgan, a Freemason who planned to expose the organisation’s secrets. His abduction fuelled anti-Masonic sentiment, significantly impacting American politics. Continue reading →