When we look at the world through numbers, our brains can’t always compute the full picture, says Chip Heath, co-author of Making Numbers Count. On this episode, this New York Times bestselling author (Made to Stick, Switch) shares how the right numbers told the right way can be absolutely illuminating. The trick is translating those raw numbers and stats into a language that is more transparent and meaningful, and, ultimately, easier for our brains to understand. Why is this important? Data drives decisions in our lives, as well as for society, whether that’s tackling climate change, making capital investments, or urging for change. When employed correctly, those numbers can bring about powerful “a-ha” moments. GUEST: Bestselling author Chip Heath, Making Numbers CountAs an academic, strategist, and author, Chip Heath has spent his career helping people make their ideas and messages stick. He’s the bestselling author, along with his brother, Dan, of several books, including, Made to Stick and Switch. Their books have sold more than 3 million copies worldwide and have been translated into 33 languages. His latest book, with co-author Karla Starr, Making Numbers Count: The Art and Science of Communicating Numbers, provides practical tools and tips to help anyone “speaking” numbers to create more compelling messages and better engage with their audiences. Heath is a professor emeritus in the organizational behavior at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, where he has taught since 2000. He also has helped hundreds of clients develop ideas and messages that stick. He lives with his family in Los Gatos, California. LINKS:Making Numbers CountHeath Brothers publications Follow us on Twitter @speakgoodpodCheck out our blogGot an episode idea?

At 29, as a newly minted physician in the psychiatry residency program at Columbia University, Dr. Carl Erik Fisher had much to look forward to – that is until his alcohol addiction landed him in New York City’s Bellevue hospital and nearly cost him everything. In this episode, we talk with him about that experience and how it inspired his new book, The Urge: Our History of Addiction. In it, he shares his personal experience with addiction and recovery, and offers a comprehensive look at how society has defined, treated, and tried to control addictive behavior for centuries. Is there a better way to think about addiction? And, can that help us to create more compassionate and effective treatments and strategies? GUEST: Dr. Carl Erik Fisher, Author, The Urge: Our History of AddictionGUEST BIO:Dr. Carl Erik Fisher is the author of The Urge: Our History of Addiction, which explores how, over the centuries, society has historically, philosophically, scientifically, and socially grappled with the nature of addiction, its complexity, and how to treat it. In the book, he draws on his experiences as an addiction physician, bioethicist, and assistant professor of clinical psychiatry at Columbia, as well as an alcoholic in recovery, as he examines treatments and strategies that have helped, as well as hurt, those struggling with addiction. He has also written for various publications, including Nautilus, Slate, Scientific American MIND, and other outlets. His clinical work focuses on applications of meditation and mindfulness. He also hosts the podcast Flourishing After Addiction, an interview series focused on addiction and recovery. Born and raised in New Jersey, he  lives between Brooklyn, New York, and Lisbon, Portugal, with his partner and son.LINKS:The Urge: Our History of Addiction  (https://www.carlerikfisher.com/book)Twitter, Instagram: @DrCarlErik Dr. Carl Erik Fisher on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/DrCarlErik/)Flourishing After Addiction podcast (https://www.carlerikfisher.com/flourishing)Follow us on Twitter @speakgoodpodCheck out our blogGot an episode idea?

Is the popular expression “fake it till you make it” a harmless meme or bad advice for those who follow it? Our guest Sabrina Horn sees it as problematic for society and business leaders, but does she ever think “faking it” has its place in business? What’s the difference between a healthy stretching of the truth and outright fraud? Are there benefits to promising more than you think you can deliver and then delivering on those promises? How does such an accomplishment affect an individual’s confidence and a company’s growth? In this episode, we ask her those questions and more.GUEST BIO: Sabrina Horn is the author of the recent bestseller Make It, Don’t Fake It: Leading with Authenticity for Real Business Success. The book is based on the lessons she learned during her highly successful 25-year career as the founder, CEO, and president of Horn Group, as well as an executive adviser. With a bachelor’s degree in American Studies from Hobart/William Smith Colleges, and a master’s in public relations from Boston University, she launched – at the age of 29 – the Horn Group, the well-known U.S. tech communications agency that was based in Silicon Valley. The firm counselled thousands of tech executives and their companies through brand transformation, global expansion, IPOs and acquisitions, and crises. Sabrina sold the business in 2015 to the global marketing agency Finn Partners. Today, this mother of two is CEO of HORN Strategy LLC, a consulting firm focused on helping entrepreneurs and CEOS navigate the early stages of their companies.LINKS:Sabrina's website Sabrina's Book on Amazon: Make It, Don’t Fake It: Leading with Authenticity for Real Business SuccessFollow us on Twitter @speakgoodpodCheck out our blogGot an episode idea?

Do you often say yes when you want to say F*ck no!? Guest Sarah Knight wants you to stop doing that – and she has the tools and strategies to show you how. In this episode, we talk about her latest book F*ck No! How to Stop Saying Yes When You Can’t, You Shouldn’t, or You Just Don’t Want To and how it relates to the powerful pull of reciprocity. In our society, social IOUs are a deeply entrenched concept. If you do something for me, then I’ll do something for you. But what if that “something” is “something” you don’t want to do? And what if it keeps you from doing another something that you want to do? Sarah shares how she learned to eliminate the guilt and say “No!” with confidence and conviction.GUEST BIO:Sarah Knight is the author F*ck No! How to Stop Saying Yes When You Can’t, You Shouldn’t, or You Just Don’t Want To. It’s the latest book in her No F*cks Given Guides, which have sold more than 3 million copies worldwide. She’s gained fans and earned critical praise for her profane approach, which she teams with practical knowledge. A Harvard graduate, Sarah was a top book editor in New York City where she worked with bestselling authors Gillian Flynn, David Javerbaum, and many others. In 2015, she left her corporate job, moved to the Caribbean, and published her first book in the series, The Life-Changing Magic of Not Giving a F*ck, which is currently in development as a major motion picture. Her TEDx Talk on the subject has nearly 10 million views, and she is in demand as a speaker. She’s also the host of the popular podcast No F*cks Given. Sarah lives in the Dominican Republic with her husband and two rescue cats, Gladys and Mister Stussy.LINKS:Check out Sarah's podcast No F*cks GivenFollow us on Twitter @speakgoodpodCheck out our blogGot an episode idea?

Chances are, at some point, you've felt the sting of not fitting in. If you're a kid, this can be a big blow to your confidence and spirit. What’s a parent to do? If you are Dr. Chris Yandle, you write notes – lots of them. In this episode, Chris shares how his notes to his daughter Addison helped her through a tough year at school. Thanks to social media, his pithy expressions of encouragement, advice, and wisdom (#DadLunchNotes) soon gained a large following – and eventually became a book. Can a few good words help you through the tougher times in your life? If you are lucky enough, they just might.GUEST BIO: Dr. Chris Yandle is the author of Lucky Enough: A Year of a Dad’s Daily Notes of Encouragement and Life Lessons to His Daughter, a book in which he shares more than 150 notes he wrote to his daughter Addison during her fourth-grade year. He has continued to write notes to Addison, and his son Jackson, gaining fans around the world through the book and social media. He is a former college athletics administrator and an award-winning public relations professional. He has spent the majority of his career as a communications professional with NCAA Division I college athletics programs – including the University of Miami and Georgia Tech. Earlier this year, this native of South Louisiana became the assistant commissioner for public affairs with the Louisiana Board of Regents.LINKS:Lucky Enough: A Year of a Dad’s Daily Notes of Encouragement and Life Lessons to His DaughterChris' website Dr. Chris YandleFollow us on Twitter @speakgoodpodCheck out our blogGot an episode idea?

Exploring the dangers of conspiracy theories and their connection to violence. Strategies for changing a misinformed mind. Challenges of altering beliefs and the importance of effective presentations. Creating doubt and providing information from trusted sources. Website, newsletter, and calls to action.

Grace – it’s a virtue one doesn’t often see during divisive on-air political debates or in the caustic callouts flung casually and quickly in social media. Our guest, Kirsten Powers, a former political commentator for Fox News and current political analyst for CNN, knows this world well and has something to say about it. She believes in the transformative power of grace when it comes to fostering more civil discourse. In this episode, we talk with her about her new book, Saving Grace: Speak Your Truth, Stay Centered and Learn to Coexist with People Who Drive You Nuts, and the new template she proposes for more civil and compassionate political engagement.Kirsten Powers is a political analyst, bestselling author, a USA Today columnist, and frequent contributor to many other media outlets. Previously a political analyst for Fox News, she’s been the senior political analyst at CNN since 2016, where she appears regularly on Anderson Cooper 360, CNN Tonight with Don Lemon, and The Lead with Jake Tapper. A graduate of the University of Maryland-College Park, she started her career working in the Clinton administration, handling media strategy for the U.S. trade representative. She moved on to AOL, where she was vice president for international communications, overseeing the day-to-day communications of AOL businesses outside the United States. She grew up in Fairbanks, Alaska, and currently resides in Washington, D.C.Kirsten's Book: Saving Grace: Speak Your Truth, Stay Centered, and Learn to Coexist with People Who Drive You Nuts Speak Good Pod LinksFollow us on Twitter @speakgoodpodCheck out our blogGot an episode idea?

Peanut gallery. Master bedroom. Wheelchair bound. Birth defect.   What do these terms have in common? They all have the power to offend – the first two because of their racist origins and the next two because they're often considered ableist.  As our guest Bella De Soriano points out, the words we use have the power to make people sick - but also to heal. In her work with Healthline Media, De Soriano recently created The Conscious Language Guide to improve patient-provider communication and advance their work toward health equity. Through conscious language, we can ensure better health outcomes for everyone. In this episode, we’ll talk about how an ever-evolving language can create challenges, as well opportunities that can bring everyone closer together.GUEST: Bella De Soriano, Healthline Media’s Senior Public Health Integrity Manager, Medical AffairsGUEST BIO: Bella De Soriano is the senior public health integrity manager for Healthline Media’s Medical Affairs team. She has spent nearly 10 years focused on health equity in research and community settings. Along with Healthline Media’s editorial team, she created The Conscious Language Guide as part of a broader Conscious Language Initiative to ensure Healthline Media’s content is nonjudgmental and inclusive of communities that have historically been excluded. Working across all of Healthline’s brands (Healthline.com, MedicalNewsToday.com, Greatist.com, and PsychCentral.com), De Soriano and her colleagues strive to make content more accessible and inclusive to more people, by addressing systemic bias and health disparities.LINKS:Conscious Language Guide – Healthline’s resource guide for health equity in language.Diversity Style Guide – A resource for journalists and media professionals.UCSF Transgender Clinic (Terminology) – Guidelines for the care of transgender and gender nonbinary people.National Center on Disability and Journalism – A comprehensive disability language style guide.Autism Self Advocacy Network – Resources include books, guides, and articles.National Association of Black Journalists – Stylebook for newsrooms and others, including students, educators, and researchers.National Association of Hispanic Journalists – Cultural Competence HandbookSpeak Good Pod LinksFollow us on Twitter @speakgoodpodCheck out our blogGot an episode idea?

Should U.S. colleges and universities be encouraging more international students to fill their seats? Or, should U.S. applicants be prioritized? Dr. Rajika Bhandari joins us to talk about the shifting political and public sentiments that have influenced the way we think about international students – and immigrants – and the value they bring to America’s overall success. A former international student, Bhandari’s latest book, “America Calling: A Foreign Student in a Country of Possibility,” is a story about her experiences, as well as an insightful analysis about why international students are so important to America’s future.  GUEST BIO: An author, a first-generation immigrant, and Indian American, Dr. Rajika Bhandari is an international higher education expert and a scholar-practitioner with more than 25 years of executive and management experience. She came to the United States in 1992 as an international student in pursuit of a doctorate in psychology. She has since become a mentor to young professionals and is a leader in the study of access and equity to education. She founded Rajika Bhandari Advisors to offer strategic consulting to higher education institutions, nonprofits, multilateral organizations, and governmental agencies. Website Rajika Bhandari Advisors The book: America Calling: A Foreign Student in a Country of Possibility LINKS: Follow us on Twitter @speakgoodpod Check out our blog Got an episode idea?   

With polarization and deeply entrenched ideology threatening our ability to truly listen to one another, is civil discourse dead? Our guest John Donvan isn’t ready to admit defeat just yet. In our latest episode, the host and moderator of the Intelligence Squared U.S. debate series shares how he’s seen firsthand how reasoned and constructive discourse can make us all smarter. By focusing on facts, reason, and a respect of other viewpoints, you not only become a better debater, but you may even persuade the most intractable listeners to your way of thinking.GUEST BIO:GUEST BIO:Since 2008, John Donvan has moderated the Intelligence Squared U.S. debate series, which was launched in 2006 with the intent of restoring critical thinking and civility in public discourse through thought-provoking conversations about a wide variety of subjects. Donvan is a veteran network correspondent for ABC, CNN, and PBS, having served in multiple overseas assignments in Moscow, Amman, Jerusalem, and London. He’s a four-time Emmy Award winner, as well as a bestselling author. His 2016 book, In a Different Key: The Story of Autism, who he co-authored with Caren Zucker, was a finalist for the 2017 Pulitzer Prize.LINKS:DebatesIntelligence Squared U.S. — You can view previous debates on the website.“Genetically Modify Food” debate, Dec. 3, 2014 AppsIntelligence Squared U.S. app on Google Play Intelligence Squared U.S. app on App StorePodcasts:IQ2US DebatesYouTube Channel Follow us on Twitter @speakgoodpodCheck out our blogGot an episode idea?