Celeste Headlee, an award-winning journalist and author of "We Need to Talk," shares her insights on improving conversational skills. She discusses her personal journey from poor conversationalist to proficient public radio host, emphasizing that listening is key. Celeste highlights the distinction between being a good talker and a true conversationalist, and offers strategies for navigating difficult discussions. She also reflects on the importance of advocating for equitable healthcare access, drawing on her own life-threatening experiences.
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volunteer_activism ADVICE
Forget Conventional Advice
Forget conventional advice like nodding, summarizing, or thinking of topics beforehand.
Focus on genuine attention instead of performing it.
volunteer_activism ADVICE
Converse Like an Interviewer
Treat conversations like interviews to improve conversational skills.
Aim for engaging, inspiring interactions where you feel connected and understood.
question_answer ANECDOTE
Celeste's Conversational Journey
Celeste Headlee admits she wasn't always a skilled conversationalist.
She honed her skills through practice and studying effective communication techniques.
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Dr. Linda Mintle's "We Need to Talk" offers practical guidance and biblical principles for navigating conflict in relationships. The book explores various conflict resolution strategies, emphasizing communication, empathy, and forgiveness. It addresses common relationship challenges and provides tools for building healthier interactions. Mintle's expertise in therapy informs her approach, offering readers a blend of psychological insights and spiritual wisdom. The book empowers readers to transform their relationships through understanding and proactive conflict management.
Do Nothing
How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving
Celeste Headlee
In 'Do Nothing,' Celeste Headlee critiques the modern obsession with productivity and efficiency, arguing that this culture leads to burnout, loneliness, and anxiety. The book is a blend of historical analysis and personal insights, highlighting how society has been indoctrinated into the 'cult of efficiency' since the Industrial Revolution. Headlee presents strategies to increase time perception, invest in quality idle time, and focus on end goals rather than mean goals, emphasizing the importance of creativity, social connections, and reflective thought in achieving a more fulfilling life.
Humans need to have conversations every day-- at our jobs, in our homes, in government-- so how can we handle these better? Celeste Headlee is an award winning journalist who has done everything from anchoring morning news on public radio to covering presidential campaigns. In this episode, Celeste shares practical tips for anyone looking to improve their conversational skills, arguing that better conversations are well within our reach. Celeste is the author of “We Need to Talk: How to Have Conversations That Matter” and “Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving.” Celeste is a regular guest host on NPR and American Public Media and a highly sought consultant.
How to Be a Better Human 
