What if the best opportunities in your life were sitting just a few feet to the left of where everyone else is looking?

In today’s episode, Michael shares a counterintuitive but wildly effective relationship strategy inspired by his 40-day drive through 11 national parks during the pandemic. While exploring Yosemite, he realized that almost everyone flocks to the valley—while the equally majestic Tuolumne Meadows sits nearly empty.

That insight became a guiding principle:

When it comes to connection, go where no one else is.

The less crowded place is the most powerful place.**

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Why approaching speakers after a talk is the worst time to connect

How to meet people in moments where their guard is down and their humanity is up

How to leverage allies, friends, and gatekeepers instead of chasing the spotlight

Why serendipity is a strategy, not an accident

How to create meaningful, memorable gestures that cut through the noise

This is your blueprint for becoming the pleasant surprise in someone’s life—
the unexpected presence that opens doors, sparks relationships, and creates the kind of resonance that changes everything.

Michael Trainer has spent 30 years learning from Nobel laureates, neuroscientists, and wisdom keepers worldwide. He's the author of RESONANCE: The Art and Science of Human Connection (March 31, 2026), co-creator of Global Citizen and the Global Citizen Festival, and host of the RESONANCE podcast.

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