Skip the Small Talk Featured in The Seattle Times: A Better Way to Meet New People in Seattle — and Beyond
Real conversations in action at a Skip the Small Talk Seattle event.
We’re thrilled to share that Skip the Small Talk Seattle was recently featured in The Seattle Times.
Seattle — like many cities right now — is craving creative, low-pressure ways to build real community. We were honored to be included as one of the standout social experiences helping adults meet new people in meaningful, intentional ways.
Founder, Ashley Kirsner, and Seattle facilitator, Daniela Borchmann, shared their perspectives in the piece on why the structure of Skip the Small Talk works so well for people who genuinely want to connect — but don’t want to rely on random small talk to get there.
If you’d like to read the full article, you can find it here:
“3 Ways to Go Out as an Introvert in Seattle” – The Seattle Times
Below, we’ll share the highlights — plus a little more context about why this format resonates with extroverts and introverts alike, not just in Seattle, but in over 20 cities worldwide.
Looking to Meet New People in Seattle (Without It Feeling Awkward)?
The article references the “Seattle Freeze” — the idea that Seattle folks are polite but slow to form deeper connections.
But what we’ve seen hosting events in Seattle — and in 20+ cities across the U.S. — is this:
It’s not that adults don’t want connection.
It’s that modern social life often lacks the structure to support meaningful connection.
When the only options are:
Loud bars
Unstructured networking
Random mingling
Even socially confident, extroverted people can find it exhausting.
That’s why Skip the Small Talk exists.
We create structured social events designed for adults who:
Want to put themselves out there
Enjoy deep conversations
Like meeting new people
Are open to expanding their circle
Prefer meaningful conversations over small talk
What Happens at a Skip the Small Talk Event in Seattle?
As mentioned in The Seattle Times, our Seattle events typically draw 20–35 people across industries and age groups.
Here’s how the format works:
You arrive at a welcoming venue.
The host gives a few quick guidelines:
Vulnerability is encouraged — but never required.
Offer your contact info if you’d like to stay in touch.
You can always skip a question.
Then you rotate through a series of 10-minute conversations using thoughtfully designed prompts like:
When do you feel most like yourself?
What’s something you’ve changed your mind about recently?
In what ways are you different than you were five years ago — and in what ways are you the same?
The structure removes two major friction points:
You don’t have to invent conversation starters.
You don’t get stuck in a conversation that isn’t clicking.
It’s energizing, dynamic, and intentional.
And it works just as well in Seattle as it does in Boston, New York, Chicago, Austin, Los Angeles, Denver, Washington, D.C., Portland, and beyond.
A Better Way to Make Friends in Seattle — and Beyond
If you’ve been searching for:
How to make friends in Seattle (or insert your city here)
Ways to meet new people as an adult
Social events near me
Deep conversation events
Things to do to meet people in your city
This is built for you.
While the article focused on Seattle, Skip the Small Talk began in Boston in 2016 and now runs public events in over 20 cities across the United States.
Whether you’re:
New to a city
Expanding beyond work-based friendships
Looking for intellectually curious conversation
Or simply ready to meet thoughtful adults
The format is the same everywhere: structured, welcoming, and designed for people who genuinely like talking to other humans.
Skip the Small Talk in The New York Times, The Today Show, and More
Skip the Small Talk has been featured by national and local media outlets for our unique approach to structured, in-person connection.
In addition to being covered by The Seattle Times, we’ve also been featured by:
It’s exciting to see broad recognition of a simple idea: when social spaces are thoughtfully designed, meaningful connection becomes much easier.
Find an Event Near You
If you’re in Seattle, view upcoming Skip the Small Talk Seattle events:
👉 www.skipthesmalltalk.com/seattle
If you’re reading this from another city — Boston, NYC, Chicago, Austin, LA, D.C., Portland, or elsewhere — explore upcoming events in your city:
👉 www.skipthesmalltalk.com/public-events
Wherever you are, the goal is the same:
Put yourself in a room full of thoughtful, open adults who also showed up ready to have real conversations and meet new people.
No networking scripts.
No forced icebreakers.
No endless small talk.
Just show up. We’ll take care of the rest :)