Hey Reader,

This is the weekly announcement for The Awkward Handshake, a podcast & community all about networking that I co-host. If you want to opt-out of these podcast & networking community updates, CLICK HERE.

Megan and I have heard many people say that the number one reason they don’t attend networking events is because they hate small talk. But we personally love small talk because there’s no better way to get to know someone.

Let’s be honest, you can’t just jump into deep, philosophical discussions with people to figure out their values, but you can talk to them about Costco or your most recent read or the Netflix show you can’t stop bingeing. All of those things might seem trivial but they can show off your values (and personality!) and make for a fun conversation.

It's no secret! I have (more than once!) become instant BFFs when I dive into my love of Costco... and Megan has been known to spend half an hour swapping favorite manga titles with a bookseller.

In this episode of The Awkward Handshake we break down why we love small talk and get drawn into it over and over again, covering everything from Trader Joe’s to Power Rangers and dozens of things in between. We urge you not to make this a drinking game episode because you’ll end up in the hospital for how many times we get into tangential small talk.

🎧 Listen to the episode:
​From there you can listen in your browser or open it in your favorite podcast app.

If you enjoyed the conversation, we’d love it if you left a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts. It helps more curious, thoughtful people find the show.

✨ Ready to get better at this?

Talking to people in business settings doesn’t always come naturally.

Some of us freeze.
Some of us overtalk.
Some of us avoid asking for what we need.

That’s normal.

And that’s exactly why Megan and I created The Yes Friend Lab.

It’s a 3-hour live workshop on Zoom where we practice the skills that make networking work:

• how to clearly tell people what you do and what you offer
• how to ask for what you need
• how to offer what you can give
• and yes… the art of small talk

You’ll rotate through breakout rooms for practice and get coaching from both of us along the way.

No theory or motivational fluff. Just reps and a safe space to practice!

And the best part?

You don’t have to travel anywhere. It’s virtual, so you can wear your pajamas. We won’t judge.

$97.00 The Yes Friend Lab: March 2026 A 3-Hour Live Networking & Conversation Skills Workshop | Live on Zoom Saturday, March 28th 10am - 1pm PT (1pm - 4pm ET)... Read more 👉 Join us live in March

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The workshop is pay-what-you-can:
- Minimum: $97
- Suggested: $197

If you’re in a strong season, you can pay it forward for someone else in the room. If you need support right now, pay the minimum and show up ready to learn.

Because these skills don’t magically appear… You practice them.

➡️ Grab your seat here​

Talk soon,
Mary & Megan
​The Awkward Handshake​

P.S. If you have a friend who keeps saying they want to get better at networking, send this their way. Rooms get better when more people know how to have better conversations.