Why Talking With Strangers Makes Us Happier || Making new friends in midlife w/ Nicholas Epley

About this episode

In this episode of Don't Let the Old Man In, we sit down with behavioural scientist Nicholas Epley, to unpack why social connection is so important for overall happiness, how to make new friends in midlife, and why men shouldn't fear striking up a chat with strangers. CHAPTERS: 00:00 Intro 02:30 Research on talking to strangers 05:21 The train ride realisation 11:00 Personality, expectations, and social interaction 15:54 Approaching VS Avoiding 20:42 Experiments on talking to strangers during commutes 24:05 The role of voice in communication and understanding 34:07 Making friends in midlife and the power of warmth 41:55 Belonging, competence, and human needs 47:51 Lessons from Nick's…