Saturday, May 30, 2026

Special Edition: Big Benefits of Small Talk– Is it a Lost Art?

Listen below:

Tune in weekdays for 10-min daily news roundups:

We’re talking to each other less — literally saying fewer words out loud each day.

New research shows this shift started even before the pandemic. Dr. Valeria Pfeifer explains what the data reveals, why small everyday conversations may matter more than we realize, and how this could connect to loneliness, trust, and polarization.

Then, communication expert Matt Abrahams from Stanford shares practical ways to feel more confident in conversation — from everyday small talk to high-stakes presentations.

This episode is sponsored by 

Father's Day is Sunday, June 21st. Order RIGHT NOW and save up to $20 at STORYWORTH.com/newsworthy

Refresh your everyday with luxury you'll actually use. Head to Quince.com/newsworthy for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns!

Guest: Dr. Valeria Pfeifer

Dr. Valeria Pfeifer is an Assistant Professor of Psychology and Counseling at the University of Missouri – Kansas City, where she directs the Language and Cognition Lab.

Her research investigates the interplay of language, emotion, and cognition and uses both neuro-cognitive methods and naturalistic data.

She received her Ph.D. in Psychology from The University of Arizona in 2022 and holds a B.A. and M.A. in Linguistics from Bielefeld University.

Guest: Matt Abrahams

Matt Abrahams is a lecturer of Strategic Communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business, the author of Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot and Speaking Up Without Freaking Out, and the host of the award-winning communication and careers podcast Think Fast Talk Smart.

Listen to: Think Fast Talk Smart The Podcast

Order: Think Faster, Talk Smarter: How to Speak Successfully When You're Put on the Spot

Be sure to tune-in again each weekday (M-F) for our regular episodes to get quick, unbiased news roundups in ~10 minutes!