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Why are smart lawyers so bad at conversation? with Celeste Headlee

Oct 4, 2022

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Why are smart lawyers so bad at conversation?

What makes one person excellent at conversation and another terrible? Does it come down to listening? And are there ways to develop these skills?

Joining me for this conversation is Celeste Headlee, an internationally recognized journalist and radio host, professional speaker and author of bestselling book We Need To Talk: How To Have Conversations That Matter and Do Nothing: How to Break Away from Overworking, Overdoing, and Underliving. Her latest is Speaking of Race: Why Everyone Needs to Talk About Racism and How to Do It. Her TEDx Talk, 10 Ways to Have a Better Conversation, has been viewed over 34 million times.

In her 20-year career in public radio, Celeste has been the Executive Producer of On Second Thought at Georgia Public Broadcasting and anchored programs including Tell Me More, Talk of the Nation, Here and Now, All Things Considered, and Weekend Edition. She also served as co-host of the national morning news show, The Takeaway, from PRI and WNYC, and anchored presidential coverage in 2012 for PBS World Channel. Celeste is a regular guest host on NPR and American Public Media. She is the host of Newsweek’s “Debate” podcast, and hosts a podcast for the National Gallery of Art called “Sound Thoughts on Art.” She is also the host of “Women Amplified,” a podcast from the Conferences for Women, the largest network of women’s conferences in the nation, drawing more than 50,000 people to its annual events. Celeste is also the president and CEO of Headway DEI, a non-profit that works to bring racial justice and equity to journalism and media through targeted training and interventions, and she serves on the board for the National Center of Race Amity.

Celeste is the granddaughter of composer William Grant Still, known as the Dean of Black American Composers and she is a trained operatic soprano. She lives in the DC area with rescue dog, Samus.

Celeste gives listeners actionable tips on:

[1:25] Are we born as ‘conversationalists’?
[2:40] Why the smartest people are often the worst at conversation
[4:05] The different types of conversations
[14:40] The three components of compassion
[17:10] Why having good conversation matters
[24:30] Top tips to become a better listener
[28:25] How to get other people to trust you
[30:30] Celeste’s book review

Resources mentioned in this episode:

Mindwise by Nicholas Epley

Connect with Celeste here:

Connect with me

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