Why I Always Talk to Uber Drivers

There's something magical about travel that opens up unexpected portals of human connection. As someone who believes deeply in the power of genuine conversation, I've made it a personal mission to chat with my Uber drivers wherever I go. And let me tell you, my last trip to National Finals Rodeo (NFR) in Las Vegas was a masterclass in unexpected storytelling.

Why talk to Uber drivers? Because they see everything. They witness the pulse of the city hour-by-hour, day-by-day, and they always have stories that stretch far deeper than any travel guide could. These hardworking individuals are navigating not just the streets, but the local life and the changing landscapes. In Las Vegas, where consumption and spectacle often dominate, these drivers offered me glimpses into resilience, hope, and the beautiful complexity of the human experience.

Take the cancer survivor who recently had her top teeth removed due to treatment. When she shared her story, I was moved to tears by her vulnerability and strength. Another driver played the horns over the speaker for my son’s birthday call. On our last night, the driver playfully put a whoopie cushion effect on my friend Steve's seat in his Tesla and we laughed uncontrollably the whole way. Another proudly displayed his daughter's electronic Christmas list on his car’s backseat screens.

But the conversation that sticks out to me most is with a gentleman who shared how gratitude practice has changed his life after a challenging divorce. He had been in a dark place and a podcast on gratitude shifted his perspective, leading him to start listing ten things he was grateful for every day and choosing to see abundance instead of loss.

Each ride was a mini-adventure, a reminder that you just never know what someone is going through — and behind every steering wheel is a rich, complex human story.

What I've learned through these travels and conversations is that life is about connection. It's about seeing humanity in unexpected places – like an Uber ride.

So next time you travel, take a moment. Talk to your driver. Listen to their story. You might just discover something remarkable about the world – and yourself.