What Gets Lost When We Text Instead of Talk with Dr. Nick Epley

About this episode

For most of human history, we only had one way to talk to one another: our voices. Today, we have more ways to communicate than ever before. We can text, call, send a video message, reach out over social media, et cetera. And we often choose whichever option seems easiest or least awkward. But research suggests that how we choose to communicate matters much more than we realize and can have a surprising impact on how well we understand one another and how connected we feel. In a live conversation recorded at the World Happiness Summit at SXSW, Dr. Laurie speaks with psychologist Nick Epley about the common mistakes we make when communicating in the modern world — and the small changes that could help us connect more meaningfully with the people around us. His new book, A Little More Social, is available now. Experts Mentioned: • Nicholas Epley, Professor of Behavioral Science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business • Bronisław Malinowski, Polish anthropologist and ethnologist Resources Mentioned: • A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpected Happiness, Health, and Connection, by Nick Epley (2026) • “Hello, stranger? Pleasant conversations a