Latest news April 8, 2026

Last week, I traveled to Hawaii to meet with flood survivors and help share their stories on my @makebigtalk Instagram page.

Disaster relief storytelling is one of the most impactful series I’ve had the honor of producing for Big Talk. Similar to my work during the LA fires, Hurricane Helene, and the Texas floods, in Hawaii, I focused on storytelling that puts a human face to disaster—amplifying families’ GoFundme pages and helping their voices reach further.

A quiet interview in front of someone’s destroyed home can lead to millions of views online and tens of thousands of dollars in donations to help them rebuild.

Here are a few of the people I had the honor of meeting last week:
• Vao, a pig farmer who lost 2 of her 20 rescue dogs in the floods. Her video interview has now been viewed over 2 million times since I posted it last week.
• Kalei, a world-renowned ukulele player who helped rescue people living on his property
• Soriah, a mother of seven whose children escaped by climbing onto their truck as the water rapidly rose
• Aunty Sela, an 85 year old matriarch and staple in her Laie community.
• Uncle Wendell, who helped save many people at Otake camp. Hawaiian Airlines messaged me after seeing his video and wants to help send him to Japan!

These are just a few of the many stories from the island—each one a reminder of love, loss, hope, and resilience.

You can watch their stories here: https://www.instagram.com/p/DWn0NzBkt4v/

You can donate to them on my GoFundMe profile here, where my @makebigtalk storytelling has helped inspire over 37,000 people to donate over $2.5 million to people in need.

-Kalina Silverman

ON TOUR

February 28th: Big Talk Book Launch Party at Annenberg Beach House (Los Angeles)

March 10th: Big Talk Book Talk at Zibby’s Book Shop (Los Angeles)

March 16th: Kalina Silverman makes Big Talk with CHIEF at SXSW (Austin)

March 20th: Big Talk Book Talk at Vroman’s Book Store (Los Angeles)

April 19th: Big Talk at the LA Times Festival of Books with Malibu VIllage Books- 12:00-2:00 pm (Los Angeles)

April 21st: Big Talk at the Lighthouse Venice - Details TBD (Los Angeles)

May 6th: Big Talk with GoFundMe (Chicago)

June 14th: Big Talk at 92nd Street Y (NYC)

Interested in hosting a Big Talk Book Event or an Interactive Big Talk Workshop? Email kalina@makebigtalk.com.

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

CONTACT

Sign up for my newsletter at https://buttondown.email/kalina.

General inquiries: kalinasilverman@gmail.com

Big Talk inquiries: kalina@makebigtalk.com

Speaking: kberner@penguinrandomhouse.com

Media: KalinaSilvermanTeam@unitedtalent.com

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