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
323 snips
Dec 16, 2025 • 29min
250. How to Navigate Conflict: Tools For Productive Communication
In a riveting conversation, Jenn Wynn, an educator and podcaster focused on healing difficult conversations, shares frameworks for calming our nervous systems during conflict. Julia Minson, a Harvard decision scientist, introduces her HEAR framework to cultivate curiosity and understanding in disagreements. Together, they explore how to redefine conflict as an opportunity for connection and learning. Their practical tools aim to transform tough dialogues into meaningful exchanges—ideal for navigating both personal and professional tensions.
235 snips
Dec 11, 2025 • 18min
249. Quick Thinks: Rituals That Make Teamwork Work
Molly Sands, Head of the Teamwork Lab at Atlassian, dives into the rituals that enhance teamwork. She emphasizes the importance of regular goal reviews and transparent updates, suggesting that teams that pause to reflect can realign effectively. Molly introduces creative practices like collaboration hours and the role of a rotating Chief Vibes Officer to foster connection and fun. Her insights into designing for spontaneous collaboration and inclusive meetings highlight ways to boost psychological safety and performance in today's hybrid work environment.
387 snips
Dec 9, 2025 • 25min
248. Better Together: How to Supercharge Your Team’s Productivity
Molly Sands, a behavioral scientist and head of the Teamwork Lab at Atlassian, shares her insights on enhancing teamwork. She emphasizes the power of clear communication and aligning on goals for effective collaboration. Discussing the role of AI, she suggests treating it as a conversational partner rather than just a tool. Sands also introduces innovative meeting types and asynchronous video updates to streamline productivity. Her research highlights that well-aligned teams can achieve more together, making teamwork a dynamic blend of vision and strategy.
210 snips
Dec 2, 2025 • 17min
247. “Matt”er of Fact: Coaching on Feedback and Q&A
In this engaging discussion, Coach Matt, an AI persona crafted from Matt Abrahams' expertise, offers unique coaching techniques to reframe anxiety as energy for clarity. He introduces the insightful 'What–So What–Now What' feedback framework for providing constructive critique. Meanwhile, Chat Matt, a text-based AI bot, gives practical advice on creating impactful two-minute proposals and managing presentation anxiety. Together, they explore the fusion of human expertise and AI capability, showcasing a new frontier in communication training.
183 snips
Nov 27, 2025 • 23min
246. Shared Wisdom: How Communication Defines Culture and Builds Community
Sandy Pentland, a pioneering professor from MIT and author of *Shared Wisdom*, dives into how communication shapes culture and community. He discusses the importance of storytelling in transmitting cultural norms and fostering cohesive groups. Sandy also explores the concept of 'honest signals' in interactions, highlighting how they predict trust and friendship. He emphasizes the need for meaningful connections in remote work and the role of personal AI tools in enhancing community communication, arguing they can help make better societal decisions.
171 snips
Nov 25, 2025 • 20min
245. Mindful Messages: Leveraging the Power of Presence
Deepak Chopra, a physician and expert in integrative well-being, shares insights on the power of presence in communication. He emphasizes that conflict resolution hinges on 'conscious communication,' which fosters collaboration instead of competition. Chopra discusses how diversity and a shared vision lead to innovative solutions, while intention and integrity enhance our interactions. He also highlights criteria for effective messages—clarity, truthfulness, and usefulness—drawing inspiration from great communicators like Mandela and MLK.
149 snips
Nov 20, 2025 • 26min
244. Community Creates Change: Build Relationships That Actually Matter
Gina Bianchini, founder and CEO of Mighty Networks and author of 'Purpose: Design a Community and Change Your Life', dives deep into the transformative power of community. She explains how genuine connections offer mutual benefits, unlike one-way audience engagements. Gina shares strategies for finding the right community, emphasizing curiosity and storytelling. She highlights the concept of 'people magic' created through facilitation and discusses the importance of visualizing future stories to attract like-minded individuals. Discover how community is the key to achieving significant personal and collective growth.
388 snips
Nov 17, 2025 • 28min
243. Rethinks: How Lessons from Neuroscience Can Help You Communicate Confidently
Andrew Huberman, a Stanford neurobiology professor and host of the Huberman Lab podcast, dives deep into the nuances of communication and anxiety. He explains the autonomic continuum, revealing how excitement and anxiety trigger similar physiological responses. Huberman discusses techniques like eye movements and breathwork to manage stress effectively. He emphasizes reframing anxiety as excitement, utilizing dopamine to boost confidence, and practical practices like cold exposure to enhance resilience during high-pressure situations.
275 snips
Nov 13, 2025 • 14min
242. Tech Tools: The Power of Showing, Not Telling
In this engaging conversation, Joe Thomas, co-founder and CEO of Loom, shares insights on transforming communication in the workplace. He emphasizes the power of asynchronous video, advocating for the principle of 'show, don’t tell' to enhance clarity and connection. Joe outlines best practices for effective video messaging and highlights how authenticity fosters trust. He introduces the Do/Try/Consider framework to minimize misunderstandings, ultimately showcasing how video can revolutionize the way teams collaborate and communicate.
315 snips
Nov 11, 2025 • 24min
241. Team Spirit: How to Make Group Work Work
Colin Fisher, an associate professor at University College London and author of The Collective Edge, dives into the complexities of group dynamics. He explains how groups can inspire both creativity and conformity, emphasizing the need for effective communication to harness their potential. Fisher shares his insights on optimal group sizes, the importance of psychological safety, and the value of diversity within teams. He also discusses how to make meetings more productive by setting clear goals and norms while encouraging open dialogue.
