Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

Erin McGoff, career creator and Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree, breaks down the hidden rules of work. She talks about workplace etiquette, confidence, first impressions, and building a professional brand. The conversation also explores interviews, body language, setting boundaries, and asking for raises or promotions with more strategy.

Sonja Lyubomirsky, a UC Riverside psychology professor and bestselling happiness researcher, explores how communication shapes wellbeing. She digs into gratitude, small extroverted behaviors, and escaping the comparison trap. The conversation also touches on reflection vs. rumination, imagining your best possible self, and how curiosity, listening, and vulnerability help people feel truly loved.

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.Episode Reference Links:Carmen SimonCarmen’s Book: Impossible to IgnoreEp.39 Brains Love Stories: How Leveraging Neuroscience Can Capture People's Emotions 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 (02:22) - Embodied Cognition Explained (04:35) - The Impact of Environment on Attention (05:59) - Sparking Curiosity in Your Audience (10:15) - Avoiding Cognitive Overload (14:16) - Using Visuals to Improve Recall (18:11) - 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. 

Carmen Simon, a cognitive neuroscientist and author of Impossible to Ignore, explores why people forget most of what they hear. She digs into attention versus memory, why surprise beats novelty, how priming prepares the brain, and why communicators should choose and repeat one key 10% message. A sharp look at making ideas stick.

BJ Fogg, behavior scientist and founder of Stanford’s Behavior Design Lab, explores why habits stick. He digs into the information-action fallacy, the mix of motivation, ability, and prompts, and why emotion matters more than repetition. Expect sharp takes on reading routines, paraphrasing as a habit, and choosing behaviors you already enjoy.

Nir Eyal, author and habit-design expert behind Hooked and Beyond Belief, explores how the stories we tell ourselves shape attention, identity, and performance. He discusses using novelty to capture attention, balancing structure with surprise, journaling and third-person self-talk to test beliefs, and reframing limits with turnarounds to expand what feels possible.

Practical tips for turning reactions into thoughtful responses by buying a moment and breathing. Advice on shifting from memorized scripts to flexible structures and using questions as memory cues. Ways to build communication practice into daily routines and get specific, actionable feedback. Highlights of community resources and habits that help skills stick.

Angèle Christin, Associate Professor of Communication and Sociology at Stanford and senior fellow at Stanford HAI, studies algorithms and online content. She discusses how metrics favor drama and short-term virality. She talks about building a professional online presence, the labor of creator work, and balancing storytelling with long-term trust.

Graham Weaver, Stanford GSB lecturer and Alpine Investors founder, shares a short bio and why authenticity matters. He discusses direct communication preventing wasted time and costly mistakes. He explores overcoming limiting beliefs, mastering the internal game, pursuing clarity through daily practices, and leading from your true self. Clear, compassionate honesty is highlighted as essential for effective communication.

Ethan Kross, professor and researcher on emotion regulation and author of Chatter and Shift, studies how negative self-talk hijacks attention. He explains what chatter is and why it drains focus. He describes distancing techniques like self-talk and mental time travel. He also explores how tech amplifies emotions and offers a framework for empathetic support and perspective-building.