Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Think Fast Talk Smart is a podcast hosted by Matt Abrahams, a lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, that offers practical communication techniques for business and life. Each episode features interviews with experts who share actionable insights on handling impromptu questions, crafting compelling messages, and improving overall communication skills. The podcast aims to help listeners express themselves with clarity, confidence, and impact in various professional and personal situations.
Episodes
331. Matchmaker Mindset: How to Make Yourself Memorable in Any Conversation
“Boredom is just the enemy of conversation.” Small talk doesn’t have to be boring. For matchmaker and dating coach Rachel Greenwald, better conversations start with a little preparation and a willingness to move beyond predictable questions toward the stories that make people memorable. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Greenwald joins Matt Abrahams to share strategies for buildi
330. Quick Thinks: A CLEAR Way Through Conflict
“Conflicts in relationships might be unpleasant, but they aren’t inherently bad. In fact, they’re essential.”Conflict rarely gives us time to prepare. A sharp comment, unexpected criticism, or sudden disagreement can trigger strong emotions precisely when we need to communicate most clearly. But handled well, conflict can strengthen relationships, improve outcomes, and lead to better solu
329. Your Brand is Your Promise: The 4 C’s for Better Communication
“A brand is a promise, and a great brand is a promise well kept.”What does it take to build something people believe in? For Daniel Lubetzky, social entrepreneur and KIND Snacks founder, it starts with curiosity, compassion, creativity, and courage, along with a willingness to listen, learn, and stay true to what you stand for. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Lubetzky joins Mat
328. Ask Matt Anything: Don’t Let Your Communication Fizzle at the Finish
“How you end something often can be as important, if not more important, than how you start.”What’s the best way to wrap up a presentation? How do you stop yourself from repeating the same point? And what can you do when strong emotions start taking over? Matt Abrahams tackles these questions and more in this Ask Matt Anything episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, recorded with members of th
327. The Human Reset: Reclaiming Authenticity in the Age of AI
“Our imperfections reveal that we’re human.”As AI makes it easier to polish our words, how do we prove that our communication is actually our own? For Matt Abrahams, the answer isn’t to avoid AI, but to protect the distinctly human thinking, experiences, and imperfections that build trust. In a special episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Lorraine K. Lee takes over the host chair to intervi
326. Rethinks: The Secrets to Getting the Information You Need from AI
“Most teams leave the vast majority of their innovation potential on the table.”If you treat artificial intelligence like an oracle, you’ll likely be disappointed. But treat it like a teammate, and Jeremy Utley and Kian Gohar say you may be surprised by how useful a collaborator it can be. Utley, an adjunct professor at the Stanford d.school, and Gohar, a bestselling author and futurist,
325. Message Market Fit: Turning Great Ideas Into Communication That Lands
“No one cares about us, our company, our products. We have to make them care, and for that, we need the right words.”Great work doesn’t always speak for itself. For communication strategist and author of Message Machine: How Communications Will Make You An Unstoppable Founder, Oliver Aust, getting your ideas noticed requires “message-market fit,” finding the right words and stories to mak
324. Rethinks: Defining Where We Want AI To Take Us
“If you're worried that a ChatGPT type tool can replace you, you need to [ask]: Why am I communicating? What am I trying to say? Am I being authentic?”Artificial intelligence can now do a lot of things. But if you’re worried about it taking your place as a communicator, Russ Altman says you need to question why you’re communicating in the first place. A Stanford professor of bioengineerin
323. Turn Up the Heat: Make Conflict More Constructive
“I’m not saying necessarily fight more, I’m saying fight better.”Conflict doesn’t have to mean avoidance or escalation. Priya Parker, expert facilitator, strategic advisor and author of The Art of Fighting: The Transformative Power of Conflict, argues there’s a third option: “healthy heat,” where disagreement is handled with enough care, curiosity, and even humor to become productive rath
322. Talk Back: Why Arguing With Yourself Can Help You Flourish
“What you think is not gospel.”Can arguing with yourself make you happier? Martin Seligman, positive psychology pioneer and author of Agency: The Psychological History of Human Progress, says our negative thoughts don’t have to dictate how we feel. By recognizing our internal narratives and challenging them with evidence, we can change our outlook and build a greater sense of agency. In t
321. The Respect Effect: What Stereotype Threat Teaches Us About Communication
“Everybody you interact with needs that signal of respect.”Feeling seen and respected can shape how we communicate and connect with others. For Stanford social psychologist and author of Churn: The Tension That Divides Us and How to Overcome, Claude Steele, understanding stereotype threat and “churn,” the tension that arises when we worry about being judged based on our identity, can help
320. Quick Thinks: How to Prepare, Stand Out, and Ace Your Interview
“The ability to handle yourself in interviews and other high-pressure situations can make the difference in getting the job and achieving your goals.”A successful interview is more than answering questions well. It’s an opportunity to communicate what sets you apart and demonstrate the value you can bring. Preparation, structure, and storytelling can help you do that with confidence. In t
319. Open the Portal: The Simple Science Behind Impactful Storytelling
“Causality is this foundation that really allows us to anchor what we’re trying to do when we’re telling stories.”Storytelling doesn’t require a dramatic narrative. For behavioral scientist and former Disney Imagineer Troy Campbell, even everyday information can become a story when we explain the “because” behind it, connecting what happened to why it matters. In this episode of Think Fas
318. Quick Thinks: Network Smarter and Make Better Connections
“We are now competing in conversation with someone’s feed.”Connecting with others requires more than knowing what to say. The signals we send through our body language, the questions we ask, and even where we position ourselves can shape how others experience a conversation. In this Quick Thinks episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, behavioral researcher and author of Cues and Captivate, Van
317. Plot Twist: The Second Story Hiding Inside Every Great Pitch
“We’re all salespeople at the end of the day.”Whether you’re pitching a movie, an idea, or yourself, persuasion is about more than the story you’re telling—it’s also about the story your audience sees for themselves. For Deadpool and Zombieland screenwriter Rhett Reese, that means keeping communication concise, compelling, and centered on what your audience needs. In this episode of Think
316. The Persuasion Equation: Grab Attention & Make Your Message Meaningful
“The tools of communication have changed, the human brain has not.” In a world of endless content and shrinking attention spans, getting your message heard means giving people a reason to care. For Carmine Gallo, a communication coach, author of Viral Voices, and CEO of Gallo Communications, that starts with understanding what captures the brain’s attention: emotion, relevance, and a comp
315. Quietly Powerful: How Introverts Can Communicate With Confidence & Impact
“Over time, what works is truly showing up in a way where you actually care, you're actually trying to give value.” In a culture that rewards boldness and visibility, quieter voices can be easy to overlook. But Susan Cain, a former Wall Street lawyer, negotiation consultant, and bestselling author of Quiet and Bittersweet, argues that introverts bring powerful strengths to communication a
314. Rethinks: Turn Tension Into Trust
"The first negotiation is actually a negotiation I have with myself about my own story."Before you can have hard conversations with others, you need to have an honest conversation with yourself. That's the counterintuitive advice from Sheila Heen, a Harvard Law School lecturer and co-author of Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most, who says our own internal narratives
313. Hold the Headline: How Curiosity Cuts Through Complexity
"The dumbest thing you can be is a know-it-all."Curiosity isn't about having all the answers—it's about asking better questions. Journalist and podcast host Nayeema Raza believes the strongest communicators balance confidence with openness, using curiosity to better understand people, ideas, and the world around them. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Raza joins Matt Abrahams to
312. Quick Thinks: Speak with Confidence, Clarity, and Power
"You want to make sure you have the energy at the end of your communication as well as at the beginning." Why do some people command a room without raising their voice? Being heard isn't about speaking louder—it's about using your voice with intention. Breath, posture, and preparation all play a role in helping your message reach the people who need to hear it. In this Quick Thinks episod
311. Don't Lose the Room: How to Make Ideas Stick
"Know your stuff, practice, and then just do it and be there."How do you explain complex ideas without losing your audience? The challenge isn't knowing more—it's helping others understand. For Marketplace host Kai Ryssdal, great communication comes from making difficult topics accessible while holding people's attention. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Ryssdal joins Matt Abrah
310. A Matter of Meaning: What Other People Teach You About Your Communication
"Meaning is about being mindful of the effect you have on other people."What makes a life meaningful? We often think purpose and meaning are the same thing, but according to Stanford professor Brian Lowery, they're fundamentally different. Purpose is what drives us. Meaning comes from the impact we have on others. In this live episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart from Stanford’s LEAD Me2We e
309. Stretch, Don't Stress: How Great Communication Makes Better Leaders
"When there's a gap between our intention and our impact, we diminish others and our communication."The best leaders don't succeed because they have all the answers—they succeed because they bring out the best thinking in others. Liz Wiseman, executive advisor, CEO of the Wiseman Group, and author of the million-copy bestseller Multipliers: How the Best Leaders Make Everyone Smarter, has
308. Ask Matt Anything: From Nerves to Know-How in High-Stakes Moments
“Managing emotions—yours and your audience's—is hard enough, but it's even harder when you're under pressure to respond."High-pressure communication doesn't have to derail your message. In this Think Fast, Talk Smart Ask Matt Anything episode, Matt Abrahams answers real-world questions from members of the Think Fast, Talk Smart Learning Community, sharing practical advice for communicatin
307. Accent-uate, Don't Compensate: Why Clarity Matters More Than Perfection
"It's not an accent, it's an identity."The way we speak shapes more than how we're understood—it shapes how we're perceived. Peter Novak believes the goal of communication isn't to eliminate an accent, but to communicate with greater clarity, confidence, and authenticity. As a linguist, communication coach, and expert in accent bias, Novak helps multilingual professionals communicate more
306. Trust the Process: How to Design Teams That Actually Work
"The assumption of swift trust is really useful."Teams don't always need years to build trust—they need the right conditions to build it quickly. As a Stanford professor and expert in organizational design, Melissa Valentine studies how communication, team structure, and emerging technologies help people collaborate more effectively. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Valentine jo
305. The Humor Habit: Why Great Communicators Think Like Comedians
"People aren't inside of our heads, so you have to give them that emotional information as well as the factual information."Humor is more than entertainment—it's a powerful way to create connection. As a comedian, writer, and former teacher, Chris Duffy has learned that laughter, curiosity, and emotion can transform even ordinary conversations into memorable experiences. In this episode o
304. Rethinks: Craft Compelling Communication
"If all you're trying to do is inform, you're not going to pull it off. You have to entertain your audience."Great presentations don't just share information—they create connection. As Apple's former Chief Evangelist and Canva's co-founder, Guy Kawasaki has spent decades helping people communicate ideas that inspire action. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Kawasaki joins Matt Ab
303. On Point, On Brand: Why Honest Communication Always Lands
"You want to own the message and your narrative."Strong communication is about more than delivering a message—it’s about building trust over time. As Zoom’s Chief Marketing Officer, Kim Storin has helped shape communication at one of the world’s most recognizable brands, balancing empathy, transparency, and consistency in an era of rapid technological change. In this episode of Think Fast
302. Master This: How to Learn Like the Experts Do
"If these masters are still continually trying to improve their own craft, I don't have any excuses."The world's best don't reach the top and stop learning—they keep refining their craft. David Rogier, founder and CEO of MasterClass, has spent years sitting across from elite performers, athletes, artists, and entrepreneurs—and he’s discovered that excellence is less about talent than a re
301. Trust at First Sight: Create More Meaningful Connections
“Communication is the number one way to remove friction.”If communication is the key to connection, then removing friction is what makes every interaction work. According to Vanessa Van Edwards, the most effective communicators aren’t just skilled with words—they know how to align their gestures, body language, and presence to make others feel at ease. A behavioral researcher and bestsell
300. Matt’s Answers for Better Speaking and Leadership
Celebrating 300 episodes with listener questions from around the world. In this special 300th episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, host Matt Abrahams celebrates a major milestone with a live Ask Matt Anything session featuring questions from listeners around the world—and a few from the team behind the show. He introduces a new communication framework, PREP (Point, Reason, Example, Point),
299. Choose The Right Channel: How Stanford Finds Its Voice
How to communicate with impact when the stakes are high.Communication isn't about getting information out. It's about making sure it gets through. In an era of fragmented attention and endless platforms, the challenge isn't finding ways to speak—it's finding ways to connect.According to Farnaz Khadem, Vice President of University Communications at Stanford, great communicators start with
298. Quick Thinks: How to Look Confident, Composed, and Credible
The nonverbal habits that make you look confident, composed, and authentic before you even speak.How you carry yourself can shape how others perceive your confidence, credibility, and authenticity—often before you say a word. In this Quick Thinks episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Matt Abrahams shares practical, research-backed techniques for strengthening your presence through body langu
297. Agency Over Anxiety: Communicating in Uncertain Times
Why the most effective communicators help people see not just what's changing, but why it matters to them.For Sinéad Bovell, effective communication isn’t just about explaining what’s coming next—it’s about giving people the confidence and agency to engage with it.Bovell is a futurist, founder of the tech education company WAYE, and an expert advisor to the United Nations AI Advisory Body
296. AMA: Speaking Out, Staying Grounded, and Managing Up
Practical communication strategies you can use immediately at work and beyond.How do you speak up when a conversation is moving faster than you can think? What should you do when emotions threaten to derail your listening? And how can you give honest feedback to a boss who doesn’t seem interested in hearing it?In this Ask Matt Anything episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, host Matt Abrahams
295. Culture Club: Communicating Values That Scale
Why the best leaders treat uncertainty as a chance to learn, not a failure to avoid.Most companies are built to grow. Far fewer are built to stay true to their purpose as they do.Eric Ries is an entrepreneur, creator of the Lean Startup movement, and author of Incorruptible: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great. For Ries, innovation starts with a simple reality: no
294. Ask & You Shall Receive: Questions For Better Negotiations
Do you really win the negotiation if it means losing the relationship?You might think that successful negotiation means getting what you want here and now. But Stan Christensen says this short-sighted view is selling many negotiators short.Christensen is a professional negotiator, host of the All Things Negotiation podcast, and instructor of one of Stanford's most popular courses on the s
293. 5 Leadership Lessons From Stanford: Me2We 2026
What it takes to lead as a communicator and communicate as a leader.Leadership isn’t just about making decisions — it’s about how you communicate them. As Matt Abrahams puts it, “Communication is operationalized leadership.”At a recent Me2We event, in connection with Stanford GSB's Executive Education LEAD program, Abrahams held a live discussion with four of the podcast’s most popular gu
292. Headspace Habits: Lessons for Calm, Confident Communication
The hidden habits behind calm, confident communicators.What does it really take to become a more confident communicator? In this special collaboration between Think Fast, Talk Smart and Headspace, host Matt Abrahams shares practical, mindful strategies for speaking with clarity, managing anxiety, listening more deeply, and connecting more authentically with others.Across five short lesson
291. Hello, Stranger: Why Curiosity Beats Charisma Every Time
What keeps us from being more social? Nick Epley calls it a “mind-reading mistake.”We all think about what others think, particularly what they think about us. The problem, says Nick Epley, is that we’re almost always wrong.Epley is a professor of behavioral science at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and author of A Little More Social: How Small Choices Create Unexpecte
290. Quick Thinks: How to Have Better Conversations About Aging
How can we approach aging with more joy, empathy, and meaningful connection?We often talk about lifespan, or how long we live, but Kerry Burnight believes the more important question is how fully we live along the way.Burnight is a gerontologist, former professor of geriatric medicine, and author of Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life's Second Half. Drawing from decades of ex
289. Better with Age: Why Joy Matters More Than Longevity
A full life isn’t about the quantity of time, but the quality.Our lifespan might describe how long we live, but it doesn’t say anything about how well we live. For that, Kerry Burnight says, we need a different measure: joyspan.Burnight is a gerontologist, former professor of geriatric medicine, and author of Joyspan: The Art and Science of Thriving in Life's Second Half. In her decades w
288. Turn Your Audience into Co-Creators: Lessons from the Tiger Sisters
The Tiger Sisters share the keys to collaborative communication.Good marketing communication doesn’t just go one way. As the Tiger Sisters know, building a brand is about bringing your audience into the conversation.Cherie and Jean Luo are sisters, tech and finance experts, and co-hosts of the Tiger Sisters Podcast, a show about money, power, and love. Their approach to content creation m
287. Give It a Rest to Do Your Best: The Sleep Habits That Catalyze Your Communication
If you want to do your best, you’d better get your rest.The quality of your sleep fundamentally affects the quality of your communication. Communicating well, Dr. Cheri Mah says, starts with being well-rested.“Sleep impacts nearly every aspect of how you function,” says Mah, a sleep physician, adjunct lecturer at Stanford Sleep Medicine Center, and internationally recognized expert on sle
286. Driven to Succeed: Turn Doubt Into Your Competitive Advantage
Confidence, clarity, and speaking when it matters.Confident communication isn’t about being the loudest in the room. For Susie Wolff, it’s about displaying assurance before you even open your mouth.Wolff is a former professional race car driver, managing director of F1 Academy, and author of Driven. Throughout her career in one of the world's most male-dominated industries, she’s learned
285. Think Inside the Box: How Constraints Spark Creativity and Communication
The secret to better communication isn’t adding more—it’s knowing what to leave out.Communication isn’t clearer when you say more — it’s clearer when you say less. As David Epstein puts it, we’re wired to keep adding, even when “the better solution is often what you take away.” The challenge isn’t having ideas; it’s choosing which one actually matters.Epstein is an author and investigativ
How To Speak Up — When You Don’t Want To | From TED Business
What stops you from speaking up when it matters most?This week on Think Fast Talk Smart, we’re featuring a special episode from TED Business. Healthcare leader Sarah Crawford-Bohl offers a practical, compassionate framework to have difficult conversations with clarity and heart — and shows how it can lead to stronger teams and real impact.TED Business is a podcast from TED that offers you
284. Hear Me Out: How Understanding Accents—Ours & Others—Improves Communication
Understanding the accent you didn’t know you had.Whether communicating in our mother tongue or practicing a new language, we all speak with an accent. But that’s not all, says Valerie Fridland — we hear with an accent as well.Fridland is a professor of sociolinguistics at the University of Nevada, Reno, and author of Why We Talk Funny: The Real Story Behind Our Accents. According to her,
283. Ask Matt Anything: Authenticity, Anxiety, and Answering Well
Simple strategies to think faster, stay authentic, and communicate with confidence. How do you stay genuine without sounding rehearsed? What helps when your thoughts are moving faster than your words? And how can you handle high-pressure moments with more ease?Strong communication isn’t about having the right lines ready—it’s about being present enough to respond with clarity. In the mome
282. The Language of Luck: Why Fortune Favors Those Who Pay Attention
If you can make conversation, you can make your own luck.Good communication isn’t passive. And good luck, says Tina Seelig, is the same. There’s “what the world gives us,” and then there’s “how we respond to it.”Seelig is executive director of the Knight-Hennessy Scholars Program at Stanford University and author of What I Wish I Knew About Luck. For her, good fortune doesn’t find us, we
281. Be Clear, Be Concise, Be Remembered: Masters of Scale
Great communication isn’t about saying more—it’s about making what you say matter.If we want to communicate more effectively, we need to treat communication less like a habit—and more like a series of intentional choices. In this special feed drop, we’re featuring a conversation from the Masters of Scale podcast, where host Jeff Berman sits down with Stanford lecturer and Think Fast,
280. Stay Relevant: Future Proof Your Career in an AI World
Work is changing, not ending—what it takes to stay relevant in an AI-driven world.Careers aren’t ladders anymore — they’re climbing walls. As Aneesh Raman puts it, “work is changing, not ending,” and success today depends on how well you can navigate change and explain your path along the way.Raman is the Chief Economic Opportunity Officer at LinkedIn and a former presidential speechwrite
279. Rethinks: How to Leverage What People Already Want
How to turn latent motivation into fuel for change.If you want to be a changemaker, you’ll have to convince others to join your cause. But according to Dan Heath, persuading your audience isn’t about creating new motivation — it’s about leveraging the motivation that’s already there.“The most important fuel for any change effort is motivation,” says Heath, the number-one New York Times be
278. How Do You Mean? It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It
Whatever your message, the manner in which you deliver it is just as important.You found the right words. You picked the right time to say them. You even tailored them to your audience. Why did your message fall flat? “It's your tone,” says Jefferson Fisher.Fisher is a trial attorney, New York Times bestselling author, podcast host, and one of the most-followed experts in communication to
277. How Small Choices Shape Better Communication
Real change isn’t about knowing what to do — it’s about actually doing it, one small choice at a time.Change doesn’t come from one big breakthrough. It comes from the small choices we make over and over — often in moments we barely notice.Eric Zimmer, behavior coach, host of The One You Feed podcast, and author of How A Little Becomes A Lot, says the real challenge isn’t figuring out what
276. Dead End Goals: Are Your Ambitions Actually Leading You Toward Meaning?
The goals we set often lead us away from the meaning we ultimately seek.Meaning in life isn’t a concrete point we can route toward. That’s why we need what Arthur Brooks calls “proxy goals” — and much better ones than we typically choose.Brooks, a professor at Harvard Business School and author of The Meaning of Your Life: Finding Purpose in an Age of Emptiness, says that meaning can't be
275. Cracking the Code: Learn The Unspoken Rules of Workplace Success
Why mastering unspoken workplace communication is essential to long-term career success.Succeeding at work doesn’t just depend on how hard you work or how smart you are. According to Erin McGoff, it often comes down to whether you understand the “secret language” everyone else seems to be speaking.McGoff is a career creator, Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, and author of The Secret Language of
274. Choose Connection Over Perfection: Why Happiness Starts with Better Communication
How to communicate for deeper connection—and greater happiness.Happiness isn’t just a feeling—it’s something you can actively shape through how you think, connect, and communicate.Sonja Lyubomirsky, a distinguished professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside and co-author of How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most, defines happine
273. Quick Thinks: How to Create Messages People Remember
Memorable communication isn’t about saying more—it’s making the right idea stick. No matter how compelling a presentation feels in the moment, most of what you say won’t last in your audience’s memory. The key isn’t trying to make people remember everything — it’s ensuring they remember what matters most.Carmen Simon is a cognitive neuroscientist, author, and expert on how the brain pays
272. Say What Sticks: The Neuroscience of Memorable Communication
People are forgetful. Here’s how to make your messages more memorable.After any presentation, your audience will forget about 90% of what you said. That’s okay, says Carmen Simon — just make sure they remember the right 10%.Simon is a cognitive neuroscientist, speaker, author, and expert on how the brain processes and retains information. Her research reveals a humbling truth: “We forget
271. Rethinks: The Key to Lasting Behavior Change
The secret to building habits that stick.Whether you want to read more books or exercise more regularly, BJ Fogg has good news. “Habits are easier to form than most people think,” he says, “If you do it in the right way.”As the founder and director of Stanford's Behavior Design Lab, Fogg has devoted much of his career to researching human psychology, motivation, and behavior. According to
270. Make Belief: The Mindset Shifts That Make Your Communication Stronger
Why beliefs can either cap our potential or push us toward possibility.What you believe about yourself could be holding you back. Fortunately, Nir Eyal says beliefs aren’t truths — and you can choose new ones.Eyal is a former lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Stanford d.school, a celebrated author, and a renowned expert on human behavior and potential. His latest bo
269. Ask Matt Anything: Bring Clarity to Complicated Conversations
Practical insights to help you communicate with more intention in everyday moments.What’s the difference between reacting and responding? How do you move from memorizing your words to truly conversing in the moment? And how do you keep growing as a communicator in everyday moments?Communication isn’t about having the perfect script. It’s about staying present enough to respond with intent
268. Going Viral: How To Balance Authenticity and Spectacle
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 no
267. Rethinks: Why Authenticity Leads to Better Communication
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 stre
266. Your Brain Has Too Many Tabs Open: Managing the Voice in Your Head
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 s
265. Complexity to Connection: Humanizing High-Stakes Communication
How to turn complexity into connection through clear communication.Communication in high-stakes moments isn’t about saying more — it’s about connecting better. For Jonathan Berek and Phil Polakoff, the most effective communicators don’t rely on jargon or performance. They rely on empathy, listening, and stories that resonate.Both longtime Stanford Medicine leaders, Berek and Polakoff have
264. Show Your Receipts: Communicating in a Post-Truth World
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 de
263. Smart Isn’t the Same as Clear: How to Sharpen Your Ideas
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 cleve
262. Own the Room: How Voice, Breath, and Body Work Together
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
261. Meetings With a Point: How to Design For Better Decisions
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
260. From Role To Soul: The Four Ingredients For Mastering Meaning
Why your best life isn’t about having the right answers, but about asking the right questions.Finding meaning and purpose in life isn’t about having all the answers. For Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, it’s about having the courage and curiosity to constantly engage with the questions.As designers, Burnett and Evans have careers spanning everything from academia to companies like Apple, Elec
259. Quick Thinks: Task-Focused to People-Focused—A Smarter Way to Communicate
How “spaciousness” helps teams move beyond busywork — and build the conditions for honest conversation.“We’re just so busy right now” is one of the most common reasons cultures don’t change — and it’s exactly what Megan Reitz set out to understand. In her research, she describes two modes of attention at work: doing mode, where focus narrows to tasks, control, and quick progress, and spac
258. When Power Talks, People Walk: Why Leaders Don’t Hear What Matters Most
Why it’s critical to say what needs to be said — and listen when others do the same.Speak out, listen up — these are Megan Reitz’s core pillars of workplace communication. According to her, healthy organizations are only possible when everyone can say what they think, and they know they’ll be heard.Reitz is an academic and author whose work focuses on creating workplaces where all voices
257. Move Your Audience: Lessons From MLK You Should Use
Why it’s not about being born a great communicator, but becoming one.The greatest communicators aren’t always great from the start. As Lerone Martin knows, even the great Martin Luther King Jr. had to practice before he could persuade.Martin is the Martin Luther King Jr. Centennial Professor at Stanford, and as director of the King Research and Education Institute, he has spent years stud
256. Be Kind: The Most Overlooked Driver of Success
Why being kind is the best investment.Can kindness be a company’s competitive advantage? Bonnie Hayden Cheng says yes — and she’s got a business metric to prove it: return on kindness.Cheng is a professor of management at City University of Hong Kong who researches how workplace behaviors affect interpersonal dynamics and well-being. In her book, The Return on Kindness, she explores how o
255. How Leaders Sound Smart Without Saying Too Much
The keys to communicating clarity, not confusion.What separates communicators who clarify from those who confuse? The ability to “Simplify complexity,” says Adam Bryant. “I don't think you can be an effective leader if you can't do that.”Bryant is a senior managing director at the ExCo Group and former New York Times journalist who interviewed over 500 CEOs for his renowned Corner Office
254. Start Fresh: How Framing, Timing, and Talk Can Improve Your Finances
How to have more open conversations about money.Talking about money is taboo for many people. But according to Wendy De La Rosa, financial well-being only starts when we break the silence around finance.De La Rosa is a professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a co-founder of the Common Cents Lab, an initiative aiming to increase financial well-being for low- to
253. Top 10: The Best Communication Tips from 2025
Our 10 favorite communication insights from 2025.The most transformative communication insights are the ones we actually remember to use. That’s why host Matt Abrahams is taking stock of his favorite communication tips from this year, so we can carry them into the next.In this annual Think Fast, Talk Smart tradition, Abrahams shares his top 10 communication insights from guests over the p
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