Terry Gross is an excellent interview and I enjoy her work very much. However, the advice claims to be how to have better conversations. I'm not convinced that interviewing and having better conversations are the same thing. Further, I think some of the advice here is really more advice about interviews, and thus it is fair to be critical of the advice in a different context. Most of the criticism is really only on using "Tell me about yourself" as an ice-breaker. If I don't like being asked that question, than it is entirely reasonable for me to wonder if it is the best opener to use in general social circumstances.