Once Upon a Stranger - Gillian Sandstrom on how Small Talk is a big deal

What if the conversations we often dismiss as “small talk” are actually helping us build a richer, more connected life?In this delightful and deeply affirming episode of Connect with Confidence, Kerrie is joined by Professor Gillian Sandstrom, researcher, speaker and author of Once Upon a Stranger. Together they explore the science and the story behind everyday interactions – from chatting on trains and in cafés to sharing a smile with someone on a hard day.Gillian shares how her journey began – from watching her dad talk to everyone, to finding unexpected comfort in being recognised by the “hot dog lady” on campus, to one brave cupcake-inspired conversation that opened a whole new world. Along the way, Kerrie and Gillian reflect on introversion, belonging, networking, empathy, uncertainty and the ripple effect of simple human connection.They also unpack Gillian’s practical QUICK framework for starting conversations:QuestionsIn CommonKindnessThis is a warm, thoughtful conversation for anyone who longs for more ease, confidence and meaning in their interactions – whether in daily life, travel, work or community.In this episode, you’ll hear about: • Why “small talk” isn’t small at all • How weak ties and everyday interactions help us feel we belong • The difference between introversion and shyness • Why talking to strangers can actually suit introverts • How authenticity changes networking • The cumulative effect of brief, ordinary conversations • How to start conversations using Gillian’s QUICK framework • Why a smile, a question or a kind comment can matter more than we realiseLoved this episode? Support us to create more podcasts by buying our producer a coffee - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://bmc.link/kerriephipps⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Find Gillian here -LinkedIn:⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/gillian-sandstrom-5049951/Website: ⁠⁠https://gilliansandstrom.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drgilliansandstrom/Bsky: https://bsky.app/profile/gilliansocial.bsky.socialX: https://x.com/GillianSocialProfile: https://profiles.sussex.ac.uk/p555105-gillian-sandstromFind Kerrie here -TopMate - ⁠⁠https://topmate.io/kerriephipps⁠⁠Website - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://kerriephipps.com/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/kerriephipps/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Facebook public page - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.facebook.com/KerriePhipps1⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.instagram.com/kerriephipps⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Twitter / X - ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://twitter.com/KerriePhipps⁠⁠⁠