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

    263. Smart Isn’t the Same as Clear: How to Sharpen Your Ideas
    2026/02/12

    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 clear and unmistakably yourself.

    Thompson, CEO of The Atlantic and former editor-in-chief of Wired, has spent his career shaping stories that hold attention. “Clear beats clever,” he says, stressing that authenticity and specificity are what make messages land. “If you can get across what you're really trying to say— if you can say it honestly, specifically, and ideally briefly—that's good. And if you can say it in a way that feels like you, that's great.”

    Beyond journalism, Thompson is an elite marathon runner, ranking among the top competitive runners in the world, an identity that, for him, isn’t separate from writing or leadership but deeply connected to it. “[Running] has taught me all kinds of habits of mind and discipline and pacing,” he says, “There are all kinds of lessons from the sport that apply to my business life.”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Thompson joins host Matt Abrahams to share how great communicators craft “sticky” ideas without chasing soundbites. From practical editorial tests to the importance of editing, structure, and authenticity, Thompson offers a roadmap for communication that doesn’t just get noticed but lasts.

    Episode Reference Links:

    • Nick Thompson
    • Nick’s Book: The Running Ground
    • Ep.183 Rethinks: How Anxiety Can Fuel Better Communication

    Connect:

    • Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
    • Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
    • Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
    • Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
    • Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
    • Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (04:10) - Good Communication in the Modern Day
    • (04:52) - Finding Your Authentic Voice
    • (05:59) - The Power of Editing
    • (07:43) - Reading Your Writing Out Loud
    • (09:36) - How to Create “Sticky” Content
    • (10:58) - AI’s Role in Journalism & Communication
    • (13:01) - Using AI in Daily Life
    • (13:45) - Running As Meditation
    • (17:22) - What Running Teaches About Simplicity
    • (18:57) - The Final Three Questions
    • (23:15) - 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 sponsored by Grammarly. Let Grammarly take the busywork off your plate so you can focus on high-impact work. Download Grammarly for free today

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

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    23 分
  • 262. Own the Room: How Voice, Breath, and Body Work Together

    262. Own the Room: How Voice, Breath, and Body Work Together
    2026/02/09

    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 physical presence of the human being is the most important thing we have,” says Rodenburg. As a world-renowned expert in voice, speech, and presentation, she has helped everyone from stage actors to prime ministers hone their speaking and awaken the power and presence of their voice. “The vast majority of people are born with amazing voices, and somewhere along the line, they lose them. My job is to return people to their full power in their body, in their breath, in their voice, in their ability to speak in an exciting way.”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Rodenburg joins host Matt Abrahams to discuss embodied communication. From breathing techniques and managing tension to intentionally inhabiting space, Rodenburg’s insights reveal how to communicate with greater power, presence, and the potency of your voice.

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

    Episode Reference Links:

    • Patsy Rodenburg
    • Patsy’s Books: Presence / Power Presentation
    • Ep.137 When Words Aren't Enough: How to Excel at Nonverbal Communication

    Connect:

    • Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
    • Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
    • Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
    • Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
    • Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
    • Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:56) - Foundational Voice Principles
    • (05:58) - Activating Breath Through The Body
    • (08:19) - Why Most Voices Just Need Use
    • (11:49) - Defining Presence
    • (16:02) - Using Space To Communicate
    • (19:24) - The Final Three Questions
    • (23:50) - 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 sponsored by Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/tfts

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

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    26 分
  • 261. Meetings With a Point: How to Design For Better Decisions

    261. Meetings With a Point: How to Design For Better Decisions
    2026/02/05
    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 don’t have to feel like a drain—better meetings start when we stop treating them as a default and start designing them with intention.Hinds is the author of Your Best Meeting Ever: Seven Principles for Designing Meetings That Get Things Done, and a future-of-work expert who founded the Work Innovation Lab at Asana and the Work AI Institute at Glean. She argues that the problem isn’t meetings themselves, but the sheer number of poorly designed ones, and by being more thoughtful about what actually deserves synchronous time, teams can redesign how they communicate in the workplace “Meetings are the most important product in our entire organization, and yet they’re also the least optimized,” she says. “The first step is recognizing we need to be much more intentional about how we're designing meetings.”In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Hinds and host Matt Abrahams discuss why meetings so often go wrong—and what it takes to make them work. Whether you’re leading a team, trying to protect focus time, or simply hoping to spend less of your week in calendar invites, Hinds offers practical frameworks for designing meetings with purpose so they become a tool people actually value.To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.Episode Reference Links:Rebecca HindsRebecca’s Book: Your Best Meeting EverEp.124 Making Meetings Meaningful Pt. 1: How to Structure and Organize More Effective GatheringsEp.125 Making Meetings Meaningful Pt. 2: Key Ingredients for Effective Meetings Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (02:34) - Why Meetings Feel Broken (03:49) - The Default-To-Meeting Problem (04:42) - Treat Meetings Like A Product (06:02) - Meeting Doomsday Reset (07:32) - The 4-DCEO Test (09:35) - Designing Better Meetings (10:57) - Creating a Meeting Agenda (13:50) - Context And Meeting Fatigue (14:58) - Memo-First Meetings (17:03) - The Final Three Questions (21:59) - 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 sponsored by Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/tftsJoin our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.
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    24 分
  • 260. From Role To Soul: The Four Ingredients For Mastering Meaning

    260. From Role To Soul: The Four Ingredients For Mastering Meaning
    2026/02/02
    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 the courage and curiosity to constantly engage with the questions.As designers, Burnett and Evans have careers spanning everything from academia to companies like Apple, Electronic Arts, and Hasbro. But beyond fashioning better products and user experiences, they’ve also put their expertise toward the transcendent, writing several books about designing and living lives filled with meaning and purpose.“Compasses say North, not Seattle,” says Evans, highlighting how many mistakenly think of purpose as a single destination. “We're all a dynamic, flowing, constantly changing thing. So how could a changing thing have one static right answer?” Instead, he and Burnett maintain that meaning is more about “going the right direction, not [finding] the right destination.”In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Burnett and Evans join host Matt Abrahams to explore their strategies for leading a purposeful life. Rather than “rehearsing [an] answer,” their method involves “living [a] question” — embracing curiosity and designing a life through dialogue with ourselves and with others.To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.Episode Reference Links:Bill BurnettDave EvansBill and Dave’s Book: How to Live a Meaningful LifeEp.181 Why Happiness is a Direction, Not a Destination: Communication, Happiness & WellbeingEp.138 Speak Your Truth: Why Authenticity Leads to Better Communication Connect:Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart PremiumEmail Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.ioEpisode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart WebsiteNewsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.ioThink Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTubeMatt Abrahams >>> LinkedInChapters:(00:00) - Introduction (02:44) - Meaning & Purpose as a Direction (03:24) - Coherence & Living in Alignment (04:05) - Design Thinking for Life Decisions (05:38) - Prototyping Conversations (07:11) - Odyssey Plans: Three Possible Futures (09:15) - The Four Elements of Meaning (11:04) - Wonder Glasses: Shifting Perspective (12:30) - Transactional vs. Flow World (14:18) - How to Build a Formative Community (15:41) - The Practice-to-Production Trap (16:49) - The Final Three Questions (21:30) - 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 sponsored by Grammarly. Let Grammarly take the busywork off your plate so you can focus on high-impact work. Download Grammarly for free today Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.
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    24 分
  • 259. Quick Thinks: Task-Focused to People-Focused—A Smarter Way to Communicate

    259. Quick Thinks: Task-Focused to People-Focused—A Smarter Way to Communicate
    2026/01/29

    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 Megan Reitz set out to understand. In her research, she describes two modes of attention at work: doing mode, where focus narrows to tasks, control, and quick progress, and spacious mode, where attention expands, insight emerges, and real connection becomes possible.

    Reitz is a leadership researcher whose work explores how people speak up, listen well, and create environments where others can be heard — because, as she puts it, “how you show up affects the voices of the people around you.” When teams are anxious or rushed, attention tightens and listening gets shallow; when there’s more safety and space, people can pause, widen their perspective, and make better choices together.

    In this Quick Thinks episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Reitz and host Matt Abrahams discuss why organizations get stuck in doing mode and what it takes to build spacious agility. They share practical ways to name spaciousness, strengthen psychological safety, introduce healthy dissonance (even through assigned roles like devil’s advocate), and respond in ways that keep people speaking up — not shutting down.

    Episode Reference Links:

    • Megan Reitz
    • Megan’s Book: Speak Out, Listen Up
    • Ep.132 Lean Into Failure: How to Make Mistakes That Work
    • Ep.148 Conviction and Compassion: How to Have Hard Conversations


    Connect:

    • Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
    • Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
    • Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
    • Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
    • Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
    • Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (01:43) - Doing Mode vs. Spacious Mode
    • (01:46) - Building Agility Between Modes
    • (12:29) - Creating Psychological Safety
    • (18:47) - 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 sponsored by Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/tfts

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

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

    258. When Power Talks, People Walk: Why Leaders Don’t Hear What Matters Most
    2026/01/26

    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 only possible when everyone can say what they think, and they know they’ll be heard.

    Reitz is an academic and author whose work focuses on creating workplaces where all voices are heard and valued. Her latest book, Speak Out, Listen Up, explores the power dynamics that shape our communication at work and beyond. “Conversational habits define organizational success and our capacity to flourish,” she says. “Ethical conduct depends on what we're able to say and what we aren't, and whether we're heard or not. Innovation depends on our capacity to speak up, challenge, and disrupt, and whether that is heard or not. And of course, our engagement and our ability to perform depends on a feeling that our opinion is valued and that we're respected.”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Reitz and host Matt Abrahams discuss how to create workplaces where every voice is heard. From her T.R.U.T.H. framework (trust, risk, understanding, titles, and how-to) to the pitfalls of communicational power dynamics, Reitz’s insights reveal why healthy organizations are only possible when we all speak out and listen up.

    Episode Reference Links:

    • Megan Reitz
    • Megan’s Book: Speak Out, Listen Up
    • Ep.132 Lean Into Failure: How to Make Mistakes That Work
    • Ep.148 Conviction and Compassion: How to Have Hard Conversations


    Connect:

    • Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
    • Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
    • Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
    • Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
    • Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
    • Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:31) - The TRUTH Framework
    • (05:42) - Status, Titles, and Voice
    • (09:31) - Power Traps For Leaders
    • (14:16) - Mindful Leadership = Habit Change
    • (18:45) - The Final Three Questions
    • (25:57) - 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.

    Visit virtualspeech.com to learn how AI-powered learning can transform your team

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

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    29 分
  • 257. Move Your Audience: Lessons From MLK You Should Use

    257. Move Your Audience: Lessons From MLK You Should Use
    2026/01/19

    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 he could persuade.

    Martin is the Martin Luther King Jr. Centennial Professor at Stanford, and as director of the King Research and Education Institute, he has spent years studying how King developed his brilliant communication that continues to captivate audiences to this day. “This is a skill that Martin developed over years,” Martin says. “There are stories of him practicing in the mirror... And I think it speaks to us about how we can develop this skill over time.”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Martin and host Matt Abrahams unpack the techniques behind King's legendary speeches, from the musicality of his voice to his use of repetition and narrative structure. Whether you’re preparing a speech or building conversation skills, Martin highlights King’s example to show that great communication isn’t always born — it’s built.

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

    Episode Reference Links:

    • Lerone Martin
    • Ep.192 Quick Thinks: How to Supersize Your Stories

    Connect:

    • Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
    • Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
    • Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
    • Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
    • Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
    • Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:09) - Why MLK Was So Compelling
    • (03:36) - MLK’s Early Speaking Struggles
    • (05:08) - How MLK Practiced and Improved
    • (06:03) - Favorite MLK Speech
    • (07:17) - “I Have A Dream” and Prepared Spontaneity
    • (09:22) - MLK’s Core Techniques
    • (12:20) - Repetition, Rhythm, and Momentum
    • (14:49) - Conviction vs. Performative Messaging
    • (18:21) - The Final Three Questions
    • (22:56) - 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.

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    26 分
  • 256. Be Kind: The Most Overlooked Driver of Success

    256. Be Kind: The Most Overlooked Driver of Success
    2026/01/15

    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 management at City University of Hong Kong who researches how workplace behaviors affect interpersonal dynamics and well-being. In her book, The Return on Kindness, she explores how organizations that foster a culture of kindness see a measurable ROK — one marked by a more committed, more productive, and less expensive workforce. “Organizations that have this kind of culture around acts of civic virtue, helping, or showing support for people, those end up having employees that want to stay, are less likely to call in sick, are more committed, their performance goes up,” she says. “There's also benefits for the company in terms of higher productivity and efficiency, and even lower costs.”

    In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Cheng and host Matt Abrahams explore how to build cultures of kindness — from Cheng’s RISE framework for kind leadership to why candor and compassion go hand-in-hand. Whether you're leading a team or simply trying to show up better for your colleagues, Cheng offers a compelling case for measuring what really matters: the return on kindness.

    Episode Reference Links:

    • Bonnie Hayden Cheng
    • Bonnie’s Book: The Return on Kindness
    • Ep.93 All the Feels: The Personal and Professional Power of Emotional Awareness
    • Ep.132 Lean Into Failure: How to Make Mistakes That Work

    Connect:

    • Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
    • Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io
    • Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website
    • Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io
    • Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn, Instagram, YouTube
    • Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn


    Chapters:

    • (00:00) - Introduction
    • (02:30) - What Is Kind Leadership?
    • (04:32) - The RISE Framework
    • (07:07) - Everyone Can Be a Leader
    • (08:26) - Kindness vs. Niceness
    • (10:55) - Kindness and Candor
    • (12:27) - Communicating Kindness
    • (14:26) - The Power of Tone and Pause
    • (16:43) - Building a Culture of Kindness
    • (18:55) - Protecting Kindness in Organizations
    • (21:26) - The Final Three Questions
    • (24:07) - 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.

    Visit virtualspeech.com to learn how AI-powered learning can transform your team

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

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    27 分