Ever left a social gathering feeling empty because no one asked you a single question? Today I'm swapping Elliot for guest co-host Amanda Fowler and we get real about the conversational give-and-take, why curiosity is the ultimate connection fuel, Amanda's top tips for being a good house guest, and why storytelling is timeless. Plus, Amanda teaches me about MILF Etiquette. 

Watch our first episode with Amanda "Ditching Surface Level Relationships for the Real Thing"

Connect with Amanda on Instagram & TikTok

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You committed to an event and when the day comes... you really don't want to go. Why do we say no to connection, even when we want it most? From attending the Mile Long Table in Denver to peer pressuring our future selves, we're getting real about the emotional resistance to social events and why (and how) to go anyway. Whether you're unsure what to do in a room full of strangers or need to hear that awkward silences can actually be a good thing, this conversation is for you. 

Want to be a better conversationalist? Listen to our episode The Power of a Question

Check out Daedalus Howell, the radio host who interviewed Sam.

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The thing that weighs heaviest the older we get? Regret. What does accepting the finitude of our own lives have to teach us about our values? Whether it's "rejection therapy" or building the muscle of saying "no," we're unpacking the art of doing nothing and the trap of convenience in favor of reclaiming our presence (especially in our ever busier world). 

Books and videos mentioned in this episode: 

• Subscribe to our friend Jose's channel, all about dumbphones
• Four Thousand Weeks by Oliver Burkeman

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We've been named the "Anti-Social Century," but are we truly opting out of in-person connection or have we been conditioned to retreat into isolation with our phones as companions? We're diving into how our culture may be the culprit, how we're unconsciously rewriting our sense of loneliness, and two questions that could radically reshape how you connect. 

Articles and videos mentioned in this episode:

• Becoming The Social Century, Something More Human
• The great friendship collapse: Inside The Anti-Social Century, Big Think
• The Anti-Social Century, The Atlantic

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What did the ten friends we ask choose? Does spending money on others make you happier? Is $50 enough to get you out of a rut? What does budgeting reveal about our values? And what would happen if the government gave everyone $50 to spend on someone else every month? (Seriously, we did the math.)

Sam & Elliot answer all of it and more.

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It's creative. It's weird. It's way more meaningful than you'd expect. And it might just change how you gather.

Born out of a tight budget and a desire to go deeper with the people in our life, we're uncovering how structure actually empowers people to open up, why public speaking isn’t just for big stages, and how to host your own with themes, time limits, and creative twists.

Whether you're looking for affordable hangout ideas, tips on meaningful connection, or creative ways to deepen your friendships, this episode is your invitation to grab some friends and host your own PowerPoint party. 

Leave us a voicemail here and tell us how it went!

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If a year can feel like just a moment, what does that say about 270 days, or our lives for that matter? By the time Elliot is 60 he calculates he'll only have had 270 days with the people he loves the very most. How can he make those 270 days feel like a lifetime? Elliot thinks he has the answer. 

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Sam wakes up in a dream—and inside that dream, a quiet, powerful desire surfaces. What unfolds is a search for something deeper than happiness. Together, Sam and Elliot explore our relationship to fulfillment, the difference between chasing and building, and what it really takes to feel at home in your own life. From fuzzy dream guides to mind movies and mac n cheese, this episode asks: What’s the one feeling you might be overlooking… and why does it matter so much?

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Did you know Gen Zers will spend 19.2 years of their life on their phone? We might just be losing our minds to our screens, but there's something we can do about it. Digital Dementia is a real term coined in 2012 by neuroscientist Dr. Manfred Spitzer, which refers to cognitive decline caused by excessive screen use, often mimicking symptoms of early dementia like forgetfulness, mental fatigue, and attention issues. Doesn't seem possible that it could be happening to people in their 20's and 30's but it can, and it is.

Elliot admits he's addicted to his phone and shares a recent story about a lapse in memory that made him realize just how serious the problem really is. Sam and Elliot share their theory on connection being the antidote, and how spaces like The Company in Denver that are organically creating the kind of environment that can get us off our screens, help us to recover cognitively, and return to real life.

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Articles we discussed in this episode:

• Understanding Digital Dementia and Cognitive Impact in the Current Era of the Internet

How do you deal with jealousy in friendship and friendship breakups? We sit down with Marissa Meizz, founder of No More Lonely Friends, to talk about the reality of friendship expectations, the hardest part of maintaining friendships as an adult, and why we should treat our friendships with the same care we treat our romantic relationships. 

Check out No More Lonely Friends

Follow No More Lonely Friends on Instagram

Follow Marissa on Instagram and TikTok

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