Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

“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 bioengineering and host of Stanford Engineering’s podcast, The Future of Everything, Altman sees advancing technology not as a threat to human creativity and connection, but as a tool for raising our standards for communication. In this Rethinks episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Altman and Matt Abrahams discuss how effective communication can help us articulate ideas, strengthen connections, and navigate toward the future we want.

Takeaways:

• AI works best as an amplifier, not a replacement. Using AI to test, refine, and adapt your ideas can make communication clearer while keeping your purpose, judgment, and authentic message at the center.
• Make complexity easier to understand, not less meaningful. Stories, analogies, and audience-aware language can translate difficult ideas without dumbing them down.

Activity:

• Treat questions as gifts. The next time someone questions your idea, resist the urge to defend it. Instead, thank them and ask one follow-up question to better understand their perspective before responding.

Episode Reference Links:

• Russ Altman
• Russ’s Podcast: The Future of Everything
• Ep.157 Communicating the Future: Defining Where We Want AI to Take Us

Connect:

• Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
• Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
• 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

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

Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart

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

“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 rather than destructive. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Parker joins Matt Abrahams to rethink how we approach disagreement. She explains why practicing low-stakes conflict can prepare us for harder conversations, how teams can build better systems for working through tension, and why the goal isn’t to fight more, but to fight better.

Takeaways:

• Conflict can be productive when you learn to hold the heat. Rather than avoiding disagreement or letting it escalate, adding care, humor, and curiosity can turn tension into something clarifying and constructive.
• Don’t fight more, fight better. Preparing for difficult conversations, clarifying your purpose, and creating structures for disagreement can help teams address the issues that matter instead of avoiding them.

Activity:

• Start a grapple. Identify one issue your team keeps avoiding or turning into a logistical discussion. Give it a dedicated meeting where the explicit purpose is to debate the issue, hear different viewpoints, make a decision, and commit to what happens next.

Printable Expanded Takeaways & Activities

Episode Reference Links:

• Priya Parker
• Priya’s Books: The Art of Gathering / The Art of Fighting
• Ep.174 Fix Meetings: Transform Gatherings Into Meaningful Moments  

Connect:

• Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
• Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
• 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

“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 this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Seligman and Matt Abrahams discuss flourishing, optimism, and the power of self-talk. They also examine why celebrating other people’s successes takes more than saying “congratulations,” and how active, constructive communication can deepen our relationships.

Takeaways:

• Your thoughts aren’t facts. Negative self-talk can shape your emotions and actions, but learning to challenge those thoughts with realistic evidence can help you develop a more optimistic outlook.
• Celebrate success with curiosity, not just congratulations. Asking thoughtful questions about someone’s good news helps them relive the experience and can deepen your relationship.

Activity:

• Argue with yourself. Catch one negative thought you have about yourself this week and write it down as an argument rather than a fact. Then build the opposing case by listing three pieces of real evidence that challenge it.

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

Episode Reference Links:

• Martin Seligman
• Martin’s Book: Agency
• Ep.179 Finding Positive in Negative Emotions: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing
• Ep.181 Why Happiness is a Direction, Not a Destination: Communicat…  

Connect:

• Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
• Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
• 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

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

Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart

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

“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 us build greater trust across differences. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Steele joins Matt Abrahams to discuss how stereotypes influence our interactions and how to reduce their impact. From giving feedback that communicates respect to building trust, Steele shares how seeing people’s full humanity and potential can strengthen our connections.

Takeaways:

• Trust grows when people feel seen and respected. Recognizing someone’s abilities, potential, and individuality can reduce uncertainty and help build stronger relationships across differences.
• Feedback works better when respect is explicit. Pairing high standards with a clear belief in someone’s ability to meet them can make critical feedback feel more trustworthy and motivating.

Activity:

• Add a signal of respect. Think of someone you need to give constructive feedback to. Before delivering the critique, add one sentence that communicates both your standards and your confidence in their ability to meet them. Notice whether this changes how the feedback is received.

Episode Reference Links:

• Claude Steele
• Claude’s Book: Churn
• Ep.40 Mindset Matters: How to Embrace the Benefits of Stress 

Connect:

• Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
• Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
• 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

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

Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart

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

“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 this Quick Thinks episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Matt Abrahams and communication teacher Laura Joyce Davis share strategies for preparing for job interviews. From identifying what differentiates you to structuring answers and telling memorable stories, they explain how to present your experience with clarity while staying authentic and human.

Takeaways:

• Preparation makes confidence easier. Identifying what sets you apart and stockpiling stories, examples, and evidence helps you answer questions clearly while staying present in the moment.
• Structure turns experience into a stronger answer. Frameworks like “What? So what? Now what?” help you connect your skills and experiences directly to what matters to the interviewer.

Activity:

• Build your interview bank. Create a simple bank of three strengths you want an interviewer to remember. Under each, add one story, piece of evidence, or testimonial that proves it. Use the bank to quickly assemble relevant answers rather than memorizing responses to individual questions.

Episode Reference Links:

• Laura Joyce Davis
• Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community

Connect:

• Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
• Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
• 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

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

Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart

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

“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 Fast, Talk Smart, Campbell joins Matt Abrahams to unpack the psychology behind storytelling and persuasion. From structuring ideas around goals, insights, and actions to creating “portals” that prepare audiences for what comes next, he shares practical ways to make communication more relevant, persuasive, and memorable.

Takeaways:

• Stories are built on cause and change. Connecting information through the “because” behind it turns isolated facts into a narrative that helps audiences understand why something happened and why it matters.
• Start by preparing your audience for what comes next. Effective “portals” create anticipation, shift people into the right mindset, and provide just enough context to help them engage with your message.

Activity:

• Create a portal. Choose an upcoming meeting or presentation and redesign the first minute to prepare your audience for what follows. Build an opening that creates anticipation, shifts their mindset, and previews where you’re taking them before diving into the main content.

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

Episode Reference Links:

• Troy Campbell
• Ep.156 Creative Communication: How Our Design Choices Illustrate O… 

Connect:

• Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
• Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
• 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

“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, Vanessa Van Edwards joins Matt Abrahams to explore the subtle cues that make communication more engaging. She shares strategies for navigating networking events, sparking more meaningful conversations, and signaling the warmth and competence that shape charisma and connection.

Takeaways:

• Connection starts before you speak. Visible palms, eye contact, positioning, and other nonverbal cues can signal warmth and openness, shaping how others experience an interaction from the start.
• Better conversations spark curiosity. Moving beyond routine small talk with engaging questions, surprising stories, and genuine enthusiasm can make interactions more memorable and meaningful.

Activity:

• Create a conversational feed. Start a note on your phone and collect three things from your week—a surprising moment, an interesting observation, or a small win. Bring one into your next networking event or meeting as “conversational confetti” instead of defaulting to routine small talk.

Printable Expanded Takeaways & Activities

Episode Reference Links:

• Vanessa Van Edwards
• Vanessa’s Books: Cues / Captivate
• Ep.301 Trust at First Sight: Create More Meaningful Connections 

Connect:

• Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
• Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
• 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

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

Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart

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

“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 Fast, Talk Smart, Reese joins Matt Abrahams to share lessons from screenwriting that apply far beyond Hollywood. From cutting unnecessary words to crafting pitches that make your audience the protagonist, he explores how storytelling, collaboration, and clarity can make any message more persuasive.

Takeaways:

• Every pitch tells two stories. You’re selling the idea itself, but you’re also showing your audience how saying yes can solve their problem, reduce their risk, and lead to their success.
• Brevity makes your message stronger. Cutting unnecessary words and choosing them carefully helps your ideas land with greater clarity, impact, and memorability.

Activity:

• Tell the second story. Take a pitch you’re currently working on and write one sentence describing the idea you’re selling. Then write a second sentence from your audience’s perspective: “If I say yes, what becomes possible for me?” Use that second story to reshape your pitch around their success, not just your idea.

Printable Expanded Takeaways & Activities

Episode Reference Links:

• Rhett Reese
• Ep.167 Hollywood Lessons For Successful Communication

Connect:

• Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
• Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
• 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

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

Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart

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

“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 compelling story. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Gallo joins Matt Abrahams to explore the timeless principles behind persuasive communication. From crafting attention-grabbing hooks to using analogies and storytelling, he shares practical techniques for making your ideas more emotional, clear, and memorable.

Key Takeaways:

• Attention starts with making people care. Emotion and relevance help your message cut through the noise, giving your audience a reason to listen before you ask them to absorb your ideas.
• Great communication follows timeless patterns. Hooks, analogies, and structured storytelling make ideas easier to understand and remember, regardless of the platform or technology used to deliver them.

Activity:

• Build the hook. Take a presentation, pitch, or message you’re already working on and write a one-sentence opening that answers your audience’s unspoken question: “Why should I care?” Make it relevant, specific, and compelling enough to earn their attention.

Episode Reference Links:

• Carmine Gallo
• Carmine’s Book: Viral Voices
• Ep.103 Simple Is a Superpower: How to Communicate Any Idea to Any Audience 

Connect:

• Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
• Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
• 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

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

Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart

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

“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 and leadership, from deep listening to thoughtful reflection. In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Cain joins Matt Abrahams to explore how introverts can communicate with confidence without pretending to be extroverts. From overcoming speaking anxiety to embracing quiet leadership, she shares how sincerity and self-awareness can help us show up at our best.

Key Takeaways:

• Introversion is a strength, not a limitation. Deep listening, thoughtful reflection, and strong one-on-one relationships can make quieter communicators highly effective leaders, even when those qualities are less visible.
• Confidence doesn’t require changing who you are. By gradually building comfort in challenging situations and communicating with sincerity, you can become more confident while staying true to your natural communication style.

Activity:

• Redesign a meeting. Choose one recurring meeting and change one element to make space for quieter voices. Try sending questions in advance, adding silent thinking time, or using Susan’s think-pair-share approach before opening the discussion to the group.

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

Episode Reference Links:

• Susan Cain
• Susan’s Books: Quiet / Bittersweet
• Ep.69 Feeling Nervous? How Anxiety Can Fuel Better Communication 

Connect:

• Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
• Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
• 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

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

Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart

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