295: How to Decode People: What Humans and AI Get Right – and Wrong. Blake Eastman, Founder of Nonverbal Group

What if machines could read us better than people can? Blake Eastman is on a mission to make that a reality – and to ensure it serves humanity, not replaces it.

Blake is the founder of The Nonverbal Group, a former poker pro and psychology professor, and now a pioneering builder at the intersection of human behavior and AI. 

Blake pulls back the curtain on his decades-long obsession with decoding people, from micro-reactions and smiles to power dynamics and unspoken expectations.

He also previews his upcoming book, a science-backed reimagining of How to Win Friends and Influence People. It will break down the underlying psychological forces – like hierarchy, status, and value orientation – that shape how we communicate. His goal? To create a foundational guide for truly understanding human behavior at its most nuanced level.

Blake explains why the popular ideas of “reading people” and “taking baselines” are misleading, and how even experts often misinterpret the subtle signals that govern human connection. 

He dives into the challenge of building machines that can identify social friction, coach people in real-time, and even outperform humans in behavioral prediction – without losing the ethical thread of care and responsibility.

Throughout the episode, you'll learn how AI can supercharge your social intelligence, why most communication advice fails without context, and how to develop the kind of communication range that makes leaders truly effective. 

Blake also shares actionable insight into how anyone – especially those with cross-disciplinary skills – can leverage AI to gain a massive edge in business and life.

Find out more about Blake Eastman: https://www.nonverbalgroup.com/

Make sure you’re subscribed to the Speak Like a CEO newsletter to become a top 1% communicator: https://eoipsocommunications.com/newsletter/