Culture Shapes Openness to Strangers

Hi friends! Welcome back to Finding Your Casual Magic ✨

Today we’re talking about Finding your Casual Magic through one of my favourite human experiences: talking to strangers.

Guys, talking to strangers changed my life, it’s also the reason for my life!

But if the thought of talking to strangers has you recoiling in fear, this is the episode for you. That fear may make sense, and I want to unpack the choices we could make even when we’re scared. Through cultural analysis, research and anecdotes, I want you to see the potential beauty in connecting with people you don’t know yet

Spaces for Meeting Strangers!🦋

Eventbrite

Fellow Humans

Strangers in the City

Meetup

Timestamps:

0:00 - 2:30 Intro & Why Strangers Matter

2:30 - 4:00 I hugged that stranger!! (Reacting to Your Casual Magic)

4:00 - 6:23 Take a Minute? This is a Meditation for Feeling Safe

6:23 - 10:00 Who Inspired Me to Talk to Strangers? How My Parents Met

10:00 - 14:00 How My Dad Disarms Strangers (Finding Your Own Socialising-Style)

14:00 - 16:28 Why Are We Scared of Strangers? Recognise this Bias Thinking…

16:28 - 18:46 Challenging My Assumptions & Opening My Mind 

18:46 - 22:36 Why I Spoke to This Magnetic Woman (The Story of Mary Jo)

22:36 - 29:59 Recent Opportunities I Took to Connect (Hobbies, Work, Travel)

29:59 - 33:00 When is it Culturally Appropriate to Speak to Strangers? (When to Give People Their Peace)

33:00 - 36:43 Preconceived Notions & The Data That DEBUNKED It (Counter-Cultural Experiences)

36:43 - 45:22 What If It’s Awkward?! How To Easily Talk to Strangers

45:22 - 48:25 Distancing Ourselves From Rejection Sensitivity, Loss Aversion & Safety Bias

48:25 - 53:27 Strangers ARE Dangerous! Bias vs Intuition vs Triggers - Validating a Measured Response to Danger

53:27 - 55:30 Does Small Talk Change Your Life? Does That Matter?!

55:30 - 58:13 It’s Time to Build Courage: Just Say Something! Strangers Might Match Your Energy 

58:13 - 59:13 This Week I Want to Ask You… (Journal Prompts)

59:13 - 1:01:58 Rory Changed My Perception of Cats (Sharing My Casual Magic & Outro)

💌 Want to share your own moment of magic?

Send a 60-second voice note, video or photo to @casualmagicpodcast on Instagram or email findingyourcasualmagic@gmail.com with your magical moment (and always let us know whether or not you'd like to be anonymous!!)

Journal Prompt🖊️

This week, I want to ask you…

• What do you feel when you think about talking to strangers? Do you feel excited, nervous, curious, anxious? Why?
• Pretend you’re not you, but your mentor; what would you say to encourage and guide yourself into speaking to strangers?

And… Write out the best case scenario imaginable that could come from speaking to a stranger!

Follow us on Instagram ✨ @casualmagicpodcast
Follow Jade on Instagram ✨ @unjadedjade

This is Finding Your Casual Magic with UnJaded Jade

Podcast Development: Francesca Georgiou

Theme Music by Francesca Lu