Debbie Millman presents the glorious Design Matters podcast on Voice America Business, which recently finished its fifth season. Her weekly monologues are inspiring, to say the least, probably stemming from her profound ability to teach.

Her monologue before the Laurie Rosenwald interview struck me in a new way, really articulating the many ways I actually hate small talk. I try to use every second of every day to do something productive. If I’m walking, I’m listening to a podcast on history. If I’m working on a design or a song, I’m constantly looking up research for it, in minute detail. Talking about the weather, the local sports team, and the ultra macro view of American politics doesn’t interest me. Not in the least. This clip might partially illuminate why.

“When I go out, I often feel a pervasive sense of discomfort. Albeit my gregarious and outgoing nature, I really hate small talk. I don’t enjoy standing around, drink in hand, asking people silly little inconsequential questions about inconsequential minutae. I have a near pathological disdain for shooting the breeze. And an even harder time endlessly chit-chatting about any and all of the following:

- the weather
- baby showers
- dieting
- engagement rings
- office politics
- American politics
- traffic
- vacations
- summer homes
- sports
- airport security
- rent control

But I often find myself engaged in these types of conversations because that is what’s polite and expected.”