Tell us a bit about yourself and your background

Hi! I’m Kalina Silverman, the creator of Big Talk (@makebigtalk), a global movement, video series, and social platform that helps people skip small talk to make more meaningful connections. I started Big Talk after experiencing loneliness and realizing how many people crave deeper conversations but don’t always know how to begin them. Since then, Big Talk has grown into a global community on and offline — I’ve facilitated Big Talk workshops for thousands of people around the world, from schools and corporations to non-profits and Capitol Hill, and I have a book called Big Talk: How to Skip Small Talk, Make More Meaningful Connections, and Enrich Your Life coming out with Penguin Random House.

My goal is to inspire people to reach out, listen more openly, and perhaps even start a Big Talk conversation of their own.

What do you write about in your newsletter?

My Big Talk newsletter explores how we can connect more deeply in our daily lives — with others, with ourselves, and with the world around us. Each edition includes reflections from my conversations and travels, meaningful questions to ask loved ones, behind-the-scenes stories from my interviews, and updates on upcoming Big Talk projects. My goal is to inspire people to reach out, listen more openly, and perhaps even start a Big Talk conversation of their own.

[Buttondown has] made sending my newsletter feel calm and creative again.

Where did you first learn of Buttondown, and what made you decide to give it a try?

I discovered Buttondown while researching a user-friendly newsletter for creators who wanted a simpler, cleaner, and more personal way to connect with their readers — and that’s exactly what Big Talk is all about. I loved how intentional and human Buttondown feels. It doesn’t overwhelm you with dashboards and data; it just makes it easy to share your words authentically.

What are some ways Buttondown has helped you run your email?

It’s made sending my newsletter feel calm and creative again. I can focus on writing meaningful content instead of getting distracted by over complicated tools or endless design options. The minimalist interface feels like an extension of the Big Talk ethos — simple, thoughtful, and human-centered.