Two lines, 20 seconds each Β· Text max 70 Β· Voice can score up to 100 Β· 70+ completes the moment (and earns a number)
Why practice works
Starting a conversation feels risky because our brains overestimate the danger. Research shows the moment usually goes better than we expect, and that repetition is what shrinks the fear. Each timed scene here is a safe rep: you think on your feet, get feedback, and try again.
Practice builds confidence. After a week of repeatedly talking to strangers, people feared rejection less and felt more able to start and keep a conversation. 87% of their conversations were with the first person they approached. Sandstrom et al., 2022
They like you more than you think. After a chat, people consistently underestimate how much the other person liked them. Boothby et al., 2018
Strangers are happier to talk than we predict. Commuters who spoke to a stranger had a more positive ride, the opposite of what people expected. Epley & Schroeder, 2014
Skills training has helped shy people feel more confident. In a study of shy single men, social skills training raised social confidence, and dating frequency went up. Foster et al., 1997
