Posts tagged conversation
Kickin’ it Old School: Why In-Person Events Are the Secret Weapon for How to Make Friends and Find Love in 2025
Kickin’ it Old School: Why In-Person Events Are the Secret Weapon for How to Make Friends and Find Love in 2025

Nothing makes a millennial contend with their own mortality quite like seeing mid-2000s trends resurfacing - and it’s not just Ed Hardy and low-rise jeans. While some people, like Gen Z are trading in online shopping for live-sale vintage bargain-hunting, you’ve probably noticed a shift of people ditching the apps for IRL dating and ways to make friends. And you’d be right!

I recently joined the Curated Questions podcast — a show that dives deep into relationships, friendship, and connection in the modern world, and why in-person meetups are having a much-deserved renaissance. If you’re interested in how to make friends as an adult, navigating dating apps without burning out, or understanding why in-person meetups are making a comeback, you can listen to the whole episode on Apple Podcasts or the Curated Questions Website.

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Ashley Kirsnermeet new people, how to meet people, I want to feel better, wellness, speed dating, where to meet people, in-person events, conversation, getting off the apps, connectionComment
Bridging Generations: Conversation Starters That Work for Any Age
Bridging Generations: Conversation Starters That Work for Any Age

Ever find yourself sitting across from someone decades older or younger, not sure what to say? Intergenerational conversations can feel intimidating—but they can also be some of the most rewarding exchanges you’ll ever have. In our latest post, we share simple, age-agnostic conversation starters designed to spark genuine connection and uncover common ground. Whether it’s at a family gathering, in the workplace, or at a community event, these prompts can help you skip the small talk and dive into stories, laughter, and wisdom.

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BlogMatt Brooksconversation starters, conversation, age, age gap Comment
Why you need self-compassion in your life and how to do it (even when you don’t want to)
Why you need self-compassion in your life and how to do it (even when you don’t want to)

At Skip the Small Talks, we ask attendees to have compassion for others and for themselves as they try out new ways to hold conversations. It’s probably obvious why we care about people having compassion for each other at an event where strangers are getting to know each other for the first time, but equally if not more important in that context is self-compassion. That’s because any attempt at change or improvement generally goes much more smoothly if you’re not beating yourself up after every setback. Connecting genuinely often requires taking some risks (like sharing things that feel a little vulnerable), and having compassion for yourself when those risks don’t pan out the way you hope can help you continue taking some risks in the long-term, and can help make the learning process easier for you in the short-term. 

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BlogAshley Kirsnercompassion, self-compassion, Skip the Small Talk, blogpost, skip the small talk, hotline, suicide hotline, listening, talking, self-love, vulnerability, genuine, communicating, communication, communication skills, coping skills, coping, distress tolerance, tolerating distress, resilience, psychological well-being, well-being, happiness, mood, happy, friends, friendship, strenghts, positive psychology, positivity, help, criticism, critique, be kind to yourself, worthy, worthiness, you are worthy, self-talk, positive self-talk, mental health, mental wellness, Skip the Small Talks, authentic, conversations, conversation, evolutionary psychology, evolution, negative, negativity bias, negativity, gratitude, asking for help, reaching out for help, reach out for help, reach out, reaching outComment