Axios Finish Line

March 18, 2026
Good Tuesday evening. Tonight's host is Carly Mallenbaum, who's got advice on sprucing up your conversations.
- Smart Brevityโข count: 400 words โฆ 1ยฝ mins. Edited by Natalie Daher and copy edited by Amy Stern.
1 big thing: How to have better conversations
Nearly anyone can have more meaningful conversations by becoming an "opener," a term psychology researchers have for someone who easily gets others to open up.
- Why it matters: Research suggests that strangers are much more open to conversation than you think.
Marisa Franco, a professor, psychologist and the author of "Platonic," has these science-backed tips for having more engaging discussions.
1. ๐ Be curious.
- Openers are genuinely interested in other people, without judgment. They seek connection instead of gossip.
2. ๐ฌ Ditch the small talk.
- Get creative, and forget the standard "What do you do for a living?"
- Asking for someone's opinion โ or going out on a limb with one of these questions from Axios CEO Jim VandeHei's dinner party list โ could spur deeper connection.
- People view vulnerability much more positively than we think.
3. ๐ Ask more follow-ups.
- Process what the other person says and respond thoughtfully to it. That shows you've truly heard them.
4. ๐ Stay present.
- Focus on the current moment and conversation, without scanning the room. Listen closely and avoid a rehearsed back-and-forth.
5. โจ Find the "cathexis."
- That's a psychology term for the moment when someone gets excited about a topic โ maybe their eyes light up or they gesture more.
- Openers can identify and zero in on it, drawing out deeper stories and feelings.
๐ญ Carly's thought bubble: I tend to steer clear of questions that make people pick a "favorite" โ I don't like being put on the spot like that myself.
- But one thing I do ask all the time โ which I didn't realize until my husband recently teased me about it โ is simply: "Can you tell me more about that?"
- I guess that's my way of chasing the cathexis.
2. ๐ธ Parting shot: Assassin bug!
Axios Detroit spotlighted one of its own โย photographer Joseph Ferraro, of Ferndale โ who's among 24 finalists for a prestigious wildlife photography award.
- Ferraro's photo, "Ready to Pounce," captures a 4-millimeter ambush bug nymph perched motionless on a flower.
- Ambush bugs are part of the assassin bug family, and they're common in the Detroit area.
The finalists were selected out of 60,636 entries from 113 countries and territories.
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