Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques Podcast Por Matt Abrahams Think Fast Talk Smart capa

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

De: Matt Abrahams Think Fast Talk Smart
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Sobre este áudio

 One of the most essential ingredients to success in business and life is effective communication. Join Matt Abrahams, best-selling author and Strategic Communication lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, as he interviews experts to provide actionable insights that help you communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact. From handling impromptu questions to crafting compelling messages, Matt explores practical strategies for real-world communication challenges. Whether you’re navigating a high-stakes presentation, perfecting your email tone, or speaking off the cuff, Think Fast, Talk Smart equips you with the tools, techniques, and best practices to express yourself effectively in any situation. Enhance your communication skills to elevate your career and build stronger professional relationships. Tune in every Tuesday for new episodes. Subscribe now to unlock your potential as a thoughtful, impactful communicator. Learn more and sign up for our eNewsletter at fastersmarter.io.© Think Fast Talk Smart LLC Aprendizagem de Línguas Economia Sucesso na Carreira
Episódios
  • 224. Make Your Messages Epic: The Evolution of Words and the Stories They Carry

    224. Make Your Messages Epic: The Evolution of Words and the Stories They Carry
    Aug 21 2025

    Why modern communication still relies on ancient words and narratives.


    All communication and connection depend on one thing: language. That’s why Laura Spinney says understanding language — where it comes from and how it evolves over time — can help us use it more effectively.

    “Language is incredibly powerful,” says Spinney, an author and journalist published in the Atlantic, National Geographic, Nature, and New Scientist. As “humanity’s oldest tool,” language has evolved as we have, which Spinney explores in her latest book, Proto: How One Ancient Language Went Global. In addition to the words themselves, there are also the stories that humans have carried with them for millennia. “Some stories that we still tell today,” Spinney notes, have remained stable for tens of thousands of years — providing more than just entertainment — shaping how we understand the world, share knowledge, and build community.

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Spinney and host Matt Abrahams discuss why language and storytelling are fundamental to being human, what makes a story compelling, and how our ever-evolving language continues to be our best tool for communication and connection.


    To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.

    Episode Reference Links:

    • Laura Spinney
    • Laura’s Books: Proto / Pale Rider
    • Ep.168 How Story Can Change Everything in Your Career
    • Ep.91 Um, Like, So: How Filler Words Can Create More Connected, Effective Communication

    Connect:

    • Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
    • Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
    • Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
    • Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
    • Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
    • Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:24) - Power & Limits of Language
    • (02:55) - Detecting Lies
    • (04:46) - Origins of Storytelling
    • (07:42) - What Makes a Great Story
    • (10:31) - Proto-Indo-European Language
    • (12:52) - Language Families & Connections
    • (15:06) - Language Clues in History
    • (17:17) - The Final Three Questions
    • (21:56) - Conclusion

    *****
    Thank you to our sponsors:

    Stanford Continuing Studies. Enroll today for my course starting September 30th

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    Support Think Fast Talk Smart by joining TFTS Premium.

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    23 minutos
  • 223. Laughing Matters: Levity, Leadership, and Lasting Connection

    223. Laughing Matters: Levity, Leadership, and Lasting Connection
    Aug 19 2025
    By lightening up your communication, you can build serious connections.Humor in communication isn’t all fun and games. According to Alison Wood Brooks and Naomi Bagdonas, levity is one of the most serious tools we have in building successful connections.Wood Brooks and Bagdonas, both teachers, authors, and experts in the field of communication, recognize how crucial levity is to our professional and personal interactions. “It’s easy to think of [humor] as this extra bonus thing,” says Wood Brooks. “What we find is it’s incredibly core to how people are relating to each other.” Bagdonas agrees: “When there's the presence of laughter in team meetings, those teams are more successful and more creative. Leaders with a sense of humor—not even a good sense of humor—are seen as more motivating, more admired, [and] their teams report being more engaged.”In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Wood Brooks and Bagdonas join host Matt Abrahams to explore levity as a mindset, or as Bagdonas puts it, “Navigating life on the precipice of a smile.” Together, they share how lightness and humor can break barriers, bridge connections, and unlock the door to better communication.To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.Episode Reference Links:Alison Wood Brooks Alison’s Book: TalkNaomi Bagdonas Naomi’s Book: Humor, SeriouslyEp.13 Make ’Em Laugh: How to Use Humor as a Secret Weapon in Your CommunicationEp.73 Listen Up: Why It’s Better to Be Interested Than InterestingEp.89 Listen, Listen, Listen: How to Build Deep ConnectionsEp.169 Don't Be a ZQ: Make Your Conversations Count Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (03:15) - Talk Tour Insights (04:35) - Top Advice on Asking Questions (06:45) - Guiding Principles for Leaders (09:19) - Importance of Levity (11:19) - Why Humor Matters (13:08) - Letting Go of Comfort (16:26) - Overthinking Levity (18:32) - Creating Space for Levity (22:04) - Conclusion *****This Episode is sponsored by Stanford. Stay Informed on Stanford's world changing research by signing up for the Stanford ReportSupport Think Fast Talk Smart by joining TFTS Premium.
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    24 minutos
  • 222. Discussing Through Discomfort: Why the Conversations You Avoid Cost You the Most

    222. Discussing Through Discomfort: Why the Conversations You Avoid Cost You the Most
    Aug 12 2025

    Some conversations are uncomfortable, but avoiding them comes with a cost.


    You want a more successful career, a more fulfilling relationship, a more meaningful life? What if all that’s standing in your way — are the conversations that you’re avoiding?

    “Most things that we want in life are on the other side of a difficult conversation,” says Jenn Wynn, a professor at NYU Stern School of Business and previously the director of education at the Obama Foundation. For nearly 10 years, she has taught a course on difficult conversations that equips people to communicate through discomfort in pursuit of what they want. “Sometimes it's a difficult conversation with a loved one, a colleague, a boss… sometimes it's a difficult conversation with myself,” she says. “Are you going to give up on your biggest dreams because you weren't willing to step out of your comfort zone?”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Wynn and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to build the “hard but worth-it skills” necessary for difficult communication. Whether it's asking for a raise, setting boundaries, or addressing conflict, Wynn’s insights show that the conversations you’re avoiding aren’t just holding you back — they’re keeping you from the life you really want.

    To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.

    Episode Reference Links:

    • Jenn Wynn
    • The H.I. Note: Healing Inspirations from Life
    • Ep.22 Under Pressure: How to Communicate Clearly and Timely During a Crisis

    Connect:

    • Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
    • Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
    • Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
    • Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
    • Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
    • Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:19) - Understanding Difficult Conversations
    • (04:36) - Developing Emotional Intelligence
    • (05:36) - Self-Awareness, Pause, Reframe
    • (07:51) - Common Communication Barriers
    • (09:47) - Listening for Understanding
    • (12:24) - Using AI for Communication
    • (14:16) - Creating Psychological Safety
    • (16:52) - The Final Three Questions
    • (23:25) - Conclusion

    ********
    This Episode is brought to you by Strawberry.me. Get $50 off coaching today at Strawberry.me/smart
    Become a Faster Smarter Supporter by     joining TFTS Premium.
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    25 minutos
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