Digging Deep By Talking Big | #18

The Harder to Breathe Podcast

For today’s episode of “Harder to Breathe'', host and former drummer of “Maroon 5” Ryan Dusick is joined by co-host and actor Brian “Duck” Maillard for a discussion with speaker, writer, and founder of “Big Talk”, Kalina Silverman. The name and concept of “Big Talk” is simple, but the execution is nuanced, complex, and changing lives around the globe.

As Kalina explains, “Big Talk” is simply the opposite of Small Talk. It’s a set of questions that are designed to improve the conversations that we have with other people. She has sorted the questions into a deck of cards, which provide the encouragement we need to dive into a discussion from a Deeper Place… and avoid superficial conversations that leave us feeling unfulfilled.

Kalina has used government grants and global travel to test out the concept of “Big Talk” with people all around the globe, and its widespread success simply proves how universal the human experience is. We all deal with love, loss, grief, pride, success, and failure and discussing these topics is the easiest way we can connect with other people.

Ultimately the trio share in a few rounds of “Big Talk” for themselves, and have the opportunity to open up with each other and quickly dig into some vulnerable topics; the bread and butter of the “Harder to Breathe” podcast.

0:00:00 Introduction & Duck’s Bad Week

0:01:32 Technical Difficulties Update

0:05:06 Working Through Duck’s Anger & Family Frustration

0:11:10 D.B.T.: Dialectical Behavior Therapy

0:17:45 Ryan Finding His Center & Balance

0:19:45 Adam Levine’s ADHD & Ryan’s OCD

0:23:19 Embracing The Concept of “Choice”

0:34:15 Today’s Guest: Kalina Silverman

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0:35:15 Kalina’s Project: What is “Big Talk”?

0:39:26 The Mission Behind the Project

0:41:08 Male Friendships & Activities

0:42:10 The Desire to Dig Deeper into Relationships

0:42:50 The “Mixed Race Student Coalition” & Experiencing Multiculturalism

0:48:00 Newfound Perspective

0:49:28 Kalina’s Dark Side

0:51:45 Fighting Loneliness & Depression

0:55:39 How to Classify “Big Talk”

0:59:10 Navigating the Business Side & Grants

1:03:50 The Cause of Loneliness in the World

1:05:20 Kalina’s Goals Surrounding “Big Talk”

1:07:50 Some Big Talk of Our Own… “What is the Best Part of Your Day”?

1:13:50 “If You Could Change Anything About the World…”

1:20:25 “If You Could Live Anywhere Else for a Year, Where?”

1:26:36 Where to Find “Big Talk” And What’s Next for the Movement

1:28:20 Kalina’s Favorite Questions in the Deck

1:30:00 How Kalina Got Through Her Parents’ Divorce

1:31:00 The Arts & Music Within Mental Health

1:35:50 Wrap Up & Conclusion

More on Kalina Silverman & “Big Talk”:

Official Webpage: https://www.makebigtalk.com/

Purchase Your Own “Big Talk” Deck: https://bigtalkshop.com/products/preorder-now-big-talk-question-card-game-second-version-tabletop-standard-playing-card-size-150-questions

Download the App: https://www.makebigtalk.com/questions-app/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/makebigtalk/

Ready to Dive Deeper?:

https://www.ryandusick.com/

BenBella Books Author Page - https://benbellabooks.com/authors/dusick-ryan/

Amazon Book Page - https://www.amazon.com/Harder-Breathe-Memoir-Finding-Recovery/dp/1637742339/

WWSG Speaker Page - https://wwsg.com/speakers/ryan-dusick/

Psychology Today Therapist Profile - https://www.psychologytoday.com/profile/937599

Stay Up to Date on the Podcast: @hardertobreathepodcast

Follow Ryan on Social Media:

IG - @ryan_michael_dusick

LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryan-dusick-ma-amft-26460894/

Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/ryan.m.dusick

Facebook Author Page - https://www.facebook.com/RyanMichaelDusick/

X / Twitter - @DusickRyan

Follow Duck on Social Media:

IG - @Newyorkduck

X / Twitter - @DuckMaillard