In this episode - we look at small talk, and how to progress from small talk into deep talk, or big talk, or however you want to call this.

I've struggled with being on both the receiving end of small talk, and feeling like I have to get good at it multiple times throughout my life. I've never quite understood it.

So I took some time to research what makes good small talk, as well as how we actually move away from it, into better, more fun, and more fulfilling conversations.

Some articles that I reference:

https://thequietlife.net/p/how-to-turn-small-talk-into-big-talk

https://hbr.org/2021/03/remote-workers-need-small-talk-too

Confidence is very often misunderstood.

There's a type of confidence that involves creating a facade to try and prove something to people, But there's also a more subtle form of confidence - quiet confidence - that means you are calm and collected during the storms.

There's a difference between being confident, and feeling confident, which we explore in this episode.

We look at practical steps you can take to build your confidence, regardless of where you're currently at with it.

Piano Improv:

Today's piano was heavily inspired by Sacrifice Piano Solo Version Seiji "Fish on Land" Ending by Keiichiro Shibuya. Recommend listening to this and similar songs if you enjoyed this one :)

As always if you have any questions, feedback, comments etc. - feel free to email me at guyroberts2102@gmail.com

In this episode, we look at the question of closeness - why we can feel it, but not always be able to express it openly.

Being close to people is one of those things that has never quite made sense to me. I had never really known if I was doing the "right" thing when I found it difficult to express. I think it's a challenge for many quiet people to be able to express this closeness without breaking your authenticity. Being able to be yourself whilst still showing to other people that you care about them, and that your quietness and/or introversion does not mean you're being distant.

Listen to the full episode where we explore this question more deeply.

As always - let me know if you have any comments or feedback for this episode. You can also email me at guyroberts21@outlook.com.

In this episode I mentioned;

• Brene Brown - who has been mentioned in previous episodes!
• Neil Strauss - American Author

In this episode, within the series of questions that quiet people may ask themselves, we explore the question of why communication can be so different depending on who you're with.

I've never understood why my communication can change significantly, when there is the addition or reduction of a single person. So I decided to explore this question!

Episode mentions:

1- Quiet, Susan Cain: https://susancain.net/book/quiet/

2- Brene Brown: https://brenebrown.com/

Apologies for the late release of this episode...! I was moving place, and had some difficulty with the recording setup. You'll notice the piano quality is also slightly different, as I was using an upright piano without any noise reduction, hope you enjoy the solo improv regardless!

This is the start of a new season of the podcast, exploring questions that quiet people (including myself!) may ask themselves. Hope you enjoy the new format!

This first episode looks into the question of what actually is quiet, and where it comes from.

Recommended book:

"Quiet - The Power of Introverts in a World That Can't Stop Talking" - Susan Cain

Staying consistent can feel like a never-ending battle with yourself.

In this episode, we explore why it's normal to be inconsistent often, and how to work with it more effectively.

10-Min Vocal Warmup Exercises

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1R50NQPxv4ZqFiVO1eazjhmkiz3DRP1hF/view?usp=sharing

Communication Improvement Plan

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1A1UnkWXM_CQf_K_0lqxJ6XjQKxj0hnXr/view?usp=sharing

In this episode, we look at the superpower of storytelling.

This is my favourite topic so far, because storytelling can be used in virtually every situation.

Telling stories teaches you to be more vulnerable with yourself and other people. It can significantly improve the relationships in your life, and give you a platform to express yourself to people - even those you already are very close with.

We explore the core ingredients of what makes a good story, how you can deliver a great story, the common mistakes to avoid in storytelling, and how you can use it to lead a more intentional and creative life.

Listen to the full episode to find out more!

In this episode, we look at the superpower of listening. We spend an average of 40% of our total waking time listening. Yet we rarely consider how we can improve our listening.

The battle for our attention is only becoming more difficult in the modern world, and listening offers us a way to regain this control.

Emily Kasriel's 8-Step Process;

1 - CREATING SPACE

• This is about making time and the right environment for listening - especially in tough conversations or discussions.

2 - LISTENING TO YOURSELF

• We all carry our own baggage. And sometimes, before we can really listen to other people, we need to sit with ourselves, until our own minds can be quiet enough.

3 - BEING PRESENT

• This is about not being distracted by the many other things happening in life. This is arguably the hardest one here. Because presence isn't something you can force. Life can be really busy and hectic. And sometimes it's really difficult to not be overwhelmed. And then we're not necessarily in the right place to deeply listen to others.

4 - BEING CURIOUS

• Curiosity means that you're eager to really understand someone. And being understood is such a valuable thing.

5 - HOLDING THE GAZE

• Eye contact also helps people feel seen - quite literally... And it also conveys emotional availability.

6 - HOLDING THE SILENCE

• Silence lets the speaker process things in the space it creates. You can reflect on feelings, and have more meaningful responses.

7 - REFLECTING BACK

• This builds on the part about being curious. Because reflecting back is about understanding.

8 - GOING DEEPER

• Final step: is to really understand what's beyond the surface level, and take the experience to a new level.

https://www.emilykasriel.com/ For more info on Emily and her work - please visit her website, and I highly recommend checking out her book, Deep Listening.

Listen to the full episode to learn more!