logo
episode-header-image
Feb 2025
49m 35s

How to Master Small Talk & Why We Do Thi...

Mike Carruthers | OmniCast Media
About this episode

Is there a reason we have eyebrows? Pretty much every part of the human body has a reason for being there and eyebrows actually have three reasons. I begin this episode by explaining what they are. https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/58424/why-do-we-have-eyebrows


Every relationship in your life started with small talk. Personal or professional, every encounter begins this way. Yet, as important as it is, a lot of people hate small talk and think they are not very good at it. Here with some great advice is Debra Fine. She is one of the foremost experts on small talk and she is author of the book, The Fine Art of Small Talk (https://amzn.to/3wSdl3t). She has some simple techniques that will make anyone more comfortable making small talk.


Have you ever done something or said something and later wondered why you did it? It turns out that a lot of what drives human action and reaction can be hard to figure out. Here to explain why that happens is Helena Boschi. She is a psychologist and author of a book called Why We Do What We Do (https://amzn.to/3RE47kL). Listen as she reveals some of the inner workings of your brain that cause you to do things that seem hard to understand.


When people take liquid medicine, it is common to just grab a spoon out of the silverware drawer to measure it. This is not a good idea. Listen as I explain a few common mistakes people make when taking medicines at home that can really mess things up. https://www.hmpgloballearningnetwork.com/site/pln/blogs/pln/michael-cawley-pharmd-rrt-cpft-fccm/december-31-2014/medication-errors-among-children-are

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Up next
Jul 7
The Healing Effects of Music & Understanding Adolescence
Having good friends can help you live longer, see the world more positively and make you look more attractive. How can that be? Listen as I explain. https://www.thehealthy.com/family/relationships/friends-facts/ We are learning more and more about the healing power of music. You ... Show More
53m 4s
Jul 5
Why People Misunderstand You & The Fashion Health Crisis - SYSK Choice
Why do people seem to get sick when (or just after) they fly? Many believe it is the recirculated air on the plane that everyone is breathing. That is probably not the reason. This episode starts by explaining what the real culprit is and how to protect yourself. https://www.rd.c ... Show More
49m 46s
Jul 3
The New Science of Love & The Fascinating World of Death
Who hasn’t had a brilliant idea or revelation while taking a shower? It seems the shower is a place where we do some of our best thinking. Why is that? This episode starts with an explanation. https://www.headspace.com/articles/shower-epiphanies What is love? Is it an experience, ... Show More
48m 43s
Recommended Episodes
Feb 2025
We Need to Talk
Just because we’ve been doing something for a long time doesn’t mean we’re doing it right. One part of our lives where this may be particularly true is when we're talking with others. This week, we bring you the first of a two-part look at what makes someone skilled at socializin ... Show More
51m 15s
Dec 2024
How to Never Struggle with Small Talk
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 conversat ... Show More
15m 11s
Aug 2024
Encore - How to have great conversations, with Charles Duhigg and Michael Yeomans, PhD
Conversational chemistry might seem intangible, but psychologists are beginning figure out what makes some conversations work while others fall apart. Charles Duhigg, author of the upcoming book Supercommunicators and conversation researcher Michael Yeomans, PhD, talk about how a ... Show More
51m 32s
Mar 2024
How to Actually Make Friends: Stop Treating Everyone Like Strangers!
Better Small Talk: Talk to Anyone, Avoid Awkwardness, Generate Deep Conversations, and Make Real Friends By Patrick King Hear it Here - https://adbl.co/2Q5CWQM 00:00:00 Initial Impressions00:10:41 Make the First Move00:16:50 Find Similarity00:27:35 Manufacture Connection https:// ... Show More
39m 41s
Feb 2025
How to Have a Conversation with Your Higher Self (& The Unconventional Way I Use AI to Treat it Like a Therapy Session)
Ep 134. I recently had a transformative experience where I felt called to lay down before bed and allow my “higher self” to thank me for all the work I’ve done up to this point. I had the thought to voice record the process, where I simply talked to myself and said all the things ... Show More
1h 15m
May 9
294. The psychology of the talking stage
The dreaded talking stage. A whole new level of complexity that has been added to dating in our 20s. The talking stage is this strange should be about information gathering and date organising, but it's become such a snagging point for so many would be relationships. In today's e ... Show More
42m 6s
Aug 2024
Why Am I Always So Burnt Out?
Why do some people have a tendency to feel more burnt out than others? Why is it so hard to break cycles of feeling depleted and drained? Why is it so hard for some people to say no, to set boundaries, and to care for their souls?  Today on the podcast, we start our brand new SOU ... Show More
38m 9s
May 2024
395 SelfWork: Why Don't You Talk About Your Struggle with Depression?
Why don't you talk about your struggle with depression?You may have lots of reasons, or excuses, or justifications. But I found out by reading the responses on (what I'm honored to say) is a viral TEDx talk, "How to recognize perfectly hidden depression", that so many of ... Show More
25m 52s
Jun 24
Turn Dreaded Conversations Into Breakthrough Moments
Daily Boost Podcast Show Notes Turn Dreaded Conversations Into Breakthrough Moments June 24, 2025 | Episode - 5122 Host: Scott Smith Episode Description You know that conversation you’ve been putting off? The one that makes your stomach twist just thinking about it? Scott’s got y ... Show More
12m 14s
Dec 2023
Your Expert Guide to Mingling Like a Pro
Whether you’ve got a family event, party, christmas gathering or even a date coming up, the fear of the conversation drying up & having no way out is VERY real. So how do we nail mingling & turn it into a core skill rather than something that brings us out in a cold sweat? Fear n ... Show More
1h 1m