Think Fast Talk Smart: Communication Techniques

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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], 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 Simon [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/carmen-simon/] * Carmen’s Book: Impossible to Ignore [https://fastersmarter.io/impossible-to-ignore] * Ep.39 Brains Love Stories: How Leveraging Neuroscience Can Capture People's Emotions [https://www.fastersmarter.io/39-brains-love-stories-how-leveraging-neuroscience-can-capture-peoples-emotions/]  Connect: * Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/] * Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io * Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website [https://www.fastersmarter.io/] * Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io [http://fastersmarter.io/] * Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/think-fast-talk-smart/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thinkfasttalksmart/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6caGRBUYZCmgDGM2RK6mxKB9jG_ccmm3] * Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maabrahams/] 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 * (15:04) - Using Visuals to Improve Recall * (18:59) - 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 Grammarly. Let Grammarly take the busywork off your plate so you can focus on high-impact work. Download Grammarly for free today [https://www.grammarly.com/?utm_campaign=arm&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=podcast&utm_content=directpodcasts] Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.  [https://learning.fastersmarter.io/?redirect_from=podpage]

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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], 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. Episode Reference Links: * Carmen Simon [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/carmen-simon/] * Carmen’s Book: Impossible to Ignore [https://fastersmarter.io/impossible-to-ignore] * Ep.39 Brains Love Stories: How Leveraging Neuroscience Can Capture People's Emotions [https://www.fastersmarter.io/39-brains-love-stories-how-leveraging-neuroscience-can-capture-peoples-emotions/]  Connect: * Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/] * Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io * Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website [https://www.fastersmarter.io/neuroscience-memorable-communication/] * Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io [http://fastersmarter.io/] * Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/think-fast-talk-smart/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thinkfasttalksmart/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6caGRBUYZCmgDGM2RK6mxKB9jG_ccmm3] * Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maabrahams/] Chapters: * (00:00) - Introduction * (02:36) - Attention vs. Memory * (05:12) - Novelty & Surprise * (06:33) - Why Attention Isn’t Enough * (08:01) - The Power of Priming * (09:34) - Priming in Business Communication * (10:18) - Why Audiences Forget * (13:29) - Smart Repetition * (15:05) - The Final Three Questions * (21:58) - 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 [https://www.grammarly.com/?utm_campaign=arm&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=podcast&utm_content=directpodcasts] Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.  [https://learning.fastersmarter.io/?redirect_from=podpage]

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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/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 [https://behaviordesign.stanford.edu/], 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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], bringing our behavior in line with our goals is easier than we think — we just have to know the emotional levers to pull. Episode Reference Links: * BJ Fogg  [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/bj-fogg/] * Fogg's Book: Tiny Habits [https://www.fastersmarter.io/tinyhabits] Connect: * Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/] * Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io * Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website [https://www.fastersmarter.io/key-lasting-behavior-change/] * Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io [http://fastersmarter.io/] * Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/think-fast-talk-smart/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thinkfasttalksmart/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6caGRBUYZCmgDGM2RK6mxKB9jG_ccmm3] * Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maabrahams/] Chapters: * (00:00) - Introduction * (03:04) - The Information-Action Fallacy * (04:47) - The Behavior Model: Motivation, Ability, Prompt * (06:27) - Designing a Reading Habit * (08:05) - What Is a Habit? * (11:14) - Making Paraphrasing a Habit * (13:51) - Specificity vs. Repetition * (16:10) - Choosing Habits You Enjoy * (17:08) - The Final Three Questions * (22:27) - 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 [https://get.babbel.com/eg_podcast_flags_ame_usa-en?bsc=podcast-thinkfast&btp=default&utm_campaign=podcast-thinkfast&utm_content=podcast..thinkfast..usa..internal&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=thinkfast&utm_term=generic_v1]. Think Fast Talk Smart listeners can get started on your language learning journey today- visit Babbel.com/Thinkfast [http://babbel.com/Thinkfast] and get up to 55% off your Babbel [https://get.babbel.com/eg_podcast_flags_ame_usa-en?bsc=podcast-thinkfast&btp=default&utm_campaign=podcast-thinkfast&utm_content=podcast..thinkfast..usa..internal&utm_medium=podcast&utm_source=thinkfast&utm_term=generic_v1] subscription. Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.  [https://learning.fastersmarter.io/?redirect_from=podpage]

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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/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 [https://fastersmarter.io/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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], 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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/]. Episode Reference Links: * Nir Eyal [https://www.fastersmarter.io/guests/nir-eyal/] * Nir’s Book: Beyond Belief [https://fastersmarter.io/beyond-belief] * 104. How to Change: Building Better Habits and Behaviors (And Getting Out of Your Own Way) [https://www.fastersmarter.io/104-how-to-change-building-better-habits-and-behaviors-and-getting-out-of-your-own-way/] * 115. Rethinks: How We Set and Achieve Goals [https://www.fastersmarter.io/115-best-of-how-we-set-and-achieve-goals/]   Connect: * Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/] * Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io * Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website [https://www.fastersmarter.io/mindset-shifts-communication/] * Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io [http://fastersmarter.io/] * Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/think-fast-talk-smart/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thinkfasttalksmart/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6caGRBUYZCmgDGM2RK6mxKB9jG_ccmm3] * Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maabrahams/] Chapters: * (00:00) - Introduction * (02:42) - The Power of Attention * (04:27) - The Hook Model & Surprise * (06:52) - Structure vs. Novelty * (08:47) - Identity & Limiting Beliefs * (11:49) - Beliefs Vs. Facts * (15:14) - The Four-Question Test * (21:17) - The Final Three Questions * (24:28) - 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 sponsored by Grammarly. Let Grammarly take the busywork off your plate so you can focus on high-impact work. Download Grammarly for free today [https://www.grammarly.com/?utm_campaign=arm&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=podcast&utm_content=directpodcasts] Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.  [https://learning.fastersmarter.io/?redirect_from=podpage]

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 [https://www.fastersmarter.io/], 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. Episode Reference Links: * Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community [http://fastersmarter.io/learning]   Connect: * Premium Signup >>>> Think Fast Talk Smart Premium [https://www.fastersmarter.io/premium/] * Email Questions & Feedback >>> hello@fastersmarter.io * Episode Transcripts >>> Think Fast Talk Smart Website [https://www.fastersmarter.io/269-ask-matt-anything-bring-clarity-to-complicated-conversations/] * Newsletter Signup + English Language Learning >>> FasterSmarter.io [http://fastersmarter.io/] * Think Fast Talk Smart >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/think-fast-talk-smart/], Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thinkfasttalksmart/], YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL6caGRBUYZCmgDGM2RK6mxKB9jG_ccmm3] * Matt Abrahams >>> LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/maabrahams/] Chapters: * (00:00) - Introduction * (02:37) - From Reacting to Responding * (04:31) - Memorization vs. Spontaneous Speaking * (09:41) - Growing Vocabulary * (13:40) - Asking for Better Feedback * (17:35) - Value of the Learning Community * (21:58) - 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 [https://www.grammarly.com/?utm_campaign=arm&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=podcast&utm_content=directpodcasts] Join our Think Fast Talk Smart Learning Community and become the communicator you want to be.  [https://learning.fastersmarter.io/?redirect_from=podpage]