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How to Overcome Social Anxiety | Dr. Nick Epley

Explore episode May 18, 2026
Health & Fitness
The 'Hello Walk': A Small Habit That Changes Everything

How to Overcome Social Anxiety | Dr. Nick Epley · May 18, 2026 Health & Fitness

Nick Epley noticed he was walking through his office building every morning with his head down, passing dozens of people without a word. He started a 'hello walk' — keeping his head up, smiling, greeting everyone by name. It changed his mood before he even reached his desk. Small habits, repeated daily, reshape who you are.

Where this was said

Modeling Social Interactions for Kids, Tool: Habits Awareness

At 2:22:00 · chapter starts 2:17:39

Huberman frames the final section around modeling: just as young animals learn social behavior from elders, children absorb social norms from watching adults in unremarkable moments. Epley is honest about his own imperfections — a quick temper that can flare in frustration — and describes the deliberate practice of removing himself from situations before responding rather than reacting. His most concrete tool is the 'hello walk': where he used to walk the 150-yard atrium of his building head-down, now he keeps his head up and greets every person by name — custodial staff, administrative assistants, faculty. It brightens his day before he reaches his desk, and it has become automatic. The chapter closes with a mutual exchange about classroom rules as a social media moderation strategy: Huberman applies the same norms online that he would in a classroom, and reports that regular commenters feel safe enough to engage there precisely because those norms hold.

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