Why do we avoid talking to strangers — and what does it cost us?

In this episode of NUGGETS, Pellegrino and Francois explore the quiet power of everyday encounters: the compliment that opens a door, the one curious question that changes the mood on a bus, and even the story of an English bulldog named Caesar who turns heads (and starts conversations).

From Walt Whitman — beautifully read by Sir Kenneth Branagh — to Norway’s Generation M pairing youth with elders for honest, meaningful chats, this episode digs into why small talk isn’t small at all. It’s human. It’s how we escape our echo chambers. It’s how we grow.

You’ll learn:

✔️ Why we look down, plug in, and pass by — and how to reverse it

✔️ How a simple “entry ticket” (a compliment or a question) transforms a moment

✔️ What reading the room like a great taxi driver really means

✔️ Why people want your presence, not your perfection

✔️ And Ram Dass’s reminder that says it all: “We’re all just walking each other home.”

A gentle challenge closes the episode: notice one person today — and offer a moment of connection. Not perfect. Just human.

Because connection beats perfection, every time.

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