For many neurodivergent people, small talk feels confusing, exhausting, or performative—but what if we've been thinking about it all wrong? In this workshop, trauma-informed Certified Professional Coach Christopher Daniels reframes small talk as a low-risk bid for connection: a tool for building safety, trust, and community. Rather than teaching you to mask or perform neurotypicality, you'll learn why small talk is difficult for many neurodivergent people and gain practical, authentic strategies for turning everyday conversations into meaningful relationships.You’ll learn:
- Why small talk is one of the foundations of community-building
- The difference between masking and authentic connection
- Why small talk is often difficult for neurodivergent people
- The Small Talk → Medium Talk → Deep Talk framework
- The Connection Ladder for creating meaningful conversations
- Better conversation starters, follow-up questions, and graceful recovery from awkward moments
- Practical conversation frameworks
Once you take this course, you’ll be able to join us for future Small Talk Open Gym sessions—where folks from all over the world gather to practice these skills in a low-stakes, psychologically safe environment designed for experimentation, curiosity, and authentic connection.