The Art of Charm
AJ Harbinger & Johnny Dzubak
Explore social skills like charisma, confidence, body language and conversation. On The Art of Charm, co-founders AJ Harbinger and Johnny Dzubak break down the science of human behavior into practical skills, from owning a room and reading people to making a first impression and building real connection. Short Social Intelligence Briefings focus on one skill in about 15 minutes, and long-form interviews go deep with experts such as Joe Navarro, Chris Voss and Vanessa Van Edwards on body language, persuasion, influence and relationships. The Art of Charm has been on the air since 2007.
Episodes
Mentioned books
13 snips
Nov 2, 2026 • 57min
Break the Habits Holding Back Your Career | Andrea Petrone
Andrea Petrone, a leadership coach, former CEO, and author of Reinvention at the Top, explores why yesterday’s leadership habits can derail tomorrow’s success. They discuss control-driven management, micromanagement, confidence masks, and the shift from individual contributor to leader. The conversation also examines curiosity, vulnerability, authentic presence, and reinventing your leadership identity under pressure.
13 snips
Oct 29, 2026 • 16min
How To Read Body Language - Social Intelligence Briefing
Crossed arms and fleeting eye contact may not mean what you think. AJ and Johnny explore why body language is easy to misread, how context reshapes facial expressions, and why the “liking gap” fuels social anxiety. They discuss separating observations from assumptions, staying engaged through curiosity, and building confidence with better questions, active listening, and genuine connection.
24 snips
Oct 26, 2026 • 1h 1min
Communication Won't Fix Your Relationship | Yael Schonbrun
Yael Schonbrun is a psychologist, couples therapist, behavioral scientist, and author of Why Don’t You Understand Me? She explores why the people closest to us can misunderstand us most, how perception and personal history distort conversations, and why scripted communication advice can backfire. They discuss validation, humor, anger, perspective getting, and repairing conflict without turning relationships into battles to win.
10 snips
Oct 24, 2026 • 13min
Why Nice People Stay Stuck | Social Intelligence Briefing
Why do nice people struggle to say no? This conversation explores people pleasing, approval seeking, and the fear of rejection that makes reasonable boundaries feel selfish. Topics include assertiveness at work, declining invitations, apologizing without surrendering limits, making clear requests, and testing assumptions about how others will react.
40 snips
Oct 19, 2026 • 1h 3min
Working Harder Makes You Less Productive | Dr. Christian Poensgen
Dr. Christian Poensgen, a researcher and performance expert, explores why hustle culture can sabotage productivity, sleep, and relationships. They discuss the difference between sleep quantity and quality, healthy versus chronic stress, and how notifications create “time confetti.” The conversation also covers deep work, digital boundaries, breathing, walking, and building sustainable performance without constantly working harder.
25 snips
Oct 16, 2026 • 11min
Why Good Conversations Go Nowhere | Social Intelligence Briefing
Why do friendly conversations so often remain forgettable? AJ and Johnny explore the limits of small talk, how to listen for meaning instead of facts, and ways to ask follow-up questions that invite genuine connection. They also discuss authentic self-disclosure, staying present rather than perfect, and using simple if-then plans to make better conversations a lasting habit.
40 snips
Oct 12, 2026 • 1h 7min
The FBI’s Secret to Influencing Anyone | Kyle Vowinkel
Kyle Vowinkel, a former FBI hostage negotiator and Hostage Rescue Team operator, draws on high-stakes crises including the Boston Marathon bomber standoff. He explores why calm beats force, how empathy and strategic pauses reduce resistance, and why choice creates commitment. The conversation also covers ego, self-talk, decision triggers, crisis planning, focused curiosity, and leading imperfect teams.
20 snips
Oct 12, 2026 • 15min
How to be Taken Seriously at Work | Social Intelligence Briefing
Doing excellent work is only half the career equation. Learn how to make your contributions visible without bragging, credit teammates while showing your leadership, and present clear recommendations in high-stakes meetings. The conversation also explores handling pushback with confidence, using if-then plans to speak up, and making workload trade-offs clear so your judgment gets noticed.
27 snips
Oct 5, 2026 • 1h
What Your Shame Is Trying to Tell You | Frank Spinelli
Frank Spinelli is a physician, author, and speaker focused on shame, trauma, addiction, and recovery. He explores the difference between shame and guilt, five signs of unresolved shame, and how trauma shapes self-blame. He discusses shame’s physical signals, the Four Ps for navigating triggers, why suppression can fuel relapse, and his Shame Compass framework. The conversation also covers relationships, self-compassion, boundaries, and sharing pain with intention.
10 snips
Oct 2, 2026 • 13min
You Were Trained to Be Invisible | Social Intelligence Briefing
The habits that once fueled career success can quietly turn high performers invisible. Explore how compliance, people-pleasing, and proving yourself become tangled with identity, limiting visibility and advancement. The conversation examines why old responses resurface under pressure and how deliberate practice can replace them with stronger communication patterns.
