Think Fast, Talk Smart is a podcast for people who want to communicate effectively. Matt Abrahams, a professor of strategic communication at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, claims to be able to equip you with effective tools to help you improve your communication skills, an essential skill both in business and in life. Rather than framing itself as an instructive or self-help podcast, Think Fast, Talk Smart dives into facets of communication that are often overlooked, to help unpack why we choose to communicate the way we do.

In Um, like, so, the podcast explores the role filler words play in our daily conversations — offering a unique perspective that challenges conventional wisdom on communicating, and argues that crutch words are essential communication tools. Abrahams and guest speaker Valerie Fridland, a professor of sociolinguistics, shed light on their significance, while delving into the idea that filler words, often chastised and seen as a hindrance in effective communication, actually fulfill a specific need in encoding both linguistic messages and social messages. They also examine the social context and functional purposes of vocal fry, uptalk, and using emojis in business communication.

WHERE TO LISTEN- You can find this podcast onGoogle Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Spotify,, Youtube, and the Stanford Website.

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