🗣️ How to Fake Interest (and why you should)

TALK TOOLBOX

How to Fake Interest (And Why You Should)

I love my daughters, but they can TALK. On and on about every tiny detail of K-pop girl bands (BLACKPINK is best, obviously), or the insects in Animal Forest (so, so, many), or every…random…thought that flutters through their tiny, sugar-filled brains.

The easy move? Nod. Grunt “Uh-huh.” Try not to fall asleep.

But here's the grown-up superpower: staying engaged even when you're not. It separates skilled communicators from the nodding zombies — and it's priceless when you're talking to your boss, strangers at parties, or your partner's uncle who insists King Charles is a lizard. 

So, how do you fake interest without your soul jumping out of your ears?

1. Ask what, not why: “What do you like about it?” Gets to a personal connection.
   “Why do you like Marvel?” = sounds judgy.

   “What do you like about Marvel?” = sounds curious.

2. Use curiosity cues: “That's new to me…” Makes you sound open, not bored.

3. Bridge to your world: “Is it like…?” Steer toward shared ground.

4. Mirror their energy: People feel heard when you match their enthusiasm — not necessarily their words.

5. Exit gently: “That's fascinating… actually, that reminds me—have you seen…?”

You don't need instant curiosity. Just a spark. Start by looking interested; your brain will catch up.

💡 PRO TIP: Set a mental 3-minute timer. Stay present, then pivot. Most people will love you for it — and you won’t die of boredom (probably).

⛔ DON'T SAY: “Oh, that’s interesting…” three times in a row. It’s verbal beige.

💬 YOUR TURN: Try “Ask what, not why” this week. It’s a cheat code for boring conversations.

 NEWS YOU CAN USE

World events shape conversations.
Turn headlines into talking points.

Today – Bitcoin Alert! 🚨

Don’t scroll! Stay with me!

I know, I know—crypto makes your eyes glaze over faster than a tax seminar in a sauna. But here's the thing: Bitcoin just hit $123K and Trump signed the GENIUS Act into law, so whether you understand blockchain or think it sounds like an old Lego set, you will meet a crypto person somewhere.

And they will talk about it. A lot.

📈 Bitcoin Just Beat Everything

Bitcoin’s up 27% this year, outperforming gold, China, Europe — even the Nasdaq. Trump Media now holds $2 billion in Bitcoin, and Congress just passed major crypto bills.

• Bitcoin is now worth $2.4 trillion, more than Alphabet or Saudi Aramco.

• The crypto market (all 17,000 different coins) is worth $4 trillion, more than the UK economy.

Let that sink in: digital internet coins are now worth more than the Royal Family, Harry Potter, and scones with clotted cream combined.

Do you understand crypto? Me neither.

Warren Buffett called it “rat poison squared.” But major banks are jumping in with both feet, and Trump just gave it federal legitimacy.

It’s like banks: you don’t really get how they work, but you still trust them with your salary (kind of).
Crypto may be next.

🎯 The Plot Twist

Trump’s crypto bill passed with support from 102 Democrats. In 2025 terms, that’s bipartisan witchcraft. They want it bad.

But…

• North Korean hackers = billions stolen

• Crypto scams = record highs

• Crypto scams = record highs (had to say that twice…)

My brother still calls it “the Wild West.” He's not wrong.
But is Trump the new sheriff?

He's riding into town with his six-shooter and redrawing the map.
By calling crypto a commodity (not a security), it gets softer rules.
And by backing stablecoins (tied to the US dollar), he’s building a bridge between old-school assets like gold and oil and their 24/7, tokenized, cooler cousins.

Faster. Cheaper. Borderless.
But also: less oversight. Fewer protections.

Because the Wild West? Still wild.

🛡️ Your conversation survival kit:

• Stat: Crypto market ($4tn) is the 6th biggest ‘economy’ in the world (UK is 7th)

• Analogy: It’s like trusting banks

• Story: In 2010, a guy paid 10,000 Bitcoin for two pizzas.

  That’s $1.1 billion today.

  His response? “Someone had to start it.”
  (Not what I would have said…🤬)

DECODE THIS

Crypto is full of lingo, and one of the weirdest, most common?

HODL.

Nope, not a typo. That's the actual word.
But what does it mean?
Answer at the end of the issue.👇

 THE CULTURE CODE

🎾 Wimbledon, but make it weird

Nothing screams “British summer” like Wimbledon.
(Well, maybe sunburn and rain in the same hour.)

Sun, strawberries, celebrity spotting — classic summer combo.

This year saw a new face turning heads: Insta model Mia Zelu. 168K followers, perfect looks, but zero substance.

Why?

She’s not real.
100% AI-generated.
No heartbeat, no backhand, no problem.

But people are still following. Says everything about 2025, really.

💬 FOLLOW UP: “Would you follow an AI influencer?” (Watch everyone say ‘no’ while secretly reaching for their phone…)

⛔ DON'T SAY: “I knew she looked too good to be real.” (Congratulations, you've just insulted every actual woman in earshot)

FAMOUS WORDS

“I hate to lose more than I love to win”
(Jimmy Connors, American tennis legend, 1952 -)

Can you name the film?

🎾 This 2024 tennis movie is sweaty, sexy, and definitely not Wimbledon-approved.

⬇️ Answer at the end of this issue

BECAUSE THE ROBOTS ARE COMING

These would be a disaster in Japan.
There are 7-Elevens on every corner, and the trains are already packed. (But at least they wouldn’t get robbed).

jiemianglobal

20K followers

View more on Instagram

💬 FOLLOW UP: Would you trust your deliveries to fully autonomous bots? (OK, adorable fully autonomous bots).

BITS ‘n BOBS

• 🪐 Like space? Feast your eyes on the finalists for the 2025 Astronomy Photo of the Year.

• 🐳 Killer whales gift us food. Likes cats, but bigger and wetter.

• 🏙️ No summer plans? Take a walk through cities in glorious 4K. Your pockets are safe!

ANSWER

🎬 ANSWER: Challengers (2024)

One of my favourite films of 2024, Zendaya plays a tennis prodigy caught in a love triangle with two rival players.

🍿 Cultural Impact

• A stylish blend of sports, fashion, and pop culture.

• Shows how branding dominates our lives.

🧠 Deep Dive

• Widely criticized as ‘one long commercial.’ But, that’s kind of the point.

🗣️ YOUR TURN: Got a favourite tennis movie? Reply and let me know!

…

HODL = “Hold On for Dear Life.”

Crypto slang for “Don't sell, even when your coin is down 98% and even your dog avoids eye contact.”
Originally a drunk typo on a forum. Now a lifestyle. For masochists.

LAST WEEK

After the video of the sprinting robo-dog, I asked:

📊 Poll: Which Black Mirror tech freaks you out most?

A) 🤖 Robot dogs hunting you — 15%
B) 👁️ Memory implants recording your every moment — 10%
C) 🧠 Uploading your mind forever
D) 🐝 Killer robot bees — 60%
E) 🔍 Total surveillance, everywhere — 15%

🗣️ Comment of the Week

THIS IS THE END

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Life is too big for small talk