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.

  • 24 minutes 46 seconds
    274. Choose Connection Over Perfection: Why Happiness Starts with Better Communication

    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 professor of psychology at the University of California, Riverside and co-author of How to Feel Loved: The Five Mindsets That Get You More of What Matters Most, defines happiness as two key components: “being happy in your life and being happy with your life.” And while many people separate happiness from meaning or purpose, she explains that “they almost always go together.” Her research shows how the small habits we practice—like gratitude—can have a powerful effect, helping to “neutralize negative emotions” and shift how we see our lives. 


    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Lyubomirsky and host Matt Abrahams explore the science of wellbeing and the habits that help us feel more fulfilled. From gratitude practices to breaking free from the comparison trap, they share practical strategies for boosting happiness and explain why connection isn’t just about being loved, but truly “feeling loved.”

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (04:50) - Defining Happiness
    • (07:02) - Gratitude in Practice
    • (07:45) - Acting Extroverted
    • (09:42) - The Comparison Trap
    • (11:40) - Reflection vs. Rumination
    • (12:27) - Best Self Exercise
    • (13:51) - Building Positive Psychology
    • (15:16) - Happiness Drives Success
    • (16:44) - Relationships as a Seesaw
    • (19:04) - Being Known vs. Impressive
    • (21:45) - The Final Three Questions
    • (26:18) - Conclusion

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    Thank you to our sponsors.      These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

    This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

    Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be. 

    23 March 2026, 1:00 pm
  • 20 minutes 5 seconds
    273. Quick Thinks: How to Create Messages People Remember

    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 trying to make people remember everything — it’s ensuring they remember what matters most.


    Carmen Simon is a cognitive neuroscientist, author, and expert on how the brain pays attention and forms memories. Her research explores how communication can move beyond passive listening and become an experience the brain actually holds onto. “The way we come to know the world is through the interaction of brain, body, and environment,” she explains. “The more you invite your audiences to interact with anything, especially physically, the more you impact cognition.”

    In this Quick Thinks episode of Think Fast Talk Smart, Simon and host Matt Abrahams explore practical, research-backed ways to make communication more memorable. They discuss why handwriting notes can deepen understanding, how curiosity and tension capture attention, and why communicators should avoid overwhelming audiences with too much information. Instead, Simon encourages speakers to structure ideas so audiences can recognize patterns and return to a clear core message.


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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:31) - Embodied Cognition Explained
    • (04:44) - The Impact of Environment on Attention
    • (06:08) - Sparking Curiosity in Your Audience
    • (10:24) - Avoiding Cognitive Overload
    • (14:48) - Using Visuals to Improve Recall
    • (18:43) - Conclusion

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    19 March 2026, 1:00 pm
  • 23 minutes 12 seconds
    272. Say What Sticks: The Neuroscience of Memorable Communication

    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 right 10%.

    Simon is a cognitive neuroscientist, speaker, author, and expert on how the brain processes and retains information. Her research reveals a humbling truth: “We forget our lives almost as quickly as we live them,” she says. But instead of fighting our forgetfulness, Simon believes we can work with it — by getting intentional about what we want people to remember. “So many people aspire at attention and memory, but very few really know what they want to be memorable for,” she says. “Ask the question: what is my 10% message?”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Simon and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to distill your communication for maximum memorability. Whether you're pitching an idea or presenting to a team, Simon’s practical techniques will help you ensure your 10% message is the one your audience takes away.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (03:00) - Attention vs. Memory
    • (05:36) - Novelty & Surprise
    • (06:57) - Why Attention Isn’t Enough
    • (08:25) - The Power of Priming
    • (09:58) - Priming in Business Communication
    • (10:42) - Why Audiences Forget
    • (13:53) - Smart Repetition
    • (15:29) - The Final Three Questions
    • (22:06) - Conclusion

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    Thank you to our sponsors.      These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

    This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

    Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be. 

    16 March 2026, 1:00 pm
  • 23 minutes 1 second
    271. Rethinks: The Key to Lasting Behavior Change

    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 way.”


    As the founder and director of Stanford's Behavior Design Lab, Fogg has devoted much of his career to researching human psychology, motivation, and behavior. According to him, habit formation isn’t a product of simply doing something over and over again. “It's not a function of repetition,” he says, “it's a function of emotion.”


    As Fogg discusses with host Matt Abrahams in this Rethinks episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, bringing our behavior in line with our goals is easier than we think — we just have to know the emotional levers to pull.


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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:46) - The Information-Action Fallacy
    • (04:29) - The Behavior Model: Motivation, Ability, Prompt
    • (06:09) - Designing a Reading Habit
    • (07:47) - What Is a Habit?
    • (10:56) - Making Paraphrasing a Habit
    • (13:33) - Specificity vs. Repetition
    • (15:52) - Choosing Habits You Enjoy
    • (16:50) - The Final Three Questions
    • (21:53) - Conclusion

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    Thank you to our sponsors.      These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

    This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

    Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be. 

    12 March 2026, 1:00 pm
  • 25 minutes 55 seconds
    270. Make Belief: The Mindset Shifts That Make Your Communication Stronger

    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 is a former lecturer at Stanford Graduate School of Business and the Stanford d.school, a celebrated author, and a renowned expert on human behavior and potential. His latest book, Beyond Belief, reveals how limiting beliefs — like “I’m a bad communicator” — quietly shape what we see, feel, and do. “A belief doesn't have to be true” to limit our potential, he says. But the same holds in reverse: a belief doesn't have to be true to expand who and what we can become. “Beliefs are tools, not truths. It just has to be useful.”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Eyal and host Matt Abrahams explore how to identify the beliefs that hold us back — and how to replace them with ones that propel us forward. From keeping a belief journal to practicing perspective-shifting “turnarounds,” Eyal offers practical tips for rewriting the stories we tell ourselves and becoming the people we want to be.

    To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (03:06) - The Power of Attention
    • (04:51) - The Hook Model & Surprise
    • (07:16) - Structure vs. Novelty
    • (09:11) - Identity & Limiting Beliefs
    • (12:13) - Beliefs Vs. Facts
    • (15:38) - The Four-Question Test
    • (21:25) - The Final Three Questions
    • (24:36) - Conclusion

      ********
    Thank you to our sponsors.      These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

    This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

    Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be. 

    9 March 2026, 1:00 pm
  • 23 minutes 35 seconds
    269. Ask Matt Anything: Bring Clarity to Complicated Conversations

    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? And how do you keep growing as a communicator in everyday moments?

    Communication isn’t about having the perfect script. It’s about staying present enough to respond with intention. In fast-moving conversations, emotions rise, thoughts race, and structure can disappear. Yet it’s in the pause — the breath before we speak — that clarity begins.

    In this Ask Matt Anything episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Matt Abrahams shares highlights from a recent live AMA inside the Think Fast, Talk Smart Learning Community. Listener questions open the door to practical strategies for navigating emotional conversations, relying on structure rather than memorization, and building communication habits that actually stick. Because becoming a better communicator isn’t about getting it perfect — it’s about making small, intentional choices every day.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (03:01) - From Reacting to Responding
    • (04:55) - Memorization vs. Spontaneous Speaking
    • (10:05) - Growing Vocabulary
    • (14:04) - Asking for Better Feedback
    • (17:43) - Value of the Learning Community
    • (22:06) - Conclusion

      ********
    Thank you to our sponsors.      These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

    This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

    Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be. 

    5 March 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 22 minutes 59 seconds
    268. Going Viral: How To Balance Authenticity and Spectacle

    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 associate professor of communications at Stanford University and a senior fellow at the Stanford Institute for Human-Centered AI. According to her, “we are all content creators now.” We may not all be influencers or podcast hosts, but “We are all putting content out there and creating a public persona,” says Christin. In the digital age, “that plays an increasingly important role in hiring, promotions, and of course, getting laid off.”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Christin and host Matt Abrahams explore how to navigate the creator economy — whether as a full-time influencer or a professional managing your online presence. From building on your area of expertise to understanding the trade-offs between short-term hype and long-term trust, Christin explains what it takes to show up online without losing yourself in the algorithm.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:51) - Why Metrics Reward Drama
    • (06:18) - Building A Professional Online Presence
    • (10:35) - What Makes A Good Story?
    • (14:24) - The Reality Of Creator Work
    • (18:38) - The Final Three Question
    • (21:48) - Conclusion

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    Thank you to our sponsors.      These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

    This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

    Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be. 

    2 March 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 26 minutes 38 seconds
    267. Rethinks: Why Authenticity Leads to Better Communication

    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 fully be yourself. You can never go wrong when you’re saying your truth.”


    Weaver is a lecturer in management, a GSB alum, and the founder and a partner of Alpine Investors. He stresses the importance of direct communication, highlighting how avoiding it can lead to wasted time, energy, and even financial losses. Reflecting on his own experiences in private equity, Weaver admits to struggling with being conflict-averse and not speaking his truth directly, which resulted in getting into bad deals and big losses for his company. “People think that by being indirect, they’re being kind, but all they're doing is creating confusion,” he says. “Clarity is compassionate. Even if it's not what they want to hear, the more direct and clear you can be, the more compassionate that is for the other person.”


    In this Rethinks episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Weaver and host Matt Abrahams explore how being true to oneself not only fosters personal fulfillment but also enables us to show up better for others. Authenticity and self-belief lay the foundation for effective communication, leadership, and ultimately, success.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (04:35) - Direct Communication & Limiting Beliefs
    • (07:45) - The Internal Game
    • (08:50) - An Asymmetrical Life
    • (14:02) - Taylor Swift & Grit
    • (16:56) - Pursuing Enlightenment
    • (21:10) - The Final Three Questions
    • (28:07) - Conclusion

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    Thank you to our sponsors.      These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

    This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

    Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be. 

    26 February 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 26 minutes 38 seconds
    266. Your Brain Has Too Many Tabs Open: Managing the Voice in Your Head

    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 author, Kross defines chatter as a “negative thought loop” that hijacks our attention and undermines our ability to perform. “We have a limited capacity to focus our attention,” he says. “Attentional resources are a limited commodity, and chatter acts like a sponge that consumes that capacity. It leaves very little leftover that allows us to do the things that we want or need to do.” 

    In his work researching, teaching, and writing about emotional regulation and the conscious mind, Kross has explored how to manage the negative self-talk that sabotages our concentration. “Here's the good news,” he says. “You can get out of it. Managing your chatter [is] a lot like becoming physically fit” — and he’s developed tools and frameworks for building the muscles to turn down the noise.

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Kross joins host Matt Abrahams to share methods for quieting chatter and reclaiming precious mental resources. From distanced self-talk to mental time travel, his tools offer a way to tune out the static and tune into clarity and connection.

    To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (03:06) - Defining Chatter
    • (05:36) - Breaking the Loop
    • (10:33) - Technology & Emotional Sharing
    • (13:59) - Why “Get Over It” Fails
    • (19:19) - Emotions as Data
    • (21:50) - The Final Three Questions
    • (25:40) - Conclusion

      ********
    Thank you to our sponsors.      These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

    This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

    Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be. 

    23 February 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 23 minutes 25 seconds
    265. Complexity to Connection: Humanizing High-Stakes Communication

    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 communicators don’t rely on jargon or performance. They rely on empathy, listening, and stories that resonate.

    Both longtime Stanford Medicine leaders, Berek and Polakoff have spent their careers translating complex, emotional, and often urgent health issues for patients, colleagues, and the public. And they’ve learned that the message only lands when it’s delivered at the right level, with the right intention. “Know your audience,” Berek says, describing the importance of “leveling” — communicating in language that meets people where they are, without talking down or over their heads.

    For both Berek and Polakoff, listening is the foundation. “The two most important skills in communication are empathy and listening,” Berek explains — not as soft skills, but as the core mechanics of trust. Polakoff agrees, pushing for directness and clarity: “I like a yes or a no. I don’t like ambivalence or ambiguity.” And when it comes to being memorable, he’s relentless about simplicity: “Think bold, start small.”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Berek and Polakoff join host Matt Abrahams to examine what great communicators actually do: prepare deeply, speak concisely, listen with intention, and use storytelling to bring others along. Because as Berek puts it, “People feel the emotion when they see a story,” and emotion — paired with clarity — is what turns information into impact.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (03:29) - Raising Awareness For Women’s Cancer
    • (04:26) - Redefining Health Beyond Disease
    • (05:48) - Why Storytelling is Essential
    • (07:48) - What Makes a Story Memorable
    • (09:25) - Advice for Better Communication
    • (10:26) - Making Complex Ideas Accessible
    • (11:14) - Speaking at Your Audience’s Level
    • (12:37) - Listening & Empathy
    • (13:19) - Improving Communication with Improv
    • (14:48) - Communication for Collective Change
    • (17:27) - Mentorship & The Big Picture
    • (18:38) - The Final Three Questions
    • (22:25) - Conclusion

      ********
    Thank you to our sponsors.      These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

    This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

    Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be. 

    19 February 2026, 2:00 pm
  • 24 minutes 49 seconds
    264. Show Your Receipts: Communicating in a Post-Truth World

    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 the host of CNN's Fareed Zakaria GPS, a Washington Post columnist, and author of Age of Revolutions, a book about the seismic societal shifts that define modern history. In his decades of translating complex geopolitical issues for broad audiences, he’s found the key to navigating change and conflict. “The most important thing is being genuinely curious,” he says, “genuinely believing that everybody has a story to tell. Everybody has something to teach you. Everybody has a lesson you can learn.”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Zakaria and host Matt Abrahams explore how curiosity opens the door to conversation. Whether we’re communicating across ideological divides or bridging gaps between our past, present, and future, Zakaria shows why maintaining connection starts with a willingness to learn.

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    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:57) - The “Age of Revolutions”
    • (05:03) - Do Facts Still Matter?
    • (06:34) - How To Persuade
    • (08:38) - On-Camera Communication
    • (11:06) - Making Radical Ideas Mainstream
    • (12:35) - When To Change Your Mind
    • (14:02) - Helping Adolescents Communicate
    • (19:41) - The Final Three Questions
    • (23:28) - Conclusion

      ********
    Thank you to our sponsors.      These partnerships support the ongoing production of the podcast, allowing us to bring it to you at no cost.

    This episode is brought to you by Babbel. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast and get up to 55% off your Babbel subscription.

    Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be. 

    16 February 2026, 2:00 pm
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