Get the Conversation Compass, my guide with a full log of thoughtful questions to try in your own conversations.

There is an art to asking questions in a conversation, and most people are asking the same boring, expected ones. In this episode, I break down exactly how to ask questions that move a conversation from mundane to meaningful.

Learn how to turn small talk into a springboard for something deeper, how to listen for the values and emotions driving what someone says, and the two-part "listen and dig" approach that leads to unforgettable conversations.

RESOURCES MENTIONED:

• Aristotle's Metaphysics "All men by nature desire to know"
• G.K. Chesterton's Orthodoxy
• Cicero's De Oratore

Get the Conversation Compass, a tool for having deeper, more interesting conversations no matter where you are.Learn how to always have something interesting to say. There's a difference between being pleasant to talk to and being genuinely interesting. I break down exactly what made history's greatest conversationalists (Socrates, Voltaire, Cleopatra) so magnetic, and how to apply the same principles to become a more interesting, engaging conversationalist yourself.You'll learn how to nourish your mind so you always have something to draw from in conversation, why listening one level deeper changes everything, and why dropping the mask is what actually makes people want to keep talking to you.RESOURCES MENTIONED:Edifying Environment episode (train yourself to be eloquent)Ben Franklin's Poor Richard's Almanack on the virtue of silenceAristotle's RhetoricEnjoy this episode? Follow A Better Way to Say for more lessons.

✨ Get Eloquence Unlocked to level up your speech here.What is the verbal equivalent of an impeccable outfit or a signature scent? Inspired by the "things I find chic" discourse, I put together my own list of 8 niche communication habits that make someone sound timeless, elegant, and genuinely memorable. This isn't "make eye contact" or "remember people's names." We're going deeper.In this episode: personalized compliments, speaking with conviction, being comfortable with silence, recalling specific details, floating between topics with ease, having a signature phrase, painting with your words, and quoting from memory.EPISODES MENTIONED:How to Banish Filler Words From Your VocabularyHow to Train Yourself to Be Eloquent | The Edifying Environment

Your Desire to Impress Others is Ruining Your ConversationsRESOURCES MENTIONED:Patrick Henry, "Give me liberty or give me death"Aristotle's RhetoricCicero's De OratoreJoan Didion's EssaysEnjoy this episode? Follow A Better Way to Say for more lessons on eloquent communication