Hi everyone,

Lately I’ve been noticing the season shifting—it’s getting darker earlier—but the weather still feels like summer. What’s funny is how differently people respond: I’ll walk past folks excited to wear their new sweaters and pants while it’s 82 degrees out, and meanwhile I’m still in my Australian summer clothes. For me, it’s not autumn until it actually feels like it.

So while the warmth lasts, I’m making the most of it by getting outside—12,000 steps a day if possible—and soaking up as much nature as I can.

Latest Video Recap: 20 Years of Anxiety Treatment - Here’s What You Need To Know

In this video, I pulled together 13 more of the most important lessons I’ve learned from years spent helping people with anxiety. These are insights that have consistently made the biggest difference in my sessions and in my own life.

Hope says the part that’s stuck most with her is this:

“Anxiety doesn’t have a stop sign.”

She’s noticed how worry tends to just keep running on its own—and the awareness is helping her catch it earlier, so it doesn’t take up as much time.

 Watch on YouTube

Upcoming Exploration:

My next video is about how to take conversations deeper. Small talk has its place—it gets things started—but it’s nothing compared to a real, meaningful connection. 

A lot of us get stuck in small talk and don’t know how to move past it. So in this one, I’ve pulled together the research and my experience into a simple model, with practical examples of what to actually say to make that shift.

Research + My Weekly Challenge

I’ve been thinking a lot about a study where people did the Fast Friends Procedure (“36 Questions”) online—either with another person or with an AI chatbot. People actually felt closer to the chatbot if they were told it was a human. The reason was that the chatbot used more self-disclosure.

I don’t think we want relationships with robots. We just want other humans to do the behaviors that bring us closer and meet our needs. And self-disclosure is the engine of connection.

This week’s challenge: Try adding a little more self-disclosure in your conversations. Nothing deep and dramatic—just share a bit more when the opportunity is there. Notice how it shifts the connection.

What I’m Enjoying Lately

• We’ve just started the new Survivor. I never care who wins, but it’s fascinating to see the personalities and group dynamics play out. We end up talking over most of the challenges, because the show sparks conversation for us and turns it into an active social experience.

• I’ve been enjoying the song “Leave the Light On” by Chris Smither. I really like the way it approaches the topic of aging.

• And it’s been a fashion-focused few weeks. We stumbled onto a livestream of the Simkhai show during New York Fashion Week while walking around 30 Rock buying international sweets, and I even walked past filming of The Devil Wears Prada 2 on my way to the gym. I enjoy fashion as an art form—and I’m thinking of doing a video in the future on the psychology of style.

• I’ve also been using Notta Memo a lot lately. It’s been freeing just to talk and capture thoughts without feeling like I have to break my creative flow by writing everything down. Here’s my discount code if you want 20% off: 8Q4NM84E

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