Style-ish Podcast – “Small talk doesn’t have to suck”

Host: Madison Sullivan Thorpe
Co-hosts: Rhiannon Joyce (for Annika Joshi Smith), Joanna Fleming
Date: October 7, 2025
Theme: Practical tips and lively discussion on small talk, the social side of life, and at-home skincare devices—along with a candid deep-dive into event dressing for summer and current beauty trends.

Episode Overview

This episode of Style-ish focuses on how small talk isn’t inherently boring—if you approach it right. The hosts deliver candid perspectives on social skills, share actionable advice on conversational starters, and unpack why “boring” often reflects more on the asker than the topic. Alongside, the trio navigates the evolving at-home skincare device market, shares their swap-ins (favorite current picks), and flips through the best brands for summer event dressing.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Opening Banter, Listener Appreciation, and Catch-ups

Timestamps: 00:08 – 02:17

• Hosts catch up, sharing love for Anika’s Fashion Week trip and reflect on vulnerability in their previous episode.
• Madison: “You feel like you can share things, you can open up and then you step out that door and you’re like, holy shit.” (01:52)

2. SPF and Sunscreen Recalls: Industry “Sacrificial Lambs”

Timestamps: 02:19 – 07:08

• Joanna breaks down the latest sunscreen recall scandal: TGA recalls/pauses 21 sunscreens due to shared faulty base formulas (by Wild Child), affecting many major brands, not just Ultraviolet.
• Key insight: Naked Sundays used the same formula but escaped major backlash—unlike Ultraviolet, which became “the sacrificial lamb.”
• “There are 21 other sunscreens impacted by this... I had to do a recall email out to my clients...” – Joanna (06:16)
• Fatigue in consumers and media coverage is noted: “Maybe consumers are feeling fatigued by this conversation” – Madison (06:39)

3. Weekly Swaps: Current Lip Balm, Kindness, and Skincare Faves

Timestamps: 07:11 – 13:10
Rhiannon:

• Swap-in: Balmy Lip Balm (B-A-L-M-E-E): “It’s really thick and has that nice consistency without it being sticky.” (08:11) Madison:
• Swap-in: Simple kindness—“Just say morning when you pass a stranger and smile.” (10:05) Joanna:
• Swap-in: Naturium skincare, soon at Sephora: “They’ve got a really good retinaldehyde cream serum as well…” (12:58)

4. At-Home Skincare Devices: Do You Really Need Them?

Timestamps: 14:30 – 28:04

Market Insights:

• At-home skincare devices market is booming ($15.7 billion USD, expected to triple in a decade).
• Most people surveyed (78%) do not own at-home devices; of those who do, only 20% say it improved their skin.

Hosts' Takes:

• Rhiannon: No devices—prefers in-clinic treatments for anti-aging and dehydration. “I just can’t pull the trigger, mostly because of the price point.” (16:55)
• Joanna: Only recommends LED devices for at-home use; strong evidence-based backing, derived from wound care: “There is actual data to support their efficacy...” (20:16)
• Madison: Shares personal journey through devices (Omnilux, Dr. Dennis Gross, NuFace, Philips at-home laser for hair removal). Cautions: “Devices don’t work in the cupboard...” (21:44)

Memorable Moment:
Joanna tries using her LED face mask on her dying houseplant.

• “We’ve been using the red light on it...If it can work on my skin, then it must be able to work on our houseplants.” (17:57)

Safety and Recommendations:

• Avoid microneedling, microcurrent, microdermabrasion, and pore vacuums at home due to potential for harm.
• Joanna: “I hate pore vacuums. I hate microdermabrasion devices... Just save your money essentially is what I’m saying.” (24:56)
• Who should buy an LED mask (per Jo): “If I have a client that’s very inflamed...that’s where I would say, get yourself a device.” (26:10)

5. Event Dressing for Summer: Brand Guide

Timestamps: 28:11 – 38:06

• Discussion opens up to include not just wedding guest looks but summer events (birthdays, holidays).
• High-end picks: One of Others, Antipodean (“their styles—absolutely beautiful and super distinctive” – Rhiannon, 30:58)
• Mix & Match: Harris Tapper, Helsa, Saint Agni, Reformation (“I love buying a top and skirt now...because I just kept looking at my closet going, these are dresses that I’m wearing maybe two or three times.” – Madison, 31:47)
• Affordable faves: Misha, Perfect Stranger, Verge Girl, With Jean, Faithful the Brand, Zara (“Zara is doing some good shit at the moment, and it’s probably largely because they’re ripping off Saint Laurent...” – Madison, 37:10)
• Instagram/TikTok as inspiration sources. “She’s great to follow for summer inspiration, just nails color, nails it.” – About Matti Guman, colorful fashion creator (37:56)

6. Main Topic: Small Talk Doesn’t Have to Suck

Timestamps: 38:11 – 54:16

What sparked the conversation:

• A TikTok video (Nathan / @sxintnate): “Stop being a boring person”; tips for improving social conversation—chiefly, stop asking ‘What do you do for a living?’

Is “What Do You Do?” a Boring Question?

• Rhiannon: “I really have no issue with this question because as someone whose job is very important to them, and I’m really proud... I love talking about my job, but I appreciate not everyone has that feeling.” (41:00)
• Madison: Dislikes the “pressure to have a cool job” (40:24), believes annoyance is often projection.
• Joanna: “I also like learning about other people’s jobs as well...” (41:27)

Small Talk: Painful or Foundational?

• Small talk is essential to build toward deeper connection.
• “Small talk gets such a bad rap...sometimes small talk is necessary to build to deeper conversations.” – Rhiannon (43:15)
• Jo: “If you can really get down into the depths...I would talk about exes on first dates...I had no boundaries with that.” (42:41)
• Madison: Dislikes when small talk doesn’t deepen; stuck on “surface level.”

Tips for Better Small Talk and Conversations

• Use “dead-end” questions sparingly and pivot to open ones; astrology or Myers-Briggs as playful, revealing topics.
  • “Which brings up such a great point that it’s not a dead-end question... There’s follow up questions.” – Madison (44:20)
  • “My favorite tip is actually focusing on the future, not the past when it comes to driving conversation.” – Rhiannon, (48:56)
• Avoid only asking about someone’s past (“How was your weekend?”) as it can tank the chat.
  • “If you focus on the future...it gives someone space to have hope and fixate on what’s actually positive that’s coming up.” – Rhiannon (48:56)
• Genuine interest is key: “I want to be as interested as I am interesting. And the worst thing...is to have a conversation with someone who thinks they are so interesting and doesn’t ask anything.” – Madison (46:17)
• Active listening is essential: “If you’re going in with cookie cutter questions and not actually listening...the conversation’s always going to end up dead ended.” – Rhiannon (46:51)
• Surviving or Thriving: As a casual check-in that elicits real answers, “Are you surviving or thriving?” (53:39)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments:

• “Devices don’t work in the cupboard, Maddie.” – Claudia (Jo’s former colleague, via Madison) [21:44]
• “If it can work on my skin, then it must be able to work on our houseplants.” – Joanna [17:57], reflecting both humor and beauty obsession.
• “I want to be as interested as I am interesting.” – Madison [46:17]
• “My favorite tip is actually focusing on the future, not the past when it comes to driving conversation.” – Rhiannon [48:56]
• “Surviving or thriving?” – Madison, as a go-to non-boring check-in [53:39]

Notable Quotes With Timestamps

• “You feel like you can share things, you can open up and then you step out that door and you’re like, holy shit.” – Madison (01:52)
• “Naked Sundays have really come out of this quite well. It’s been a very quiet little takeoff shelf for some of the things.” – Madison (04:08)
• “The only devices that I really recommend buying for home are LED devices.” – Joanna (19:22)
• “Devices don’t work in the cupboard, Maddie.” – Claudia, relayed by Madison (21:44)
• “I hate pore vacuums. I hate microdermabrasion devices... just save your money.” – Joanna (24:56)
• “Small talk gets such a bad rap...sometimes small talk is necessary to build to deeper conversations.” – Rhiannon (43:15)
• “I want to be as interested as I am interesting.” – Madison (46:17)
• “My favorite tip is actually focusing on the future, not the past when it comes to driving conversation.” – Rhiannon (48:56)
• “Surviving or thriving?” – Madison (53:39)

Segment Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamps | |------------------------------|-------------| | Opening Banter | 00:08–02:17 | | Sunscreen Industry Scandal | 02:19–07:08 | | Weekly Swaps | 07:11–13:10 | | Skincare Devices | 14:30–28:04 | | Event Dressing Guide | 28:11–38:06 | | Small Talk Doesn’t Have to Suck | 38:11–54:16|

Conclusion

The Style-ish team masterfully blends their signature wit and warmth with valuable, evidence-based advice. By exposing conversational clichés, debunking beauty tech myths, and revealing their go-to style picks, they encourage listeners to embrace both style and substance—in their small talk and their beauty routines.

For more, visit @StylishPod on Instagram, or check the show notes for referenced TikTok videos, product links, and more detailed breakdowns.