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Podcasts · Business · Education

Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Matt Abrahams, Think Fast Talk Smart

300 episodes

One of the most essential ingredients to success in business and life is effective communication.

More about the show

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 Monday and Thursday for new episodes. Subscribe now to unlock your potential as a thoughtful, impactful communicator. Learn more and sign up for our Newsletter at fastersmarter.io.

Episodes page 2 of 6

  1. 287. Give It a Rest to Do Your Best: The Sleep Habits That Catalyze Your Communication

    · 26 min

    If you want to do your best, you’d better get your rest. The quality of your sleep fundamentally affects the quality of your communication. Communicating well, Dr. Cheri Mah says, starts with being well-rested.…

  2. 286. Driven to Succeed: Turn Doubt Into Your Competitive Advantage

    · 24 min

    Confidence, clarity, and speaking when it matters. Confident communication isn’t about being the loudest in the room. For Susie Wolff, it’s about displaying assurance before you even open your mouth. Wolff is a…

  3. 285. Think Inside the Box: How Constraints Spark Creativity and Communication

    · 21 min

    The secret to better communication isn’t adding more—it’s knowing what to leave out. Communication isn’t clearer when you say more — it’s clearer when you say less. As David Epstein puts it, we’re wired to keep adding,…

  4. How To Speak Up — When You Don’t Want To | From TED Business

    · 16 min · Bonus

    What stops you from speaking up when it matters most? This week on Think Fast Talk Smart, we’re featuring a special episode from TED Business. Healthcare leader Sarah Crawford-Bohl offers a practical, compassionate…

  5. 284. Hear Me Out: How Understanding Accents—Ours & Others—Improves Communication

    · 22 min

    Understanding the accent you didn’t know you had. Whether communicating in our mother tongue or practicing a new language, we all speak with an accent. But that’s not all, says Valerie Fridland — we hear with an accent…

  6. 283. Ask Matt Anything: Authenticity, Anxiety, and Answering Well

    · 19 min

    Simple strategies to think faster, stay authentic, and communicate with confidence. How do you stay genuine without sounding rehearsed? What helps when your thoughts are moving faster than your words? And how can you…

  7. 282. The Language of Luck: Why Fortune Favors Those Who Pay Attention

    · 24 min

    If you can make conversation, you can make your own luck. Good communication isn’t passive. And good luck, says Tina Seelig, is the same. There’s “what the world gives us,” and then there’s “how we respond to it.”…

  8. 281. Be Clear, Be Concise, Be Remembered: Masters of Scale

    · 37 min

    Great communication isn’t about saying more—it’s about making what you say matter. If we want to communicate more effectively, we need to treat communication less like a habit—and more like a series of intentional…

  9. 280. Stay Relevant: Future Proof Your Career in an AI World

    · 25 min

    Work is changing, not ending—what it takes to stay relevant in an AI-driven world. Careers aren’t ladders anymore — they’re climbing walls. As Aneesh Raman puts it, “work is changing, not ending,” and success today…

  10. 279. Rethinks: How to Leverage What People Already Want

    · 39 min

    How to turn latent motivation into fuel for change. If you want to be a changemaker, you’ll have to convince others to join your cause. But according to Dan Heath, persuading your audience isn’t about creating new…

  11. 278. How Do You Mean? It’s Not What You Say, It’s How You Say It

    · 22 min

    Whatever your message, the manner in which you deliver it is just as important. You found the right words. You picked the right time to say them. You even tailored them to your audience. Why did your message fall…

  12. 277. How Small Choices Shape Better Communication

    · 21 min

    Real change isn’t about knowing what to do — it’s about actually doing it, one small choice at a time. Change doesn’t come from one big breakthrough. It comes from the small choices we make over and over — often in…

  13. 276. Dead End Goals: Are Your Ambitions Actually Leading You Toward Meaning?

    · 21 min

    The goals we set often lead us away from the meaning we ultimately seek. Meaning in life isn’t a concrete point we can route toward. That’s why we need what Arthur Brooks calls “proxy goals” — and much better ones…

  14. 275. Cracking the Code: Learn The Unspoken Rules of Workplace Success

    · 22 min

    Why mastering unspoken workplace communication is essential to long-term career success. Succeeding at work doesn’t just depend on how hard you work or how smart you are. According to Erin McGoff, it often comes down…

  15. 274. Choose Connection Over Perfection: Why Happiness Starts with Better Communication

    · 21 min

    How to communicate for deeper connection—and greater happiness. Happiness isn’t just a feeling—it’s something you can actively shape through how you think, connect, and communicate. Sonja Lyubomirsky, a distinguished…

  16. 273. Quick Thinks: How to Create Messages People Remember

    · 17 min

    Memorable communication isn’t about saying more—it’s making the right idea stick. No matter how compelling a presentation feels in the moment, most of what you say won’t last in your audience’s memory. The key isn’t…

  17. 272. Say What Sticks: The Neuroscience of Memorable Communication

    · 20 min

    People are forgetful. Here’s how to make your messages more memorable. After any presentation, your audience will forget about 90% of what you said. That’s okay, says Carmen Simon — just make sure they remember the…

  18. 271. Rethinks: The Key to Lasting Behavior Change

    · 20 min

    The secret to building habits that stick. Whether you want to read more books or exercise more regularly, BJ Fogg has good news. “Habits are easier to form than most people think,” he says, “If you do it in the right…

  19. 270. Make Belief: The Mindset Shifts That Make Your Communication Stronger

    · 22 min

    Why beliefs can either cap our potential or push us toward possibility. What you believe about yourself could be holding you back. Fortunately, Nir Eyal says beliefs aren’t truths — and you can choose new ones. Eyal…

  20. 269. Ask Matt Anything: Bring Clarity to Complicated Conversations

    · 20 min

    Practical insights to help you communicate with more intention in everyday moments. What’s the difference between reacting and responding? How do you move from memorizing your words to truly conversing in the moment?…

  21. 268. Going Viral: How To Balance Authenticity and Spectacle

    · 19 min

    How to communicate who you are online. You may not think of yourself as a content creator, but in the creator economy, Angèle Christin says we all have to learn how to communicate who we are online. Christin is an…

  22. 267. Rethinks: Why Authenticity Leads to Better Communication

    · 23 min

    Why being true to yourself enables you to show up better for others. From the way you communicate, to the way you build your life and career, Graham Weaver, MBA ’99, says it’s about “giving yourself permission to…

  23. 266. Your Brain Has Too Many Tabs Open: Managing the Voice in Your Head

    · 23 min

    How to turn down the chatter of negative self-talk. If you want to have better conversations with others, Ethan Kross says you first have to quiet down the chatter in your own head. A professor, researcher, and…

  24. 265. Complexity to Connection: Humanizing High-Stakes Communication

    · 20 min

    How to turn complexity into connection through clear communication. Communication in high-stakes moments isn’t about saying more — it’s about connecting better. For Jonathan Berek and Phil Polakoff, the most effective…

  25. 264. Show Your Receipts: Communicating in a Post-Truth World

    · 21 min

    Why curiosity is the best way to start a conversation. No matter how wide political, cultural, and generational divides seem to grow, Fareed Zakaria is convinced: communication has the power to connect. Zakaria is…

  26. 263. Smart Isn’t the Same as Clear: How to Sharpen Your Ideas

    · 18 min

    Why clarity and authenticity matter more than ever in modern communication. Clear communication in the age of likes, LLMs, and constant noise isn’t about talking more. For Nick Thompson, it’s about being unmistakably…

  27. 262. Own the Room: How Voice, Breath, and Body Work Together

    · 22 min

    How to tap the full power of your voice. Being present in communication isn’t just mental. It’s about the physical energy you bring into a space — particularly, says Patsy Rodenburg, the presence of your voice. “The…

  28. 261. Meetings With a Point: How to Design For Better Decisions

    · 20 min

    How to design meetings with purpose so they actually move work forward. Meetings are a necessary part of work. But for many people, they’re also a major source of frustration. According to Rebecca Hinds, meetings…

  29. 260. From Role To Soul: The Four Ingredients For Mastering Meaning

    · 19 min

    Why your best life isn’t about having the right answers, but about asking the right questions. Finding meaning and purpose in life isn’t about having all the answers. For Bill Burnett and Dave Evans, it’s about having…

  30. 259. Quick Thinks: Task-Focused to People-Focused—A Smarter Way to Communicate

    · 17 min

    How “spaciousness” helps teams move beyond busywork — and build the conditions for honest conversation. “We’re just so busy right now” is one of the most common reasons cultures don’t change — and it’s exactly what…

  31. 258. When Power Talks, People Walk: Why Leaders Don’t Hear What Matters Most

    · 24 min

    Why it’s critical to say what needs to be said — and listen when others do the same. Speak out, listen up — these are Megan Reitz’s core pillars of workplace communication. According to her, healthy organizations are…

  32. 257. Move Your Audience: Lessons From MLK You Should Use

    · 21 min

    Why it’s not about being born a great communicator, but becoming one. The greatest communicators aren’t always great from the start. As Lerone Martin knows, even the great Martin Luther King Jr. had to practice before…

  33. 256. Be Kind: The Most Overlooked Driver of Success

    · 22 min

    Why being kind is the best investment. Can kindness be a company’s competitive advantage? Bonnie Hayden Cheng says yes — and she’s got a business metric to prove it: return on kindness. Cheng is a professor of…

  34. 255. How Leaders Sound Smart Without Saying Too Much

    · 24 min

    The keys to communicating clarity, not confusion. What separates communicators who clarify from those who confuse? The ability to “Simplify complexity,” says Adam Bryant. “I don't think you can be an effective leader…

  35. 254. Start Fresh: How Framing, Timing, and Talk Can Improve Your Finances

    · 22 min

    How to have more open conversations about money. Talking about money is taboo for many people. But according to Wendy De La Rosa, financial well-being only starts when we break the silence around finance. De La Rosa…

  36. 253. Top 10: The Best Communication Tips from 2025

    · 23 min

    Our 10 favorite communication insights from 2025. The most transformative communication insights are the ones we actually remember to use. That’s why host Matt Abrahams is taking stock of his favorite communication…

  37. 252. Rethinks: How to Make Complex Ideas Accessible

    · 13 min

    Presenting complex information for your audience to understand. As communicators, we often need to take complex information (e.g., financial, technical, or scientific) and make it more understandable for our audience…

  38. 251. How to Stop Performing and Start Communicating with Presence

    · 25 min

    Why good communication requires presence, not performance. Effective communication isn't about perfecting your performance. According to Dr. Kate Mason, it's about being powerfully present. Mason is a world champion…

  39. 250. How to Navigate Conflict: Tools For Productive Communication

    · 25 min

    Celebrate our 250th episode with expert strategies that make tough conversations easier — and more meaningful. Some of the most meaningful shifts in how we communicate come from the moments that challenge us the most.…

  40. 249. Quick Thinks: Rituals That Make Teamwork Work

    · 15 min

    The right rituals—and the right conversations—can transform how your team collaborates. Strong collaboration starts with thoughtful practices and clear communication. As Molly Sands, Head of the Teamwork Lab at…

  41. 248. Better Together: How to Supercharge Your Team’s Productivity

    · 22 min

    The secret to effective teamwork and collaboration. To collaborate, we have to communicate. As Molly Sands knows, “The more that we can get on the same page, the more effective we are.” Sands is a behavioral…

  42. 247. “Matt”er of Fact: Coaching on Feedback and Q&A

    · 14 min

    Two new Think Fast Talk Smart AI tools put communication skills to the test in real time. Technology promises many things, but few experiments illustrate its potential more vividly than a coach in conversation with…

  43. 246. Shared Wisdom: How Communication Defines Culture and Builds Community

    · 20 min

    Why good communication is the key to good communities. Community and communication go hand-in-hand. For Sandy Pentland, the culture and cohesion of any group “has to do with the stories [people] tell each other.”…

  44. 244. Community Creates Change: Build Relationships That Actually Matter

    · 23 min

    Why community is the most powerful tool for transformation. Community isn't just a feel-good buzzword. According to Gina Bianchini, it's a catalyst for personal and collective transformation. Bianchini is the CEO and…

  45. 243. Rethinks: How Lessons from Neuroscience Can Help You Communicate Confidently

    · 25 min

    Reduce speaking anxiety and achieve your communication goals. “There’s no difference between the physiological response to something that you’re excited about and something that you’re nervous about or dreading,” says…

  46. 242. Tech Tools: The Power of Showing, Not Telling

    · 12 min

    Transform how you communicate with tools that make your message stick. Sometimes the best way to explain an idea is to show it. That’s why Loom was built — to make communication more visual, authentic, and efficient.…

  47. 241. Team Spirit: How to Make Group Work Work

    · 21 min

    How to unlock the power of groups through collective communication. They say teamwork makes the dream work. But as Colin Fisher knows, unlocking the power of groups requires a specific kind of collective…

  48. 240. Belief It or Not: How to Rewrite the Narratives That Hold You Back

    · 25 min

    How to identify and rewrite the limiting beliefs holding you back. Achieving what you want in life doesn’t just hinge on what you believe about your future. According to Muriel Wilkins, it has just as much to do with…

  49. 239. Tech Tools: How Smarter Scheduling Leads to Stronger Communication

    · 11 min

    Transform how you communicate with tools that make your message stick. Meetings are where collaboration happens — but too often, scheduling them feels like the biggest barrier to meaningful connection. That’s why…

  50. 238. Ask Matt Anything: Why Listening Might Be Your Most Powerful Skill

    · 23 min

    When we truly listen, every conversation changes — including the one with ourselves. Listening isn’t about waiting for your turn to speak — it’s about being present enough to truly hear. In a world full of noise,…

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