Whether you’re at a pub, a coffee shop, or in line at the DMV, striking up a conversation with a stranger can be intimidating. That said, I’m convinced it’s one of foundations of living a curious life. 

You may just have a kind interaction but you never know, you may be sitting across from a future close friend, or in Roy Connaughton’s case, a future friend and your future Irish Pub co-owner. 

(Originally aired in 2020.) With the convenient distraction of a cell phone in our pocket at all times, we’ve never had an easier excuse to not strike up a conversation, but Roy says that it’s not that simple. Growing up in Ireland pre-cellphones and social media, there’s always been an excuse to not strike up a conversation but you can get over that hurdle… you never know where in the world life will take you! 

Roy Connaughton is one of the owners of Morrissey’s Irish Pub in Minneapolis, MN, and a new friend of mine and I wasn’t expecting how deep this conversation ended up going. This my friends is why I do this. 

www.thecuriouspod.com/questions/q75?rq=irish