Once Upon a Stranger: Can Small Talk Lead to a Bigger Life? (#305)

About this episode

Gillian Sandstrom discusses the importance of small talk and its impact on our lives.

What if those brief conversations - with a barista, a neighbor, or someone sitting next to us - matter far more than we realize? Gillian Sandstrom, a University of Sussex psychologist and author of Once Upon a Stranger, explores why we're so reluctant to talk to people we don't know, what happens when we do, and how seemingly small interactions can add up to a richer, happier, and more connected life.

People in this episode

Host: Lynn Thoman

Guest: Gillian Sandstrom

Topics covered

• small talk
• psychology
• social interactions
• happiness
• connection

Keywords

• small talk
• psychology
• social connections
• happiness
• Gillian Sandstrom

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Sussex

Books & works: Once Upon a Stranger

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