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Back up, Anna. I'm inside a booth.

A very small booth, it seems.

Yeah, why?

Because I'm at this conference where the whole point of this conference is too mingle and meet strangers, I even have a number, which is my buddy badge.

And I'm supposed to find a person here who has the same number and chitchat with them.

Oh no, forced friendship at a conference? Sounds terrible.

Well, it actually could be fun, but I'm a little bit out of practice.

You've forgotten how to make small-talk, it seems. Let alone make a friend.

Exactly.

Hey everyone, this is Radio Atlantic, I'm Hannah Rosen, and this is real.

I am in a booth. There is a conference outside me. There are lots of people who I should be talking to.

And also I'm sure I'm not the only one, because it's September, which means no more hanging out at the beach with your nearest and dearest.

We are back to school and back to work and back to conferences, which means back to small-talk.

So today we're running an episode of How to Talk to People, an Atlantic series with hosts Becca Rashid and Julie Beck.

Okay, Becca, I thought I was really good at this, but actually I need some help.

That can't be true, Hannah, given that you talk to people for a living and know how to ask questions better than anyone.

I know, so what exactly makes this so nerve-wracking for you?

That is an excellent question, because if you're at a happy hour, you know the point is to chitchat.

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