Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

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 

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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

(18:19) - The Final Three Questions

(22:54) - Conclusion

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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 >>> [email protected]
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

(02:17) - What Is Kind Leadership?

(04:19) - The RISE Framework

(06:54) - Everyone Can Be a Leader

(08:13) - Kindness vs. Niceness

(10:42) - Kindness and Candor

(12:14) - Communicating Kindness

(14:13) - The Power of Tone and Pause

(16:30) - Building a Culture of Kindness

(18:42) - Protecting Kindness in Organizations

(21:11) - The Final Three Questions

(23:52) - Conclusion

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The keys to communicating clarity, not confusion.
What separates communicators who clarify from those who confuse? The ability to “Simplify complexity,” says Adam Bryant. “I don't think you can be an effective leader if you can't do that.”
Bryant is a senior managing director at the ExCo Group and former New York Times journalist who interviewed over 500 CEOs for his renowned Corner Office column. Through those conversations, he identified a pattern: the best communicators turn complexity into clarity. For Bryant, that means checking your own expertise, considering not whether something makes sense to you, but whether it makes sense to someone else. “Empathy [is] a component of communication,” he says, “to be an effective communicator, you have to be able to get in the head of the audience.”
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, Bryant and host Matt Abrahams explore the keys to clear communication, from simplifying (without oversimplifying) to repeating messages until people can recite them back. Whether you’re leading a whole company or just one conversation, Bryant’s insights reveal how to communicate complex ideas in ways anyone can understand.
To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.
Episode Reference Links:
Adam Bryant
Adam’s Books: Quick and Nimble / The CEO Test
Ep.98 Give It to Me Straight: How to Give Honest, Constructive Feedback 

Connect:
Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
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

(02:37) - Traits of Successful Leaders

(04:52) - Communication Mistakes to Avoid

(08:49) - Listening as a Leadership Skill

(12:09) - Simplifying Complex Ideas

(15:45) - How to Capture Attention

(18:25) - Leading Life with Curiosity

(19:49) - The Final Three Question

(25:25) - 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.
Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart
Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.

How to have more open conversations about money.

Talking about money is taboo for many people. But according to Wendy De La Rosa, financial well-being only starts when we break the silence around finance.
De La Rosa is a professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a co-founder of the Common Cents Lab, an initiative aiming to increase financial well-being for low- to moderate-income people. For many, she says, shame keeps us silent about money. “Shame is paralyzing, and more than any other negative emotion, [it] leads us to ignore,” she says. But when it comes to financial well-being, ignoring our finances is the last thing we should do. Instead, De La Rosa advocates for open discussion. “Talk about finances,” she says. “How did you ask for a raise? What are you getting paid right now? These are important conversations that help everybody.”
In this episode of Think Fast, Talk Smart, De La Rosa and host Matt Abrahams explore how to have more open, productive conversations about finances. Whether you're a manager thinking about employee financial wellness or trying to broach a difficult topic with a partner or friend, De La Rosa offers practical strategies for breaking through the taboo around money.

To listen to the extended Deep Thinks version of this episode, please visit FasterSmarter.io/premium.
Episode Reference Links:
Wendy De La Rosa
Ep.104 How to Change: Building Better Habits and Behaviors (And Getting Out of Your Own Way)
Ep.59 From Dreaming to Doing: How We Set and Achieve Goals  

Connect:
Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
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

(02:10) - The Fresh Start Effect

(04:33) - Pay Timing Shapes Behavior

(05:49) - Productivity and Financial Stress

(08:15) - Framing Financial Choices

(10:48) - Understanding Financial Shame

(13:18) - Rebuilding Your Financial Environment

(14:43) - Giving Financial Advice With Care

(17:15) - Normalizing Money Talk

(18:19) - The Final Three Question

(23:31) - 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.

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Our 10 favorite communication insights from 2025.
The most transformative communication insights are the ones we actually remember to use. That’s why host Matt Abrahams is taking stock of his favorite communication tips from this year, so we can carry them into the next.
In this annual Think Fast, Talk Smart tradition, Abrahams shares his top 10 communication insights from guests over the past year, from facilitating connection through Gina Bianchini's "proactive serendipity” to Jenn Wynn’s use of dialogue as a gateway to synergy. Whether you're looking to build trust, boost productivity, or speak more spontaneously, this year’s top 10 insights offer a reminder of all we’ve learned this year — and a roadmap for better communication in the year ahead.
Episode Reference Links:
Gina Bianchini: 244. Community Creates Change
Muriel Wilkins: 240. Belief It or Not
Jenn Wynn: 222. Discussing Through Discomfort
Richard Edelman: 215. The New Media Landscape
Alex Rodriguez: 201. Ballpark to the Boardroom
Chris Voss / Peter Sagal: 197. Prep or Perish / 198. Pause and Effect / 199. Blunder Pressure / 203. No Script, No Problem 
Ada Aka: 191. Memorable Messages 
Matt Lieberman: 188. Mind Reading 101
Arthur Brooks: 181. Why Happiness is a Direction, Not a Destination
Laurie Santos: 179. Finding Positive in Negative Emotions
Ep.177 Don’t Resolve, Evolve: Top 10 Lessons From 2024
Ep.120 A Few of Matt’s Favorite Things: 10 Communication Takeaways from 2023's TFTS Episodes  

Connect:
Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium
Email Questions & Feedback >>> [email protected]
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

(02:50) - Facilitation and Productive Serendipity

(04:25) - Toxic vs. Healthy Productivity

(06:48) - Dialogue as the Path to Synergy

(09:20) - How Actions Build Trust

(10:46) - Communication as an Unselfish Act

(12:41) - Be Present and Prepare to Be Spontaneous

(14:46) - Why Memorable Words Matter

(17:55) - Persuasion and Identity

(19:44) - Finding Meaning Through Purpose

(21:39) - Listening to Negative Emotions

(23:56) - 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.
Strawberry.me. Get 50% off your first coaching session today at Strawberry.me/smart
Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.