Episode #197
What a Ugandan Village Taught Tom Karrel About Belonging
Everyone is talking about building a village right now. It’s on social media, in parenting forums, in wellness content, in the conversations we have when we’re exhausted and lonely and wondering why support feels so hard to find. But how many of us have actually experienced a REAL village? Today’s guest, Tom Karrel, has spent a lot of time thinking about it. Tom is the author of The Lost Art of Random Conversations , and he has more than 10,000 hours of group facilitation experience across 45 countries. He also spent years living and working in Uganda, including in rural village communities where the pace, expectations, and social fabric look very different from the way many of us live in the U.S. In this episode, Tom and I talk about what it felt like to enter a 350-person Ugandan village as an outsider, how learning to greet people in the local language became a bridge, and why “going first” is often the only way into connection. We also talk about time, uncertainty, social trust, Ring doorbells, random conversations, Seattle sidewalks, Mexican fishermen, and what it means to put your phone away long enough to notice the person standing in front of you. In this episode you’ll hear about: How being visibly different forced Tom to practice vulnerability, humility, and going first over and over again What living in a 350-person village taught Tom about presence, schedules, and the way we prioritize tasks vs. people Why the interruptions we avoid might be the exact moments that make life feel more connected What the “Seattle Freeze” has to do with social trust, small risks, and choosing to smile at strangers anyway Why fumbling through a new language in a Ugandan village is not that different from trying to make friends at a gym Resources & Links Check out Tom’s book, The Lost Art of Random Conversations and learn more about him on his website . Like what you hear? Visit my website , leave me a voicemail , and follow me on Instagram and TikTok! Want to take this conversation a step further? Send this episode to a friend. Tell them you found it interesting and use what we just talked about as a conversation starter the next time you and your friend hang out! WANT MORE? My book, Are We Friends Yet? is here. Order your copy today! Dive into The Connection Reset. A 10-day private podcast to help you see the abundance of connection that already exists in your day-to-day (Yes. Really. I promise you have more than you realize). Start today.
