Not everyone hears feedback the same way. David Rogier, founder and CEO of MasterClass learned this while working with 300+ world-class experts: creatives need high-level observations. Tell them, "My attention started to wane here," and let them solve it. But product and marketing folks? They need specifics. "This page isn't…
Verbal Communication danger zones are often overlooked when speaking about communication. Are your words sterile or accidentally negative? Using sterile words for communication can often lead a good conversation astray. Negative communication can weaken even the strongest message, often without us realizing it. In this conversation featuring Vanessa Van Edwards…
The greats don't coast. They obsess. David Rogier, founder and CEO of MasterClass spoke with 300 world-class instructors, and they all have one thing in common. Every single one kept asking how to get better, even after they'd already "made it." That's not the exception. That's why they're the best.…
The world's best don't reach the top and stop learning—they keep refining their craft. David Rogier, founder and CEO of MasterClass, has spent years sitting across from elite performers, athletes, artists, and entrepreneurs—and he’s discovered that excellence is less about talent than a relentless commitment to growth. In this episode…
"I was raised with the Golden Rule. And it got me in trouble." Vanessa Van Edwards on why "treat others as you'd want to be treated" can quietly keep you self-focused, especially at work, especially under pressure. Her fix: the Platinum Rule. Treat people as THEY want to be treated.…
Neural mapping plays a powerful role in communication because the words you choose can trigger existing mental associations in your audience. In this conversation featuring Vanessa Van Edwards on the Think Fast Talk Smart podcast hosted by Matt Abrahams, the discussion explores how communicators can intentionally activate neural mapping by…
The Platinum Rule is a powerful communication principle that encourages you to communicate the way others prefer to be communicated with, rather than treating everyone the way you would like to be treated. In this conversation featuring Vanessa Van Edwards on the Think Fast Talk Smart podcast hosted by Matt…
POV: you're about to present and your hands just... vanish into your pockets. That's under-signaling, and according to Vanessa Van Edwards, it's your brain's natural response to fear, not a personality flaw. The opposite extreme (over-nodding, over-gesturing) isn't the fix either. The real move? Purposeful movement. Are you an over-signaler…
Strategic communication goes far beyond the words you choose. Your body language often communicates just as much. In this conversation featuring Vanessa Van Edwards on the Think Fast Talk Smart podcast hosted by Matt Abrahams, the discussion explores the role of nonverbal communication, gestures, and body language, and the importance…
Everything about how you communicate - your hands, your word choices, even your calendar invites - is either building connection or quietly destroying it. In this episode of Think Fast Talk Smart podcast, host Matt Abrahams sits down with Vanessa Van Edwards - bestselling author, behavioral researcher, and expert on…
Here's something wild: when someone tells you a story, your brainwaves actually start to sync up with theirs. It's called cognitive entrainment, and in some studies, the neurological feedback is so close that researchers can't tell who was telling the story and who was listening. Humans are wired for story.…
That wave of nerves before you speak? It's not a problem. It's data. Matt Abrahams says the first step to managing speaking anxiety is naming it: this is normal, this is natural, and 85% of people feel it too. Once you acknowledge it, you get something back: agency. Space to…
Episode 300 isn't a milestone we're celebrating alone. It belongs to everyone who tuned in during a hard moment: the commute, the nerves before a big conversation, the realization that anxiety isn't something to fight, just energy to redirect. To everyone who sent a message, shared an episode, or simply…
In this special 300th episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, host Matt Abrahams celebrates a major milestone with a live Ask Matt Anything session featuring questions from listeners around the world—and a few from the team behind the show. He introduces a new communication framework, PREP (Point, Reason, Example, Point),…
In a crisis, you don't have to know everything. You just have to communicate. Farnaz Khadem's two non-negotiables for crisis communication: Truth and transparency, even when the truth is uncertain. And speed, because the window to get ahead of a narrative closes fast. Waiting until you have all the answers?…
Communication is never about how you speak. It’s about how it lands on your audience. In episode 299 of the Think Fast Talk Smart podcast, Matt Abrahams speaks to Farnaz Khadem. Farnaz is the Vice President of University Communications at Stanford University. She oversees Stanford’s global media relations, digital strategy,…
Here's a communication myth almost everyone believes: "We all went to school. We can read, write, and speak... so we can communicate." Not quite. Farnaz Khadem makes an important distinction: basic communication is a skill. Doing it well is an art. And the gap between the two is bigger than…
Communication is never about how you speak. It’s about how it lands on your audience. In episode 299 of the Think Fast Talk Smart podcast, Matt Abrahams speaks to Farnaz Khadem. Farnaz is the Vice President of University Communications at Stanford University. She oversees Stanford’s global media relations, digital strategy,…
300 conversations. Scientists. Executives. Nobel Prize winners. People who study communication for a living, and people who just live it every day. Three things they all taught us: nervousness isn't a sign you're unprepared, it's a sign you care. Listening will take you further than talking ever will. And the…
Technology change management has become one of the most important skills in a world shaped by rapid innovation and AI evolution. In this conversation featuring Sinéad Bovell on the Think Fast Talk Smart podcast hosted by Matt Abrahams, the discussion explores how individuals and organizations can improve at communicating change,…
Looking up to think is costing you credibility. When you look up mid-speech, your audience doesn't see concentration; they see distance. Maybe nerves. Maybe someone who doesn't want to be there. @MattAbrahams says the fix is simple: look down instead. It reads as thoughtful. It reads as present. And combined…
If you've ever stood at a podium wondering what on earth to do with your hands, this one's for you. Matt Abrahams says it's the number one question he gets asked about non-verbal presence. And his answer cuts through all the overthinking. Keep your hands neutral, down by your side…
How you carry yourself can shape how others perceive your confidence, credibility, and authenticity—often before you say a word. In this Quick Thinks episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Matt Abrahams shares practical, research-backed techniques for strengthening your presence through body language, posture, gestures, and eye contact. Learn how to…
AI education is becoming increasingly important as artificial intelligence impacts more aspects of work and daily life, but understanding AI shouldn't require a technical background. This conversation features Sinéad Bovell, who is famously known as an AI educator for the non-nerds. Along with business communication expert Matt Abrahams, she talks…
