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Podcasts are, of course, global. They can be recorded and heard anywhere! But my latest foray into podcast guest-dom still feels local to me, since my connection with the hosts, Josh Batenhorst and Tom Chalmers, is through my life here in Asheville. Josh and Tom Devour the World is a podcast that explores our relationship …

I have been getting a lot of questions lately about what to do when you are teaching a class virtually, or leading a meeting on Zoom, and you simply can’t read the room. You look out and see faces staring back at you, and it’s impossible to tell if you’re getting through at all. Often …

As part of my recent call to readers for their thoughts and insights, reader Catherine shared that she has been thinking a lot about her work through various lenses. Her example was “I am looking at communication through the lens of connection. Or through the lens of efficiency. Or through the lens of….” An aspect …

An oft-quoted line from the great thinker, Yoda:Do, or do not. There is no try. When Yoda says this, he is frustrated with his protege, Luke Skywalker. In response to one of Yoda’s important instructions, Luke sighs, “All right, I’ll give it a try.”  Yoda shakes his head, and dispenses his wisdom. Do, or do not. …

Onto the second part of Stephen’s question. He wanted to know how skilled, rehearsed speakers might intentionally sound like they’re searching for the next word in order to make their talk sound more spontaneous. This week I have really bashed the conventional wisdom that fixing filler words is something we all need to be super …

A couple of weeks ago, I asked: What do you want to know? What are you curious about in terms of communication?  Happily, you’re a curious bunch of readers! Many of you sent in questions, ideas, and topics you’ve been pondering about how we connect with others, why, and why it matters. Reader Stephen asked: …

Yesterday I got to sit with some people in person. Almost a year to the day since everything around me shut down, and most people I know retreated into their homes for an extended siege, I was sitting, socially distanced and masked but face to face, in the sunshine with new friends. It was a …

If you’re watching WandaVision and you’re not caught up, don’t worry. This post won’t spoil any plot points for you. No, this post is about how the details we choose tell a story. In episode 8, (again, I promise this won’t spoil anything) Wanda walks through a parking lot and gets into a car. The …

Now for the second part of Rachel’s question, which gets down to the day to day use of language. She’s asking how our attention to grammar and word choice might change, depending on where we are and who we’re with. In general, you want to match your style and tone with that of your context. I think of …

A longtime reader, Rachel, asked this question: How closely do speakers need to pay attention to grammar, word choice? I think this question is often related to another one Rachel posed about how we may shift our communication (tone, word choice, subject matter), when we are in different audiences.  Here’s my rule of thumb. When you’re speaking, you …