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  • 🗣️ How to Fake Interest (and why you should)

🗣️ How to Fake Interest (and why you should)

Plus: ₿ Crypto Trump | 🎾 AI Wimbledon | 🤖 7-Eleven bots & more

Hi, Alex here,

This is SpeakEasy, the newsletter that helps you turn small talk into smart talk.

Today:

  1. 🎭 Faking Interest: And why you should

  2. ₿ Crypto King: Trump’s Bitcoin Bonanza

  3. 🎾 AI Influencer: Set & match?

  4. 🚊 7-Eleven Bots: Convenience or chaos?

…and more.

Language, knowledge, and culture! 🧠

Conversation fuel for immediate use!

(First time reading? You can subscribe here for free.)

TALK TOOLBOX
A close-up of a textured bronze statue of a man leaning in with his hand cupped to his ear, as if trying to listen intently. The background is a bright cyan blue, and the caption "UH-HUH…" appears in bold pink text.

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! 🚨

A digitally altered image of Donald Trump giving two thumbs up with a smug grin. Behind him, a glowing Bitcoin symbol floats in a starry, tech-inspired background. The caption “YEE-HAW!” appears in bold pink text, adding a surreal cowboy flair to this crypto-themed moment.

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.

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…

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…🤬)

📊 What's your crypto stance?

Login or Subscribe to participate in polls.

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
A photorealistic woman with long blonde hair poses at an outdoor Wimbledon café, smiling into the camera with a cocktail in hand.

Instagram/@Miazelu

🎾 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 -)

A frustrated tennis player smashes their racket repeatedly on the court in a dramatic meltdown

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).

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

BITS ‘n BOBS
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

That's all for this week. Thanks for reading.

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