#73: We all know small talk is exhausting—so what if we just… stopped settling for it?
In this episode, I’m joined by Kate Terentieva, founder of Off The Record—a connection card game built to help you skip the surface and get straight to the good stuff. We talk about everything from growing up as the go-to “deep chat” friend to building a product that’s helping people have conversations that actually matter.
We cover:
→ The real reason we struggle with adult friendships (hint: it’s not just time)
→ Why asking good questions is more powerful than having the right answers
→ How cultural identity, language, and being a first-gen American shaped how Kate connects
→ What she learned about human behavior from working with brands like WhatsApp & Four Seasons
→ And how Off The Record went from a side project to a movement for deeper connection
This episode is for you if you’ve ever sat at a networking event dreading the “what do you do?” convo, felt lonely in a room full of people, or just want to be better at making people feel seen (and also heard because that’s different).
LINKS FROM THE EPISODE:
Get your hands on Off The Record and use code SERIOUSLY10 for 10% off your order here.
CONNECT WITH KATE & OTR:
On IG @playofftherecord @katarinaterentieva
LET'S STAY CONNECTED:
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