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When you live in a city like New York, privacy is a scarce thing. Not only is the city busy squared, it actually has ears everywhere. That means a conversation meant for one addressee actually gets delivered to multiple addressees, even the ones who were not waiting for a message in the first place.

This is how New Yorkers become serial eavesdroppers, whether accidentally or purposefully. Mixed with a drop of guilt and secondhand embarrassment, the strangers’ conversations offer entertainment like no other and it’s obvious from the immense popularity of the Overheard NY Instagram page.

With 1.6M followers eager to scout the snippets of things people overheard in the streets of the Big Apple, you get a feeling this is a way to shed light on the locals and their lives. Scroll down, upvote your favorite overheard conversations, and be sure to check out our previous features on Overheard NY here and here.

More info: Overheard Newsletter

Overheard NY is the internet’s beloved Instagram project dedicated to millennial culture and its whimsical whereabouts. Over the years it’s gotten so successful that it now features three Instagram accounts including @OverheardLA, @OverheardSanFrancisco and @OverheardNewyork

According to the project’s description, “Overheard is the insta-voice of our biggest cities; a unique media brand that satirizes millennial culture with engaging, localized content.” Its cult following can be traced to the project’s hip online store that sells anything from signature hoodies, office-friendly mugs and stickers to put on an apple you carry to work in a juice bar.

#4

Waitrose. Victoria

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Delta Dawn
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I got carded once buying WD40 in Oklahoma City. Who is drinking/snorting/huffing WD40 in Oklahoma City??? You’re ruining the hardware store for all of us.

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In a previous interview, Bored Panda spoke with the Overheard representatives who told us that the project has certainly grown over the last few years. Now, Overheard New York boasts a whopping 1.6M followers.

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The creators told us that while their home will always be Instagram, they have begun to expand to other verticals “such as text via the community app Clubhouse, where we host a biweekly comedy show and are exploring some really exciting product ventures.”

#7

Jfk

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Keerthi Vardhan
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

..and how would anyone know that.. we're all suspects with a hoodie hiding goods inside.

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#9

Kazu Nori. Midtown East

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loty moty
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hahaha. Lost my wallet on a street in the Bronx. Someone mailed it back to me minus all the cash.

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In order to understand the success of Overheard, we have to address the fact that at its heart, Overheard is all about connecting people through a shared location or experience. The creators explained that “whether that is living in NYC (@overheardnewyork), dating on Bumble (@overheardbumble), or talking about celebrities (@overheardcelebs), it’s our goal to make people laugh and provide moments of joy and self-reflection.”

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We can trace back the origins of the project way back to 2015 when its founder Jesse Margolis created Overheard LA and San Francisco on a whim after listening to one such conversation in LA at a health food store. Fast forward to today and it’s run by a team of seven creators. 

#13

Laguardia To Nashville

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NsG
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

You know, if you don't want them to come you could just... not invite them.

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#14

Crown Heights

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Roxy Eastland
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

It's a myth perpetuated by plot devices in films and TV that it isn't possible to sell houses that have had murders, suicides, hauntings, etc. In real life people are so desperate to buy them and make the most of it that often houses that were the site of horrific crimes are torn down.

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“We are fortunate to work with great brands like Bumble, Le Labo, Netflix, etc. Currently, we see ourselves as social-first local media, and plan to expand into podcasts, local events, products, and more video content,” the representatives told us earlier.

Part of what makes Overheard NY so appealing is that it essentially celebrates common things people find relatable. Such shared experiences can be anything from finance, dating, work, food, spirituality, local knowledge, and so on.

#16

D’agostino. Ues

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AspieGirl88
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Ugh. Poor girl can’t even do her shopping without having some random guy hitting on her! That’s so out of order. 😑🤦‍♀️

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#19

Bodega. Ues

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AspieGirl88
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1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Go to the guy on 72nd then! What’s the big issue? It’s literally $4 difference, either way! 🤣

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#20

Bushwick & Eldert

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ThatG
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I'm almost willing to bet that it was actually the Puerto Rican flag...

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#23

Verified CVS. Les.

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crazy_cat_notAlady
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

when pigeons have more rights than women in some states and countries.

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AspieGirl88
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If I’d overheard that, I would’ve exploded with laughter! 💀😂

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#24

Two Friends

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WordWeaver
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Try being a REAL FRIEND to her. See her a PERSON with thoughts, feelings, wants, fears and history. Then your relationship might have a basis for longevity.

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#26

Overheard

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flutterbyy
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

"I'm a work in progress" guy meets "I can change him" girl, they fall in love, and live happily ever after.

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#29

Penn Station. 🤌🗽
overheard By @tessangelikaa 📥
#atmosphericpressure #overheardnewyork

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Bored_Panda
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why are they bragging about living in a city that allegedly smells like urine?

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#31

Girl To Friend. Les

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General Anaesthesia
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Just my opinion but people who think like that are not worth dating in the first place.

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#32

13th And 3rd

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Roxy Eastland
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

If the therapist actually did say that they are terrible therapist. However it is possible that by asking the right questions they helped their client work out for themselves what they wanted, which turned out to be an end to their current relationship, and it the inevitability of it felt like being 'told' to do it.

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#34

Party. Williamsburg

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Roxy Eastland
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1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Dude, she's trying to tell you she's not interested without embarrassing you or risking being verbally (or more) attacked. Take the hint. Why do these men want to try and force uninterested women into dating them?

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#40

Pera. Thompson Hotel

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The Silly Stellar Jay
Community Member
1 year ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

The roach fight is so real! Although, I don't care where you live, 400 bucks for moisturizer is a scam.

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#47

** The Winner Of Our Latest Poll, Thank You To Everyone Who Voted. 🤝❤️
upper East Side. 🐥🐦🐤
overheard By @e_hecht77 📥
#childpsychology #overheardnewyork

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flutterbyy
Community Member
1 year ago (edited) DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

No, you're just delusional and imagining things, that never happened.

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#50

Domino Park. 🤫🤌
overheard By @briahardinboyer 📥
#manhattanburg #overheardnewyork

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Note: this post originally had 121 images. It’s been shortened to the top 50 images based on user votes.