How to communicate who you are online.

You may not think of yourself as a content creator, but in the creator economy, Angèle Christin says we all have to learn how to communicate who we are online.

Christin is an associate professor of communications at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI. According to her, “we are all content creators now.” We may not all be influencers or podcast hosts, but “We are all putting content out there and creating a public persona,” says Christin. In the digital age, “that plays an increasingly important role in hiring, promotions, and of course, getting laid off.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Christin and host Matt Abrahams explore how to navigate the creator economy — whether as a full-time influencer or a professional managing your online presence. From building on your area of expertise to understanding the trade-offs between short-term hype and long-term trust, Christin explains what it takes to show up online without losing yourself in the algorithm.

Episode Reference Links:

• Angèle Christin
• Ep.225 Speaking Fluent Internet: How Algorithms Are Changing the Way We Speak

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• Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
• Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
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• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (02:21) - Why Metrics Reward Drama
• (05:48) - Building A Professional Online Presence
• (10:05) - What Makes A Good Story?
• (13:54) - The Reality Of Creator Work
• (18:23) - The Final Three Question
• (21:33) - Conclusion

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Why being true to yourself enables you to show up better for others.

From the way you communicate, to the way you build your life and career, Graham Weaver, MBA ’99, says it’s about “giving yourself permission to fully be yourself. You can never go wrong when you’re saying your truth.”

Weaver is a lecturer in management, a GSB alum, and the founder and a partner of Alpine Investors. He stresses the importance of direct communication, highlighting how avoiding it can lead to wasted time, energy, and even financial losses. Reflecting on his own experiences in private equity, Weaver admits to struggling with being conflict-averse and not speaking his truth directly, which resulted in getting into bad deals and big losses for his company. “People think that by being indirect, they’re being kind, but all they're doing is creating confusion,” he says. “Clarity is compassionate. Even if it's not what they want to hear, the more direct and clear you can be, the more compassionate that is for the other person.”

In this Rethinks episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Weaver and host Matt Abrahams explore how being true to oneself not only fosters personal fulfillment but also enables us to show up better for others. Authenticity and self-belief lay the foundation for effective communication, leadership, and ultimately, success.

Episode Reference Links:

• Graham Weaver

Connect:

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• Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
• Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
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• Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn

Chapters:

• (00:00) - Introduction
• (04:25) - Direct Communication & Limiting Beliefs
• (07:35) - The Internal Game
• (08:40) - An Asymmetrical Life
• (13:52) - Taylor Swift & Grit
• (16:46) - Pursuing Enlightenment
• (21:00) - The Final Three Questions
• (27:57) - Conclusion

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This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

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How to turn down the chatter of negative self-talk.

If you want to have better conversations with others, Ethan Kross says you first have to quiet down the chatter in your own head.

A professor, researcher, and author, Kross defines chatter as a “negative thought loop” that hijacks our attention and undermines our ability to perform. “We have a limited capacity to focus our attention,” he says. “Attentional resources are a limited commodity, and chatter acts like a sponge that consumes that capacity. It leaves very little leftover that allows us to do the things that we want or need to do.”

In his work researching, teaching, and writing about emotional regulation and the conscious mind, Kross has explored how to manage the negative self-talk that sabotages our concentration. “Here's the good news,” he says. “You can get out of it. Managing your chatter [is] a lot like becoming physically fit” — and he’s developed tools and frameworks for building the muscles to turn down the noise.

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Kross joins host Matt Abrahams to share methods for quieting chatter and reclaiming precious mental resources. From distanced self-talk to mental time travel, his tools offer a way to tune out the static and tune into clarity and connection.

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

Episode Reference Links:

• Ethan Kross
• Ethan’s Books: Chatter / Shift
• Ep.179 Finding Positive in Negative Emotions: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing

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
• (02:27) - Defining Chatter
• (04:57) - Breaking the Loop
• (09:54) - Technology & Emotional Sharing
• (13:20) - Why “Get Over It” Fails
• (18:40) - Emotions as Data
• (21:11) - The Final Three Questions
• (25:01) - Conclusion

********
Thank you to our sponsors. These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.

Why curiosity is the best way to start a conversation.

No matter how wide political, cultural, and generational divides seem to grow, Fareed Zakaria is convinced: communication has the power to connect.

Zakaria is the host of CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS, a Washington Post columnist, and author of Age of Revolutions, a book about the seismic societal shifts that define modern history. In his decades of translating complex geopolitical issues for broad audiences, he’s found the key to navigating change and conflict. “The most important thing is being genuinely curious,” he says, “genuinely believing that everybody has a story to tell. Everybody has something to teach you. Everybody has a lesson you can learn.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Zakaria and host Matt Abrahams explore how curiosity opens the door to conversation. Whether we’re communicating across ideological divides or bridging gaps between our past, present, and future, Zakaria shows why maintaining connection starts with a willingness to learn.

Episode Reference Links:

• Fareed Zakaria
• Fareed’s Book: Age of Revolutions
• Ep.161 Do Your Homework: Know What to Say by Knowing Who You're Talking To

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
• (00:51) - The “Age of Revolutions”
• (02:57) - Do Facts Still Matter?
• (04:28) - How To Persuade
• (06:32) - On-Camera Communication
• (09:00) - Making Radical Ideas Mainstream
• (10:29) - When To Change Your Mind
• (11:56) - Helping Adolescents Communicate
• (16:25) - The Final Three Questions
• (20:12) - Conclusion

Why clarity and authenticity matter more than ever in modern communication.

Clear communication in the age of likes, LLMs, and constant noise isn’t about talking more. For Nick Thompson, it’s about being unmistakably clear and unmistakably yourself.

Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and former editor-in-chief of Wired, has spent his career shaping stories that hold attention. “Clear beats clever,” he says, stressing that authenticity and specificity are what make messages land. “If you can get across what you're really trying to say— if you can say it honestly, specifically, and ideally briefly—that's good. And if you can say it in a way that feels like you, that's great.”

Beyond journalism, Thompson is an elite marathon runner, ranking among the top competitive runners in the world, an identity that, for him, isn’t separate from writing or leadership but deeply connected to it. “[Running] has taught me all kinds of habits of mind and discipline and pacing,” he says, “There are all kinds of lessons from the sport that apply to my business life.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Thompson joins host Matt Abrahams to share how great communicators craft “sticky” ideas without chasing soundbites. From practical editorial tests to the importance of editing, structure, and authenticity, Thompson offers a roadmap for communication that doesn’t just get noticed but lasts.

Episode Reference Links:

• Nick Thompson
• Nick’s Book: The Running Ground
• Ep.183 Rethinks: How Anxiety Can Fuel Better 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
• (02:28) - Good Communication in the Modern Day
• (03:10) - Finding Your Authentic Voice
• (04:17) - The Power of Editing
• (06:01) - Reading Your Writing Out Loud
• (07:54) - How to Create “Sticky” Content
• (09:16) - AI’s Role in Journalism & Communication
• (11:19) - Using AI in Daily Life
• (12:03) - Running As Meditation
• (14:32) - What Running Teaches About Simplicity
• (16:07) - The Final Three Questions
• (20:25) - Conclusion

How to tap the full power of your voice.

Being present in communication isn’t just mental. It’s about the physical energy you bring into a space — particularly, says Patsy Rodenburg, the presence of your voice.

“The physical presence of the human being is the most important thing we have,” says Rodenburg. As a world-renowned expert in voice, speech, and presentation, she has helped everyone from stage actors to prime ministers hone their speaking and awaken the power and presence of their voice. “The vast majority of people are born with amazing voices, and somewhere along the line, they lose them. My job is to return people to their full power in their body, in their breath, in their voice, in their ability to speak in an exciting way.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Rodenburg joins host Matt Abrahams to discuss embodied communication. From breathing techniques and managing tension to intentionally inhabiting space, Rodenburg’s insights reveal how to communicate with greater power, presence, and the potency of your voice.

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

Episode Reference Links:

• Patsy Rodenburg
• Patsy’s Books: Presence / Power Presentation
• Ep.137 When Words Aren't Enough: How to Excel at Nonverbal 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
• (01:05) - Foundational Voice Principles
• (04:07) - Activating Breath Through The Body
• (06:28) - Why Most Voices Just Need Use
• (09:58) - Defining Presence
• (14:11) - Using Space To Communicate
• (17:33) - The Final Three Questions
• (20:50) - Conclusion

How to design meetings with purpose so they actually move work forward.

Meetings are a necessary part of work. But for many people, they’re also a major source of frustration. According to Rebecca Hinds, meetings don’t have to feel like a drain—better meetings start when we stop treating them as a default and start designing them with intention.

Hinds is the author of Your Best Meeting Ever: Seven Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done, and a future-of-work expert who founded the Work Innovation Lab at Asana and the Work AI Institute at Glean. She argues that the problem isn’t meetings themselves, but the sheer number of poorly designed ones, and by being more thoughtful about what actually deserves synchronous time, teams can redesign how they communicate in the workplace “Meetings are the most important product in our entire organization, and yet they’re also the least optimized,” she says. “The first step is recognizing we need to be much more intentional about how we're designing meetings.”

In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Hinds and host Matt Abrahams discuss why meetings so often go wrong—and what it takes to make them work. Whether you’re leading a team, trying to protect focus time, or simply hoping to spend less of your week in calendar invites, Hinds offers practical frameworks for designing meetings with purpose so they become a tool people actually value.

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

Episode Reference Links:

• Rebecca Hinds
• Rebecca’s Book: Your Best Meeting Ever
• Ep.124 Making Meetings Meaningful Pt. 1: How to Structure and Organize More Effective Gatherings
• Ep.125 Making Meetings Meaningful Pt. 2: Key Ingredients for Effective Meetings

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
• (00:43) - Why Meetings Feel Broken
• (01:58) - The Default-To-Meeting Problem
• (02:51) - Treat Meetings Like A Product
• (04:11) - Meeting Doomsday Reset
• (05:41) - The 4-DCEO Test
• (07:44) - Designing Better Meetings
• (09:06) - Creating a Meeting Agenda
• (11:59) - Context And Meeting Fatigue
• (13:07) - Memo-First Meetings
• (15:12) - The Final Three Questions
• (18:55) - Conclusion