{"href":"https://api.simplecast.com/oembed?url=https%3A%2F%2Fcurated-questions.simplecast.com%2Fepisodes%2Fashley-kirsner-bNOeuyd0","width":444,"version":"1.0","type":"rich","title":"Want Connection? Skip The Small Talk | Ashley Kirsner #42","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_url":"https://image.simplecastcdn.com/images/bbd413c2-75d4-4441-8182-02e9e811affc/e5438ee3-2ce5-4f31-90be-3c8954ffc0ac/42-20kirsner-episode-art.jpg","thumbnail_height":300,"provider_url":"https://simplecast.com","provider_name":"Simplecast","html":"","height":200,"description":"\"It is much safer to be vulnerable than you might think.\" - Ashley Kirsner\n\nAshley is the founder and director of Skip the Small Talk, and believes in the efficacy of high-quality person-to-person interaction for improving psychological health. She has conducted research with professors at prestigious organizations such as Cornell University, the Harvard Decision Science Lab, and the Harvard Business School, on social and clinical psychology topics ranging from decision-making and implicit biases to facial expressions in borderline personality disorder patients.\n\nAshley gained hands-on therapeutic experience as a suicide hotline phone responder and as a peer counselor at Cornell. Ashley received her B.A. in Psychology from Cornell University and turned down acceptances to doctorate programs in order to devote her time to Skip the Small Talk. She received a fellowship from the Harvard Divinity School for individuals who have demonstrated a social impact in the domain of creating meaningful communities. Skip The Small Talk events are regularly held internationally, as well as an online options.\n\nIn this engaging episode of 'Curated Questions,' host Ken Woodward sits down with Ashley Kirsner, the founder and director of 'Skip the Small Talk.' They explore the transformative power of meaningful conversations, the science behind vulnerability, and the surprising benefits of structured social interactions. \n\nAshley shares her experiences from the suicide hotline, her inspiration for starting 'Skip the Small Talk,' and how intentional question design can foster deeper human connections. The conversation also delves into the physiological benefits of social interactions, ethical considerations in community building, and the importance of creating safe spaces for vulnerability. Tune in to learn how these insights can help you build stronger, more authentic relationships in your own life.\n\nThis Curated Questions episode can be found on all major platforms and at CuratedQuestions.com.\n\nKeep questioning!"}