Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques
Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart
One of the most essential ingredients to success in business and life is effective communication.
Join Matt Abrahams, best-selling author and Strategic Communication lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, as he interviews experts to provide actionable insights that help you communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact. From handling impromptu questions to crafting compelling messages, Matt explores practical strategies for real-world communication challenges.
Whether you’re navigating a high-stakes presentation, perfecting your email tone, or speaking off the cuff, Think Fast, Talk Smart equips you with the tools, techniques, and best practices to express yourself effectively in any situation. Enhance your communication skills to elevate your career and build stronger professional relationships.
Tune in every Tuesday for new episodes. Subscribe now to unlock your potential as a thoughtful, impactful communicator. Learn more and sign up for our eNewsletter at fastersmarter.io.
Join Matt Abrahams, best-selling author and Strategic Communication lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business, as he interviews experts to provide actionable insights that help you communicate with clarity, confidence, and impact. From handling impromptu questions to crafting compelling messages, Matt explores practical strategies for real-world communication challenges.
Whether you’re navigating a high-stakes presentation, perfecting your email tone, or speaking off the cuff, Think Fast, Talk Smart equips you with the tools, techniques, and best practices to express yourself effectively in any situation. Enhance your communication skills to elevate your career and build stronger professional relationships.
Tune in every Tuesday for new episodes. Subscribe now to unlock your potential as a thoughtful, impactful communicator. Learn more and sign up for our eNewsletter at fastersmarter.io.
Episodes
Mentioned books
247 snips
Oct 21, 2025 • 27min
237. Mistake It Till You Make It: Learn Faster and Fail Smarter
Astro Teller, the visionary behind Alphabet's Moonshot Factory, shares insights on learning from failure rather than fearing it. He emphasizes that effective communication involves navigating uncertainty and embracing mistakes as crucial to innovation. Teller argues for rewarding curiosity over outcomes, highlighting that most work is about learning what to build, not just building. He discusses the importance of creating environments that support exploration and how storytelling can help demystify complex ideas, all while celebrating the journey of discovery.
273 snips
Oct 16, 2025 • 14min
236. Tech Tools: Zeroing in on Your Email Communication
Rahul Vohra, the Founder and CEO of Superhuman, dives into the transformative power of effective email communication. He shares the Inbox Zero philosophy, highlighting its benefits for reducing anxiety and boosting productivity. Rahul offers practical tips like using split inboxes and archiving to manage emails better. The conversation also touches on how Superhuman revolutionizes email management and his inspiration for creating the platform. He emphasizes mindfulness and practices like transcendental meditation to enhance focus and communication.
336 snips
Oct 14, 2025 • 21min
235. Refine, Reframe, Repeat: Make Your Communication a Slam Dunk
Chiney Ogwumike, a professional basketball player and ESPN analyst, shares her insights on communication strategies critical for success in sports and beyond. She emphasizes the power of practice and the importance of confronting fear to build confidence. Highlights include navigating a male-dominated broadcasting landscape and advocating for authenticity over perfectionism. Chiney also offers invaluable advice for young women entering the workforce, encouraging them to embrace their unique voices and aim for incremental improvements.
359 snips
Oct 7, 2025 • 25min
234. Need to Know: Lead With Transparency, Character, and Silence
General Stanley McChrystal, a retired four-star U.S. Army general and leadership author, shares his insights on effective communication. He emphasizes the importance of radical transparency for fostering a culture of shared consciousness among teams. McChrystal discusses strategies to overcome fear and information hoarding, adapt communication across cultural divides, and deliver difficult news with clarity. He also explores virtual leadership techniques and the development of character through consistent choices, highlighting that clarity, timeliness, and authenticity are key to successful communication.
191 snips
Oct 2, 2025 • 12min
233. Tech Tools: Write with Confidence and Impact
Max Lytvyn, co-founder of Grammarly, shares insights on transforming communication with precision. He reveals that Grammarly was born from the realization that many struggle to express their thoughts clearly. Discussing AI's role in enhancing writing, he emphasizes the importance of starting with your communication goal. Max praises Adam Grant for his clear communication style and shares a clever tactic for contentious conversations—beginning with a sincere 'yes' to foster collaboration. Tune in for impactful tips on effective expression!
424 snips
Sep 29, 2025 • 27min
232. Pause, Don’t Panic: Finding Calm in High-Stakes Moments
Dan Harris, a former ABC News anchor and host of the 10% Happier podcast, explores the transformative power of mindfulness in communication. He shares his experience of a panic attack on live TV, which led him to therapy and meditation. Harris emphasizes the importance of responding rather than reacting in conversations and offers techniques to manage anxiety during high-stakes moments. He highlights the value of reflective listening and using analogies to engage audiences, ultimately advocating for clarity and warmth in all interactions.
661 snips
Sep 23, 2025 • 26min
231. Secret Signals: Why We Rarely Say Exactly What We Mean
Steven Pinker, Harvard's Johnstone Professor of Psychology and a prominent cognitive scientist, explores the intricate dance of indirect communication. He reveals how we often rely on hints and euphemisms to maintain social bonds, emphasizing the importance of context in understanding messages. Pinker discusses the power of metaphors in shaping our thoughts and communication styles, while also highlighting the emotional nuances of swearing. He shares key ingredients for effective communication: empathy, calibrated directness, and an awareness of relationships.
188 snips
Sep 18, 2025 • 11min
230. Tech Tools: Use Visuals to Your Advantage
In this engaging discussion, Yuhki Yamashita, Chief Product Officer at Figma, shares insights on enhancing communication through visuals. He emphasizes the power of turning complex ideas into memorable visuals and frameworks, which provide teams with a shared vocabulary. Yuhki highlights the importance of crafting repeatable phrases and visuals to ensure insights are easily communicated and reused. His passion for real-time collaboration tools is infectious, making this a must-listen for anyone looking to improve their communication skills.
758 snips
Sep 16, 2025 • 25min
229. Rethinks: How to Speak Successfully When You’re Put on the Spot
Explore the art of spontaneous speaking, unlocking confidence in unexpected situations. Learn a practical six-step methodology to frame challenging moments as opportunities. Discover valuable lessons from martial arts that enhance communication presence. The discussion also touches on the significance of eye contact and audience engagement, crucial for effective interaction. Celebrate language skills and community connections while managing speaking anxiety. Dive into tips that transform how you express yourself when put on the spot!
555 snips
Sep 9, 2025 • 21min
228. Negotiate Your Way to Success: Empathy, Mirroring, and Labeling
Chris Voss, a former lead FBI hostage negotiator and CEO of The Black Swan Group, shares his expert insights on communication under pressure. He delves into the transformative power of empathy and emotional intelligence in negotiation. Voss introduces practical techniques like labeling and mirroring, emphasizing the significance of tone and timing. He explains how silence can be strategically impactful and warns against the risks of overthinking. This session reveals how high-stakes negotiation skills can enhance everyday communication.
