The Secret To Becoming A Confident Speaker - Matt Abrahams - #948
Modern Wisdom
05/31/25
•61m
About
Comments
Featured In
Matt Abrahams is a communication expert, Stanford lecturer, and podcaster.
Ever been put on the spot to give a quick speech, only to freeze up with nothing to say? Speaking with confidence and clarity is a skill, and the good news is, it can be learned. Today Matt Abrahams shares practical tips and tools to help you think faster, speak smarter, and become a more effective communicator.
Expect to learn how to speak more confidently, why people choke when they are put on the spot and how to overcome anxiety while speaking, how having structure can actually liberate spontaneous speaking, how to avoid rambling and get to the point faster, he biggest errors people make during conversations, how to give a compelling toast with zero prep, the key ingredients of a meaningful apology, and much more...
Timestamps:
(00:00) Why Do People Have Speaking Anxiety? (04:36) Advice for Managing Anxiety (07:44) Why People Choke on the Spot (10:17) Can You Over-Prepare? (14:43) How to Avoid Rambling (19:25) Thinking Fast on Your Feet (23:40) No Such Thing as a Stupid Question (28:21) Questions to Build Connection (35:40) Surprising Stats About Communication (40:05) Getting Rid of Filler Words (48:25) Importance of Confidence in Communication (52:13) Warming Up Your Voice (54:01) How to Make Meaningful Small Talk (55:59) The Keys to a Strong Apology (57:36) Where to Find Matt
Sponsors:
See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals
Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom
Get 60% off an annual plan of Incogni at https://incogni.com/modernwisdom
Get the best bloodwork analysis in America at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom
Extra Stuff:
Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: https://chriswillx.com/books
Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom
Episodes You Might Enjoy:
This Is How To Master Your Life - David Goggins - #577: lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins
How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs - Dr Jordan Peterson - #712: lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson
The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain - Dr Andrew Huberman - #700: lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman
-
Get In Touch:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast
Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact
-
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Previous Episode
How To Not Let Your Past Define You - Scott Barry Kaufman - #947
May 29, 2025
•77m
Scott Barry Kaufman is a Psychologist at Columbia University, a writer and podcaster.
Why is victim culture so common in the West? Everyone’s been hurt, so it’s easy to claim victimhood, so why has it become a core identity and how do we honour pain without being defined by it?
Expect to learn where a victimhood mentality comes from, what predicts whether someone is likely to fall into the victimhood trap or mindset and if modern culture is contributing or incentivising victimhood, the most harmful myths around identity and trauma, how you cultivate psychological flexibility in moments of deep emotional pain, the big difference between authenticity and self-esteem, and much more...
Timestamps:
(00:00) Reconciling With Your Past (04:45) What is Victimhood Mentality? (10:26) Where Does Victim Mentality Come From? (14:30) Why is Victimhood So Seductive? (17:46) Our Feeling of Being Broken (20:28) Victimhood in Evolution (30:50) Are Genes Destiny? (37:35) The Dynamics of Epigenetics (44:46) Researching Highly Sensitive People (50:34) How to Recognise if You Are Highly Sensitive (59:19) Advice for Highly Sensitive People (01:04:56) The Role of Internally-Generated Safety (01:09:29) Links Between Self-Esteem & Victimhood (01:12:17) Accepting Your Past Without Being Ruled By It (01:14:05) Where to Find Scott
Sponsors:
See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals
Get the brand new Whoop 5.0 at https://join.whoop.com/modernwisdom
Sign up for a one-dollar-per-month trial period from Shopify at https://shopify.com/modernwisdom
Get a 20% discount on Nomatic’s amazing luggage at https://nomatic.com/modernwisdom
Extra Stuff:
Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: https://chriswillx.com/books
Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom
Episodes You Might Enjoy:
This Is How To Master Your Life - David Goggins - #577: lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins
How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs - Dr Jordan Peterson - #712: lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson
The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain - Dr Andrew Huberman - #700: lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman
-
Get In Touch:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast
Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact
-
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Next Episode
How To Build Unstoppable Confidence - Jocko Willink - #949
June 2, 2025
•118m
Jocko Willink is a retired United States Navy officer in SEAL Team 3, an author and a podcaster.
In a world overflowing with choices, we often confuse freedom with indulgence. But real freedom—the kind that builds confidence, resilience, and leadership—comes from discipline. From forging inner strength alone to leading elite teams of Navy SEALs, Jocko's life proves that discipline is the foundation for true autonomy.
Expect to learn how people can be more confident with their decision making, the best tactics to overcome fear, what it’s actually like to be in a firefight, what people misunderstand about what ‘Discipline equals freedom’ actually means, what a disciplined like looks like to Jocko, how to train mental toughness, Jocko’s thoughts on the new administration and military recruitment numbers, if we’re close to a major conflict, how men can be better about handling their emotions, and much more...
Timestamps:
(00:00) There Are No Solutions, Only Trade-Offs (06:23) How to Be More Confident in Your Decisions (20:39) One Word You Need to Overcome Fear (31:59) What It’s Really Like to Be in a Firefight (50:19) Biggest Misconceptions About Discipline (01:00:11) When You Can’t See a Light at the End of the Tunnel (01:13:50) Staying Driven During Times of Success (01:16:36) Advice to Directionless Young Men (01:23:35) How to Not Let Comfort Weaken You (01:30:05) Pete Hegseth’s Impact on the US Army (01:37:39) The Future of Warfare (01:57:06) What’s Next for Jocko?
Sponsors:
See discounts for all the products I use and recommend: https://chriswillx.com/deals
Get a 20% discount on Nomatic’s amazing luggage at https://nomatic.com/modernwisdom
Get 35% off your first subscription on the best supplements from Momentous at https://livemomentous.com/modernwisdom
Get 5 Free Travel Packs, Free Liquid Vitamin D, and more from AG1 at https://ag1.info/modernwisdom
Get the best bloodwork analysis in America at https://functionhealth.com/modernwisdom
Extra Stuff:
Get my free reading list of 100 books to read before you die: https://chriswillx.com/books
Try my productivity energy drink Neutonic: https://neutonic.com/modernwisdom
Episodes You Might Enjoy:
This Is How To Master Your Life - David Goggins - #577: lnkfi.re/SN-Goggins
How To Destroy Your Negative Beliefs - Dr Jordan Peterson - #712: lnkfi.re/SN-Peterson
The Secret Tools To Hack Your Brain - Dr Andrew Huberman - #700: lnkfi.re/SN-Huberman
-
Get In Touch:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chriswillx
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/chriswillx
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/modernwisdompodcast
Email: https://chriswillx.com/contact
-
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
If you like this episode you’ll love
Promoted