Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Episodes
249. Quick Thinks: Rituals That Make Teamwork Work
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The right rituals—and the right conversations—can transform how your team collaborates.Strong collaboration starts with thoughtful practices and c...
248. Better Together: How to Supercharge Your Team’s Productivity
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The secret to effective teamwork and collaboration.To collaborate, we have to communicate. As Molly Sands knows, “The more that we can get on the sa...
247. “Matt”er of Fact: Coaching on Feedback and Q&A
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Two new Think Fast Talk Smart AI tools put communication skills to the test in real time.Technology promises many things, but few experiments illustra...
246. Shared Wisdom: How Communication Defines Culture and Builds Community
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why good communication is the key to good communities.Community and communication go hand-in-hand. For Sandy Pentland, the culture and cohesion of any...
245. Mindful Messages: Leveraging the Power of Presence
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When you enter a conflict trying to win, Deepak Chopra says you’ve already lost.“We can resolve any conflict,” says Dr. Deepak Chopra. All it ta...
244. Community Creates Change: Build Relationships That Actually Matter
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why community is the most powerful tool for transformation.Community isn't just a feel-good buzzword. According to Gina Bianchini, it's a catalyst for...
243. Rethinks: How Lessons from Neuroscience Can Help You Communicate Confidently
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Reduce speaking anxiety and achieve your communication goals.“There’s no difference between the physiological response to something that you’re ...
242. Tech Tools: The Power of Showing, Not Telling
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Transform how you communicate with tools that make your message stick.Sometimes the best way to explain an idea is to show it. That’s why Loom was b...
241. Team Spirit: How to Make Group Work Work
11 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How to unlock the power of groups through collective communication.They say teamwork makes the dream work. But as Colin Fisher knows, unlocking the po...
240. Belief It or Not: How to Rewrite the Narratives That Hold You Back
04 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How to identify and rewrite the limiting beliefs holding you back.Achieving what you want in life doesn’t just hinge on what you believe about your ...
239. Tech Tools: How Smarter Scheduling Leads to Stronger Communication
30 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Transform how you communicate with tools that make your message stick.Meetings are where collaboration happens — but too often, scheduling them feel...
238. AMA: Why Listening Might Be Your Most Powerful Skill
28 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When we truly listen, every conversation changes — including the one with ourselves.Listening isn’t about waiting for your turn to speak — it’...
237. Mistake It Till You Make It: Learn Faster and Fail Smarter
21 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why we learn the most when we accept that we might be wrong.Effective communication isn’t about having all the answers. As Astro Teller knows, it’...
236. Tech Tools: Zeroing in on Your Email Communication
16 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Transform how you communicate with tools that make your message stick.Staying on top of communication starts with staying in control of your inbox. Th...
235. Refine, Reframe, Repeat: Make Your Communication a Slam Dunk
14 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The road to mastery is paved with small improvements every day.Communicating can feel daunting at times. What does it take to find your voice in the m...
234. Need to Know: Lead With Transparency, Character, and Silence
07 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to leading a team, there’s no such thing as too much information.Good leadership is about good communication. And for General Stanley ...
233. Tech Tools: Write with Confidence and Impact
02 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Transform how you communicate with tools that make your message stick.Clarity is the cornerstone of great communication—but turning your thoughts in...
232. Pause, Don’t Panic: Finding Calm in High-Stakes Moments
29 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To connect with others, you have to get out of your own head.Whether presenting to millions on live television or talking to just one person, Dan Harr...
231. Secret Signals: Why We Rarely Say Exactly What We Mean
23 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why what isn’t said can communicate more than what is spoken.We often speak in hints and half-truths, not because we can’t be direct, but because ...
230. Tech Tools: Use Visuals to Your Advantage
18 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Transform how you communicate with tools that make your message stick.Clear communication isn’t just about sharing information — it’s about maki...
229. Rethinks: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot
16 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
To celebrate its second anniversary, we revisit our favourite tools and tips from Matt’s book, Think Faster, Talk Smarter.Original executive produce...
228. Negotiate Your Way to Success: Empathy, Mirroring, and Labeling
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Be ready, stay grounded, and communicate clearly — no matter what’s at stake.Communicating under pressure isn’t just a useful skill — it can b...
227. Tech Tools: Move Your Audience By Moving Through Your Presentation
04 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Transform how you communicate with tools that make your message stick.Great communication isn’t just about what you say — it’s about what your a...
226. Reinvent Yourself: Turning Uncertainty Into Opportunity
02 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
225. Speaking Fluent Internet: How Algorithms Are Changing the Way We Speak
26 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
224. Make Your Messages Epic: The Evolution of Words and the Stories They Carry
21 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why modern communication still relies on ancient words and narratives.All communication and connection depend on one thing: language. That’s why Lau...
223. Laughing Matters: Levity, Leadership, and Lasting Connection
19 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
By lightening up your communication, you can build serious connections.Humor in communication isn’t all fun and games. According to Alison Wood Broo...
222. Discussing Through Discomfort: Why the Conversations You Avoid Cost You the Most
12 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Some conversations are uncomfortable, but avoiding them comes with a cost.You want a more successful career, a more fulfilling relationship, a more me...
221. Don’t Get Lost in Translation: Staying Cool When Every Word Counts
07 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How do you stay clear, calm, and precise when every word counts and there’s no room for error?Staying calm and focused while translating high-stakes...
220. Prep Like a Pro: Communication Confidence, Clarity, and Comedy
05 Aug 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Master the art of thinking on your feet and turning unpredictability into powerful communication.Being quick on your feet isn’t just a performance s...
219. Six Motivations, One Workplace: Who Are You at Work?
29 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
When communicating with their employees, most firms have no idea who they’re talking to.Good communication is about knowing your audience. But if yo...
218. Teaching Truths & Tactics: Live Lessons From Stanford in Cape Town
24 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Real connection means understanding your audience, staying true to yourself, and creating space for others.How do you communicate who you are, what yo...
217. Rethinks: How to Build Deep Connections
22 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How to be a skilled conversationalist in work, love, and life.Whether you’re trying to build a romantic or professional connection, Rachel Greenwald...
216. Wired for Words: A Neuroscientist’s Guide to Influence
15 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Understanding your audience's psychology is the key to crafting communication that resonates.Persuading others isn't about magic spells or mind-readin...
215. The New Media Landscape: Trust, Transparency, and Transformation
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
For your communication to be credible, you can’t just say it — you have to do it.Want people to believe what you say? According to Richard Edelman...
214. From Crisis to Clarity: Simplicity, Feedback, and the Art of Being Heard
08 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How to communicate clearly in any context, from newsrooms to the world stage.All good communication, whether spoken or written, is built on the same f...
213. Rethinks: Building Trusting Relationships Through Communication
01 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How to turn doubt and suspicion into hopefulness and trust.There’s a lot in the world to make us cynical about other people and their motives and in...
212. Break It to Make It: Disrupt Your Way to the Perfect Job Fit
26 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Career growth starts with stepping outside your comfort zone.Building a successful career isn’t about following a set path—it’s about knowing wh...
211. Small Screens, Strong Signals: Mastering Modern Communication
24 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In the age of virtual communication, here’s how to ensure your messages convey what you mean.Texts. Emails. Slacks. Zooms. We’re communicating in ...
210. First Impression to Lasting Impact: Use Status Strategically
17 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Career success takes a status boost, not a power grab.How do you chart the career course you’ve always imagined? According to Alison Fragale, it’s...
209. Find Your Fit, Find Your Focus - Catalyze Your Career
12 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How to turn curiosity, clarity, and AI into your most powerful job search tools.Job search isn’t just about landing your next role—it’s about un...
208. Ambiguity to Action: Tensions and Trade-Offs of Leadership and Communication
10 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Amidst constant change, clear communication is the key to navigating uncertainty.How do you communicate with others when you’re confused yourself? F...
207. From Conflict to Connection: Having Crucial Conversations that Count
03 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How victim, villain, and helpless stories sabotage our most important conversations.The hardest conversations aren’t just about what you say to the ...
206. Crafting Narratives That Motivate: What’s Your Strategy Story?
29 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Great strategy starts with a question—and a story worth believing in.A good strategy isn’t just built—it’s told. For Martin Reeves, chairman o...
205. Say What Sucks: Catalyzing Organizational Change with AI
27 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A live SXSW panel on how employee complaints illuminate the path to organizational innovation.Wrong question: How can AI revolutionize productivity in...
204. Tough Talks: Turn Tension Into Trust
20 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How to have the conversations that are most difficult — and most important.Before you can have hard conversations with others, you need to have an h...
203. No Script, No Problem: Final Secrets to Speaking Under Pressure (Bonus)
15 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stay sharp, sound confident, and speak with impact — even when you're put on the spot.Communicating clearly is challenging enough when there’s tim...
202. Own Your Brand: How to Communicate with Presence and Impact
13 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The power of creating the reputation you want to have.Whether you know it or not, you have a brand. What that brand is, says Lorraine Lee, doesn’t h...
201. Ballpark to the Boardroom: How Alex Rodriguez Hits a Communication Home Run
06 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Alex Rodriguez shares why in sports and business, striking out is just a part of the game.From the baseball field to the boardroom, great communicatio...
200. Four Keys for Focused Communication: Live Lessons from Our 200 Episodes
29 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This live Q&A with host Matt Abrahams celebrates 200 episodes of Think Fast, Talk Smart.In an age of endless content and information, how do we en...
199. Blunder Pressure: Mastering In-the-Moment Communication (3 of 3)
22 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This three-part miniseries is all about keeping your cool when speaking on the spot.Communicating effectively can be challenging enough, even with ple...
198. Pause and Effect: Mastering In-the-Moment Communication (2 of 3)
17 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This three-part miniseries is all about keeping your cool when speaking on the spot.Communicating effectively can be challenging enough, even with ple...
197. Prep or Perish: Mastering In-the-Moment Communication (1 of 3)
15 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This three-part miniseries is all about keeping your cool when speaking on the spot.Communicating effectively can be challenging enough, even with ple...
196. Ditch the Dictionary: Communicate Confidently Through Connection
08 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Communication isn’t about perfect word choice, it’s about connecting with others.For native speakers and language learners alike, communicating co...
195. Q&A on Conflict, Confidence, and Connection: Me2We 2025 Part 2
03 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stanford experts answer live questions on leadership, authenticity, and communication.What happens when four top Stanford thinkers take live questions...
194. Live Lessons in Levity and Leadership: Me2We 2025 Part 1
01 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Effective leadership begins with the way you communicate.Leading with impact isn’t about speaking louder—it’s about communicating in ways that r...
193. Conquer Questions: ADDing Value To Your Answers
25 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Turn Q&A from nerve-wracking to confidence-boosting with strategies for clear, controlled answers.A great presentation doesn’t end with the fina...
192. Quick Thinks: How to Supersize Your Stories
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How to craft compelling stories that captivate, inspire, and make an impact.Great storytelling isn't just about telling tales—it’s about crafting ...
191. Memorable Messages: Choose Words That Capture Attention and Stay Remembered
18 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How to craft communication that your audience will remember.Why do some messages stick, while others go in one ear and out the other? When it comes to...
190. Motivation Matters: How to Leverage What People Already Want
11 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
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...
189. Numbers Need Narrative: Use Data to Influence and Inspire
04 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why numbers are only as compelling as the narratives we attach to them.Facts and figures can be your friend, but before you load your presentation ful...
188. Mind Reading 101: To Know What Your Audience Thinks, Just Ask
25 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How to really know what your audience is thinking.To be a great communicator, you have to get out of your own head. But that’s not all, says Matt Li...
187. Experimenting, Failing, and Finding Your Job Fit - Catalyze Your Career
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Rethink career success by testing, adapting, and staying open to unexpected opportunities.Career planning isn’t as straightforward as we often assum...
186. Own Your Impact: How to Communicate Your Personal Power
18 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why good communication starts with tapping into your power.Impactful communication isn’t just about the words you use. According to Chris Lipp, it’...
185. Say Less, Mean More: Craft Compelling Communication
11 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
How to captivate an audience and make your message stick.Pitches and presentations don’t fall flat because speakers aren’t prepared. For Guy Kawas...
184. Fit or Quit? Find the Job That is Right For You—Catalyze Your Career
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Stay prepared, build your network, and take control of your career.Most of us know that career growth is important—but according to Catherine Fisher...
183. Rethinks: How Anxiety Can Fuel Better Communication
04 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Reframe anxiety as a strength and use stress to enhance your communication.Stress, anxiety, nervousness — when these feelings inevitably arise, lect...
182. Stop Chasing Time and Start Owning It: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing
30 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Clarify your purpose — and stop wasting time.The new year gives us an opportunity to reflect on who we are and who we want to be. As we set resoluti...
181. Why Happiness is a Direction, Not a Destination: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing
28 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why connection is the key to a life well lived.The new year gives us an opportunity to reflect on who we are and who we want to be. As we set resoluti...
180. Unlocking Your Future Self: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing
23 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Why creating happiness in the future starts today.The new year gives us an opportunity to reflect on who we are and who we want to be. As we set resol...
179. Finding Positive in Negative Emotions: Communication, Happiness & Wellbeing
21 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A double definition of happiness — and how to cultivate both parts.The new year gives us an opportunity to reflect on who we are and who we want to ...
178. Navigating Chaos and Uncertainty: The Power of Transparency and Empathy
14 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Clear communication during times of uncertainty.Whether leading people through a 15-minute meeting or a years-long pandemic, communication requires co...
177. Don’t Resolve, Evolve: Top 10 Lessons For 2025
07 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Ten essential communication strategies designed to elevate your skills.2024 has been an incredible year for learning and growth, and as we head into 2...
176. From Stereotypes to Synergy: Communicating Across Generations
31 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Age diversity and cross-generational synergy can transform an organization.Most of us know age diversity matters in the workplace. But according to UC...
Ask Matt Anything (AMA) 1: Trust, Paraphrasing, and Nonverbal Cues
26 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Enjoy this preview of our first Ask Matt Anything (AMA).We are excited to introduce this special edition of Think Fast, Talk Smart, featuring a previe...
175. Mastering Toasts and Tributes: Making Your Words Count
24 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Crafting impactful toasts for every occasion."Almost reflexively, most of us focus in the moment on how others are perceiving us, yet these situations...
174. Fix Meetings: Transform Gatherings Into Meaningful Moments
17 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Turn any meeting or get-together into a chance for deep connection and collaboration.Whether you’re holding a team meeting or hosting a family get-t...
173. Rethinks: Surviving the Holidays
10 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Master holiday conversations.The holiday season is a time of joy, connection, and, occasionally, communication challenges and as we gather with family...
Between the Lines: In Storytelling, Simplify to Amplify - Premium Sampler
05 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Visit fastersmarter.io/premium to become a Premium subscriber."Start with the action moment or right before it," advises Hilary Price whose one-panel ...
172. Bring Mindfulness to Your Communication
03 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Mindfulness can transform your communication and your career.When we react, our instincts and impulses are in the driver’s seat. But when we take th...
171. Advice from Nontraditional Storytellers Part 2
28 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Make your audience a part of the story.Great storytellers don't just relay information — they create experiences. As magicians, TikTok influencers, ...
170. Advice from Nontraditional Storytellers Part 1
26 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Wisdom from the witness stand to the newsstand.The best storytellers might not call themselves storytellers at all. But from litigating in the courtro...
169. Don't Be a ZQ: Make Your Conversations Count
19 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What makes a great conversation?“Many of us dread small talk,” says Harvard Business School professor and author Alison Wood Brooks. Yet sh...
Launching: Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
14 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Introducing our new Premium membership, designed to enhance communication and career skills with expanded content and tools. Enjoy early access to liv...
168. How Story Can Change Everything in Your Career
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Make your message memorable.“Immediately forgettable” — that’s how Matthew Dicks describes most of the business communication that he encounte...
167. Hollywood Lessons For Successful Communication
05 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Beyond the Big Screen.Every business meeting, product launch, or marketing communication has something in common with your favorite movie: they all su...
166. Why Relying on Talent Alone Will Fail You
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why practice is the key to success.If there’s anyone who knows about performing under pressure, it’s former NFL quarterback Andrew Luck. Whether p...
165. Building Your Personal Brand Makes a Promise: Are You Keeping It?
22 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Create more meaningful communication by defining your audience. Before you even think about communicating a message, defining a brand, or developing ...
164. Rethinks: Using "Pre-suasion" to Influence Others
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
The inner workings of social influence and persuasion.Want to change someone’s mind? First, explains Robert Cialdini, you have to change their frami...
163. Is Your Audience Ignoring You? How Authenticity Creates Connection
08 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
How acceptance and authenticity can transform all of our interactions.What’s the key to experiencing deeper connection in our communication? Accordi...
162. Unlock Career Opportunities: How to Make the Right Moves
01 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Being present in the moment and staying open to whatever unfolds.We all want to lead lives and careers full of joy and fulfillment. Maggie Baird certa...
Bonus: How to Manage Speaking Anxiety the Think Faster, Talk Smarter Way
26 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Gain control over your speaking and excel in your communication.For the first anniversary of his book Think Faster, Talk Smarter, Matt Abrahams shares...
161. Do Your Homework: Know What to Say by Knowing Who You’re Talking To
24 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Know your audience and tailor the message for them.In high-stakes communication, every word counts. For Jen Psaki, that means knowing who she’s talk...
160. Rethinks: How to Communicate Your Gameplan
17 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Why organizational strategy can be both top-down and bottom-up.As Professor Jesper Sørensen sees it, a winning strategy is the result of conversation...
159. Earn Your Audience: You Can’t Lead If No One’s Listening
10 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
What it takes to develop as a leader.Great leaders and great communicators aren't born, they're made. That's why John Hennessy and Tina Seelig, direct...
158. Hope for Cynics: Building Trusting Relationships through Communication
03 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
“Acts of trust are the bedrock on which relationships are formed.”There’s a lot in the world to make us cynical about other people and their mot...
157. Communicating the Future: Defining Where We Want AI to Take Us
27 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
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...
156. Creative Communication: How Our Design Choices Illustrate Our Values
20 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
As a designer, Scott Doorley is interested in how humans create the world around them. It’s a conversation, he says, that starts with the question: ...
155. Can We Be Candid? How to Communicate Clearly and Directly
13 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
Navigators know the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. In charting a course through communication, Susan Rice says the best rout...
154. Rethinks: Communicating Better as a Leader
06 Aug 2024
Contributed by Lukas
"In a leadership role, so much more of communication is about connecting with people, establishing shared humanity, motivating them, inspiring them, s...