Once Upon a Stranger: Can Small Talk Lead to a Bigger Life? (#305)
6/9/202620 min
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.
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First 90 secondsLynne Thomann· Host0:00
[chime] Millions of people feel disconnected today even while spending all day around other people. We wear headphones in public. We stare at our phones in elevators. We order coffee without speaking. At the exact moment technology promises to connect us more than ever, many people have stopped talking to each other in everyday life. But what if the tiny interactions we overlook, the quick chat with a stranger, the brief exchange in line, the smile from someone we'll never see again, matter far more than we realize? [instrumental music] Hi, everyone. I'm Lynn Tomen, and this is Three Takeaways. On Three Takeaways, I talk with some of the world's best thinkers, business leaders, writers, politicians, newsmakers, and scientists. Each episode ends with three key takeaways to help us understand the world and maybe even ourselves a little better. Today, I'm delighted to be joined by Gillian Sandstrom, a psychologist at the University of Sussex, whose research explores the surprising power of everyday conversation. Her work has challenged the way many of us think about strangers, small talk, and the quiet moments that shape our lives. Her new book, which is wonderful, is Once