In this week’s episode of The Spark File, “I Love You vs. Small Talk,” Laura opens up a BIG spark (100 pounds of topic in a five-pound bag): love—romantic love, friend love, family love, self-love, love of strangers, love of pets… the whole sprawling, life-saving universe of it. Along the way, Susan and Laura tumble into the brave stuff: why “anything other than I love you is small talk” (thank you, Andrea Gibson), why saying it out loud can feel terrifying, and why love’s value doesn’t depend on whether it’s returned. They talk love languages, the quiet power of “remembering” someone, and the nervous-system magic of a simple smile or a tiny moment of connection with a stranger. And then—because this is The Spark File—Laura turns it into creative fuel: love stories are everywhere, have always been everywhere, and will never stop resonating. Whatever kind of love you’re living through (or longing for), it’s source material. It’s an invitation. Listen in for the reminder we all need right now: never be afraid to speak of love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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“What did the council decide on item 42?” — answered with the speaker and the moment.

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