What's This Podcast About?
I was in a corporate healthcare IT job, flying to client sites each week, and checking into different hotels.
The pay was nice, I got to fly first-class, eat new food, and talk with business and government leaders.
But I was lonely, I had no consistent community, my family was in a different time zone, my wanderlust turned into anxiety, and I longed for stability.
So I quit.
Actually, I put in my four weeks notice. That sounds less cinematic, but it let me think of my next step.
I thought about all the things that I wished I had.
They were like this:
- a family that I could share meals with
- friends that I could have fun with
- a community that I could be a part of
These were the things I craved. Lacking them resulted in sadness, hopelessness, depression, and feelings of self-doubt.
I realized I needed social connection.
But how was I supposed to get it?
It seemed simple. Here's an example of the usual problem solving:
- want family? go move in with your parents or find a spouse
- want friends? show up places and build friendships
- want community? join something bigger than yourself and be available
But we all know it's not that simple. And we all know that most of us are wanting better friendships, better relationships with our family, and to belong to a community.
Why are so many of us lacking the social connection we need? And if we get it, how will it impact our life?
That's what this podcast is about.
So, to be up-front, this podcast WON'T:
- fix loneliness
- cure depression
- eliminate anxiety
- beat out awkwardness
- give you mind reading ability
- prevent ever miscommunicating
- or give you a golden key for conflict
You may be thinking, "well, that's lame!" And I'm thinking, "yeah, sort of!"
But we're human. So relationships are hard, humans are unpredictable, and life is stressful.
But we don't have to go through life alone. And honestly, life is so much better when we're not alone.
So come along with me. Together, let's build relationships that matter.
Let's have conversations that make us smile and fill our heart.
We'll build communities that change the world.
So, here's what the podcast WILL DO:
- explore conflict resolution practices for relationships
- give you confidence to thrive in any social situation
- make you amazed by the beauty in peoples' story
- give you ways to reduce loneliness and anxiety
- help you navigate long distance friendships
- unpack how to ask a thoughtful question
- help you navigate awkward small talk
- prepare you for hard conversations
- give you ways to mitigate stress
- explore your need to belong
- teach you to listen better
- increase your curiosity
- and SO MUCH MORE
Typing each of those out, I am 100% sure not to overpromise and underdeliver.
Every two weeks I'll have a new episode, it may be a conversation that I'm having with a guest, or a solo episode.
Pick an episode that piques your interest and start from there. If you have any questions, head over to our contact page.
Here's a random assortment of episodes:
- The first episode I ever recorded was with my wife. You can listen here.
- A Chief Marketing Officer teaches me how to tell a good story here.
- An addiction counselor told me how to have hard conversations here.
- A mental health expert from Princeton explained the justice system's shortcomings to me here.
- I ask a clinical psychologist how AI girlfriends are affecting our romance here.
- My mom shares with me about how support groups saved her life here.
- A suicide prevention expert explains the power of a good question here.
- I create a list of 10 rules for better conversations here.
- A debate expert articulates the power of being unpredictable here.
- A friendship expert from Harvard unveils friendship secrets here.
Want to get to know me more? You can find me at www.talktochrismiller.com
Thanks for reading :)
