Most people are perplexed by big numbers. We're just not good at comprehending millions, billions and trillions, and that can trip us up when we need to communicate effectively in difficult situations. In this episode, we discuss why we have such trouble with big numbers (which does help to explain why we continue to play the lottery even though we'll never win), how they influence our perception of risk, and some techniques for the proper use of big numbers in difficult communication situations.