Episodes

My guest today has been featured on the Kelly Clarkson Show, on Ryan Seacrest's Radio Show, and now the TALK TO PEOPLE PODCAST! He is on a journey to have a one-hour conversation with 10,000 different people. And I got to be one of them, well, #6489 to be exact! I stumbled upon Rob's journey and I knew I had to learn from him. In this episode, expect to hear: how Rob navigates each one-hour conversationwhat it's like to be on the Kelly Clarkson showwhat questions he likes to ask mostwhether ...

Dr. Daniel Maitland is a clinical psychologist, research, and professor at UMKC. He runs the Psychotherapy Research or Study of Connection, Intimacy, and Loneliness (PROSOCIAL) lab. I read a New York Times article about loneliness that featured Daniel - and this led to us recording a podcast together. In this episode, expect to hear: therapy red flags to be aware of how to identify depression how to deal with social anxiety the digital world's impact on our close relationships how to be m...

12 years ago Andrew Hales had a video go viral on YouTube. This video landed him on TV, in newspapers, and on YouTube's home page. It also landed him with a new career idea - to be a YouTuber. I remember seeing some of his first videos and CRACKING UP. They were hilarious. After watching a few of them, I felt inspired to go out in the world and crack open conversations with people I have never met. Andrew Hales takes talking to people to a whole new level. In this episode, expect to hear: wh...

The day this episode releases is NATIONAL FRIENDSHIP DAY. And who better to talk to then a friendship expert, Dr. Jeff Hall. He is a Professor of Communication Studies at the University of Kansas and a visiting scholar at the Berkman Klein Center for Internet and Society at Harvard Law. Recently, he and his team facilitated the American Friendship Project, which is the most accurate and most complete account of American friendship. With over 4,000 participants, this survey reveals unexpected tr...

Get ready. I packed my bags and flew to North Carolina. The birds sang and the conversation flowed. It was an opportunity for me to connect with a dear friend, mentor, and former roomie. Allan Louden is a professor emeritus at Wake Forest University. He is the former Director of WFU's debate team - one of the most successful in university history. He is the former Chair of the Communication Department, the dog dad to Glacier, and a voracious conversationalist. In this episode, expect to learn:...

Humans are storytelling creatures. We relate through story, we're inspired by story, we're moved by story, and we experience life through story. From thousands of years ago to today - we've been sharing narrative with one another to come together. This episode is a reflection on that and some tactical info that may help your stories. Stories are important because that can improve conversation. And when conversation is improved, relationships are improved. And when relationships are imp...

If you don't listen to the whole podcast - here's what I hope you remember. Your life will be much better when you talk to people! And that can be hard - especially cause COVID kept us away from each other, we have screens frying our brains, and every day it seems like life gets more stressful. But, it's important that we prioritize it. The method I refer to in this podcast is HEFE. I also share an excerpt from a Donald Trump speech! Let me know what you think. An easy way to sen...

Ever thought to yourself, "Sheesh, he/she is complicated! I just don't understand them." I'm sure we've all thought this a time or two and we were totally right! Humans are very complicated. It's hard for us to understand each other - it's even harder for us to share with one another what makes it so hard for us to understand one another. In this episode I wanted to share some of my favorite HUMAN QUIRKS. These are things that make the human experience fun but also miserable. For insta...

One of the biggest painpoints is relationships is CONFLICT. We fear conflict more than heights, running out of gas, or public speaking. And it makes sense why because relationships are ESSENTIAL. When they are at threat, then our wellbeing is also at threat. In this episode I outline three of the most helpful ways to navigate disagreement. I've learned these via some of the best resources out there, particularly the book "Difficult Conversations: How to Discuss What Matters Most." Send this to...

In this episode I sit down with Annie and we answer a few different questions, mainly, what are some of the best resources out there to help us become better communicators? My goal with this episode is to travel through history with the power of communication and then spend a little time in the present - exploring great resources and opportunities. As always - life is better when you talk to people. An easy way to send me a message? Click the link here. Support the show This podcast was produ...

In this episode I attack FOUR of the most common self-limiting beliefs I hear about talking to people. With each belief, we'll unpack why it exists, what it actually is, and how to circumvent it. Remember - I'm not a clinician or licensed psychologist - so I won't be writing any prescriptions or giving that advice. But - I am someone who thinks about communication, talks about it with people nonstop, and wants us all to improve. An easy way to send me a message? Click the link here. Support the...

I did an Instagram poll recently and it got my gears turning. Then I had some conversations on the subject - and it got my ears turning more. And wahlah - the new podcast episode. Learn with me as we answer the question - what to do about mentorship? An easy way to send me a message? Click the link here. Support the show This podcast was produced by www.OPENFLOORMEDIA.com Have you enjoyed the podcast? If so, follow it, rate it, and share it with three people: Follow on Apple Podcasts Follow o...

Anyone else dread networking? Anyone else ever been to a "networking event" that consists of groups of people standing in a room, business cards out, and looking at each other awkwardly? When do you say what you do? Do you talk about things other than work? Do you one-up people? Or do you just listen? And then after the fact - do you reach out to the person again? How do you even NETWORK?! In this episode, I, alongside Zac Harris, talk about the challenges in networking. We outline how to a...

Ever wondered how to switch your conversation from surface level to substantial? Ever been unsure of how to make it feel like you're actually connecting with someone? Whether at a work meeting, a date, or a family dinner - it's important to be able to ask HiGH QUALITY questions. In this episode I go over 20 proven, level-3 questions that you can use to make any conversation better. Level 3 questions are intended to be after first initiating the convo (hello!) and establishing a conversation (ho...

"Drawing from some of the most pivotal points in his life, Steve Jobs, chief executive officer and co-founder of Apple Computer and of Pixar Animation Studios, urged graduates to pursue their dreams and see the opportunities in life's setbacks -- including death itself -- at the university's 114th Commencement on June 12, 2005." In this episode, we're going to analyze the most watched speech on YouTube. Our goal is to assess what Steve Jobs did to have the most shared speech in history.&nbsp...

We only get one chance to leave a first impression. The research shows that this one chance matters a lot. In this episode, we'll work through a simple tip that will give you better structure when you organize your thoughts and then stronger impact when you voice them. We're going to provide both theoretical examples and practical examples of the formula, which hopefully gives you an easy ability to implement it! The resources for goals and purpose: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1qOub26Ia...

Ever wondered of a cult leader is able to recruit people to give their lives to a cause? Or how a pyramid scheme creates millions for some while taking millions from most? Or how scammers are able to elicit people's life savings? Today we'll be looking at the dark side of communication - manipulation, gaslighting, and deception. We'll also dive into how to avoid the bad stuff and embrace the good stuff. And how you can help others via their communication to become less susceptible. Want to wat...

We've all been there - an uncomfortable lull, a moment where we're speechless, and the immense pressure of trying to keep conversation going. This is normal because we're human and we're not an infinite language processing model. But, there are ways that we can get better at this and limit these moments from happening. DISCLAIMER - It's OK to sit in silence. This is just for those moments where you want to keep conversation going and you're unsure of how to do it. An easy ...

Communicating effectively will change your life. But, oftentimes, we don't feel confident enough to share our thoughts. Yet if you don't share your thoughts then you're going to live alone, regretful, and unspoken for. So - we're going to avoid that. Instead, here are 10 rules that you can follow to grow in social confidence, build a healthy relationship with social anxiety, and begin to turn your thoughts into words. If you want a PDF version of the 10 rules - you can get it he...

I asked Instagram - "what are the biggest challenges in communication." You all answered! This episode is me hitting all of your questions. An easy way to send me a message? Click the link here. Support the show This podcast was produced by www.OPENFLOORMEDIA.com Have you enjoyed the podcast? If so, follow it, rate it, and share it with three people: Follow on Apple PodcastsFollow on SpotifyFollow on InstagramSubscribe on YouTube If you want to share feedback, have a great idea, or h...

We don't stumble into being good at things. Sure - there's raw talent. But, after a few curveballs get thrown into the mix then we need to reach beyond talent into experience and skill. Communication is one of the cornerstones of a happy life. Our business, personal, and relational growth is limited by our ability to articulate what we're experiencing. Opportunities slide away from us as we miss a chance to speak up. Relationships linger longer than needed since we don't know what word...

Are phone calls still a thing? YES! And you can get better at them. In the past few years I've decided that I want to get better at phone calls. Yes, I know people hate them. I deal with a lot of anxiety when I'm about to have a phone call! But I know that with practice and learning from others then I could be better. In this episode I make several phone calls and ask 3 main questions: What do people who are really good at talking on the phone do?What NOT to do on a phone call?I...

For the first time in podcast history - it's time to play some music. Keep your expectations low - but your energy high. This episode is a great reminder of why we do what we do. Also - I wanted to use this episode to update you all on what I've been working on! I started this podcast incredibly passionate and lately I feel like I've been slacking. And I think that's a ME thing, but I also think it's a larger thing we all experience. This episode was a way for me to revitalize ...

Is there anything that beats a good talk with a friend or a loved one? Being able to laugh, share stories, and smile on how the universe has brought you two together. Now try doing that but with people who you don't like, or people you've never met before, or people who you've sworn as an enemy. Jared Seide is the Executive Director of Beyond Us and Them. He has designed, piloted and coordinated council-based programs in prisons, assisted living facilities, youth groups and a variety of non-pr...