28. Silence, Storytelling & Influence: The Science of Oracy With Charles Byrne

Do your words create clarity—or more noise? In this episode of Decisions That Count, neuroscientist Dr. Shawn Watson and biotech CMO/ marathoner Michelle O’Brien sit down with Charles Byrne, Director General of the English-Speaking Union, to unpack oracy—the science and soul of speaking and listening well—and how it reduces decision fatigue, sharpens cognitive clarity, and elevates real-world influence.You’ll learn how presence, breath, and active listening change the brain’s decision systems, why silence is a performance tool, and what practical oracy drills you can use today to cut through cognitive overload—at work, in leadership, in high-stakes conversations, and at home.What You'll Learn:Why oracy is as crucial as literacy and numeracy for modern leadershipHow active listening improves judgment and reduces costly miscommunicationThe link between cognitive overload, poor decisions, and weakened team dynamicsWhy silence and breath reset the brain and boost clarity under pressureStorytelling as a trust and influence multiplierSimple, repeatable oracy exercises to apply before your next big conversationCharles Byrne — Director General, English-Speaking Union (ESU). A cross-sector leader and oracy champion dedicated to empowering people through speaking and listening. LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesbbyrne/ ESU: https://www.esu.org/our-staff/charles-byrne/00:00 Introduction05:04 The Impact of Poor Communication on Decision-Making09:48 Generational Shifts in Communication Skills14:57 The Importance of Listening and Silence19:58 Navigating Difficult Decisions in Leadership27:31 Navigating Job Redundancies and Personal Impact30:27 Cognitive Overload and Decision-Making Strategies32:59 The Power of Decision Lists36:12 Understanding Mental Load in Decision-Making39:09 The Importance of Communication and Connection44:11 Mindfulness and Presence in Decision-MakingDecisions That Count helps you master the science of decision-making to overcome decision fatigue and reach peak performance. Hosted by Dr. Shawn Watson and Michelle O’Brien, we translate neuroscience into actionable strategies for focus, mental clarity, productivity, mindfulness, biohacking, and resilience—across gaming, business, athletics, academics, and everyday life.Hosts: Dr. Shawn Watson – Neuroscientist & Founder Michelle O’Brien – Marketer, Mum, Marathon Runner👇 Let’s Continue the Conversation What resonated most with you? Have you experienced decision fatigue in your role? Drop your thoughts in the comments and let us know how you manage high-pressure choices.🎧 Listen & Subscribe:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Apple Podcasts⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Spotify⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠📱 Follow us on Social Media:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠TikTok⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠LinkedIn⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠💡 If you found this episode helpful, like, comment, and subscribe. Share it with someone who could use a reset on how they make decisions. Let’s build better brains together—one choice at a time.Your decisions shape your life. Make every decision count.#DecisionFatigue #Resilience #Perseverance #DecisionMaking #Neuroscience #PeakPerformance #MentalStrength #Mindfulness #Coaching #OvercomingAdversity