AirPods, Pumpkins, and the Gift of Connection

From Awkwardness to Awareness

Lately, I have been leaning into the ideas and work of Vanessa Van Edwards. She was recommended to me by a friend when I shared a personal challenge: feeling unsure about how to confidently share my ideas. We talked about how frustrating it is can be when people with great ideas are overlooked, while those with more charisma (or Woo, as Gallup StrengthsFinder puts it) seem to rise to the top. Enter Vanessa Van Edwards. I think this is part of her life's mission! 

As a self-described "recovering awkward person" Vanessa has so many inspirational ideas to share - from understanding the cues that we use, to gifting others with feel-good hormones through our interactions. I can listen to her book (yes, I'm an audiobook person) or watch her Diary of a CEO appearances over and over, and still find a gem to take away.

An AirPods Experiment

One of her recent comments was about how AirPods impact our connection with others. This prompted me to consider whether wearing my AirPods (which I often do) could be getting in the way of meaningful interactions. I decided to put it to the test.

Today, while doing the grocery shopping, I left my AirPods at home and opened myself up to interaction. It didn't take long. 

As I reached for a pumpkin, I heard someone talking beside me. I looked up to see a woman, slightly embarrassed at being caught talking to herself. 

"You feel a bit crazy when you realise you're saying things out loud," she said. 

I chuckled and told her about the AirPods theory - and we shared a moment of laughter. A moment of connection. 

That moment became even more special when we both turned up at the same register, and she said, "You look familiar." Turns out I taught her son six years ago, back when he was in Year 5. She filled me in on how he's doing, which was genuinely lovely to hear.

What I Would Have Missed

I think we both walked away from that exchange with a bounce in our step. It was a moment of recognition and warmth that could otherwise have been missed, drowned out by a podcast or shielded behind the comfort of headphones. It reminded me that there are opportunities like this all around us, but we have to make ourselves reachable to find them. 

Vanessa's work is helping me think differently about how I show up in the world - how I communicate and how I connect. There are so many small changes I’ve been making lately — and they’re adding up. I’m starting to feel more confident, more open, even a little more charismatic.

Who knows… maybe I’m catching a little Woo after all.

Back to the Blog!

It’s been a while. 

Not because I stopped thinking, or learning, or questioning — but because life filled up in other ways. Teaching, family, reflection… all still here, just lived more privately for a while. 

But lately, I’ve felt the urge to write again. Not to declare expertise, but to share thoughts in progress. To raise some questions. To stay connected to the part of me that makes meaning through words. 

If you’ve found your way here, welcome. There’s no big campaign or relaunch — just me, returning to this space when I can, to capture what I’m learning, noticing, and wondering about. 

I'm sure there are some things that need revamping and cleaning up on this site, and hopefully I will get to those. But for now, I am here sharing what it is to be me.