PRE-ORDER THE BIG TALK BOOK!
Book Description from the Penguin Random House Site:
From the wildly popular and innovative creator of @MakeBigTalk, a practical and comprehensive guide to forming deeper connections to combat loneliness and strengthen existing relationships
Our world is increasingly connected—yet so many people feel alone and without purpose. Big Talk offers a powerful antidote. With simple tools and inspiring real-life stories, Kalina Silverman shares how you can go beyond small talk and unlock hidden emotional depths in everyday interactions—whether with a stranger, a friend, a coworker, a community member, a family member, a partner, or even yourself.
What began as one young woman’s mission to fight loneliness has since grown into a global movement, featured in major media and used in schools, workplaces, governments, and communities around the world.
In this book, Silverman distills more than a decade of insights from “making Big Talk” into easy-to-apply questions, prompts, and techniques that will help you:
overcome social anxiety and start more meaningful conversations;
deepen relationships and build new ones that last;
foster empathy, trust, and belonging in your community;
create spaces where truth, vulnerability, and real connection can thrive; and make everyday moments, from date nights, to workplace chats, to vacations, to neighborly exchanges, more meaningful and memorable.
Concise, practical, and full of heart, Big Talk is for anyone who’s tired of small talk and ready to have conversations that matter. Pre-Order Today!
PRAISE FOR BIG TALK!
“In a world where so many of us are struggling to find the right words, Big Talk is the answer. It shows us how to move past the awkward, break through the noise, and discover the joy of genuine human connection. A powerful reminder that conversations can change our lives.”
—Jay Shetty, #1 New York Times bestselling author and host of the On Purpose podcast
“In the midst of a loneliness epidemic, Big Talk feels like a cure—a simple, human reminder that connection can start with a single honest question. Kalina does an amazing job at showing how to replace empty exchanges with conversations that matter—ones that build trust, understanding, and belonging. This isn’t just a book about conversation; it’s a guide to feeling human again.”
—Hunter Prosper, New York Times bestselling author of Stories from a Stranger
“Finding real connection with others doesn’t have to be complicated. Everyday interactions, along with genuine curiosity and an open mind, are often all it takes to foster trust. This book shows us how.”
—Nedra Glover Tawwab, New York Times bestselling author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace
“Big Talk is a breath of fresh air. Reading this book feels like sitting down with a good friend. Kalina writes with so much warmth and honesty, you can’t help but be inspired and learn how to move past the surface and connect in a real way. Big Talk is the reminder we all need that we’re meant for deeper conversations.”
—Julie McFadden (Hospice Nurse Julie), New York Times bestselling author of Nothing to Fear
“In a clickbait, small talk world, Big Talk dares us to go deeper and connect authentically. Kalina Silverman shares powerful stories and a clear framework to transform everyday moments into real connections – around the water cooler, at the dinner table, at a neighborhood park – anywhere life happens. This book is your invitation to speak with strangers, listen with your soul, and create conversations that last a lifetime!
—Shaka Senghor, New York Times bestselling author of Writing My Wrongs and How To Be Free
“True connection is what we want most—and yet, in today’s world, it can be incredibly challenging to find and cultivate. In this powerful and practical guide, Kalina Silverman helps lead us back to one another and, in the process, to better lives and a better world. Packed with inspiring stories and actionable strategies, Big Talk is a book we can all put to good use.”
—Stephanie Harrison, international bestselling author of New Happy
“Kalina Silverman’s Make Big Talk revives the lost art of conversation and curiosity—not just asking what someone does but how they feel about what they do, revealing who they really are. This book is the tool kit we need to unlock all the beauty hiding in plain sight.”
—Steve Goldbloom, creator of the Emmy-nominated series “Brief But Spectacular,” airing on PBS NewsHour
“Kalina Silverman’s positivity is infectious! I’ve been so impressed and inspired by her uniquely hopeful perspective on our shared humanity. This uplifting book will give you the jolt of optimism you’ve been craving, as it lays out her highly relatable methods for creating deeper and more meaningful experiences in life and relationships. This is the book the world desperately needs right now.”
–Ryan Dusick, founding drummer of Maroon 5, licensed therapist, author of Harder to Breathe
“Studies show us deep connection is the salve for loneliness and one in four Americans say they don’t have someone to confide in. This makes Big Talk a much-needed, non-negotiable skill for solving the loneliness epidemic. It’s deep conversation that makes us feel more connected. This incredible book gives you practical strategies for getting to deeper conversation more quickly.”
—Simone Heng, Award-winning author of Let’s Talk About Loneliness
“Kalina Silverman blends authentic storytelling with social impact, helping us see ourselves—and one another—through a more honest and compassionate lens. Big Talk is a refreshing antidote to small talk, sparking the kinds of conversations that heal, inspire, and create real change. Having seen the ripple effect of Kalina’s work firsthand, I know her message has the power to transform not just how we communicate, but how we connect as humans.”
—Erin Raftery Ryan, CEO, NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Westside Los Angeles
BIG TALK NEWS
Kalina Silverman Big Talk Author Headshot taken by Brie Lakin
BIO
Kalina Silverman is a documentary journalist, entrepreneur, speaker, and creator of Big Talk (@makebigtalk)—an award-winning viral media project that highlights meaningful conversations to foster empathy and human connection. She is also an upcoming author, with a Big Talk book set for release under Penguin Random House (Tarcher) in 2026.
A Fulbright Scholar, Ambassador, and Public Speaker, Kalina has traveled globally to deliver Big Talk workshops and presentations, including at Fortune 500 off-sites, universities, and mental health organizations. Her TEDx talk on Big Talk has 7 million views, and her social media content has reached 500,000 followers and 125 million+ views. Big Talk has been featured by Good Morning America, TIME, People, PBS, USA Today, KTLA, NBC, and more.
Most recently, Kalina partnered with GoFundMe to interview survivors of the Los Angeles wildfires, Hurricane Helene, and the Texas Floods, creating viral videos that helped raise over $2 million in relief funds and garnered international attention.
A Northwestern University broadcast journalism graduate, Kalina worked on documentary films in Ecuador and Germany focused on education and the Holocaust. As a Fulbright Research Scholar in Singapore, she studied how to establish cross-cultural empathy through Big Talk. She also co-founded MIXED, Northwestern’s first-ever Mixed Race Student Coalition.
Beyond journalism and advocacy, Kalina is a model and commercial actress, having appeared in campaigns for Nike, Upwork, Adidas, Coca-Cola, Google, Meta, Sony, Delta, and more.
Kalina is passionate about bridging cultures and communities through media, education, and the arts, as well as combating modern-day loneliness and disconnection. An adventurer at heart, she stays active through surfing, Taekwondo, tennis, and dance while also nurturing her creativity through painting, songwriting, and playing piano and guitar.
To join Kalina’s Newsletter, subscribe at https://buttondown.com/kalina
TIMELINE
2025 (US) Big Talk Instagram videos creator (@makebigtalk). Preparing for Big Talk Book Release in 2026 (Penguin Randomhouse - Tarcher Perigee).
2021-2024 (US) Fulbright Ambassador leading Big Talk workshops for 1500 PhD and Master’s students worldwide. Recipient of the City of Santa Monica Art of Recovery Grant. BIG TALK educational program development and video content creator. Public Speaker. Model for Minelli Management.
2019-2020 (US/Australia/Central Asia) BIG TALK public speaking engagements worldwide. U.S. Fulbright Alumni Ambassador presenting on Capitol Hill. Speaker.
2017-2018 (Singapore) U.S. Fulbright Research Scholar in Singapore. Model with Basic Model Management (Singapore). Artist in Residence at Vagabond Hotel with Un-canned Art.
2017 (Los Angeles) Creative Resident at 72andSunny. Created the “Big Talk Question Card Game.”
2016 (San Francisco) Facebook Stories intern.
2015 (Los Angeles) USC Annenberg Innovation Center Researcher. TEDx Speaker for BIG TALK. Model.
2014 (Chicago) Broadcast Journalism student at Northwestern University. NU in Qatar Ambassador. Founder and President of MIXED. Created Big Talk.
IN THE NEWS
@Good Morning America features @makebigtalk interviews with Fire Victims
@People features Kalina’s @makebigtalk interviews with Fire Victims
@Time features Kalina’s @makebigtalk interviews with Fire Victims
Quora Sessions Host featured on Forbes
AWARDS
Commendation - Big Talk for the Community from Santa Monica’s Mayor
Grantee - Fulbright Research Scholarship & Alumni Ambassadorship
Semifinalist - McKinsey Women’s Impact Awards
Semifinalist - Adobe Design Achievement Awards for Social Impact Design
SPEAKING CLIENTS
Speaking Inquiries: kberner@penguinrandomhouse.com
Hallmark
Coqual
Santa Monica Malibu Unified School District
TikTok’s AAPI ERG
Postmates
FYI, Will.I.Am’s Creative Space
NAMI WLA (National Alliance on Mental Illness)
Johnson & Johnson Ethicon
Watson Institute
The Lighthouse Venice
Chai Ventures
U.S. State Department
Foundation for Social Connection
California Marital and Family Therapist Association
Healthcare Management Administrators
Institute of International Education
WeWork Melbourne, Australia
Acelero Learning
US Embassy Tashkent, Uzbekistan
NYU Shanghai
Adobe Women
Elite SEM
Fulbright / US Embassy, Singapore
National University of Singapore
USC Trojan Support
MEDIA PARTNERSHIP CLIENTS
Media Partnerships: KalinaSilvermanTeam@unitedtalent.com
GoFundMe
LiftFund
NWSL / Angel City Soccer
Delta
Spectrum
Fanatics
Climate Power
Direct Relief
Pasadena Humane Society
Upwork
Anti-Recidivism Coalition
FireAid Los Angeles Concert
Instacart
City of Santa Monica Art of Recovery Program
Santa Monica Civic Well-Being Partners
Smile Train
Narxoz University in Almaty, Kazakhstan
"Take a Northwestern Direction" - Northwestern Global Outreach Video Campaign (Hero Student)
Edovo Jail Education Solutions (Big Talk Education partnership)
USC Annenberg Innovation Lab
Follow @makebigtalk on social media
Speaking at Jay Shetty’s Fire Relief Fundraiser
Watch the very first Big Talk video from 10 years ago.
Watch Kalina’s Viral TEDx Talk with 7 mill views
Past modeling engagements include Nike, Adidas, Coca-Cola, Athletic Greens, and Uniqlo
Artwork, by Kalina
When I’m not making Big Talk, you can find me in the ocean, surfing!
(Vote for Big Talk in the Shorty Awards in Emergency Relief Storytelling; Kalina Silverman’s @makebigtalk video interviews raise millions for disaster survivors - Good Morning America, Time, PBS NewsHour, KTLA & People)
Pre-Order Big Talk Today!
Headshot of Kalina Silverman, Founder of Big Talk. The bench where many @makebigtalk videos are filmed.
