Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

• 226. Reinvent Yourself: Turning Uncertainty Into Opportunity

  Reinventing your life or career starts with reflection and conversation. Making the leap — to a new career, to the next stage of a relationship, or to a different version of yourself — requires honest communication. For Ilana Golan, being “leap-ready” requires that we answer three questions: Why me? Why this? And why now?Golan knows all about these leaps, as her career spans corporate executive roles, entrepreneurship, and even F-16 flight instruction. As the founder of Leap Academy and host of the Leap Academy Podcast, she helps equip others to navigate their own personal and professional reinventions. As she says, “It’s really about communicating from the vision,” which starts as an inside job. “Why is this the right thing for me right now? You convince yourself first, because when you're [at] peace with what you're trying to do, it's a lot easier to convince others.”In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Golan and host Matt Abrahams explore how honest communication shapes every stage of reinvention, whether that’s listening to the signals your mind and body are sending you — like “sleepwalking through life” and imagining something more — or articulating your pivot in ways that create understanding rather than resistance. Wherever you hope to leap, Golan’s insights show how to communicate through change with confidence and clarity.Episode Reference Links:Ilana GolanLeap Academy Podcast | Leap AcademyEp.187 Experimenting, Failing, and Finding Your Job Fit - Catalyze Your CareerEp.147 Disrupt Yourself: How to Innovate Who You Are and Become Who You Can Be  Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (01:39) - Breaking Barriers & Career Patterns (02:18) - Waking Up to Change (03:42) - Signs It’s Time for a Pivot (06:45) - The Rise of Portfolio Careers (10:17) - Communicating Career Leaps (13:29) - Finding Clarity in Reinvention (20:01) - The Final Three Questions (22:56) - Conclusion  *****Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you for free.This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can start your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

  --------  

  24:32

  --------

  24:32
• 225. Speaking Fluent Internet: How Algorithms Are Changing the Way We Speak

  In the digital age, it’s critical to craft communication that fits the context.Like it or not, algorithms now decide whose messages get heard. “If you want to communicate effectively,” says Adam Aleksic, “you need to be exactly aware of what that medium is doing.”Aleksic is a linguist, author, and educational content creator with millions of followers across TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube. His latest book, Algospeak: How Social Media Is Transforming the Future of Language, explores how the platforms we use create new contexts that require new ways of communicating. “Every medium uniquely affects how we communicate, and we adapt our speech to these media,” he says. In the same way that we tailor communication for the contexts of the office, the gym, or the bar, digital platforms — and the algorithms that drive them — require the same contextualized communication. “You have to appeal to [the] algorithm,” he says.In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Aleksic and host Matt Abrahams examine how words are born, change meaning, and spread in the digital age. Their conversation highlights practical ways to be more intentional with the words we choose by considering the medium, understanding the context, and adapting communication accordingly.To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.Episode Reference Links:Adam AleksicAdam’s Book: AlgospeakEp.91 Um, Like, So: How Filler Words Can Create More Connected, Effective Communication Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (01:43) - Language, Labels, & Identity (04:02) - What Is Algospeak? (05:08) - Generational Language Gaps (07:25) - Communicating for Multiple Mediums (10:07) - Mastering Virality & Engagement (11:34) - Semiotics & Going Viral (13:20) - The Evolution of “Like” (14:31) - Hedging, Ambiguity, & Power Dynamics (17:09) - Actionable Takeaways on Communication (18:20) - Grammar: Rules, Context, & Changing Norms (20:23) - The Final Three Questions (25:14) - Conclusion  *****Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you for free.This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can start your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

  --------  

  26:49

  --------

  26:49
• 224. Make Your Messages Epic: The Evolution of Words and the Stories They Carry

  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 RiderEp.168 How Story Can Change Everything in Your CareerEp.91 Um, Like, So: How Filler Words Can Create More Connected, Effective Communication Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (02:36) - Power & Limits of Language (03:07) - Detecting Lies (04:58) - Origins of Storytelling (07:54) - What Makes a Great Story (10:43) - Proto-Indo-European Language (13:04) - Language Families & Connections (15:18) - Language Clues in History (17:29) - The Final Three Questions (22:33) - Conclusion  *****Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you for free.This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can start your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

  --------  

  24:14

  --------

  24:14
• 223. Laughing Matters: Levity, Leadership, and Lasting Connection

  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 >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (03:33) - Talk Tour Insights (04:53) - Top Advice on Asking Questions (07:03) - Guiding Principles for Leaders (09:37) - Importance of Levity (11:37) - Why Humor Matters (13:26) - Letting Go of Comfort (16:44) - Overthinking Levity (18:50) - Creating Space for Levity (22:22) - 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.        

  --------  

  23:56

  --------

  23:56
• 222. Discussing Through Discomfort: Why the Conversations You Avoid Cost You the Most

  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 WynnThe H.I. Note: Healing Inspirations from LifeEp.22 Under Pressure: How to Communicate Clearly and Timely During a Crisis  Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected] Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (02:31) - Understanding Difficult Conversations (04:48) - Developing Emotional Intelligence (05:48) - Self-Awareness, Pause, Reframe (08:03) - Common Communication Barriers (09:59) - Listening for Understanding (12:36) - Using AI for Communication (14:28) - Creating Psychological Safety (17:04) - The Final Three Questions (24:01) - Conclusion  *****Thank you to our sponsors.  These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you for free.This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can start your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

  --------  

  25:28

  --------

  25:28

Mais podcasts de Negócios

Podcasts em tendência em Negócios

Sobre Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques