You talk all day. Here’s how to do it better, according to a professor from Harvard Business School.

Alison Wood Brooks comes from the Harvard Business School, where she teaches a course called “TALK: How to Talk Gooder in Business and Life,” which she has now turned into a book, called TALK: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves.

In this episode we talk about:

The evolution of conversation
Why conversation is a skill — not just a natural talent
How to develop conversational skills, including common conversational pitfalls to avoid
Granular, tactical pieces of advice on how to have a conversation
The science behind conversation that may surprise you
Listening tips
Conversational repair strategies
How kindness can go pear shaped
How to handle difficult moments in conversation
The difference between focusing on other people and people pleasing
How to integrate these incredible learnings into your life
How soft skills are becoming increasingly more valuable with the rise of AI

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Alison’s band, The Lights

On Sunday, September 21st from 1-5pm ET, join Dan and Leslie Booker at the New York Insight Meditation Center in NYC as they lead a workshop titled, "Heavily Meditated – The Dharma of Depression + Anxiety." This event is both in-person and online. Sign up here!

Get ready for another Meditation Party at Omega Institute! This in-person workshop brings together Dan with his friends and meditation teachers, Sebene Selassie, Jeff Warren, and for the first time, Ofosu Jones-Quartey. The event runs October 24th-26th. Sign up and learn more at eomega.org/workshops/meditation-party-2025.

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The Collision of Social Movements and Marketing, with Katie Martell