About this episode
Most of us treat small talk as filler—something to endure in elevators and coffee lines. But Gillian Sandstrom's research reveals that those fleeting exchanges with strangers might be one of the most underrated forces shaping our happiness and well-being. Then, journalist Joe Keohane makes the broader case for why connecting with strangers isn't just nice—it's critical for a less isolated, more human life.
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