I hope more of these come out soon. So interesting. I want to cold call strangers now... Would that be weird if it wasn't for a podcast?

Aric explores the human connection with a refreshingly honest attitude. In my estimation the more real the more funny. You never know what you're going to get but you know you're going to laugh and not feel so alone in this cold tundra called life.

Great idea for a show. Plus your voice is like a mix between Fergie and Jesus! Love the show. If you are reading this review, you must subscribe, rate, review, and then share with everyone. In that order

Who knew that listen to two strangers would be so interesting? I can't wait to listen to the next one!

Funny and insightful.

coincidentally, I have a similar obstacles on being a good talker just not as awkward as the host implies. the only great missing is lenght shortness. but too long is not always bad. so, despite his super length conservations his voice, conversations & humor are great enough for grabbing attention.

If you are a big softy for the humor of honesty, Better Strangers is for you!

When you take something as socially fundamental as having a conversation and break it into it's nuanced parts, it's surprising any meaningful discussions happen at all. Perhaps that's why listening to Aric engage strangers in discourse is so fascinating. He balances his performer persona against his shy personality and engages people on an introspective yet simple level. There is plenty to learn from these not-always-easy discussions.

I'm always amazed by the stories of strangers and just how much depth there is behind the people who play extras in the movie that is my life. This podcast captures that, largely made possible by the empathetic insight of the host.

What cool concept that turns out really interesting and entertaining content.

Truly this podcast is one that I am excited to follow. It has already been enlightening on the ideas of how exactly conversations operate, especially with an admittedly shy individual. Having a conversation with a complete stranger allows the ability to hear how people interact and break down just how conversation happens and functions today. Way to go, this is going to be a wild ride.

What I truly adore about Mr. McKeown is how every one of his works seems to be about redefining society in some way. His webcomic, Blank It, shows a touching psychological approach to isolation and near existential absurdism. Hey, I Found Your Sign is designed to add a societal awareness to our own advertising actions (if Aric found our sign) or to our own reactions to advertising (we become blatantly aware of how much advertising is ingrained into our culture). Your Notness shows, in a lovely parody of normal picture rating sites, societal views of the ugly and how our society is largely based around rankings, particularly of appearance. Now, Better Strangers dissects the conversation and turns it into a bitesized sociolinguistic study on how people interast with one another. Social awkwardness plagues modern western society. In places like Tanzania Africa, everyone talks to you and everyone has an interest in you. But here in America no one even attempts to converse with strangers unless we are forced into close contact with them through school, non-profit groups, careers, etc. People have developed their own personal bubble that they are not willing to breech, even if breeching it is the only way to make proper enjoyable conversation. Better Strangers aims to teach us that breaking these personnal spheres can produce new friendships and acquaintances, and it also acts as a case study in developing conversational skills. Plus, the raw comedy of the situations produces more that mere chuckles. I rate this with 5 stars, just as I would rate any of Mr. McKeown's projects. Aric may not have much recognition now, but if everyone sat down and listened to the concerns he voices, the world would be a better, more self-aware place. One of the few most underrated, yet greatest, thinkers of our time.

It's pretty awesome to hear a real conversation! I'd recommend a listen

Aric McKeown one-ups the ideas of How to Win Friends and Influence People by meeting strangers and podcasting their conversations. Aric, with a shy personality, puts himself outside his comfort zone while speaking with people he has never met. Starting slowly, with the awkardness most of us feel when meeting someone new, the conversation stars rolling as two people find common interests and, in the end, have trouble saying good-bye because they have just reached the level of knowing each other and now must part. It is a great study of how two people learn of common interests then move on to getting to knowing each other. Each side of the conversation offers new personal insights. Does this happen because we feel can we open up and talk more freely to strangers? I will be listening each week.