Meaningful online conversations with strangers on Zoom that don't leave you drained. We use question prompts to spark unique convos.

You may expect this event to run from 7:00 - 8:15pm ET/ 6:00 - 7:15 pm CT/ 5:00 - 6:15 pm MT/ 4:00 - 5:15 pm PT. Please be aware of time zone differences.

About this event

***You'll need the event URL, so be sure to register in advance so we can send it to you. We'll send you an e-mail with the Zoom link a few minutes after you purchase a ticket (and we’ll also send it again the day of the event)-- please check both your “spam” AND “junk” folders if you don't see it!***

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These Zoom events are designed based in psychology research to give you all the warm fuzzy feelings of human closeness, without that feeling of Zoom-fatigue afterward.

We use question prompts and a structure designed based in psychology research to help you get vulnerable with strangers in a way that actually feels safe, and that brings out the best in people.

All our events are trauma-informed and facilitated by folks with therapeutic training. According to our surveys, a lot of our guests report feeling nervous about coming, but 100% of the people who say they were nervous also end up saying they were glad they came. There might be some selection bias going on, but we still think it's promising :)

We even had an academic paper come out about our online events showing that they improve mood and reduce loneliness! Check that out here: https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5827683e6a49634bd84b79f4/t/614cfad6e033d105a07cc40f/1632434903586/preprint-28002-submitted.pdf

What's it like?

The whole thing is on Zoom.

We'll put you into pairs in breakout rooms, and you'll switch partners so you're not just talking to the same person the whole night.

We'll give you question prompts to spark conversations to make sure you're getting the most out of your conversations.

Some examples of our research-backed prompts are, "What's something you're proud of that you don't usually get to share with people?" And, "What's something I would need to know about you in order to be friends with you?"

But if you hate our prompts, you'll always be invited to make up your own or talk about whatever feels right.

What do people say about it?

Here's some stuff people have told us (unprompted!) about the online Skip the Small Talks:

"I was surprised at how good this was! I'll definitely be coming back!"

"This has turned into my weekly self-care-- going to this event every week is something kind I do for myself to stay sane."

"I'm an introvert, and to be honest, I even think of myself as someone who generally hates other people, but I actually feel energized after Skip the Small Talk online. For some reason, I feel Zoom fatigue in pretty much every other online interaction, but I'm usually, like, giddy after these."

Ready to skip the small talk with us?

After purchasing a ticket, you can expect an e-mail with the Zoom link to arrive within a few minutes (and we’ll also send it to you again on the day of the event). If you don't see it, check your spam folder!

Please do your best to arrive a couple minutes before 7:00 pm ET/ 6:00 pm CT/ 5:00 pm MT/ 4:00 pm PT if you haven't been to one of these before so you don't miss the intro, but feel free to come late if you need to-- you'll still be able to participate just fine!

If you've come to an online Skip the Small Talk before and would rather skip the intro, feel free to come at 7:10 pm ET/ 6:10 pm CT/ 5:10 pm MT/ 4:10 pm PT.

Skip the Small Talk is dedicated to providing an inclusive, welcoming environment for everyone. Check out our safety policy here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1fmhxMcSsdgkQYOZQZoUKC3DK511fDl3pcPyShB22W9s

Need accessibility accommodations?

We are happy to offer Zoom captions and/or live ASL upon request. Due the use of one-on-one conversations in breakout rooms during the event, we request at least five days' notice to make sure we are able to provide an ASL interpreter for each person who needs them. Sometimes, we can provide an ASL interpreter on shorter notice, so even if it's closer to the event, please reach out to info@skipthesmalltalk.com so we can discuss what we can do for you.

We encourage guests to do what they need to in order to feel as comfortable as possible during the event, like taking breaks, eating, stretching, using fidget tools, getting up and moving, leaving early, etc.

While we acknowledge that there is no such thing as a space that is perfectly accessible for everyone, we do what we can to welcome as many people as possible while prioritizing the needs of those who are systematically oppressed. If you have any accessibility needs that we might be able to help with, please reach out to us at info@skipthesmalltalk.com.

Want to keep up with our events?

If you want to be the first to get access to tickets, and also get free exclusive content about how to improve your relationships, communicate more effectively, and more, join our mailing list at http://eepurl.com/cFVhMX (don't worry, we hate mailing lists, too-- we only e-mail when we have something useful to tell you about, like new events).

If you are interested in buying Skip the Small Talk question prompt cards to use in your everyday life, you can check those out here.