How to Get Better at Small Talk
The Upgrade by Lifehacker
Lifehacker
4.6 • 688 Ratings
🗓️ 9 September 2019
⏱️ 33 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
On this smaller episode we’re diving into the topic of small talk. Is it there real value in shooting the breeze, or is it just inane jibber-jabber? Wherever you stand on the topic, you’re going to be called on to engage in small talk sooner or later—so how do you get more comfortable with it? Our producer asked the people who are probably the most fluent in small talk: bartenders. Then, Melissa and Alice are joined in the studio by Lifehacker staff writer Nick Douglas to discuss their varied feelings on idle chitchat, and if there’s any value in talking about the weather.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Hello and welcome to The Upgrade, the podcast from the team at LifeHacker, where we help you improve your life one week at a time. |
| 0:19.1 | I'm Melissa Kirsch, editor-in-chief of LifeHacker. |
| 0:21.8 | And I'm Alice Bradley, Lifehacker's deputy editor. |
| 0:24.5 | And today on this very special mini-episode of the upgrade, |
| 0:28.2 | we're diving into the contentious issue of small talk, |
| 0:31.7 | about which Alice and I have very different feelings. |
| 0:35.1 | Hey, Melissa. |
| 0:36.0 | Hey, Alice. |
| 0:36.6 | What's the weather like over where you are? |
| 0:38.8 | Why don't you tell me about your most painful memory? |
| 0:42.9 | I have no patience for niceties, especially with people that I know. |
| 0:47.2 | Do you hate niceties? |
| 0:48.6 | I hate niceties. |
| 0:49.6 | Maybe I really want to know how you're doing. |
| 0:52.3 | I'll tell you how I'm doing. |
| 0:53.5 | You're going to give me the full down mode? Yeah. I'll tell you how I'm doing. You're going to give me the full down mode? |
| 0:55.5 | Yeah. I'll tell you. |
| 0:56.4 | I'll tell you off, Mike. |
| 0:58.1 | Oh, man. |
| 0:58.7 | So we're going to get into our differences on the subject of small talk later in the episode |
| 1:03.1 | when we're joined by Lifehacker's staff writer Nick Douglas. |
| 1:06.3 | But first, our producer, Michaela, took to the streets of New York to get some advice and observations from the most talented small talkers of all, bartenders. |
... |
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