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Today\xa0we\u2019re going meta, as they say.\xa0Because this is a conversation about\u2026conversation. More than that, it\u2019s a deep and meaningful exchange about why effective, authentic dialogue is so important to humankind \u2013 and yet seemingly in decline. And who better to exchange words with on this topic, than my fellow \u2018professional conversationalist\u2019, Nihal Arthanayake.\n\xa0\nYou may know Nihal as an acclaimed broadcaster and TV presenter. He presents a national daytime show on BBC Radio 5 Live, which has over 1.2 million regular listeners, and his unique style recently won him Interviewer of the Year at the BBC Radio and Music Awards. Nihal is a good friend, so I can testify to his ability to \u2018give good chat\u2019. But he\u2019s also brilliant at having public conversations that are bold, thoughtful and honest. Guests from the world's biggest stars to leaders of inner-city gangs have lauded his ability to stimulate positive discussions without the need for confrontation.\xa0\n\xa0\nIn his wonderful book,\xa0Let\u2019s Talk: How To Have Better Conversations, which has recently been released in paperback, Nihal explains that all the scientific evidence points towards us now sharing fewer conversations than we ever have done before. We may have hundreds of connections on social media, but fewer than ever in our daily lives. So, could learning the art of conversation be an antidote to loneliness?\n\xa0\nIn our conversation, we discuss the importance of empathy and active listening, with your heart and mind as well as your ears and eyes. Are you listening to understand, says Nihal, or simply to respond? We talk about vulnerability in conversation, why men in particular find that difficult, and why it feels so hard for male friends to exchange words like \u2018I miss you\u2019 or even \u2018I love you\u2019.\n\xa0\nNihal shares his personal experience and advice, such as how he\u2019s approached conversations with friends who are going through tough times, or why he went to couples\u2019 therapy with his wife on realising their interactions had become more transactional than conversational.\n\xa0\nHe also explains the evolution and psychology of dialogue, as well as the neuroscience of what\u2019s happening in the brain during meaningful discourse. And he shares some powerful, high-profile case studies who\u2019ve proved that it is possible to find common ground with anyone, even those who are your sworn enemies, by finding your common humanity.\n\xa0\nI really think that the skills Nihal is encouraging us all to cultivate are essential if we are to live happy and contented lives, but also essential when it comes to our physical and mental wellbeing. This conversation was relaxed and light hearted but at the same time, powerful and\xa0provocative. As Nihal says, great conversation is the glue that binds us all together.\n\nFind out more about my NEW Journal here\xa0https://drchatterjee.com/journal\n\nThanks to our sponsors:\nhttps://drinkag1.com/livemore\nhttps://calm.com/livemore\n\nShow notes\xa0https://drchatterjee.com/446\n\nDISCLAIMER: The content in the podcast and on this webpage is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your doctor or qualified healthcare provider. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have heard on the podcast or on my website.