Small talk can be so awkward.
You’re trying to fill the silence, but the conversation just isn’t clicking. What do you do?
In this episode, I’m sharing 3 ways to make small talk feel natural, engaging, and even enjoyable. You’ll learn how to ask better questions, keep the conversation flowing, and avoid the awkward silence trap.
These tips will help you turn ... Show More
Yesterday
Dave Ramsey: "How To Actually Change Their Behavior"
The conversations you've been avoiding rarely get easier—they just get more expensive. In this episode, I sit down with Dave Ramsey to talk about what it really takes to tell the truth with kindness, navigate disagreement without making it personal, and have the conversations mos ... Show More
1h 25m
Jul 28
Never Say "Let Me Know If"
When someone you care about is grieving, the pressure to say the right thing can be paralyzing. You want to help, but you don't want to make it worse. In this episode, I break down exactly what to say—and what not to say—when someone is dealing with profound loss. We cover why "l ... Show More
25m 13s
Jul 24
How to Speak Up with Confidence ft. Tori Kelly
Have you ever talked yourself out of speaking before you even opened your mouth? I think a lot of us have. We convince ourselves that everyone else is smarter, more experienced, or has something more valuable to say. So we stay quiet. The problem is, the more you do that, the eas ... Show More
1h 6m
Apr 2025
#322 How to Get Better at Small Talk
Small Talk is something many of us struggle with, and it's a really important part of socialising and using language.In this episode, I share some of my own awkward experiences with small talk, and then go through time tips on how we can all get better at it to improve our conver ... Show More
41m 18s
Oct 2019
Ep51: Surviving Small Talk
<p>Most people dread it. Some people avoid it at all costs. We’ll skip the networking events, duck behind a big display in the store, or avoid eye contact in a public place. What am I talking about? Small talk. It’s something we all have to do, but we almost universally despise. ... Show More
20m 31s
Jul 2025
The Secret Purpose of Small Talk (and How to Use It to Build Instant Connection) [Social Intelligence Brief]
Most people dread small talk. But in this episode of Social Intelligence, AJ and Johnny explain why it’s not about the weather, jobs, or generic questions—it’s about emotional connection. Discover the science of “emotional bids,” a concept from Dr. John Gottman that unlocks deepe ... Show More
22m 42s