On this episode of Our American Stories, before Kent Nerburn became known for his reflections on manhood and love, he was a young man circling the edges of his own life. That changed during a quiet afternoon in graduate school, when his friend Craig offered a gentle observation that revealed more about human nature than any book ever could. Craig understood what many struggle to see: people respond to interest, not perfection.

Kent shares how a single gesture helped him move past the anxious self-image that once held him still and taught him what true social skill looks like from the inside out.

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