Taboo Talk Season 2 Episode 21 How Are You, Really? Connection, Belonging & Being Fully Human with Terence LeClere

🔑 MAIN TOPICS & TAKEAWAYS1. Our imperfections may be what make us humanAs technology becomes increasingly polished and predictable, Terence believes our messy, spontaneous and imperfect moments become even more valuable.The things we may once have tried to hide—the stumble, the emotion, the unexpected reaction—can be exactly what creates genuine human connection.2. Belonging is about participation, not simply being presentTerence's work in immersive experiences has taught him that people don't just want to watch—they want to feel like they matter to what is happening.When people are invited in, included and made to feel valued, an ordinary moment can become something they remember for years.3. People want to feel seen, valued and importantThrough his work designing experiences for major brands, Terence has noticed something simple underneath all the sets, technology and spectacle:The moment people remember is often the moment another human made them feel like they mattered.4. We need permission to play againChildren naturally walk up to other children and ask, “Can I play?”Adults often lose that ability.Sarah and Terence explore how play creates connection without needing an agenda, transaction or outcome—and why creating spaces where adults feel safe enough to be curious, silly and open can be transformative.5. Reaching out is not failureIn one of the most vulnerable moments of the episode, Terence shares calling a crisis helpline and initially feeling ashamed that he'd needed to.He later realised something important: the part of him that reached out wasn't giving up—it was the part fighting to survive.🗣️ MEMORABLE QUOTES“Everything that I thought made me bad actually makes me human.”— Terence LeClere“The reaching out is not failure.”— Terence LeClere“How are you? How are you really?”— Sarah Jordan-Ross⏱️ KEY MOMENTS & TIMESTAMPS00:00 – Why some experiences stay with us long after they're over01:29 – What has Terence seen that he can no longer unsee?02:00 – Technology, AI and what they may reveal about humanity04:00 – Why perfection can actually feel less human05:40 – “Everything I thought made me bad actually makes me human”06:43 – The beauty of being perfectly imperfect08:00 – Sarah shares her son's fear of roller coasters09:23 – Terence's terrifying road experience and how perspective changes an experience11:00 – The difference between fear and an amusement park ride12:00 – Approaching life like an immersive experience14:30 – What exactly is immersive theatre?15:55 – Why the audience is necessary to the experience16:48 – Humans making meaning together18:22 – Immersive experiences, technology and participation19:49 – The difference between attending something and truly being part of it20:00 – Sarah's family experience at an American baseball game21:26 – Creating opportunities for people to feel like they belong22:15 – Why people remember how you made them feel23:04 – Our need for connection and belonging23:30 – Fitting in versus truly belonging24:00 – Meeting people where they are27:00 – Expertise, imperfection and learning from everyone29:26 – Why Sarah created Taboo Talk31:16 – “Nobody ever knew” and the danger of suffering in silence33:00 – Why emotional wellbeing can still carry shame34:00 – Terence opens up about calling a crisis helpline35:00 – Realising that reaching out wasn't failure—it was survival35:58 – Why actors often feel safe being messy and emotional on stage37:30 – The unique power of human-to-human interaction38:30 – A Disneyland elf and the tiny human moment people remembered40:18 – Why AI can support connection but can't replace human connection41:57 – What happened to our sense of community?42:35 – Have adults forgotten how to play?43:18 – Children naturally connecting with strangers through play44:13 – Connection without transaction45:00 – Why play creates permission to explore47:12 – Giving each other permission to be silly, curious and uncertain47:52 – Maybe the point of life is figuring it out together49:05 – The most meaningful immersive experiences of Terence's career50:00 – Creating a deeply personal experience from audience responses51:03 – Working on an immersive experience for Saturday Night Live's 50th anniversary53:00 – What it feels like to become the “host” of SNL54:00 – Why people may want fame because they want to feel important55:00 – Treating every guest like a celebrity56:27 – We don't necessarily want fame—we want to know we matter57:30 – What conversation does Terence wish we had more honestly?57:41 – Why “How are you?” rarely gets an honest answer58:30 – The festival “check-in desk” that became a place for real connection59:00 – The power of a few minutes of genuine connection59:58 – “How are you? How are you really?”1:01:00 – Why the experiences we remember are the ones where we felt seen1:03:28 – Where to connect with Terence1:04:03 – Sarah's reminder: reaching out is strength, not failure