Join Matt Abrahams, a lecturer of Strategic Communication at Stanford Graduate School of Business, as he sits down with experts in the field to discuss real-world challenges.
The official website for Think Fast Talk Smart: The Podcast has moved. Listeners can access additional episode content, transcripts, and a wealth of extra resources at the new website.
Featured Episodes
Season Five
Idea Stories Opensearch
August 27, 2024
Audio
Communicating the Future: Defining Where We Want AI to Take Us
In this episode, Russ Altman shares his optimism about human connection and technological progress.
August 20, 2024
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Creative Communication: How Our Design Choices Illustrate Our Values
In this episode, Scott Doorley explains why design is a conversation about how we want the world to be.
August 13, 2024
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Can We Be Candid? How to Communicate Clearly and Directly
In this episode, Susan Rice touts the necessity of frankness, especially when negotiating.
August 06, 2024
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Directive Speech vs. Dialogue: How Leaders Communicate with Clarity, Balance
In this “best of” podcast episode, Stanford president Jon Levin shares his thoughts on effective communication.
July 30, 2024
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Listen Up, Leaders: A Record-Setting Coach’s Guide to Communication
In this episode, Tara VanDerveer shares her philosophy and strategies around leadership and communication.
July 16, 2024
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Get Hired: How the Right Communication Can Advance Your Career
In this episode, Andrew Seaman shares how to communicate who you are in your resume, on your profile, and in the interview.
July 10, 2024
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Communication Tips from the Classroom and Around the World
In this 150th episode, Matt Abrahams, Shawon Jackson, and podcast listeners discuss their favorite pieces of communication advice.
June 25, 2024
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Conviction and Compassion: How to Have Hard Conversations
In this episode, Irv Grousbeck shares how to navigate hard conversations with conviction and compassion.
May 29, 2024
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Communicating Through Conflict: How to Get Along with Anyone
In this episode, Amy Gallo shares how disagreements, if reframed, can lead to more productive outcomes.
May 21, 2024
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The Art of Saying No: How Closing the Wrong Doors Helps You Open the Right Ones
In this episode, Ilya Strebulaev shares how a venture capitalist’s mindset can help us make better decisions.
Season Four
Idea Stories Opensearch
August 30, 2023
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How to Change: Building Better Habits and Behaviors (And Getting Out of Your Own Way)
In this podcast episode, Katy Milkman shares how we can make our goals more achievable by making reaching them more enjoyable.
August 22, 2023
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Simple Is a Superpower: How to Communicate Any Idea to Any Audience
In this episode, Carmine Gallo shares how intentional, straightforward messaging helps you connect with others and get things done.
August 15, 2023
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Create a Presence: How to Communicate in a Way Others Can Feel
In this episode, Muriel Wilkins shares how the best communicators create a strong presence.
August 08, 2023
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We Belong Together: How Communication Fuels Connection and Community
In this episode, Geoffrey Cohen shares how communication can help us find the connection we crave and need.
August 01, 2023
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Talk Less, Say More: How to Kick The Habit of Over-talking
In this episode, Dan Lyons says it’s time we all zipped it.
July 18, 2023
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Give It to Me Straight: The Power of Honest, Constructive Feedback
In this episode, David Dodson shares how workplace feedback can be your company’s secret weapon.
July 11, 2023
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No Rules, No Trust: How Accountability Shapes Communication
In this episode, Anat Admati explains why we can’t build trust without a solid foundation of rules.
June 27, 2023
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Rock and Role: How Assigning Gender to Inanimate Objects Influences Us
In this episode, Ashley Martin explains how ideas about gender affect our interactions.
June 20, 2023
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The Power of No: How Boundaries Help Us Live More Empowered Lives
In this episode, Vanessa Patrick shares how saying no empowers us to live the lives we want.
June 07, 2023
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All the Feels: The Personal and Professional Power of Emotional Awareness
In this episode, Celine Teoh shares why deep connection with others starts by connecting more deeply with ourselves.
Season Three
Idea Stories Opensearch
August 17, 2022
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Ties That Bind: Why Remote Teams Need the Right Connection
In this episode, Professor Glenn Carroll and his colleague Michael Arena discuss innovation in a hybrid work environment.
July 19, 2022
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The Price of Cheap Talk: What Economics Teaches Us About Communication
In this episode, we explore how economic concepts show up in everyday communication.
June 22, 2022
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Courage, Belonging, Ambiguity and Data: How to Design Your Communication for Success
In this episode, we dive into four different themes that will help your message stand out.
June 07, 2022
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Communicating Uncertainty: How to Connect With Your Audience, Even When The Answers Aren’t Clear
In this podcast episode, we discuss how being transparent is crucial to earning trust.
May 31, 2022
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From Dreaming to Doing: How We Set and Achieve Goals
In this episode, we look at an essential ingredient of human behavior: motivation.
May 10, 2022
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Forgiveness: How the Right Communication Repairs Relationships
In this podcast episode, we look at the role of forgiveness in healthy communication.
April 28, 2022
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“Are You Listening?” How to Stay Open and Curious to Other People’s Ideas
In this episode, we discuss the importance of really hearing where others are coming from.
April 12, 2022
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Lean Messaging: How Simple Messages Really Stick
In this podcast episode, a veteran marketer and entrepreneur shares his approach to communicating for startup success.
March 29, 2022
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Ideas & Empathy: How to Design and Communicate with Others in Mind
In this podcast episode, we explore how design and communication both start with the same ingredient: empathy.
March 14, 2022
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Leadership and Ethics: How to Communicate Your Core Values
On this podcast episode, we discuss the keys to making ethical decisions in your professional and personal life.
Season Two
Idea Stories Opensearch
August 19, 2021
Audio
The New Normal: How Hybrid Work Actually Works
In this podcast episode, we discuss the effectiveness of communicating in a hybrid work environment.
August 05, 2021
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Be Better: How Communication Catalyzes Business Transformation
In this podcast episode, we learn how communication is critical for every function inside of an organization.
July 15, 2021
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Perfecting Teamwork: Building High-Performing Teams by Encouraging Learning
In this podcast episode, we learn how to break down professional silos and hierarchies in teams.
June 25, 2021
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Leading from the Hot Seat: How to Communicate under Pressure
In this podcast episode, we discuss how to communicate effectively during a crisis.
June 03, 2021
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How We Gain — or Give Away — Authority While Speaking
In this podcast episode, we discuss the body language and word choices that can help you “power up” or “power down” your communication.
May 14, 2021
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Hacking Your Speaking Anxiety: How Lessons from Neuroscience Can Help You Communicate Confidently
In this podcast episode, we discuss actions you can take to reduce speaking anxiety and achieve your communication goals.
April 23, 2021
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Speech That Empowers: How to Encourage Growth and Resilience in a Younger Audience
In this podcast episode, we discuss best practices when inspiring young people to seize responsibility.
April 19, 2021
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Quick Thinks: How to Shine Online
We’ve compiled top insights and advice from previous episodes to help you cultivate a compelling professional presence through the screen.
April 01, 2021
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Dissolve Disagreements: How Communication Impacts Conflict
In this podcast episode, we discuss how forms of “psychological distancing” can be used to build trust and encourage tolerance.
March 12, 2021
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Question Everything: Why Curiosity Is Communication’s Secret Weapon
In this podcast episode, we discuss how asking strong questions helps you build trust and connect with your audience.
Season One
Idea Stories Opensearch
August 28, 2020
Audio
Managing in the Moment: How to Get Comfortable with Being Uncomfortable
In this episode, we discuss how to embrace failure and incorporate play into work.
August 14, 2020
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Think Fast: You Asked, We Answered
In this episode, we address audience questions that range from how to handle interrupters to how to craft an authentic, clear email.
July 31, 2020
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Quick Think: How to Use Body Language When Confronting Objections
In this bonus episode, Stanford GSB lecturers share advice on how to position yourself when met with skepticism from your audience.
July 17, 2020
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The Art of Negotiation: How to Get More of What You Want
In this podcast episode, we discuss the common mistakes people make during high stakes communication and how to effectively approach these conversations.
July 06, 2020
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Be Better at Work: How to Communicate Better with Coworkers and Employees
In this podcast episode, two experts discuss where leaders should and shouldn’t focus their attention when it comes to running group communication.
June 22, 2020
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Make ’Em Laugh: How Humor Can Be the Secret Weapon in Your Communication
In this podcast episode, we dissect how to use humor to build bonds in business and in life.
May 26, 2020
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The Science of Influence: How to Persuade Others and Hold Their Attention
In this podcast episode, we discuss communication techniques that can help open people up to your ideas.
May 07, 2020
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High-Stakes Communication: How to Manage Anxiety Speaking in Front of Others
In this podcast episode, Matt Abrahams shares research-supported techniques for gaining confidence in high-stakes communication situations.
April 24, 2020
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Quick Thinks: How Being Present Improves Communication
In this “Quick Thinks” podcast episode, Stanford improv experts share advice on getting out of our heads and into the moment at hand.
April 10, 2020
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Don’t Get Lost in Translation: How Non-Native Speakers Can Communicate with Confidence
On this podcast episode, host Matt Abrahams speaks with Kenneth Romeo on specific tactics that non-native English speakers can use to handle in-the-moment challenges.
Join Matt Abrahams, lecturer in strategic communication, as he sits down with experts from across campus to discuss public speaking anxiety, speaking off the cuff, nailing a Q&A, and more.