How to TALK So People Actually Listen with Dr. Alison Wood Brooks 7 | 12

03/19/25 • 47 min

Ditch the awkwardness and start owning every conversation.

Talking to people shouldn’t feel like a struggle—but let’s be honest, it often does. Maybe you’re stuck in small talk hell, getting ignored in meetings, or watching conversations die mid-sentence. Why is this so hard? Amy sits down with Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, Harvard Business School professor and author of Talk: The Science of Conversation and the Art of Being Ourselves, to expose the hidden science behind great conversations—and why most of us are getting it wrong. They break down the TALK framework (Topics, Asking, Levity, and Kindness) and unpack the subtle mistakes that make people tune out, disengage, or just not like talking to you. Whether you want to command the room, sound sharper in meetings or just stop replaying every interaction in your head, Alison delivers straight-shooting, science-backed strategies to help you talk better, connect faster, and stress less.

Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.

Episode Links:

Connect:

Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Amy Sandler welcomes Dr. Alison Wood Brooks, Harvard Business School professor and author of Talk: The Science of Conversation.
(00:01:44) The Power of Connection in Conversation
How small, personal connections can create deeper conversations.
(00:02:53) What Inspired Talk?
Dr. Wood Brooks shares how she became fascinated with conversation science.
(00:07:25) Giving Conversation Feedback
Why most people receive little feedback on their conversational skills.
(00:13:17) The Hidden Coordination Game
How small, unconscious decisions shape every conversation.
(00:18:54) The TALK Framework
Topics, Asking, Levity, and Kindness—the four keys to better conversations.
(00:20:24) Practicing Listening
Guided exercises and listening techniques from the Talk course.
(00:21:39) The Science Behind Mind-Wandering
Why we tune out during conversations and how to stay present.
(00:29:06) The Challenges of Group Conversations
Why group conversations are harder to manage than one-on-one talks.
(00:34:05) Digital vs. In-Person Talk
How virtual communication changes conversations.
(00:36:51) Designing Better Meetings
Strategies for leaders to create inclusive and effective meetings.
(00:39:37) Boomer Asking
The conversational habit that makes people disengage.
(00:44:28) Where to Find Dr. Wood Brooks
Dr. Wood Brooks shares where to find her work and book tour details.
(00:45:32) Conclusion

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ditch the awkwardness and start owning every conversation.

Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.

Episode Links:

Connect:

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Previous Episode

When the PIP Feels Disingenuous: The Ethics of Managing Out 7 | 11

When a PIP feels like a setup, how do you handle it without compromising your integrity?

Trapped between an HR-driven process that feels like a sham and a direct report who’s not meeting expectations? That’s a management nightmare. When a boss hands you a struggling employee with the unspoken expectation that you’ll “manage them out,” how do you stay honest, maintain trust, and avoid turning into the workplace grim reaper? Kim, Jason, and Amy break down the emotional and ethical toll of Performance Improvement Plans (PIPs), how to navigate them without feeling like a pawn, and why Radical Candor is the only way through. This isn’t about sugarcoating or corporate theater—it’s about handling tough conversations with clarity, fairness, and a whole lot less BS.

Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.

Episode Links:

Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Kim, Jason, and Amy introduce a listener’s question on handling a PIP with integrity.
(00:02:28) Leadership Failures
How bad management decisions created this unfair situation.
(00:06:15) Is This Process Disingenuous?
Struggling with feeling inauthentic when following HR's PIP process.
(00:09:19) The Emotional Toll of Performance Management
The frustrations of the process for both the manager and the direct report.
(00:13:51) Communicating Radical Candor During a PIP
Framing tough conversations without misleading employees.
(00:18:51) Why Informal PIPs Exist
The value of informal PIPs in ensuring fairness.
(00:22:17) Responding to Employee Pushback
Handling direct reports who challenge the PIP process.
(00:28:28) What Can a Manager Legally and Ethically Say?
Making difficult conversations feel more human and constructive.
(00:32:59) Radical Candor Tips
Lessons for managing performance issues with Radical Candor.
(00:36:05) Pushing Back to the Boss
Having a candid conversation about being put in this situation.
(00:37:25) Conclusion

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Next Episode

The Wild Courage to Get What You Want, With Jenny Wood 7 | 13

Stop playing it safe—embrace the bold, unexpected traits that actually get you ahead.

Success doesn’t come to those who wait—it comes to those who take it. For years, you’ve been told to be humble, play nice, and wait your turn. Jenny Wood says that’s exactly why so many talented people stay stuck. As a former Google executive turned author of Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It, she’s here to expose the real traits that drive success—ones that might make you uncomfortable. Forget the polite career playbook, being selfish, obsessed, even a little manipulative (the right way) can actually be your biggest advantage. Jenny gets radically candid with Kim and Amy on why risk-taking beats waiting for permission, why saying “no” is a career superpower, and how to self-promote without sounding like a jerk. If you’re sick of playing it safe and watching others pass you by, this episode is your permission slip to take bigger swings and get what you want.

Get all of the show notes at RadicalCandor.com/podcast.

Episode Links:

Chapters:
(00:00:00) Introduction
Kim and Amy welcome Jenny Wood, author of Wild Courage: Go After What You Want and Get It.
(00:1:02) The Nine Traits That Will Get You Ahead
Nine controversial traits that are actually career superpowers.
(00:4:26) The Subway Story That Changed Everything
Jenny shares a story on ignoring self-doubt and taking action.
(00:10:16) Calculated Risks vs. Playing It Safe
Why taking smart risks is essential for personal and professional success.
(00:13:04) The Google Factor: How It Shaped Wild Courage
How Google built confidence, encouraged risks, and sparked creativity.
(00:17:09) Owning Your Weird
Advice for staying authentic in workplaces that don’t naturally foster it.
(00:21:38) Identifying Your Power Assets
Identifying your power assets to make self-promotion feel natural.
(00:25:22) Managing Up, Higher, and Diagonally
A tactical guide to workplace influence through strategic senior connections.
(00:31:54) Overcoming Bias in the Workplace
Strategies to counter workplace biases in recognition and self-promotion.
(00:36:56) Why Saying No is a Superpower
How learning to say no without guilt protects your time and energy.
(00:42:40) Get in Front of the Right People
The importance of standing out and getting noticed by leadership.
(00:44:57) Pull It and Bullet It
The “Pull It and Bullet It” method for impactful, time-saving emails.
(00:48:05) Where to Find Jenny Wood
Where to get Wild Courage and find Jenny for keynotes and workshops.
(00:49:41) Conclusion