Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

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

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Aug 21, 2025

Laura Spinney, an acclaimed author and journalist known for her work in major publications like the Atlantic and National Geographic, dives deep into the power of language. She explains how our ancient words and stories shape human connection and understanding. Spinney reveals that the narratives we tell have endured for millennia, highlighting their role in building community. Discussing storytelling’s fundamental impact on engagement, she emphasizes how effective communication continues to evolve alongside language itself.

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INSIGHT

Language Is Powerful But Limited

Language can change others' behavior almost telepathically by implanting ideas without physical action.
Yet Laura Spinney warns language is also a blunt instrument with clear limits.

ADVICE

Overload The Story To Spot Lies

To spot lies, increase a speaker's cognitive load by asking them to tell a story backwards or draw the scene.
Use devil's-advocate prompts or reference a possible witness to expose inconsistencies.

INSIGHT

Stories Can Be Extremely Ancient

Some stories have remarkable longevity, surviving tens of thousands of years and preserving knowledge before writing existed.
Stable story elements help explain shared human concerns like sea-level change or migration.

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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.

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Chapters:

(00:00) - Introduction
(02:28) - Power & Limits of Language
(02:59) - Detecting Lies
(04:50) - Origins of Storytelling
(07:46) - What Makes a Great Story
(10:35) - Proto-Indo-European Language
(12:56) - Language Families & Connections
(15:10) - Language Clues in History
(17:21) - The Final Three Questions
(21:59) - Conclusion

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