Once Upon a Stranger: Can Small Talk Lead to a Bigger Life? (#305)

2026-06-09 · 20 min · episode 305 · 17 entities

episode page audio

Asserted relationships

→ authored Once Upon a Stranger book

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author of Once Upon a Stranger
→ hosted by Lynn Thoman person

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Feed author/publisher: Lynn Thoman
→ discusses Society & Culture concept

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Feed category: Society & Culture
→ discusses Business company

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Feed category: Business
→ discusses Education concept

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Feed category: Education
→ discusses Philosophy company

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Feed category: Philosophy
→ discusses Courses website

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Feed category: Courses
→ discusses Management website

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Management

Entities found in this episode

concepts 5

mentioned Society & Culture concept

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Society & Culture
mentioned Education concept

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Education
mentioned Can Small Talk Lead to a Bigger Life? (#305 concept

0.42

evidence rules-v5
Once Upon a Stranger: Can Small Talk Lead to a Bigger Life? (#305)
discusses Society & Culture concept

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Society & Culture
discusses Education concept

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Education

companys 4

mentioned Business company

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evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Business
mentioned Philosophy company

0.50

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Philosophy
discusses Business company

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Business
discusses Philosophy company

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Philosophy

websites 4

mentioned Courses website

0.50

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Courses
mentioned Management website

0.50

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Management
discusses Courses website

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Courses
discusses Management website

0.40

evidence rules-v5
Feed category: Management

books 2

mentioned Once Upon a Stranger book

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evidence rules-v5
author of Once Upon a Stranger
authored Once Upon a Stranger book

0.62

evidence rules-v5
author of Once Upon a Stranger

persons 2

mentioned Lynn Thoman person

0.70

evidence rules-v5
Feed author/publisher: Lynn Thoman
hosted by Lynn Thoman person

0.55

evidence rules-v5
Feed author/publisher: Lynn Thoman

Episode description as stored

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.