124. Listen To This If…. You need to say no to an invitation episode artwork

EPISODE · Jan 15, 2026 · 7 MIN

124. Listen To This If…. You need to say no to an invitation

from Let's Talk SciComm · host Unimelb SciComm

Saying no can feel awkward, uncomfortable, or even selfish, especially when you want to be helpful or the opportunity feels exciting. In this episode of Listen to This If, in just 5 minutes Jen and Michael unpack how to decline invitations thoughtfully, professionally, and without burning bridges.They share a simple, practical formula for saying no with kindness, discuss how to weigh shiny opportunities against your time and energy, and explore why short-term discomfort is often better than long-term resentment. Along the way, they talk about building your “no muscle,” creating opportunities for others, and why toddlers might secretly be the best role models for boundary-setting.If you’re feeling over-committed, stretched too thin, or struggling to turn things down, listen now!You can find more great advice here:https://www.science.org/content/article/learn-when-and-how-say-no-your-professional-lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/the-asymmetric-brain/202312/afraid-of-saying-no-to-an-invitation-dont-behttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-03/the-graceful-art-of-saying-no/11563272

Saying no can feel awkward, uncomfortable, or even selfish, especially when you want to be helpful or the opportunity feels exciting. In this episode of Listen to This If, in just 5 minutes Jen and Michael unpack how to decline invitations thoughtfully, professionally, and without burning bridges.They share a simple, practical formula for saying no with kindness, discuss how to weigh shiny opportunities against your time and energy, and explore why short-term discomfort is often better than long-term resentment. Along the way, they talk about building your “no muscle,” creating opportunities for others, and why toddlers might secretly be the best role models for boundary-setting.If you’re feeling over-committed, stretched too thin, or struggling to turn things down, listen now!You can find more great advice here:https://www.science.org/content/article/learn-when-and-how-say-no-your-professional-lifehttps://www.psychologytoday.com/au/blog/the-asymmetric-brain/202312/afraid-of-saying-no-to-an-invitation-dont-behttps://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-01-03/the-graceful-art-of-saying-no/11563272

NOW PLAYING

124. Listen To This If…. You need to say no to an invitation

0:00 7:49

No transcript for this episode yet

We transcribe on demand. Request one and we'll notify you when it's ready — usually under 10 minutes.

Humanizing Change Tremendousness Join us each episode as we talk with innovators in their respective fields about their unique journeys and how they humanize change in their own work, right here, on Humanizing Change. AI Erik's Podcast Audio Erik Conn The AI News Podcast where we talk AI. The PFN Cincinnati Bengals Podcast Pro Football Network The PFN Cincinnati Bengals Podcast is where you can stay up-to-date with the latest news and analysis on the Cincinnati Bengals! Our hosts, industry experts Jay Morrison and Dallas Robinson, provide weekly coverage of all the latest rumors and updates about the Bengals. Don’t forget to follow the show to receive new episodes directly in your podcast feed and leave a rating and review to let us know your thoughts. NEWMORROW SESSIONS - A PodCast Series on the Future of Hospitality Mario C. Bauer, Florian Schneider, Axel Weber & Dr. Tillman Bardt The Newmorrow PodCast is more than a podcast — it's a platform for open dialog on the future of our business, a platform for those building what doesn’t exist yet. Here, we share and embrace our passion for the hospitality industry, but we won’t romanticize the journey. We ask the tough questions, confront uncomfortable truths, and prepare for a future that resists easy answers. We believe that the tougher and wilder times become, the more openly, honestly and humanely people need to talk to each other and act together. We believe, openness, togetherness, and truthfulness should also be cornerstones of a professional community to develop our utopian idea of „open source“. This is a space where visionaries don’t just imagine the future — they wrestle with the paradoxes that shape it: success vs. happiness, data vs. instinct, stability vs. reinvention. Join leaders, entrepreneurs, and thinkers as they share not what made them — but what’s actively shaping them, now and next. So tune in

Frequently Asked Questions

How long is this episode of Let's Talk SciComm?

This episode is 7 minutes long.

When was this Let's Talk SciComm episode published?

This episode was published on January 15, 2026.

What is this episode about?

Saying no can feel awkward, uncomfortable, or even selfish, especially when you want to be helpful or the opportunity feels exciting. In this episode of Listen to This If, in just 5 minutes Jen and Michael unpack how to decline invitations...

Can I download this Let's Talk SciComm episode?

Yes, you can download this episode by clicking the download button on the episode player, or subscribe to the podcast in your preferred podcast app for automatic downloads.
URL copied to clipboard!