A Conversation about Conversation.

Often, when someone tells you that they want to give you some feedback, the things that go through your mind include: “What did I do wrong?” “I knew this day would come” or “It wasn’t me!” But, in fact, feedback is always valuable if delivered and received properly. In this episode, Louis and Tammy dive into the topic of feedback and discuss strategies for managing the process in any context.

Book: Thanks for the Feedback: The Science and Art of Receiving Feedback Well by Douglas Stone and Sheila Heen

What’s On Your Nightstand Links:

New York Times – To Boldly Explore the Jewish Roots of ‘Star Trek”
Quantum Love by Dr. Laura Berman

What do Popsicles, Penicillin, Slinkies, Stainless Steel, Play-Doh, and Post-It Notes have in common? They were all “improv mistakes.”

Learning how to do Improv may not seem like an obvious topic for becoming a better communicator or a more effective engineer but, in fact, it is a great tool for just that! Improv forces you to be present and in the moment which is hard for most of us to do. It requires deep listening so you can react to what the other person is saying. And, there are no wrong answers which ignites creativity.

What’s On Your Nightstand Links:

Sex at Dawn by Chris Ryan
Year of Yes by Shonda Rhimes

In 2014 Microsoft’s CEO, Satya Nadella, attempted to tackle the toxic culture of the company by asking all the senior leaders to read Nonviolent Communication by Marshall B. Rosenberg. He was signaling to his executives that he expected them to lead with compassion and empathy. That was nearly 8 years ago and here we are now with some of the same issues cropping up all over the place because of the challenges from the Pandemic. In this episode, Tammy and Louis break down the elements of the book and help listeners understand how they can use empathy, compassion, curiosity, and a collaborative approach to communication to improve their relationships, be more influential, and find more meaning in their interactions.

What’s On Your Nightstand Links:

Civilized to Death by Christopher Ryan
Ozark (Netflix)

At some point in our lives, we all have to deal with those conversations that make us uncomfortable or stressed out. And, generally, those are high-stakes discussions. In this episode, Louis and Tammy break down the different ways we often show up in these conversations – using violence or silence – as communication responses. They talk about how to better understand your triggers so you can have productive and less stressful interactions.

What’s On Your Nightstand Links:

Genius Foods by Max Lugavere
Hacks (HBO)

How does one find their voice – as a writer, a speaker, a singer, a communicator? That is the question Louis and Tammy ponder with the first guest of the season, Tom Fiffer. This fascinating discussion explores what we define as voice and how we can find our authentic voices. Louis and Tom talk about the different ways in which they coach singers and writers, respectively, to find their voices.

Tom is the Founder of Christmas Lake Creative which offers workshops, coaching, and a community for writers. It also has its own publishing imprint with a complete list of titles.

What’s On Your Nightstand Links:

Art of Biblical Narrative by Robert Alter

Talking to Strangers by Malcolm Gladwell

The Hype Handbook by Michael Schein

Ryan Sullivan, founder of Podcast Principles and host of BopCast Podcast, talks to us about all the ins and outs of podcasting. He shares some of the best strategies for launching and building a successful podcast and then gives us a little feedback on our own podcast!

What’s On Your Nightstand Links:

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team by Patrick Lencioni

Never Eat Alone by Keith Ferrazzi

The Last Movie Ever Made Podcast

Most of us attribute a negative connotation to hype, bringing to mind snake-oil salesman, propaganda, and con artists. This week, Michael F. Schein, author of The Hype Handbook, talks to us about his strategies to use hype for good. He shares with us his pillars for leveraging our behavioral instincts to generate hype for outcomes that have deeper meaning and purpose. Going back to his days as a punk rock musician and his attempts at fame by snagging a spot for his band at the famed Apollo Theater to his more recent gambits coming up against some of the heavyweights in business and social media, Michael keeps us on the edge of our seat with brilliant tactics.

We have a lively discussion about why our brains are so susceptible to hype and some of the less than favorable hype artists who have successfully permeated our consciousness. You’ll discover some great ideas and ways in which to become your own hype artist!

What’s On Your Nightstand Links:

Homo Ludens: A Study of the Play-Element in Culture by John Huizinga

Awakenings (Prime Video)

Inventing Anna (Netflix)